Politicians will only listen to us if we are strong and let them know it. That is why we urge all Polish Americans to register to vote. Those states where Polish Americans are numerous will be of utmost importance in the coming elections.

Every four years the electoral machine of the United States moves on in full force. What matters to us is to change the attitude towards immigrants and regulations that affect us. The Bush administration is one of the least immigrant-friendly administrations in U.S. history.

We should and are even obliged to change it.

But to do so, we have to play by the rules. Politicians will listen to us and take our issues into

consideration only when we exercise our right to vote. That is why we have to become a group of real influence.

We urge all Polish Americans to vote. Green-card holders should apply for citizenship and register to vote. There are still seven months left to do it. The Polish Students' Organization will help. They are organizing a campaign to register voters. Meetings will be held in parishes and students will help people fill out the forms.

Our power

In some counties, Polish Americans constitute up to 30 percent of the population.

Those numbers cannot be ignored. It is time for us to start using this power. States in the Midwest and Northeast will be important in the election battle. According to estimates, the winner will have to carry the swing states like Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. These all have large Polish communities.

How to do it

Election day is on Nov. 2, 2004, the first Tuesday of the month. The deadline to register is Oct. 4; voters must be registered. Voters in New York State have to: be a U.S. citizens; be at least 18-years-old on the day of the election; register 25 days prior to election day; not claim the right to vote elsewhere; not be incarcerated, or on parole for a felony conviction.