GO VOTE!!

[mozyr]

Not intending on starting a flame war here, but if you're of age, you're a US citizen, and you have a voter registration card and a driver's license.... Today is November 2. Get off the computer and vote! Especially if you're in the 18-23 age bracket -- we are the majority in this country, and yet we have the lowest voter turnout record.

I don't care who you vote for even if you do just write someone in -- people have fought and died for your right to do so. And, ladies, if it wasn't for our foremothers during the suffrage movement, we wouldn't have the right to vote. Honor their memory and the sacrifices they made by doing your civic duty.

Go make a difference in history today and GO VOTE!! It's one of the most important things you can do.

-- Sarah, who turned in her mail-in ballot at the end of September

-----

What to Do on Election Day

ivics books make voting look like a breeze, but it can be hard work. Voter rolls are inaccurate, ID requirements vary and are erratically enforced, partisans try to disqualify likely supporters of their opponents, and lines at the polls can be excruciatingly long. In 2000, as many as six million presidential votes were lost for technical reasons, and this year the number could be even larger. Voters, particularly in battleground states, should head to the voting booth prepared to fight for their vote to be counted:

1. Know where to go. In many states, you will not be allowed to vote if you show up at the wrong polling place. Worse still, you may be given a provisional ballot to vote on that will later be thrown out. Your board of elections can tell you where to vote. If you can't reach the board, a nonpartisan hotline, 1-866-OURVOTE, has a polling place locator. So does the Web site www.mypollingplace.com.

2. Bring proper ID. The rules vary by state. If you have a photo ID, it's wise to bring it, just in case. Too often, poll workers demand ID when it is not required, or demand the wrong ID. If you do not know the law in your jurisdiction, you should check your local board of elections Web site.

3. Review the sample ballot before voting. Ballots are often confusing, and their designs can change considerably from election to election. And as the infamous "butterfly ballot" showed in 2000, a poorly designed ballot can trick voters into choosing a candidate they did not intend. If you have questions about how to vote on your ballot, ask a poll worker or poll monitor for help.

4. Check your ballot before finalizing your vote. As we saw in 2000, if punch card chads are not punched out precisely, votes may not be counted. On electronic machines, a brush of the hand can erase or change a vote. On paper ballots, stray or incomplete marks can disqualify a vote.

5. Know your rights concerning provisional ballots. No voter can be turned away in any state this year without being allowed to vote. If there is a question about your eligibility, you must be allowed to vote on a provisional ballot, the validity of which will be determined later. But if you are entitled to vote on a regular ballot, you should insist on doing so, since a provisional ballot may be disqualified later on a technicality.

6. Know where to turn for help. If you experience problems voting, or if you see anything improper at the polls, you may want to get help. There will be nonpartisan poll monitors at many polling places. (There may also be partisan poll watchers, and it's possible one of them may be the person objecting to your voting.) It is a good idea to bring a cellphone, and phone numbers of nonpartisan hotlines like the Election Protection program's 1-866-OURVOTE and Common Cause's 1-866-MYVOTE1.

7. Be prepared for long lines. In some precincts, the wait may stretch into hours. Try to get to your polling place very early in the morning, or between the before-work and after-work rushes. As long as you are in line before the polls close, you are legally entitled to vote. Do not let poll workers close the polls until you have voted.

Making Votes Count: Editorials in this series remain online at nytimes.com/makingvotescount.

[Eviticus]

It's amusing, because one of the people running for some high judicial position in Illinois, I know personally. I know his family, and went to school with his son for 8 years. Even though he ran opposed, I couldn't in good faith vote for that man. But for everything else, I did mark a spot in the ballot.

Just a reminder, you may not like one, or either, of the candidates. But go out and vote if you can. I know it sounds corny and pushy, but it's pretty much your civic duty. ^.^

[Sivara]

YES! VOTE!

Thanks for posting that bit from the NY Times (which I read every day, and I recall seeing that piece).

Last night I checked my state and county election boards to find out who is running in my district. I then Googled their names and checked out their websites. I learned more about the names on the ballots, and I'm prepared for voting today. I recommend that all voters do the same.

[mozyr]

Good. I'm glad. I try to keep politics and whatnot out of the game arena, but this is really important. I mean, there seriously is no excuse not to vote. If you don't have a car, request a mail-in ballot. It doesn't cost anything (not even for postage).

Can't say I know any politicians, though. I might be working for some in the coming weeks. *keeps her fingers crossed* I mean, writing in a candidate if you don't like either of them is better than not voting at all, but that's just my opinion.

-- Sarah

[Valkyr]

democracy so screwed me...i couldnt vote for nader on my ballot so i chose Michael Peroutka

[Eviticus]

Conversation recently held. "Who votes for Nader? Seriously?" "A brain dead fish, a few people with more dreams then education, and Nader's mother."

[mozyr]

Ha ha! True. I know a registered Communist who voted for Bush, though. His reasoning? "It'll bring about the revolution!"

I fear for humanity.

No wonder I've totally lost my faith in it.

-- Sarah

[Prrsha]

I fear for humanity.

No wonder I've totally lost my faith in it.

-- Sarah

Ditto.

[mozyr]

My head hurts. I spent most of last night at an election party in Tucson at a hotel amongst friends and...when things started to look unfavorable, we all just went home. Kind of sad, but oh well. That's just the way things go. *shrugs*

-- Sarah

[Chimpchimp]

I'm still upset that Tony Blair wasn't on my ballet ><

[sheenia]

I dont think i will vote this go around, i mean, who is there to vote for... Bush just stinks and is a little and i have never heard of this Kerry guy before this years election.... i dont know, but my mama always said, "Never trust strangers."

[mozyr]

*grinds her teeth*

No. Not going to comment.

All I'm going to say is that when asked at my legislative interview today, what I thought one of the most important issues was in Arizona is this:

"I feel that of all the issues facing Arizonans today, one of the most important issues is one that faces young people my age. That issue is not as you would assume, education. It is voter registration and voter apathy. People of my generation in this state -- and we are in the majority -- need to be taught that voting is one of the most, if not THE most, important things that they can do. And this isn't something that should just be pushed during elections, because it makes voting seem like a fad; 'Oh, it's just an election year. I guess I'll go vote now...' No. Voter registration and the importance of voting needs to be stressed. All. The. Time. Issues like health care and education are addressed all the time in this state, and things get done about them. Voter registration has not been seriously mentioned by this legislature until this year -- an election year. This is also something that needs to take top priority in our state, because not only does it decide MY future, but it decides YOUR future as legislators as well."

I think they really liked that answer.

-- Sarah

[Kopopo]

Amen. If you're beteen 18-25 then you NEED to register. If you don't then I'll beat on you if ever you complain about how the country or your local government is run. You CAN make a difference if you just put forth the effort to mail in a registration card. It doens't even cost you anything so get out there and do it!

[mozyr]

All I have to say is that only 1 in 10 18-25 year olds voted. This is among those who were actually REGISTERED to vote.

Sad.

And to think that we're actually the majority in this country. No wonder no one takes us seriously.

God, I don't care who you vote for. Honestly. Just vote. In the next election.

-- Sarah

[Rekahkun]

registering to vote was even easier for me. they asked me if i wanted to when i got my drivers licence. i said "uh, yah, sure" and i was registered (and btw i did vote and i turned 25 a month ago)

[mozyr]

I don't remember where I registered to vote, but I know you can do it at the DMV. I just remember registering on the same day that I turned 18 (which would be Jan. 20, 2000).

Hooray. My birthday is on Inauguration Day this year. Hee.

-- Sarah

[xaresity]

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[xaresity]

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