This sample exit poll and press release are designed to aid community members when gauging and report on the Muslim community's political preferences and impact after an election.

Sample Exit Poll

As-salaamu 'alaykum, I'm [name] calling from [organization name], [description of organization].

[State] had an election today. I'd like to ask you a couple of quick questions about your vote.

Who did you vote for for the Senate?

• Candidate A
• Candidate B

How about for the U.S. House?

• Candidate A
• Candidate B
• Candidate C

There was a measure on the ballot restricting civil liberties, Proposition 775. How did you vote?

• Yes
• No

Sample Press Release

You can customize a press release with your own information based on this CAIR release from 2004.

Exit Poll: 93 Percent of Muslims Voting for Kerry

Samplings in Ohio and Florida show overwhelming support

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/2/2004) -- Preliminary results of an exit poll by a national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization indicate that more than 90 percent of Muslim voters are casting their ballots for John Kerry in today's election.

In that early survey of 537 Muslim voters, conducted by the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), 93 percent of respondents said they voted for Kerry, 5 percent favored Ralph Nader and less than 1 percent said they supported President Bush.

The exit poll exceeds the results of a post-debate CAIR survey indicating that 80 percent of likely American Muslim voters planned to vote for Kerry. Today's poll results are also in line with the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections - Political Action Committee (AMT-PAC) endorsement of John Kerry.

In the key battleground state of Florida, a CAIR sampling of 335 Muslims who cast their votes today or in early polling shows that 95 percent voted for Kerry and just 3 percent voted for President Bush. Ralph Nader received less than 2 percent of Muslim votes.

In Ohio, a similar sampling of 222 Muslim voters showed 86 percent voting for Kerry, 4 percent for Bush and 10 percent for "other" or a third party.

"We are seeing an unprecedented level of voter mobilization by the American Muslim community in this election," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. "I believe Muslim voters have come of age and will be a factor in all future elections."

Muslims from almost every state responded to the exit poll, with the most responses coming from California, Virginia, Texas, Maryland, Illinois, New York, Florida, and Ohio.

Surveys were faxed and e-mailed to Muslim individuals and organizations nationwide this afternoon.

In the weeks leading up to the election, CAIR launched a nationwide "Get Out the Muslim Vote" campaign that included phone banks in a number of election centers, distribution of Muslim voter guides and transportation services for Muslim voters.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

- END -

CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Director, Corey Saylor, 202-646-6039, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; or CAIR Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

This is a sample advisory you can customize and use to remind voters about the election and make sure they know when, where and how to vote.

[Note: This was modified from a CAIR-California advisory.]

Headline: Election Day is [day of the week, date] (e.g. Tuesday, November 6)

As a U.S. citizen, it's your right to vote. Most states have laws guaranteeing you the right to take time off work to vote.

Here's what you do:

• Find your polling station:
  • Find out where to vote through the Democratic National Committee here.
  • Find out where to vote through the Republican National Committee here.
• Bring identification such as a driver's license or passport. Most states require it.
• If you would like a paper ballot, request it. You don't have to use the electronic ballot if you don't want to.
• When you're done voting, grab an "I Voted" sticker and wear it to show you fulfilled your civil duty and to remind others to vote.
• Congratulations on voting!
• Call your family and friends and make sure they voted. Help them to find their polling place.

Remember, if you don't vote, don't complain about government policies.

 

Feel free to use all or part of this script when you're making calls to get out the vote.

Salaam alaykum, I'm [name] calling from [group name], [description of group].

We are calling Muslims in [state] to urge them to vote on [day of week, month, day]

Are you planning to go vote? Is anyone else in your home planning to vote?

If yes: That's great. We're also planning to do a quick exit poll after the election to find out who Muslims in our area voted for. May we call you after the election to ask who you voted for? The information we gather will be kept anonymous.

If no: I hope you'll consider going to vote. Voting is an important step toward helping the Muslim community protect our civil liberties. Thanks for your time and support. Please remember that Election Day is [day of week, month, day].

Tips:

• Always remain polite.
• Avoid debating with people.
• If the person is asking a lot of questions, allow one of the phone bank coordinators to answer the questions.

Sample Calling List Notations

Have all people calling your list use these notations next to the numbers they call. This will help you keep an accurate phone list and will help you know who to follow up with and who to call for an exit poll.

