Evening star., 1956-03-29
Get-0ut-vote
Drive Slated by
Nonpdrtisans
BY the Associated Press

Voter apathy, fought with
great success in 1852, is in for a
new assault this year by the
American Heritage Foundation.
The two major parties also will
be trying to get out big vote
through organization and small
fund and absentee vote drives.
The Heritage group, a non-
partisan. non-prot1t organiza-
ton with Offices in New York,
has enlisted the aid of 110 ma
tional organizations in a 1856
register -and-vote campaign that
will extend even to such groups
as hospital patients and the
blind.
This is more than double the
number of national groups the
foundation co-ordinated in 1852
: when more than 62 million voters
went to the polls in the biggest
election by far in American his
tory. The foundation goal then
was So million.
U. S. Percentage Low
OF the total cast four years
ago, 61,500,000 were valid votes
for President. This was 11,700,-
900 more than the previous rec
ord in 1910 and constituted So
per cent of the potential voting
population.
The foundation says this COM
pared with what it called the
"disgraceful record" of 49.3 per
cent in 1920. 53.4 per cent in
1910 and 81 per cent in 1948.
But the So per cent still was
considerably below records in
other dernocracies. which the
AHF listed as:
England. 83 per cent in a 1851
election: Canada rs per cent in
1949; Sweden 80 per cent in
1851; Belgium 80 per cent in
1850. and France rs per cent in
1945.
The foundation is interesting
itself in big turnouts this year
in primaries as well as elections.
In two presidential primaries
held so far, the New Hampshire
total vote of los, 1873 was a drop
of 31,348 from the 1852 record.
But Minnesota's whopping total
of we'll over 100000 compared
with 426,498 in that State in
1852.
1856 Goal Not Set
The foundation has not yet set
a goal for 1856. But it goes with
out saying the group would like
to better the 1852 record.
It attributed part of the 1852
success against apathy to a new
strategy - making it socially
desirable and psychologically
satisfying to vote. rather than
pointing the finger of scorn at
nonvoters.
President Eisenhower. State
Governors. Republican and DEM
ocratic national chairmen. and
many others have commented
favorably on the new founda-
ton drive which will feature
such efforts as:
Asking voters to take the
whole family to the polls to get
youngsters and teenagers in the
habit even before reaching vot-
ing age.
Boys Clubs Utilized
Boys clubs distributing regis
ter" and inform yourself and
vote" posters to banks. schools
and stores.
League of Women Voters
members putting thousands of
IT will vote-will you?" Lapel
tags in circulation, and arrang-
ing nonpartisan receptions for
new voters.
The American Hotel Associa-
ton arranging to display abb
sentee voter information in hotel
lobbies for travellers.
The American Medical Assn.
helping hospital patients to get
to the polls.
Milk companies having their
drivers attach register an d
vote reminders to milk bottles.
Vote explanation rallies on
Citizenship Day tSept. I'D for
some 100000 newly naturalized
citizens, to be conducted by the
American Bar Assn.
Sample Ballots Printed
Printing of sample ballots by
newspapers.
Lions international help to
the blind and campaign by
crippled veterans, members OF
the Paralyzed Veterans of
America, who drive their own
special control cars.
The foundation has contracted
for preparation of a non-parti-
san book on election issues. 1t
also will urge employers to give
adequate time off for workers to
vote.
The organization says 104 1885,
900 persons will meet age re-
uuirements for voting next No
vember, but that almost II
million of these will be disen-
franchised for various reasons.
One responsibility of good
citizens is to vote. In order
to vote you must register.
Show Congress-and the Ma
tion-that Washingtonians are
good citizens. Register now at
the District Building and vote
in the election May l,