Land Lauds Values Emphasis in Voter Turnout Efforts
by Allie Martin
November 11, 2004
(AgapePress) - An initiative by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention is being credited with helping turn out values voters in the recent election.More than 61,000 new voters were registered this year through the effort known as "I Vote Values." Two websites -- IVoteValues.com and IVoteValues.org -- provided people with the opportunity to register to vote online, and also presented voters with in-depth information on a number of issues relevant to the 2004 election.
Dr. Richard Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, is commending the pro-family efforts that helped to mobilize members of the religious community to go to the polls and vote their values. He says the faith factor definitely decided the election.
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Dr. Richard Land |
"A large percentage of the increase in the voting was because of faith voters who came out and voted," Land says, "and when they voted, their values were more important than the economy -- and they voted overwhelmingly for George W. Bush." (See Related Story)Four years ago an estimated 15 million evangelical Christians voted in the national election. That number increased to more than 27 million this year. The head of the ERLC believes initiatives like "I Vote Values" were largely responsible for that increase because they sensitized values voters to the importance of voicing their concerns.
Land is impressed with the demographic breakdown of the turnout, which demonstrates the increased turnout among Christian voters. He cites a typical statistic, noting that four years ago "two out of three white evangelicals voted for George Bush. This time it was three out of four, and a lot more of them voted."
Secular analysts have also acknowledged the significant role of Christians in this year's election results, the ERLC president point out. He notes, "Even the New York Times said the faith factor was determinative. People in state after state including Ohio came out, and a large percentage of the increase in the turnout was because of faith voters."
This year 38,000 voter registration forms were downloaded from the "I Vote Values" website. Land says the difference between the number of Christians voting in 2000 and the number that headed to the polls in 2004 is what made the difference for President Bush and the next four years in America.