• A = Agreed to go vote
• B = Busy
• CB = Call back later
• D = Declined to go vote
• DNC = Do not call
• EP = Agreed to get call for exit poll
• NA = No answer

Want to know more? Need help or advice? Call CAIR and talk to our government affairs department.

 

This page is designed to aid community members when planning to conduct get out the vote and other related election activities.

Contact your local CAIR chapter to join your efforts with theirs.

Obtain a list of eligible voters in your community.

Lists of registrants can be obtained from city, county or state boards of elections. Some provide phone numbers; some do not. For a price, some services, such as Aristotle, will provide lists with phone numbers.

Getting ready

You will need to consider the following:

• How many days, hours per day and locations do you have? You will need to acquire locations. We recommend four-hour shifts for callers.
• Calling is best done when voters are likely to be at home, in the evenings or on weekends. Weekend cell phone minutes are often free; volunteers can call from home if you trust them with your list.
• How many phone lines and people do you need? You will need to acquire phone lines and volunteers (CAIR's government affairs department has volunteer information cards you can print.) Approximate 20 calls per hour per phone line (Thus 2,000 calls will take 100 hours or 25 four-hour shifts.) Find volunteers to work by approaching your local mosques, youth groups, and MSAs.
• Write a script for those making the calls. This should include at least a greeting, why they are calling (We just want to remind you to go vote on [insert election day]), and a goodbye. If you are going to do an exit poll, ask if you can call on Election Day to confirm that they voted and who they voted for.
• Create tracking sheets. Have callers track how many contacts they make, how many voters said they planned to vote, how many said do not call (Mark these and remove them from your list), and who said you can follow up for an exit poll.
• Automated calling is another option. Agree to pay only for calls that go through and don't pay up front. Start any recorded message with "As-salaamu alaykum" -- this will get the attention of Muslims.
• For a sample calling script produced by CAIR, click here.

72 hours before the election

• Conduct your phone banking.
• Have callers track results of call (see "Getting ready" above) and keep a master tally.
• Consider placing volunteers outside mosques in advance of the election with signs that read "Remember to vote on [Election Day.]"
• Issue an election advisory via your fax and e-mail lists.
• For a sample election advisory produced by CAIR, click here. 

Election Day: Getting out the vote

• Phone: Re-call the people on your list in the afternoon to ask if they voted. If they have not, encourage them to do so immediately.
• Place volunteers in mosques or other places where Muslims congregate to ask people if they have voted yet. If they have not, encourage them to do so immediately.
• Consider providing the following services:
  • Transportation to and from polling stations. Arranging free rides through local cab drivers with a centralized number provided on the voter guide for people to call and request a ride is one possible method.
  • Door knocking in close-race districts with large Muslim populations.

Election Day: Exit poll media release

• An exit poll simply asks "Who did you vote for?" For a sample exit poll, click here.
• If there are any ballot measures in your state that are particularly relevant, you can ask about them.
• Issue a release to the media, as early as possible, giving the results of your exit poll. For a sample election media advisory produced by CAIR, click here.

Want to know more? Need help or advice? Call CAIR and talk to our government affairs department.

 

This page is designed to aid community members or organizations who want to create voter guides. A voter guide is a document that provides information to help voters to vote.

A basic voter guide gives information about how, when and where to vote. An advanced guide adds information about the positions of different candidates. The goal in creating this kind of guide is to give voters information to help them find the candidate(s) whose positions on key issues most closely align with their own. As an example, you can see CAIR's 2012 presidential voter guide here. Comprehensive voter guides can also be created for ballot initiatives, amendments or any other item that will appear on a voter's ballot.

Advanced voter guides should provide objective information that accurately represents the views of all major candidates without seeking to influence voters toward a particular candidate or party.

Remember, if the guide is produced by a nonprofit organization it must be unbiased and nonpartisan to avoid jeopardizing the organization's nonprofit status. It is imperative that nonprofit organizations be impartial when describing all candidates and proposals.

If you're planning to create voter guides, here are some recommended steps to take.

Contact your local CAIR chapter to join your efforts with theirs.

Find the closest CAIR chapter.

Gather a reliable team.

It's a lot easier to do all the research necessary to create a voter guide when you're not working alone. If CAIR doesn't have a chapter in your state, gather two to four members of the community to help you.

