Support Full-Time RVers Voting Rights

[DriVer]

Send this action letter to your Congress members

Don't know who your senators or representatives are? You can find that information using your favorite Internet Search Engine.

INSTRUCTIONS: Copy the text below into an e-mail message. Or, copy the text into a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word. Customize the [BOLD] text. Print letter, sign it, and send via postal mail.

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[DATE]

[LEGISLATOR'S NAME]
[TITLE]
[ADDRESS]

RE: Voting Rights for Full-Time Residents of Recreation Vehicles under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993

Dear [SENATOR'S OR REPRESENTATIVE'S NAME]:

I am writing to you as a member of the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) to address a problem faced by approximately 26,000 of our members who reside in their recreation vehicles on a full-time basis with no permanent physical address.

It has been brought to my attention that it is not uncommon for full-time RV residents to be denied the right to register to vote in many states. This is despite the inalienable rights set forth in the United States Constitution and legislation passed in furtherance thereof, including the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (the "Act"�) which is intended to make it easier for all Americans to register to vote and to maintain their registration.

We are asking you to support an amendment to the Act which will make it clear that full-time RV residents must be provided the right to register to vote. We propose the following amendment language in this regard:

"A person, temporarily residing in other than real property and who has no permanent address in the County in which such person wishes to vote, may register at the main office of the Superintendent of Elections for such County and cast a ballot in any and all Federal Elections."�

Thank you for your consideration of this problem faced by our members who reside full-time in their recreation vehicles.



[YOUR SIGNATURE]

[DriVer]

Send this action letter to your Congress members

Don't know who your senators or representatives are? You can find that information using your favorite Internet Search Engine.

INSTRUCTIONS: Copy the text below into an e-mail message. Or, copy the text into a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word. Customize the [BOLD] text. Print letter, sign it, and send via postal mail.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[DATE]

[LEGISLATOR'S NAME]
[TITLE]
[ADDRESS]

RE: Voting Rights for Full-Time Residents of Recreation Vehicles under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993

Dear [SENATOR'S OR REPRESENTATIVE'S NAME]:

I am writing to you as a member of the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) to address a problem faced by approximately 26,000 of our members who reside in their recreation vehicles on a full-time basis with no permanent physical address.

It has been brought to my attention that it is not uncommon for full-time RV residents to be denied the right to register to vote in many states. This is despite the inalienable rights set forth in the United States Constitution and legislation passed in furtherance thereof, including the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (the "Act"�) which is intended to make it easier for all Americans to register to vote and to maintain their registration.

We are asking you to support an amendment to the Act which will make it clear that full-time RV residents must be provided the right to register to vote. We propose the following amendment language in this regard:

"A person, temporarily residing in other than real property and who has no permanent address in the County in which such person wishes to vote, may register at the main office of the Superintendent of Elections for such County and cast a ballot in any and all Federal Elections."�

Thank you for your consideration of this problem faced by our members who reside full-time in their recreation vehicles.



[YOUR SIGNATURE]

[MMouser]

It is an important issue for many out there enjoying our nation. It is one thing to give illegals a vote but a crime to hinder an AMERICANS RIGHT TO VOTE.

[Tincup]

Just an FYI. I am a full timer and have a mailing address in SD, vehicles are registered in SD and I regestered to vote in SD. I had no problem registering even via snail mail while camping in California.

I applaud FMCA for making this attempt at raising the awareness of our elected representatives. I'm struggling to understand how this will help though. If I put myself in the position of the Congressman/Senator I might look at it this way. I'm getting a letter from a full time RVer, someone that can't vote in my district, someone that I might not even represent asking me to help them get the right to vote. I don't see this leaving their in box. I guess we just have to rely on their willingness to do the right thing. Boy are we in trouble .

In my opinion, the full timing RV communitiy needs a lobbying group that represents just full timers in our quest for, not only voting rights, but federal tax related issues, alternative energy credits, etc. In other words, all of the tax advantages or disadvantages I had when I owned a stick house, I should have now.

I will however, send this off to my representative in hopes he or she even understands what a Recreational Vehicle is.

Good luck to all.

[Route 66]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">In my opinion, the full timing RV community needs a lobbying group that represents just full timers in our quest for, not only voting rights, but federal tax related issues, alternative energy credits, etc. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

The ESCAPEES RV club has been and is doing much of that now.

Not to slight FMCA, but the Escapees was the first to address this issue, the first to offer a parking etiquette letter for Wal*mart parking, and many other issues.

The Escapees do more to support RVers rights, both fulltimers and part timers than any of the other organizations.

IMHO, all RVers should be members of Escapees to support their fight for our rights.

[trkrhelp]

I think that <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Not to slight FMCA, but the Escapees was the first to address this issue </div></BLOCKQUOTE> is a little misleading. They took up this issue because the people using their mail service/address for voting were having their right to vote challenged.
Article on voting challenge

While they do a lot of good things, I think defending your business is a little different than standing up for RVers across the country.

[LindaH]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Tincup:
I am a full timer and have a mailing address in SD, vehicles are registered in SD and I regestered to vote in SD. I had no problem registering even via snail mail while camping in California.
.
.
.
If I put myself in the position of the Congressman/Senator I might look at it this way. I'm getting a letter from a full time RVer, someone that can't vote in my district, </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
You said you are registered to vote in South Dakota. That means that the letter you write would go to your two South Dakota Senators and one Representative. Therefore, they WOULD be receiving a letter from a constituent who WILL vote in their district!

We, too, are registered to vote in SD and we, too, are fulltime RVers. My letter is going out to South Dakota Senators Johnson and Thune and to South Dakota Representative Sandlin (although we're using a letter from the Escapees rather than the FMCA letter, since we don't own a motorhome and, thus, are not eligible to join FMCA).

[Tincup]

Linda,

My comment was a little ambiguous, I didn't mean me in particular, I meant others who are full timers but not registered voters.

Thanks for your input.

Paul

[parmm]

Escapees vs FMCA....
This is exactly why the truckers can't get anything done organizing a independant truckers strike. Everybody bickering and no body organizing. They gotta work together!!!

[Bludog]

Would LOVE it, if Escapees and FMCA could join forces...on this and other issues facing RVers. What a great team these two would make!
Reason we decided not to join either: both seemed more concerned with terms of exclusion.
Who knows: if it gets painful enough...they may join forces for survival.

[LindaH]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Bludog:
Reason we decided not to join either: both seemed more concerned with terms of exclusion. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
OK, I understand FMCA since they exclude anyone who does not own a motorhome. But who does the Escapees exclude? As far as I am aware, they exclude no one.

[Route 66]

I'm with Linda.

Escapees excludes no one.

FMCA's only requirement is that you own a motorhome, as it is the Family Motor Coach Assn.