Elections
AARP Announces Don't Vote Campaign
News Release
September 19, 2006
As part of an ongoing voter education campaign, AARP today unveiled its “Don’t Vote” initiative, which tells voters “Don’t vote... until you know where the candidates stand on the issues.”
By visiting www.dontvote.com, voters can select their respective state and receive information on state and national races, find their district, and register to vote. Additionally, visitors to dontvote.com can view the AARP Voters’ Guide, which presents national, state, and local candidates’ unedited responses on key issues.
“Voters tell us a candidate’s positions on issues are as important to them as their personal qualifications,” said David Sloane, AARP Senior Managing Director of Government Relations and Advocacy. “We developed the dontvote.com initiative to drive voters to one place. They can learn from the candidates where they stand on the issues, especially those of importance to our members and their families, like the long-term strength and solvency of Social Security and making health care affordable for all Americans.”
AARP will also debut two television advertisements next week on broadcast and cable stations to inform voters of the dontvote.com resource. One advertisement tells viewers “Don’t vote”, then explains the importance of knowing candidates’ positions. The second advertisement parodies candidates who give a “song and dance” while avoiding issues that matter to American voters.
“The purpose behind ‘Don’t Vote’ is to get the attention of voters. We all worry when candidates aren’t willing to clearly explain where they stand on the issues. Voters want to make an informed choice at the polls, and dontvote.com is a big step toward this goal,” said Sloane.
To view the voters’ guides, see the television advertisements, and learn more about “Don’t Vote”, visit www.dontvote.com.
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
WHO:
David Sloane, Senior Managing Director, Government Relations and Advocacy
Mark Kitchens, Director, Media Relations
John Killpack, Director, Advocacy Resources
WHAT:
These AARP spokespeople are available to speak to reporters regarding AARP’s “Don’t Vote” campaign.
CONTACT:
To arrange an interview with David Sloane, Mark Kitchens, or John Killpack, contact Ray De Lorenzi at 202-434-2567 or rdelorenzi@aarp.org.