Gather information for the voter guide.

At the beginning of the voter guide it is a good idea to briefly emphasize why it is imperative for all eligible members of the Muslim community to vote.

Basic Voter Guide

• Provide information on the following topics related to voting. You can find the answers to most on your state board of elections website (Search: "[your state]" and "board of elections.) Try to keep the material shorter than two pages so your final handout is only one sheet (double-sided).
  • When to vote (date of the election and times polls are open).
  • How to find the addresses of polling places.
  • What form of identification, if any, is required.
  • How to verify that you are registered (usually a phone number or website).
  • Brief outline of voter rights (each state generally lists your rights at the polls).
  • An avenue to address problems such as discrimination at the polls (usually a phone number. You can recommend that they also contact CAIR).
  • Who do I vote for? In the most basic voter guide, the answer is: "[Organization name] does not endorse campaigns or candidates. Major newspapers may produce a guide to candidate positions."
  • Who is eligible for and how to cast an absentee ballot.
  • Does your state allow early voting? How can someone vote early?

Advanced Voter Guide

In addition to the content in the basic guide, provide information on the following topics:

• A brief description of every candidate running for election and their priorities. Separate the candidates first by what office they are running for and second by party. List all candidates for a particular office.
• List candidate stances on issues of concern to the general population (Note: Do not try to pick and choose issues that will bias voters' candidate choices.) This information can be obtained by going to the candidates' websites, looking in the paper, or running an internet search. Find out what political action committees have supported each candidate and who has endorsed each candidate.
• Some good issues to focus on include: education, civil rights, homeland security, deficit and health care.

Comprehensive Voter Guide

Provide information on the following topic

• Ballot measures: include a list of all the propositions that will be on the ballot along with a description of each. These are usually on state board of elections websites or the websites of major local papers. You may also want to include arguments for and against supporting each proposition.
• Extras: Include a sample ballot.

If producing the guide for a nonprofit organization or mosque, include a disclaimer stating "As a registered nonprofit, [name of organization/mosque] does not endorse campaigns or candidates."

Distribute the voter guide

Distribute your guides free-of-charge to the entire Muslim community. Two excellent ways to do this are through local mosques and online.

Want to know more? Need help or advice? Call CAIR and talk to our government affairs department.

 

This page is designed to aid community members when planning to conduct a voter registration drive. To conduct a successful voting drive, we recommend you follow these steps:

Contact your local CAIR chapter to join your efforts with theirs.

Find your closest CAIR chapter.

Gather a reliable core team.

If CAIR does not have a chapter in your state, gather two to four members of the community to help coordinate the drive.

Choose the date, time and location of the event.

Eid festivals and Jumaah prayers are excellent opportunities. Clear your event with those in charge of the location. Make sure that the timing is convenient and fits into the normal schedule of the community. It's always recommended that you keep in mind that you are serving your community: make registering to vote easy for them. Don't expect them to come to you.

Call or visit your state election office for materials to be used in your voter drives.

The rules change from state to state. In many states the office of the secretary of state is responsible for overseeing elections and information can be found on his or her website. Perform an internet search for "state board of elections" along with your state's name, or simply look up the phone number. Many states will give you forms to have filled out (make sure you ask for the proper method of returning the completed forms), others require attending a short, simple certification course. Make sure that you request enough registration materials. Alternatively, call CAIR and ask for assistance. You can also ask CAIR for free copies of CAIR's Civic Participation Guide. These can be given away during your drive.

Get the answers to some basic questions.

The following questions are common from people registering to vote, ask the elections board representative for the answers: Who can register to vote in the state? Do I have to register by political party? Do I have to re-register if I move? When is the latest I can register for the next election? Do I have to re-register for each election? Where do I vote? When can I expect my voter registration card to arrive?

Inform the community about the drive.

Announce it in advance, perhaps by hanging fliers in local mosques. Ask mosques to announce the drive at Jumaah prayers. Call everyone you have in your email and cell phone contact lists and ask them to commit to calling five other people to invite them to register during your drive.

Contact the media.

Send a media advisory to your local media outlets. Include the answers to what you are doing, when you are doing it, exact street address of where it will occur and a contact name and phone number. Events of this nature are an excellent opportunity to obtain positive media coverage for the community. You can call CAIR and ask for help with this.

