Dear NAA Members,

The past few elections have taught us an important lesson - elections are won (or lost) by just a few votes. If you really believe one vote cannot make a difference, consider the historical impact of the single vote that:

• Caused Charles I to be executed in 1649.
• Made English the national language in the United States rather than German in 1776.
• Elected Thomas Jefferson president in 1800.
• Admitted Texas, California, Oregon and Idaho into the US.
• Saved Andrew Johnson from impeachment.
• Saved the Selective Service 12 weeks before Pearl Harbor.

Voting is a constitutional right and the basis for our democracy today. Billions of people around the world cannot cast even one meaningful ballot- but we can and we should.

As we approach the 2008 elections the National Apartment Association, with assistance from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, has established a Website to aid in the election process for our members and their friends, employees and residents. I encourage you to use www.ApartmentVotesCount.org as your guide to registering people to vote, learning about candidates in your area and finding answers to your election-related questions.

Please register to vote and educate yourself on the candidates. Your vote will make a difference in helping to elect a Congress that is responsive to the needs of our industry.

Regards,
Douglas S. Culkin, CAE
Vice President