Glendale Voters Speak Out Against Absentee Ballot Measure
January 25, 2008

Glendale, CA – Spearheaded by the Armenian National Committee - Glendale Chapter, Glendale voters gathered at the City Council meeting on Tuesday to express their opposition to an ordinance that would prevent campaign offices and organizations from handling absentee ballot applications and thus limit groups from providing language assistance or help in making sure absentee ballots are submitted entirely and in a timely manner to the Glendale City Clerk's office. 

The more than dozen speakers from the overflow crowd said the measure aimed to marginalize immigrant voters from the election process. The speakers also stated that, if passed, the measure would be deemed discriminatory.  However, the community's resistance did not stop the three council members, John Drayman, Frank Quintero and Dave Weaver from moving to introduce the new measure.

"We are very concerned with the disregard the city council members who support this new measure showed. Both the Armenian and the non-Armenian community spoke loud and clear of the negative effects and the true intentions behind this ordinance." stated Elen Asatryan, Executive Director of ANC Glendale "The explanations given by the council members who support the new ordinance did not tackle the issues presented to them.  We hope that our grassroots efforts will move the community to be present during the January 29th meeting of the City Council and force those who are trying to disenfranchise voters to rethink their position prior to casting their vote." added Asatryan.

Also present in opposition were representatives from the Korean-American Coalition, President of the Young Democrats of San Fernando Valley, Executive Board Member of Democrats of the 43 Assembly District and Democrats for Neighborhood Action.

"Any bill that attempts to reduce the number of people or prevents the growth of the number of people voting has the burden of proof of showing that somehow the system is not working, that there are violations and that something is going wrong," stated Robert Silver, Executive Board Member of the 43rd Assembly District for the Democratic Party.  "As far as I can see  there has been no establishment that there has been any kind of danger of anything happening that is inimical to the process as it stands now.  I encourage you all to vote against this if you bring it to the floor for a vote," added Silver.

"This proposed new law is an effort by certain members of the city council to target the large number of Armenian Americans who vote absentee and reduce participation by Armenian Americans in elections," said the Glendale ANC, which also led the community to urge city council members to reconsider this decision through action-alert campaigns.

The measure is expected for a vote during next week's city council meeting, which will take place Tuesday, January 29, 2008, 6:00pm at Glendale City Hall (613 E Broadway, Glendale, CA 91206).

The Armenian National Committee-Glendale Chapter advocates for the social, economic, cultural, and political rights of the city's Armenian American community and promotes increased Armenian American civic participation at the grassroots and public policy levels. It is the voice of this vibrant community, which seeks to advance and enrich Glendale.

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