Los Angeles, CA – Over the next few months, the Armenian National Committee-Western Region (ANC-WR) interns will be coordinating a voter registration drive in an effort to increase Armenian American voter registration throughout the greater Los Angeles area. In addition, the interns hope to raise awareness about the importance of regularly voting and how to keep informed about issues of concern to the community.

“Registering the Armenian community to vote will not only help advance Armenian American issues, but it will build more interest in our government’s decisions and allow Armenian Americans to have a greater role in shaping the communities in which they live,” said Carina Khanjian, one of the interns working on the project.

Khanjian is joined in the effort by ANC-WR interns Lori Keshishian and Christine Semerdjian. Together, they will be registering voters at local churches, college and high school campuses, as well as community centers among other sites. Working in conjunction with local ANCs and community organizations, the interns are hoping to register at least 500 new voters by May 1, 2008.

“Working with members of the Armenian community to promote understanding of the right to vote is important because we strive to ensure that the community is taking an active role in government processes”, stated ANC-WR Executive Director Andrew Kzirian.

The Los Angeles Armenian community is estimated to be over 500,000 strong. Traditionally, the Armenian American community has a strong showing at the polls come Election Day. The Armenian National Committee regularly promotes voter registration as a means of the community taking an active role in civic life and public affairs.

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANC-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

Photo caption: Lori Kechichian, Christine Semerdjian, and Carina Khanjian (L-R background) discuss the upcoming voter registration drive with ANC-WR IEP graduate David Arakelyan (left) and ANC-WR Community Relations Director Haig Hovsepian (right).