Conduct the drive.

Make sure you have read all the form's instructions carefully, and help people in filling out the form. Don't be shy. Approach people and ask if they are registered to vote. Call attention to your effort. At the very least you will need: pens, clipboards and signs announcing that people can register to vote.

Keep track of how many voters you have registered.

Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and tell us how your drive went, (What worked? What didn't? What advice would you give others? Your experience will benefit future drives) and how many voters you registered.

Return the completed forms.

Completed voter registration forms should be sent to or dropped off at your state election office.

Want to know more? Need help or advice? Call CAIR and talk to our government affairs department.

 

Facts you need to know before registering to vote

• You must be a United States citizen who will be 18 or older on Election Day in order to register to vote.
• Each state has its own guidelines about who can register, how to register and what information you need to provide. Additionally, each state sets its own registration deadline for voters who wish to participate in the next election.
• You can register by downloading a copy of the National Mail Voter Registration Form online. You can also visit the office of the local election official in your city or county.
• According to the US Election Assistance Commission, you can also register to vote "when applying for a driver's license or identity card at State DMV or driver's licensing offices, State offices providing public assistance, State offices providing State-funded programs for the disabled, and at armed forces recruitment offices."

Register to vote from the convenience of your home. Go to CAIR's Rock the Vote-sponsored online voter registration tool. To watch CAIR's video on how to register to vote, click here.

Obtain a copy of the National Mail Voter Registration Form here.

Specific information about registering to vote in your state can be found here.

Want to know more? Need help or advice? Call CAIR and talk to our government affairs department.

If you Don't Vote, Don't Complain

It is essential that American Muslims participate in our nation's democratic process. There are many ways to do this; one of the simplest and most critical is voting in national and local elections. Civic participation, especially voting, is a citizenship right.

It is our duty to give our leaders sincere advice. We should support public officials who prove themselves trustworthy and a benefit to the nation. We should vote to remove them from public office when they do not.

Islam's message is comprehensive, encompassing all aspects of life. Inaction--or worse, cynicism--denies this. If you are not present to give your opinions others will do so for you. Your participation in public affairs protects Muslims and promotes good in society--reducing poverty, making quality medical care easily accessible, and ensuring everyone's civil liberties.

If you're planning to participate in national or state elections by conducting voter registration drives, get-out-the-vote drives or other election activities, we hope you will find these materials helpful:

• Registering to Vote
• Conducting a Voter Registration Drive
• Creating Voter Guides
• Get Out the Vote Drives and Other Election Activities
  • Sample Calling Script
  • Sample Election Advisory
  • Sample Exit Poll and Press Release for Poll Results

Muslims should not limit their desire to promote good to any exclusive group. We have strong values and ethics to contribute to American culture. Good Islamic character compels us to care for others and show concern for their problems. Faith should compel us to act in ways that benefit all people.

If you're not already registered, please register to vote!

Want to know more? Need help or advice? Call CAIR and talk to our government affairs department.

CAIR_Civic_Guide.pdf

 

This page is designed help you work more effectively with a congressional office.

According to the Congressional Management Foundation, only 5 to 7 percent of the population communicates with their elected officials. It's fun to share our opinions with our friends and at the dinner table; it's vital that we share these same opinions with those in policy making positions who pass the laws that impact our daily lives, from the taxes we pay to the civil rights we are obliged to protect.

CAIR has shown again and again the power of individuals communicating with decision makers. Put your faith into action and be sure your congressperson addresses the issues that concern you and your family.

Public officials are elected to serve the interests of their constituents. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are elected by the people living within a defined geographic area in a state known as a congressional district. U.S. senators serve everyone who lives in their state.

You are represented in the U.S. Congress by one representative and two senators.

What can a congressional office do?

Crafting law and shaping policy are among the primary responsibilities of members of congress. Article I of the U.S. Constitution grants congress "all legislative powers" in government. Among these powers are coining money, maintaining the military and regulating commerce. In general, legislative and policy work is handled by the congressperson's office in Washington, D.C.

