US voting expert at NIGAG Stormont reception
05/06/09
Pictured from left to right are Peter McKittrick, US Consulate; Robin Newton MLA; Avi Green, MassVOTE; and NIGAG Chairman Will Chambre.
A leading US expert in encouraging voter participation in civic affairs has been sharing his expertise with guests of the Northern Ireland Government Affairs Group (NIGAG) at a lunch time reception at Parliament Buildings, Stormont.
Avi Green, executive director of Boston based MassVOTE- the Massachusetts Voter Education Network- told his audience which included Ally Hopper and Peter Mc Kittrick from the US Consul General’s Office- that while the US was perfecting the advantages of using modern internet communication techniques, America still had much to learn from the flexibility and openness of UK politics.
“US political parties certainly spend considerable efforts in checking, locating and tracking voter activity by electronic means,” he explained. “However the follow through is person to person, neighbour to neighbour, much in the same way that the Irish in Boston in the early 20th century had to marshal voters to overcome difficulties in securing rightful democratic representation, “ he stressed.
Will Chambre, Chairman of NIGAG, said that while the US was always regarded as being ahead of the game in developing communication technologies, it was vital to remember that face to face dialogue, and neighbourhood activity were crucial to efforts to engage and empower local communities. “Technology is vital to modern success,” Will acknowledged, “but technology backed up by old fashioned canvassing by supporters is what really gets results.”
The Stormont reception was hosted by MLA’s Robin Newton, John McCallister and Margaret Ritchie.
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