Voter drive focuses on tax credit for the poor

Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 9, 2007 at midnight

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COMMERCE CITY - A dozen years after he was first eligible to vote, Alex Galvez registered Monday, just under the wire.

"I'm embarrassed to say this is my first time - and I'm 30," he said. "I kind of procrastinated before now. I never knew where you were supposed to register."

Today is the deadline to register for the November election.

Galvez signed up at Wal-Mart, where a coalition pushing for Colorado to renew the Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income wage- earners launched an eleventh- hour voter-registration drive.

The EITC Coalition targeted people for whom a little tax savings can make a big difference.

The federal EITC returns an average of about $1,200 to low-income households. But Colorado, which would return about $120 per year, dropped the program in 2001 because of limitations with the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights.

If $120 doesn't seem like much, consider that many families said it saved them from missing a utility payment or paid for back-to- school clothes or a crucial auto repair, said Adele Flores-Brennan, policy analyst for the nonprofit Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute.

Income is a fairly strong predictor of whether a person will vote, studies show.

The Census Bureau found that in 2004, about two-thirds of Americans between 25 and 44 who earned less than $30,000 did not vote in the presidential election. By contrast, a little more than a quarter of those earning more than $75,000 a year did not vote.

Voting is more prevalent among older Americans of all income groups, but there was still a big gap in the 45-to-64 age group. Among those earning less than $30,000 a year, about half did not vote in 2004. Among those earning more than $75,000 a year, about one in seven did not vote.

Because many low-income people move frequently, they are more likely not to be registered in their new neighborhoods.

James Johnson, civic engagement director for the Colorado Progressive Coalition, said politicians listen to the squeaky wheel that votes. "If you register and make the Earned Income Tax Credit important to you, it becomes important to politicians."

A person's vote is his voice, Johnson and other members of the EITC Coalition said. And if enough people from a certain demographic believe that, they collectively can make a big difference, the group said.

The EITC Coalition was on a pace to sign up about 100 new voters by late Monday evening, spokesman Jesse Ulibarri said.

When Galvez was asked whether he felt empowered by registering, he said:

"Once I actually go and vote I will. That will make much more of a difference than just registering. This is just the first step."

Clock is ticking

Colorado residents have until 5 p.m. today to register to vote in the Nov. 6 election.

? In Denver, voters will consider several ballot measures, some of which would raise property taxes, and three school board races.

? Where to register: Elections Division office, 303 W. Colfax Ave., Dept. 101

? More info: 720-913-8683

For voting information in other counties, call:

? Larimer 970-498-7820

? Weld 970-304-6525, ext. 3070

? Elbert 303-621-3127