WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations has started a campaign to register more than 100,000 Muslim voters before the November elections.
The effort began on Eid al-Adha, the Islamic Feast of Sacrifice, which comes at the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. The holiday this year started Feb. 22. Voter registration drives were planned for Washington, D.C., California, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio.
Since Sept. 11, CAIR and other political groups have encouraged Muslims to express their opinions to policy makers. Muslim political groups gained visibility in the 2000 presidential race by endorsing George W. Bush. But there are no Muslims in Congress, on the Supreme Court or in the highest-ranking positions in the Bush administration.
``A vote demonstrates that you are interested in your country and committed to helping make it a better place, something all Americans respect,'' the council wrote in its voter's guide.
``You pay taxes. Whether you vote or not, the government still takes a large share of your yearly income to pay for programs that you may or may not support. Why let them spend money on things that you don't support?''
The group conducted a survey in August that found 75 percent of Muslims eligible to vote were registered. Still, organizers want to register more members of their faith.
Estimates of the number of Muslims in the United States vary widely – from 2 million up to 6 million.