FREMONT: The South Asian Bar Association, through its Civil Rights Committee, launched its 2008 non-partisan voter registration project this weekend at the Gurdwara Sahib, Fremont, California. Thousands of South Asians visited the Gurdwara on Sunday April 13 for Vaisakhi, a religious holiday celebrated by many South Asians.

The event was a perfect opportunity for SABA to reach out to the South Asian community and register eligible citizens to vote in the 2008 elections. SABA is committed to the political empowerment of the South Asian community. South Asians make up a significant portion of the population in Northern California and together can make a considerable impact on the political process.

Through its outreach efforts, SABA hopes to mobilize thousands of South Asian voters. South Asian citizens who are eligible but are not registered to vote come from a variety of backgrounds ranging from business owners and professionals to students and minimum wage employees, all of whom pay taxes, are subject to the laws of the United States, and have a vested interest in the outcome of every election.

It is SABA's objective to encourage all South Asians to familiarize themselves with the political process and actively participate in all elections on the local and national level.SABA's goal is to register as many voters as possible by May 19 for the Direct Primary on June 3, and by October 20 for the General Elections on November 4.

Additional drives will be set-up throughout the Bay Area at venues that include South Asian restaurants, festivals, temples, mosques and business forums.