Voter drives adopting new methods

By BILL KACZOR, Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- A growing number of organizations that sponsor voter registration drives are turning to sophisticated data-mining to target specific groups such as young people, ethnic minorities and conservative Christians.

They also are using direct mail, the Internet and other new strategies partly in response to state laws that have restricted traditional face-to-face registration drives.

That's one reason that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and National Council of La Raza are partnering with the Voter Participation Center, a pioneer in direct-mail registration drives.

The Washington, D.C.-based center is mailing nearly 4 million applications targeted to minorities, unmarried women and young people.

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