Ellington

[Verbatim] (JACKSON, Miss.) – On the cusp of what will be historic election, the Jackson (MS) Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated announces its "Voter Registration Countdown" through Oct. 3. As a statewide effort targeted to register some of the 400,000 Mississippians who are not registered to vote in the upcoming November election, the local chapter has harnessed its energies on three fundamental components including high schools, churches and communities.

Members of the Jackson (MS) Alumnae Chapter will also be registering non-voters at 16 churches on Super Sunday on September 28. Participating churches include: Anderson United Methodist Church, (Jackson), Cathedral Church (Jackson); College Hill Baptist Church (Jackson); Fairfield Baptist Church (Jackson); Greater Clark Street (Jackson); Greater Fairview Baptist Church (Jackson); Greater Pearlie Grove MB Church (Jackson), Good Hope Baptist Church (Crystal Springs); Holy Ghost Catholic Church (Jackson), New Pilgrim Rest MB Church (Clinton, MS); Mt. Helm Baptist Church (Jackson); Norman Chapel (Jackson); Pearl Street AME Church (Jackson) Pratt Memorial UM Church (Jackson); Throne of Grace (Jackson), Truelight Baptist Church (Jackson); Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church (Carthage, MS); St. James UM Church (Flowood); and Word & Worship (Jackson).

The outreach to churches and communities is an extended effort to engage and mobilize the community in the electoral process, one of the programmatic thrusts of the sorority.
Since mid-September, members have been working with local school and advocacy groups in getting the message to first-time voters and young adults who will be registering and participating in the electoral. The sorority's emphasis this weekend will also be evident through the combined work of its Social Action and Political Awareness and Involvement committees through neighborhood canvassing on Saturday, September 27. Erma Johnson, President of the Jackson (MS) Alumnae chapter for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority envisions this election as a history-making moment.

"This year's presidential election is clearly an unparalled historic event," said Johnson. "Remembering Delta Sigma Theta's first public act of participation in the Suffrage March in 1913 and the sorority's emphasis on social action and political awareness, we are committed to register as many unregistered voters as possible between now and October 3, 2008."
A complete Voter Registration "Toll Kit" is available from the Secretary of State's Office. For a complete listing of events and activities and additional information on the Jackson (MS) Alumnae Chapter's Voter Registration Countown, contact Chapter President Erma Johnson at (601) 918-6369 or Thomastine Lee, Chair of Political Awareness at (601) 613-8339 or Sylvia Watley, Chair of Social Action at (601) 622-9595.