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Elections 2007
To register to vote, visit the PA Department of State. 
The deadline to register for the November 6 general election is October 9, 2007.

Scroll down for links to election-based resources, including the websites of major party candidates for county leadership throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania.

The Cultural Agenda

We're asking two things of all candidates for office in our region:

• A cabinet-level Office of Cultural Affairs in the City of Philadelphia, and Cultural Advisory Councils in the suburban counties.
  
• A regional cultural fund with a target level of $60 million in annual funding. 

We hope you'll join us in this effort to Speak Out for the Arts!  Sign up for our online action center to receive news alerts and take action on cultural issues.  Let the candidates know you care about arts and culture, and ask them to share their cultural platform with you.

If you are the leader of an arts and culture institution, we also ask for your support in:

• Drawing attention to cultural issues in the election cycle during “curtain speeches” at all public events between now and November 6. A sample curtain speech is provided below.
• Distributing “Vote for the Arts” leaflets to audience members or attendees at all public events before November 6. Click here to access a PDF of the leaflet.
• Providing a link from your organization’s website to the Cultural Alliance’s Online Action Center.
• Speaking to your board and staff about cultural issues in relation to the upcoming elections.

Sample Curtain Speech
Use your introductory announcements to draw attention to the upcoming elections. Feel free to use the suggested language below, or create your own.  (Running time of sample speech is under a minute and a half.)

"Tonight, we’d like to begin our program by celebrating the arts-going voter.  We know that 88% of arts attendees are active voters, and this year there are several important elections in our region.

As an arts-going voter, you play an important role in shaping the issues addressed by candidates. You are the link between candidates and their political offices. You are the citizen they are working with to create policy announcements and campaign platforms.

For the next few weeks, they will be looking to you for a response. So, let them know that you care about arts and culture. If you find yourself at a community forum, ask the candidates questions about their plans for supporting the arts and culture sector.

Point out that arts and culture are vital components in building the solutions that will strengthen our neighborhoods, engage and educate our youth, increase our economic competitiveness, and retain our businesses and residents.

Be the voice that brings arts and culture to the table, and Speak Out for the Arts. For other ways to help, visit www.philaculture.org. Thank you."

Links to Major Party Candidate Websites

Mayor of Philadelphia

Michael Nutter (D)

Al Taubenberger (R)

Bucks County Commissioners