May 5, 2004, 9:08AM



OutKast 's Andre 3000 proud to be voting for first time
Associated Press

ATLANTA -- Andre 3000 of the rap duo OutKast says that when it comes to voting, he's been negligent, but things will be different this November.
3000

"Stuff came up," the 28-year-old, whose real name is Andre Benjamin, told The Atlanta Journal Constitution.

"I was out of town, I couldn't see how my vote would matter. It just wasn't that important to me," he said.

But Benjamin, one of dozens of entertainers taking part in a voting promotion, said he has "realized just how important it is."

"I'm really excited about voting for the first time," the Atlanta native said for an article published Tuesday.

Benjamin recently hosted an event for "Declare Yourself," a national nonprofit group that has raised $27 million to try to reverse the trend of a declining youth vote.

In 2000, only 36 percent of Americans ages 18-24 voted in the presidential election, census figures show. That compares with 50 percent in 1972, the year voter eligibility dropped from age 21 to 18.

"Sometimes entertainers -- movie stars and rappers -- have even more power than politicians. Sometimes all it takes is one or two people in the public eye to get people to vote," said Benjamin.

He and OutKast partner Antwan Patton have been involved since 2000 with Rock the Vote, a national group founded in 1990 that partners with MTV's Choose or Lose campaign.

That's a wise decision, i just wish would be as intelligent concerning this issue

POOK VOTE ANDRE 3000 STOP USE BRITISH ACCENT

[This message was edited Wed May 5 8:43:09 2004 by POOK]

POOK said:

May I ask why you type like this?

okaypimpn said:

POOK EDIT

BECAUSE POOK TYPE WORD WRONG

THAT ALL

EVEN MONKEY MAKE MISTAKE SOMETIME

SORRY

POOK said:

i love you POOK. even if the other's dont understand you.

I'd vote for POOK as the Most Misunderstood Org'er Of 2004

I'd present him the Platinum Monkey award!!!


take a bow...

Speech! Speech!

pook