Another important task for congressional offices is constituent service. This entails everything from helping constituents address major issues with government agencies to sending birthday greetings and flags that have flown over the U.S. Capitol. Congressional offices can also: assist constituents with appointments to U.S. military academies; aid the immigration process; facilitate access to housing assistance and subsidies; help in acquiring information in federal prison cases; and can point entrepreneurs toward government programs that can help their business. In general, this work is handled by the congressperson's office or offices in the district or state he or she represents.

Know your needs; understand their needs

Members of Congress rely on constituents to help them shape their positions regarding the issues of the day. They seek the insights of community leaders and highly-regarded constituents.

When approaching a member of Congress, it is important to be clear about your purpose. As a community leader, you may be looking to foster a long-term relationship. As a concerned citizen, you may want to see action on a particular issue or get your legislator to vote a certain way on an important piece of legislation.

Regardless of your intent or purpose, be specific in your requests and allow yourself the opportunity to follow up. This will ensure that you are building toward a relationship rather than a one-time interaction. For instance asking, "Will you vote in favor of legislation X" or "Will you bring this point up during debate on the House floor" are examples of specific requests. If you are in a position to organize a town hall meeting, inviting the congressperson to visit with the community is another good strategy.

Do not tell the congressperson or their staff that you want to "make them aware of" an issue. Your issue may be fascinating, but their schedules are overloaded. Once they find you are not asking for anything specific, their attention may drift.

Equally important to knowing your goals is understanding the needs of the congressperson and their staff. First and foremost, members of Congress are responsible to the voters in their districts. Voters are the boss and elections are the annual review. You may have the best issue in the world, but if it does not find support in the district it may be hard to convince the congressperson.

It is recommended that you do some reading about the congressperson's views and priorities before your meeting. Information about the congressperson can be found through a visit to his or her website, searching for information about him or her on the internet, or reading articles about him or her in the local paper.

Your reputation

Building a reputation is important. When you call an office, your reputation can result in your phone call going to a decision maker or being transferred to "our convenient general complaint voicemail box that is reviewed daily."

Be honest about what you can and cannot do. Never make promises you can't keep and keep the ones you make. In making a presentation, do not omit information that harms your case but is critical to the issue.

Don't wear out your welcome. Constant visits and letters will strain even the best of friendships. You must balance your need to keep your issue "top of mind" with the reality that a congressional office is inundated with people and issues.

Pitching your issue

As you frame your arguments to elicit support for your concerns, think about how the congressperson adopting the issue will help you both, and how it will impact their district.

Equally, always be able to compromise. On issues where you cannot come to a mutually agreeable conclusion, always maintain basic courtesy. Venting your frustration may be immediately fulfilling, but in the long-term it can lead to a closed door.

Supporting Materials

For congressional consumption, materials supporting your issue should be no longer than five pages. Your first paragraph should clearly state what you are concerned about and what can be done. Research indicates that you have approximately 15 seconds, or 150 words, before the reader decides to continue with what you have written or to move on to something else.

Boil down your arguments to their most basic components, and bullet point key information and requests. Write using short sentences and paragraphs. Massive blocks of text discourage reading by those who already have too much to read. Facts and numbers are important, but don't be afraid to include a personal story that puts a human face on your issue.

There is a good formula to follow in laying out your materials:

• outline the need for change,
• propose a specific change,
• address how workable the change is,
• review the positive and negative consequences of the change, and
• rebut any arguments those who hold views different from you might present.

Even if you give the material in print, send it in an electronic form that the office can cut and paste at need. Congressional offices are always seeking good material to help them push issues forward -- be willing to provide it to them.

Congressional staff

Working with staff is important. Frequently, staffers are the office experts on their particular issues. They are also far more accessible than the typical member of Congress. Quickly respond to any requests that staffers make; remember, they are trying to act on your behalf.

Coalitions

Always be willing to build coalitions around issues. Lending your support to the concerns of other communities can bring them on board with your issues. It is sometimes politically easy to turn away from one group, but a coalition representing varied interest groups is harder to ignore.

Want to know more? Need help or advice? Call CAIR and talk to our government affairs department.

 

This page is designed to aid community members prepare for meeting with a member of Congress. In preparation for meeting with a member of Congress, it is recommended to fill out CAIR's elected official meeting planning sheet in conjunction with the information provided on this page.

Who will attend and what is their role?

Avoid delegations larger than five. If the meeting is in DC, two is the best number. Select people who will stay on message and not let their emotions get away from them. Know in advance of the meeting the job you want each member of your team to perform.

