On Saturday, June 19, 2004 the Indian American Center for Political Awareness (IACPA) conducted a highly successful voter registration drive at the third annual Indian Heritage Festival in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The event attracted several thousand people from all over the Capitol area.

IACPA's Washington Leadership Program (WLP), a program that has placed over 150 Indian American university students on Capitol Hill, conducted the voter registration drive. Participants in the program work in Congressional offices and attend meetings and functions set up by IACPA that expose them to the inner working of politics, government and public policy. It helps create and instill political leadership in the next generation of the Indian American community.

The 18 volunteers, from this year's WLP classes as well as last years', were able to register over 40 people in three hours. "It was hard to convince people to sign up, but it was a great opportunity. It is one thing to discuss voter turnout in a classroom, and quite another to actually attend a festival and urge people to register," 2004 WLP participant Neela Pal said. "While at times the task seemed daunting, I truly feel our efforts on Saturday were one of the most personable, and therefore most effective, ways to outreach to the community. This cannot, and should not, be merely a one-time initiative." The drive was also an exercise to instill a sense of activism into the second generation, and help them understand the challenges that face the community.

Kumar Barve, Majority Leader of the Maryland House of Delegates, and the highest ranked elected Indian American in the country, was also present at the Festival. Delegate Barve lauded the efforts of the volunteers, saying that everyone needed to recognize the desperate need to have the Indian American voice heard at the voting booths.

The volunteers also stressed the voting booths. While registering people to vote, they described to community members the importance of going out and voting on Election Day. Flyers were passed out that touched on some important issues that can be influenced by voting, such as hate crimes, immigration reform, and outsourcing. IACPA Chairman, Mr. Gopal Raju said, "One major reason why the Indian American community lacks political clout is because of the lack of voter turnout. Campaign donations can only do so much. We need to demonstrate that we have the votes to back our issues up."

According to census data, only about 30% of Indian Americans are registered to vote. Dr. Bhupi Patel, IACPA's President referred to this when he added, "This type of activity is what our community needs. This pro-active step to raise awareness and get people involved in the process is what will allow our community to take a visible and effective role in politics and government."

IACPA is a national non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the participation of the Indian American community in public policy and the political process. IACPA is also a strong advocate for stronger civil rights and better immigration and hate crimes legislation. It works with several national and local grassroots organizations to publicize and effect change on issues affecting the Indian American community. For additional information on IACPA, please visit their website at www. or call at .