(no subject)

[cleolinda]

YOU MUST VOTE.

Those links go to journal entries about what to expect at the polls--in particular, RNC poobahs challenging voter eligibility (particularly in minority-heavy areas). So, to sum up: take at least two forms of ID; esorlehcar seems to have been able to use a utility bill to satisfy one of those requirements. And as far as voter advocates go, I'd never even heard of such a thing and wouldn't have known how to find one. So if you think your eligibility might be challenged, go and ask about voter advocates before you get your ballot. Like, "Where is a voter advocate?," and get one pointed out to you. If they don't have one (!), ask for someone working with the Democratic party, one of the volunteers. Don't wait until you've got your challenged vote in your hand and they're all shifty like, "I dunno, I think the advocate went out for coffee." Find the volunteer or advocate before they know why you want her. And no matter what happens, DO NOT LEAVE. If you get challenged and you ARE eligible, you raise hell until they let you vote. And if you have trouble, come back and document it. Write down challengers' names, voting locations, the time it happened. Fight for your vote if you have to.

I personally don't think I will have a problem, as I live in a predominantly white neighborhood that will very likely vote Republican--it's downtown Birmingham that ought to worry. But this is absolutely outrageous, y'all. And it's not like the Democrats are doing this. Once again, it's the Republicans. I don't care if the weather is nasty. I don't care if the line is long. If you are American, you must go vote, because they are actively trying to disenfranchise people. This is so not on.


ETA:

From ebonlock: "If you have any questions about voting or problems being allowed to vote here's the info you need: http://www.ourvote.com/. 'Our hotline (1-866-OURVOTE/687-8683) is an immediate, on-the-spot resource staffed by lawyers and law students trained to resolve your problem.'

"They've also got links to rules for many of the states right on the main page, and remember, if there is a problem with your registration you can and should ask for a provisional ballot which will allow you to cast your vote. And if you're the slightest bit concerned about electronic voting machines you can ask for a paper ballot and they are required to give it to you."


A link from terriem: How is this shit happening in America?


ETA2: More voting problems from comments in thebratqueen's entry:

http://www.boingboing.net/2004/11/02/vote_save_error_9_ph.html

http://www.boingboing.net/2004/11/02/voting_with_paper_in.html

Comments

[terriem.livejournal.com]

Well said. As someone in a country where the idea that people will try and stop you from voting is completely unthinkable, I think it's great that there seems to be a groundswell of public American voices saying how necessary it is to go and do so.

Here's a link (http://www.thepoorman.net/images/milwaukee_poster.gif) to a shocking poster from Milwaukee. What is going on?

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I saw that, plus another one. What the HELL is wrong with these people? It's just--it's so dirty, I don't understand it at all. How can Americans pull shit like that? If you have to resort to that crap to get your candidate elected, maybe you need to go home and have a long hard think, man. Maybe you need to get into a different line of business, like tobacco executive or something.

[elbiesee.livejournal.com]

No problems like that here in Oklahoma, thank God, because I would have to be an evil smart-ass...

Q. How long have you been living at this address?

A. Oh, 'bout a year... how long have you been a godless Commie bastard?

(Or something along those lines that I wouldn't have the balls to say IRL...)

Go Ohioan Democrats! (I usually don't take sides in politics, but in this case...)

P.S. Voted. For Kerry/Edwards.

[mautakh.livejournal.com]

Being in college here in Ohio things have been nuts. I have managed to restrain myself from assualting people wearing the College Republican shirts but I may have to start setting things on fire tomorrow.

As my dad always says, vote early and vote often.

Just FYI

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

If you have any questions about voting or problems being allowed to vote here's the info you need:

http://www.ourvote.com/
"Our hotline (1-866-OURVOTE/687-8683) is an immediate, on-the-spot resource staffed by lawyers and law students trained to resolve your problem."

They've also got links to rules for many of the states right on the main page, and remember, if there is a problem with your registration you can and should ask for a provisional ballot which will allow you to cast your vote. And if you're the slightest bit concerned about electronic voting machines you can ask for a paper ballot and they are required to give it to you.

Re: Just FYI

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Thanks, that's great. I've added it to the entry, because that's important information.

And I did hear about people having problems voting straight Democrat and still coming up with "Bush/Cheney" on their ballot. Snopes.com says it's a simple mechanical error, but I don't even know how that's possible. Where I live, they have us do scantron ballots that you pencil in like SAT tests, so at least there's none of that hanging chad crap, either.

[dorothywwom.livejournal.com]

Nuff said!

My roommate and I went to the poll at 6:30. We beat the crowd but only by a titch.