What is your outcome?

It is important to be clear about your purpose. Be specific in your requests and create the opportunity to follow up. For instance asking, "Will you vote in favor of legislation X" or "Will you bring this point up during debate on the House floor" are examples of specific requests. Make sure you have a name and contact information so you can follow-up. If you are in a position to organize a town hall with Muslim constituents, inviting the congressperson to visit with the community is another good strategy.

Pitching Your Issue

As you frame your arguments to elicit support for your concerns, think about how the congressperson adopting the issue will help you both, and how it will impact their district. Make adopting your position appealing to their interests. Try to mix a brief personal story in with your facts and figures.

Best Practices

• Be punctual. Plan on meeting for no more than fifteen minutes; however, be willing to stay longer if the congressperson is receptive.
• Know the congressperson's views and priorities before your meeting; this will help you frame the most convincing argument. This information can be found through a visit to his or her website, searching the internet, or reading articles about him or her in the local paper. On issues where you cannot come to a mutually agreeable conclusion, always maintain basic courtesy.
• Be factual and honest. Summarize your three most important points at the beginning and end of the meeting. Never argue motivations, only the merits of the issues.

Things to Avoid

Don't make commitments you cannot keep. Don't tell the congressperson or their staff that you want to "make them aware of" an issue. Once they find you're not asking for anything specific, their attention may drift.

Supporting Materials

Materials supporting your issue should be no more than five pages in length. Your first paragraph should clearly state what you are concerned about and what can be done.

After the Meeting

Fill out a copy of CAIR's lobby meeting report to document the meeting. Send a thank you note to everyone with whom you met. Promptly send any material you promised and take any action to which you committed. Call in two weeks and ask what action has been taken.

Want to know more? Need help or advice? Call CAIR and talk to our government affairs department.

 

This page is designed to help you arrange to meet with a congressional office.

Put your faith into action, arrange to meet the people who are elected to serve you and share your opinions with them.

• Research shows that only about 7% of voters contact their elected officials;
• Congresspersons maintain easy-to-reach in-district offices to serve their constituents;
• You are not expected to be an expert, just a concerned citizen who has an opinion and maybe a story to go along with it.

Know who represents you

To find out who represents you in the U.S. Congress and how to contact them, click here [Link to CAIR webpage: Contact Your Elected Representatives]. You can also find out by calling the Capitol Hill Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 (have your zip code ready) or CAIR at (202) 488-8787.

Get contact information for the member's scheduler

Call the member's office and ask for the proper spelling of the scheduler's name and their fax number and email address.

Send a written request for a meeting

Include the following information: the topic you wish to discuss at the meeting; names of those who will attend, if possible limit your group to no more than five; when you would like to meet and your contact information. Include your address so they can verify that you are a constituent. Members are generally in the district weekends and during congressional recess periods. Members are generally in Washington, D.C. on weekdays.

Send your request

Send the request to the congressperson's scheduler by fax and e-mail.

Confirm the request was received

Wait two business days and then call the scheduler to confirm that your request was received.

Be politely persistent

Be patient and flexible; it may take several calls to get a firm meeting time.

Call the day before

Call the day before your appointment to reconfirm it.

Want to know more? Need help or advice? Call CAIR and talk to our government affairs department.

 

These are guidelines to help you call a congressional office to express your views on any issue.

Simple and Effective Tips for Phone Calls

• If it makes you feel more comfortable or helps you organize your thoughts, write your key points on a piece of paper before you call.
• Ask the person to whom you speak for their name and title and write it down.
• Express how you feel, but avoid being confrontational or argumentative. Always remain polite and professional even if the person you are speaking with seems disinterested or hostile.
• Present your message clearly and simply.
• Get to the point quickly.
• Know what you want the member to do and ask them to do it. ("I want the congressperson to vote in favor of Legislation X.")
• Ask again for the congressperson to take action.
• Let the staffer know that you will be following up.
• Using the person's name, tell the staffer you will be calling them back to track the congressperson's actions on the issue or legislation. (This will create greater responsibility for that particular staffer and will generate more of your comments going directly to the congressperson.)
• If the Congressperson or the staffer expresses something with which you agree, thank them.
• Lastly, be sure to follow up on your phone call. It is important for the congressperson to know that they will be held accountable.

