WASHINGTON, DC, Sept 18: Muslim activists have formed a new organization called Muslim Electorates Council of America to encourage US Muslims to register their votes.

Aslam Abdullah, a Los Angeles-based Muslim activist who heads the new group, says that although there are more than eight million Muslims in America, only a few are registered voters.

“Our objective is to organize and galvanize Muslim voters to play their electoral role in the upcoming elections,” he said.

Political pundits believe that the 2004 presidential election is turning into a close contest. In such a contest, the pundits say, minority voters can play an effective role and provide a candidate with the winning votes.