FMCA supports full-timers' voting rights

It’s odd, when you think about it.

Even American citizens who are living or stationed abroad during an election year are permitted to vote absentee in any federal election.

Yet, RV owners who live and travel full-time in their RVs in the United States have, on occasion, been denied the right to vote. Why? Because they have no “residential” address.

These full-time RVers, who exercise their freedom to see this great country firsthand, have been denied a fundamental Constitutional right. Included in this group are military veterans who defended this very right.

Voter eligibility
To vote in America, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, and registered to vote. Citizens cannot be debarred based on race or color, gender, or age (for citizens18 or older). Aside from these qualifications, state legislatures are responsible for regulating voter eligibility.

Some states have restrictions based on felony convictions and other factors, such as residency. A Tennessee law, for instance, prohibits residents from using a commercial address for their voter registration.

The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (“Motor Voter Act”) was intended to make it easier for all Americans to register to vote and to maintain their registration. For many full-time RVers, though, this remains a challenge.

Letter-writing campaign
In late January, FMCA initiated a letter-writing campaign to focus legislators’ attention on the voting rights issue and how it affects thousands of eligible voters. Approximately 13,000 FMCA member families (26,000 people) live in their motorhomes full-time.

FMCA posted a letter on its Web site for members to copy and send to their state senators and state representatives. The letter asks legislators to amend the National Voter Registration Act to make it clear that full-time RV residents must be provided the right to register to vote.

The Escapees RV Club promoted a letter-writing campaign similar to FMCA’s. The Escapees has more than 34,000 member families who enjoy full-time RVing.

“There is no better time to work hard to get the law changed, since this is an election year,” said Max Durbin, chairman of FMCA’s Governmental and Legislative Affairs Committee. “All we can do is hope that Congress will do something other than turn a blind eye to our concerns.”

Durbin acknowledged that once full-timers establish the right to vote, other residence and license issues may surface. “We think all citizens have a Constitutional right to vote in national elections,” he said. “At this time, we have decided to attack one problem at a time.”

Suffrage movement?
The recent focus on voting rights comes in the wake of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee. In one Tennessee county, 286 full-time RVers were removed from the voting roster over a two-year period because they did not have a genuine home address.

The ACLU’s lawsuit claims the law forces residents to “choose between their fundamental right to vote and their fundamental right to travel among the states.”

FMCA will continue to monitor the status of voting rights and act when they are unrightfully challenged, Durbin said.

Support full-time RVers' voting rights — sample letter
www.fmca.com/motorhomerights/voting/2008/sample_letter.asp