RADAR ALERT:
Make your voices heard on Nov 7

Often elections are close. Your heartfelt vote on your personal issues of importance can be the deciding factor.

In 2005 Jerry Kilgore, then-Attorney General of Virginia, was favored to win the race for Governor of Virginia. Kilgore, running on his record as Attorney General frequently emphasized how he had cracked down on domestic violence and wanted to expand the existing draconian laws. He lost the race for Governor by a small margin. A credible case can be made that his position on domestic violence lost him the election. This can be an effective argument to make to other candidates after the election's over.

In 2000, U.S. Senator John Ashcroft narrowly lost his re-election bid to a candidate who died in a plane crash shortly before the election. His position supporting the Violence Against Women Act had upset voters to the point that continued protests were being held at his senatorial offices in Missouri, combined with much public activism. The voters turned him out.

In tight races, single issues which normally are not polled or recognized as major factors by parties or pundits, can make or break any candidate.

November 7th is your chance to make your position on domestic violence really count.

When you vote, be sure to tell the volunteers outside your polling place why you are voting for or against a candidate. This is important because it will be fed back to candidates, increasing their awareness about the magnitude of voter concerns.

Date of RADAR Release: November 6, 2006

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R.A.D.A.R. – Respecting Accuracy in Domestic Abuse Reporting – is a non-profit, non-partisan organization of men and women working to improve the effectiveness of our nation's approach to solving domestic violence. http://mediaradar.org