Things to Expect When You Call

• You will most likely speak to a staffer, not the member of Congress. This is normal practice.
• They will generally ask for your name and contact information, primarily your zip code. This is how the office identifies that you live in their district. They cannot ask your citizenship status.
• Due to the volume of incoming calls, congressional offices frequently track only calls for or calls against many issues. Frequently, you will not be asked for any details other than whether you support or oppose the issue or legislation.

Want to know more? Need help or advice? Call CAIR and talk to our government affairs department.

 

Welcome to CAIR's government affairs department legislative action center. We are committed to helping Muslims and all Americans who value civil liberties make their voices heard in Congress, the White House and across the nation.

CAIR encourages you to take action by contacting your elected representatives about legislation and policies that impact the civil rights of American Muslims.

Muslim Americans have the benefit of the guidance, support and wisdom of the many minority groups who have fought discrimination before us. CAIR believes that is the Muslim community's civic duty to stand firmly for Islamic and constitutional principles in the face of efforts to erode the liberties our nation's founders implemented. Not to do so would be a failure to honor the struggle of those before us and a disservice to the next minority that will be the subject of fear, misunderstanding and discrimination.

In the following pages, you will find tips and best practices for:

• Calling a congressional office
• Arranging to meet with members of Congress
• Meeting with a member of Congress
• Working with a congressional office

Click on any of the action alerts or videos below for specific details on how you can get involved. Also check out our past action alerts and videos.

Current CAIR Action Alerts

CAIR Action Alert -- Ask Congress to Remove Detention Provisions from NDAA (5-21-2012) [Link to AA]

Congress has once again begun consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2013 (NDAA). While this annual defense authorization act provides valuable funding for the Armed Forces, it also contains misleading provisions that fail to put an end to threat of indefinite military detention within the United States.

CAIR is urging everyone who cares about civil liberties to contact their members of Congress and ask them to support legislation that reaffirms the due process rights of all Americans and repairs the damage done to the U.S. Constitution by last year's NDAA. (Read more)

CAIR Action Alert -- Tell Congress to End Racial Profiling (5-1-2012) [Link to AA]

Last fall Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) introduced the End Racial Profiling Act of 2011 (S.1670/H.R. 3618). If passed, this act will promote measures to eliminate profiling based on race, ethnicity, national origin, and religion by federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement.

At the same time, Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Conyers have gathered signatures from 13 senators and 53 representatives asking the Department of Justice to change its policy on racial profiling. Revisions to the guidance include measures that will prevent profiling based on religion and national origin and eliminate loopholes that permit profiling at U.S. borders and for reasons of national security. (Read more)

CAIR is urging everyone who cares about civil liberties to contact to contact their members of Congress and ask them to end racial profiling in America.

Past CAIR Legislative Action Alerts

Urge Kansas Governor Not to Sign Anti-Sharia Bill (5-15-2012) [Link to AA]

Tell Congress to End Indefinite Detention (5-9-2012) [Link to AA]

Ask Elected Officials to Oppose South Dakota Anti-Sharia Bill (2-22-2012) [Link to AA]

Say No to Indefinite Military Detention of U.S. Citizens (12-6-2011) [Link to AA]

Ask Senate to Reject Detaining U.S. Citizens Without Charge or Trial (12-1-2011) [Link to AA]

Ask Congress to Remove Language Targeting Muslims from DHS Bills (10-19-2011) [Link to AA]

CAIR Video Action Alert: Rally Against Torture June 24th in Washington, D.C. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PyhwBpML6Q
CAIR Video Action Alert: Call for an End to Racial Profiling in America http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF8g2fkfU14

CAIR Video Action Alert: Urge Kansas Governor to Veto Anti-Sharia Bill (5/15/12) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt_ZgVHYdSg
CAIR Video Action Alert: Ask Elected Officials to Oppose South Dakota Anti-Sharia Bill (2-22-12) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQRDXehWbtw
CAIR Video Action Alert: Ask President Obama to Veto Indefinite Detention of U.S. Citizens (12-30-11) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxfiyDTE_Z0

Want to know more? Need help or advice? Call CAIR and talk to our government affairs department.

