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Recovery Voices
Count is one part of a national movement spearheaded by Faces
and Voices of Recovery (FAVOR) to make it possible
for even more of our friends, neighbors and family members
to experience long-term recovery from addiction by building
recognition of the recovery community as a constituency of
consequence.
New Jersey is among 10 states chosen by FAVOR to take part
in Recovery Voices Count. The National Council on Alcoholism
and Drug Dependence-New Jersey and the grassroots organization
it supports, Friends of Addiction Recovery-New Jersey oversees
the project in the state. (click
here for press release) The initiative will build
an addiction recovery constituency in each of the participating
states through voter registration and education and a get-out-the-vote
initiative, drawing in part from people in recovery and their
families and friends.
As recovery community organizations and recovery advocates
register voters, educate candidates for public office about
key issues and turn out voters in growing numbers, we will
have an even greater impact on the lives of people who still
need help with their addiction, people in long-term recovery,
their family members and communities.
With less than half of eligible Americans voting, Recovery
Voices Count is a great way to help people take the first step
in civic participation and to build a recovery community organization. Every individual eligible to vote needs to be encouraged to
register to vote and, if already registered, encouraged to
vote.
One policy issue that is very important to the recovery community is
restoring the right of people with criminal convictions to vote. More
than five million Americans are barred from the polls because of these restrictions.
Many of these disenfranchised people have experience with addiction and face
lifetime bans on participating in our civic life as voters. Recovery community
organizations around the country are working in coalition with allied organizations
to right this wrong.
Join us in reaching out and organizing the New Jersey recovery
community to participate in our electoral process. For the
past eight years NCADD-New Jersey has developed and produced
the New Jersey General Election Guide that includes a candidate
survey and associated responses, and a directory of all candidates
running for election. The Election Guide represents individual
candidate survey responses and the overall agreement with and
support for principles and issues related to the prevention
and treatment of alcohol and drug addiction. In the coming
weeks we will have updated our website with the 2008 candidates
and their responses. Visit the 2007
Online Election Guide and check back often to
learn how New Jersey's elected officials and candidates feel
about the addiction issues and policies.
To assist in
your Recovery Community Civic Engagement Campaign, Faces & Voices
has provided us with buttons that say “We Recover and
We Vote,” “I’m in Recovery and I Vote” and
a bumper sticker that says “Another Voter for Recovery!”
To find out more about registering to vote, or to participate
in the Recovery Voices Count Campaign email Jeanette or Candice for more information or
call 609-689-0121.
More Resources
Recovery
Voices Count Advocacy Tools
The Sentencing Project's 2008
Presidential Candidates’ Platforms on Criminal Justice,
published in March 2008, provides information on a range
of key criminal justice issues, including sentencing policy,
reentry, felony disenfranchisement, and the death penalty.
Recovery Voices Count Powerpoint Presentation
Recovery
Voices Count Training Webinar
Rock the Vote
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Recovery Voices Count is made possible in New Jersey through
a mini-grant
from FAVOR |
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