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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 078-12
March 6, 2012

MAYOR BLOOMBERG LAUNCHES YOUR VOTE COUNTS AS PART OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION

NYC Commission on Women’s Issues and NYC Campaign Finance Board Premiere the “Your Vote Counts” Multi-Media Campaign Encouraging Women to Vote this Election Year

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today launched Your Vote Counts, a multi-media campaign developed by the City’s Commission on Women’s Issues in collaboration with the Campaign Finance Board to promote and increase voter turnout among New York City women. The campaign, which will combine print advertising, digital promotion, training programs, voter registration drives, and PSAs will kick-off during Women’s History Month, and will continue over the course of the year. The Mayor announced the launch of Your Vote Counts at Gracie Mansion where he was joined by Commission on Women’s Issues Chair Anne Sutherland Fuchs, Executive Director Briana Collins, and Campaign Finance Board Executive Director Amy Loprest.

“Ninety-five years ago, gaining the right to vote for women was a huge milestone on the path to fulfilling America’s promise of equality for all under the law,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Starting this month – Women’s History Month – we are mounting a far reaching campaign to improve voter registration, voter education, and voter participation among women in our City. Our freedom to vote is the right that protects all our other rights, but that’s only true when we use it.”

“Women are most often the primary caregivers in their families, often making the important health and educational decisions for those they care most about,” said Commission on Women’s Issues Chair Anne Sutherland Fuchs.  “And yet only 20 percent of eligible women voters in New York City actually make their voices heard on Election Day.  This campaign aims to speak to the many issues so important to women in New York; reminding them why their vote is so important.”

Mayor Bloomberg unveiled a print advertising campaign featuring 12 New York City women expressing the reasons they vote.  Posters will be placed in bus shelters and phone kiosks and thousands of palm cards promoting the “Your Votes Count” campaign will be distributed citywide leading up to the November election. The Mayor also unveiled a 30-second PSA developed and produced by NBC in partnership with the Commission on Women’s Issues and the Campaign Finance Board. This PSA, along with a 10 second PSA, will be aired in English and Spanish on WNBC and Telemundo leading up to the November election.

Before this year is over we’ll have the chance to determine the direction of our state and our country for years to come,” said Amy Loprest, Executive Director of the Campaign Finance Board. “It’s so important that New Yorkers have the information they need to participate in a meaningful way.  That’s why we’re thrilled to partner with the Commission on Women’s Issues to launch the ‘Your Vote Counts’ campaign.”

“The ‘Your Vote Counts’ campaign encourages women to make their voices heard by voting,” stated Onida Coward Mayers, Director of Voter Assistance for the Campaign Finance Board. “Today is just the beginning of a yearlong effort to engage women’s groups across the five boroughs in a campaign to energize women to register to vote and go out to the polls.”

 “The Voter Assistance Advisory Committee is very happy to be part of this effort to reach women across New York City and urge them to participate in the conversation about their future,” said VAAC Chair Art Chang. “Voting and civic engagement help connect us all together, and I applaud the Commission on Women’s Issues for their part in this important campaign.”

“NBC 4 New York is pleased to support and encourage civic awareness, and we believe our PSA serves the purpose of reminding women of the importance of their individual vote,” said Michael Jack, President and General Manager of NBC 4 New York.

“Telemundo 47 Nueva York is committed to coverings the issues affecting our Hispanic community.  We're proud to support and encourage civic awareness, and we believe the PSA serves the purpose of reminding Hispanic woman of the importance of their individual vote and voice" said Carlos Sanchez, President and General Manager, Telemundo 47 New York.

The year long, citywide “Your Vote Counts” campaign aims to increase the number of women registering to vote, as well as the number of New Yorkers who turn-out to vote on Election Day in November 2012. In addition to television and print ads, the Your Vote Counts campaign will work with a number of community based organizations to host events and community projects to encourage voting, such as voter registration drives and community fairs; and share information and/or data on voting trends and effective strategies to encourage voting among all New Yorkers.

To learn more about the “Your Votes Campaign” and other programs in support of women, please visit http://www.nyc.gov or call 311.







MEDIA CONTACT:


Stu Loeser / Evelyn Erskine   (212) 788-2958

Eric Friedman (CFB)   (212) 306-7116



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