The AFL-CIO today announced a series of radio advertisements featuring celebrity spokespeople urging citizens to vote and telling them how to be prepared to protect their vote on Election Day. The spots are being aired from October 25 through November 4 on urban and Spanish-language radio stations in 16 media markets across the country.

The radio ads feature rapper Ludacris, movie actor Edward James Olmos, television star Judge Mathis, and “CSI: NY” actor Hill Harper, who donated their services. They remind voters to verify their voter registration and polling place ahead of time, bring ID to the polls on Election Day, and stay in line to cast their votes, even if polls close while they are in line.

“This is a critical election for working families, so we must ensure that citizens know their voting rights and are prepared to do whatever it takes on Election Day to have their votes counted,” said AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker.

The ads are geared towards African American and Hispanic voters because of the barriers to voting – especially voter intimidation and suppression efforts – that these communities have historically faced. The spots recorded by Ludacris, Hill Harper and Judge Mathis will run on radio stations with a majority African American audience in Detroit; Jackson, Miss.; St. Louis and Kansas City, Mo.; Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio; Philadelphia; and Norfolk and Richmond, Va. Two spots recorded by Edward James Olmos in Spanish, as well as an additional Spanish language spot, will run on Spanish language radio stations in Denver and Pueblo, Colo.; Miami and Orlando, Fla.; Charlotte, N.C.; Santa Fe, N.M.; Cleveland; Philadelphia; and Northern Va.

The spots, funded by contributions from AFL-CIO affiliated unions, are a key part of the AFL-CIO’s “My Vote, My Right” voter protection effort. In nine states, the AFL-CIO is educating voters about their rights, working with election officials about election administration and recruiting and training volunteer poll monitors and workers. On Election Day, AFL-CIO lawyers will also be on-hand to provide legal support for voters who encounter problems.

"The overall objective of our voter protection campaign is to have the nation's citizens successfully get to the polls, cast ballots, and have their ballots counted," said American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) National Vice President for Women and Fair Practices Andrea E. Brooks." Americans cannot continue to have their ability to participate in the democratic process taken away from them."

Contact: Rachele Huennekens (202) 637-5018