Legislative Fact Sheet

(October 2011)

The Issue

• Current Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workforce education programs do not provide sufficient enough time, training or resources on passenger civil rights to prevent security personnel from screening passengers based on race, ethnicity, national origin or religion.
• CAIR has consistently encouraged the TSA to eliminated bias in its trainings and amongst security personnel by adopting screening measures that do not rely on protected characteristics to identify security threats. However, a number of recent high profile civil rights cases illustrate that the TSA has not yet eliminated such biases.
• The civil rights of all passengers remain threatened by not adequately training transportation security officers. Without adequate civil rights training, TSA pilot programs like Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques (SPOT) are also left vulnerable to mismanagement, manipulation or abuse.

What is being asked of members of Congress?

• Support comprehensive reform of TSA workforce education programs to require sufficient enough time, training and resources on passenger civil rights. Revise the Transportation Security Administration Authorization Act of 2011 to include:
• An amendment to the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (Public Law 107-71), that:
  • Increases the number of hours required for initial screener classroom instruction and on-the-job training in TSA policies and procedures that protect and promote the civil rights of all passengers.
  • Requires in the annual proficiency reviews of security personnel a demonstration of the knowledge and skills necessary to perform screening in compliance with passenger civil rights.
• A provision that prevents the use of trainers who demonstrate bias toward Islam and Muslims or other minorities.

Reasons to Support

Current TSA policies and procedures require passenger screenings to be based on specific observed behaviors and not on appearance, race, ethnicity or religion. However, transportation security officers do not always practice such guidelines due to lack of training, bias in trainings, and in some unfortunate cases, personal bias.

• A Lack of Sufficient Training: In October 2010, the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General released a critical report of the TSA's screening workforce training program. The report found that the "TSA does not ensure that [transportation security officers] (TSOs) are provided the time they need to effectively complete training requirements," and that, "TSOs described rushing through course material without devoting the attention needed to retain the lessons."
• Only Two to Three Weeks of Training: TSA officers are not provided with enough time to adequately train. Current workforce training programs for TSOs only consist of 40 hours of initial screener classroom instruction and 60 hours of on-the-job training. Those selected as behavior detection officers (BDOs) for the SPOT program only undergo four days of behavioral classroom instruction and analysis, and 24 hours of on-the-job training.
• Training Procedures Promote Stereotypes (I): Recent media accounts in May 2011 criticized the TSA for hiring an individual who appeared Middle Eastern/South Asian in descent to test screeners at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport by carrying a shaving kit made to look like a bomb. Civil rights advocates believe that when the TSA resorts to ethnic and religious stereotypes in training drills, it leads to inappropriate profiling in passenger screenings.
• Training Procedures Promote Stereotypes (II): Recent media accounts in May 2011 also criticized DHS, which oversees the TSA, for sponsoring a South Dakota Department of Public Safety conference that paid Islamophobe Walid Shoebat to speak at the event. Shoebat claims that "Islam is the devil," there are "many parallels between the Antichrist and Islam," and that President Obama is a Muslim.
• Programs Susceptible to Civil Rights Abuses: According to an internal TSA investigation, known as the "Boston Report," from early 2008 to late 2009, BDOs engaged in widespread racial profiling at the Newark Liberty International Airport. Specifically, BDOs would single out Mexican and Dominican passengers as a way to drive-up immigration referrals. BDOs would then falsify behavioral reports to justify their scrutiny. BDOs engaged in such practices were nicknamed "Mexican hunters" by colleagues.
• Screeners Lack Training on Civil Rights (I): In August 2009, college student Nick George was interrogated, handcuffed and detained for nearly five hours at the Philadelphia International Airport because TSOs had discovered a set of English-Arabic flashcards on his person. The TSA's treatment of Mr. George was a violation of his First and Fourth Amendment rights to free speech and protection against unreasonable search and seizure.
• Screeners Lack Training on Civil Rights (II): In January 2009, TSA officials and JetBlue Airways paid $240,000 to Raed Jarrad to settle charges that they had discriminated against him because of his ethnicity and wearing a T-shirt with Arabic writing. In order to board the plane, the TSA forced Mr. Jarrad to cover up his T-shirt with another T-shirt and made him ride in the back of the plane. Such actions were a clear violation of Mr. Jarrad's right to free speech and expression and DOJ's 2003 guideline on racial profiling.