Fifty 1199 activists from across Upstate New York traveled to Erie, PA last weekend to conduct voter education and registration. The 1199 Purple Activists conducted door knocking and walking community events such as the Tuskegee Airmen Show, and Erie Days Festival. They registered 80 new voters and handed out over 2,000 pieces of literature about changes in the voter ID laws and how people can access free ID to vote this election.



“The change in the law is like the poll taxes that tried to keep African Americans from voting after the civil war,” says Myra Holiday, 1199 Delegate and employee at Kaleida Health. “I feel like we are making history, because we are making sure that our people can vote. I’m happy to come and participate.” Starting with the November 6 election, Pennsylvania voters will be required to show photo ID to vote in person, even they have voted in the same place for years.



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Family or friends in Pennsylvania that need more information or a free ID or are having problems can contact the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania at 866.OUR.VOTE or www.aclupa.org/voterID.



Next dates for Upstate New York 1199ers to become “Weekend Warriors” in Pennsylvania are these Saturdays, September 15 and 22, October 6, 13, 20, and 27. (Please contact Maurice 716.995.3702 or Larry at 585.244.0830 to sign up.)



“In addition to working on the Presidential campaign we need volunteers to help locally for our congressional and state allies,” said Maurice Brown, WNY Political Coordinator for the union. “We have some very important races in WNY this year that will help determine how much President Obama can accomplish this term, so please get involved locally too.”