CLEVELAND, June 28 — In a letter to secretary-treasurers and legislative representatives of all BLE divisions in the United States, International President Don M. Hahs asked divisions to conduct voter registration drives this summer to increase voter turnout in the November congressional elections.
In his June 27 letter, President Hahs emphasized the extreme importance of a strong labor turnout to support union-friendly candidates.
“We were fortunate to have a one-vote majority in the U.S. Senate last year, which resulted in rail labor being able to obtain passage of the legislation that improved Railroad Retirement benefits,” President Hahs said. “Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle guided this legislation through the Senate and to the desk of the President. Senator Daschle would not have been able to do so if the Republicans had held the majority in the Senate.”
BLE secretary-treasurers and legislative representatives are asked to hold voter registration events at summer festivals, shopping center parking lots, or any place with a consistent flow of people.