[cpip.livejournal.com]

I'm headed right after work to the voting booths.

[meredith-mae.livejournal.com]

I sent in my ballot last week. They were really encouraging people to either vote early or to vote absentee, and with SIXTEEN ballot propositions in California, you have to do all the research and fill out a sample ballot at home anyway. So I'm glad I filled in my absentee ballot and mailed it. The lines are apparantly going to be quite long. In fact, the lines have been long all week for early voters. And again, this is not a swing state. I don't know what's going on. But I like it! Democracy in action.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

God, I wish they would let us do early voting here, but they don't have that in Alabama.

(P.S. Your icon is adorable.)

Just for the record...

[blimey85.livejournal.com]

Just for the record I'd like to point out that the reason Republicans are up in arms about vote fraud is becaus there has already been several cases of it happening. Here is one quick example of planted votes this morning: http://drudgereport.com/vote1.htm

There have been reports of felons casting absentee ballots in some states even though felons can't legally vote. Not only that, it's also illegal for someone to collect and deposit the ballots. You must mail your ballot yourself and this has not been happening. I think it's a real shame that shit like this happens but that's just the way things are. Apparently some dems are too scared that they'll lose if the election is fair so they are trying to rig it. Everyone is ranting about Republicans trying to stop the rigging but nobody mentions the people registered and voting multiple times, the dead people who are registered and somehow casting votes, the felons, the made up names, etc.

Re: Just for the record...

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Historically, the problems we've had in my state with voter fraud have been both due to Democrats *and* Republicans. The reason the vote challenging thing is so upsetting to me is because 1) the people they're challenging overwhelmingly have turned out, in fact, to be eligible, and 2) they're targeting minority neighborhoods. If Democrats were going to pull voter fraud, it wouldn't be in neighborhoods they were likely to carry anyway.

[cantinera.livejournal.com]

I've responded elsewhere, but if they do require two forms of ID (for address verification, etc.), they need to be telling people in line and letting people know there are provisional methods as well, so the fault isn't in the amount of ID (like your friend said, the bill was fine for her, and I've had a Ticketmaster receipt with my name and address work -- I understand why, in case of voter fraud), but the way they go about it. And people need to complain ASAP about bad poll-workers. In my experience, all poll-workers have been very good about it where I lived in California, and it's a shame some asshats are becoming a blemish on the whole system.

[spiderfarmer.livejournal.com]

I dunno about anywhere else, but here in Texas they are not required to give you a paper ballot. Trust me on this one. I spent much time talking to polling judges, the country sheriff and the mayor of my town because I was leading the senior citizens into a minor revolution about being forced to use the black boxes. The end result was that we were forced to use the black boxes.

After reading some reports on how the boxes would select Bush/Cheney for presidential choice if you voted a straight Dem ticket...I tested it...and sure enough, it selected Bush as the choice. So...I had to call the poll judges over, and show them what the machine did....and they *still* wouldn't let me have a paper ballot.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

See... that just stinks to high heaven. I don't even care which party you're voting for; you should be able to ask for a paper ballot that will leave a paper trail, and you should be able to vote as you please without a machine changing it.

[robyn-ma.livejournal.com]

i love when you break out the Pissed-Off Galadriel Icon. :) seeing it right next to 'YOU MUST VOTE' made me giggle. :D

i voted, though. :) and we had those SAT-type paper ballots.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

ALL SHALL CAST THEIR VOTE AND DESPAIR!

[illmantrim.livejournal.com]

voted and done

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Woot! Galadriel is pleased.

[atalantapendrag.livejournal.com]

To anyone who says it's too much of a hassle to vote-

I saw a story on the news last night about a guy in Houston who had a heart attack, and made the ambulance stop at an early voting location on the way to the hospital in case he didn't make it. And he didn't. But he'd cast his vote.

So, no bitching about nasty weather.


And yes, I voted.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Dude... that's hardcore.

[elbales]

I am so linking to this post. Thank you for doing all of this work!

[tiwonge.livejournal.com]

In this minority-heavy area, I had no problems. But then, the minorities were the polling volunteers. I, as a white person, was the minority--the only one I saw in line among 30 or 40 people. (I saw one or two other white people, campaigning outside the polling place.)

[distant-cord.livejournal.com]

No doubt about it, Republicans are evil. Here's hoping the rest of the country realizes this and votes Kerry into office.

[natacup82.livejournal.com]

I'm in Pennsylvania and I went to vote at 7 this morning. When I got there they said my name wasn't in the book but I went with my Dad and he was in the book. I had two forms of id and my voter registration card so they HAD to let me vote. I was lucky enough to have a voter advocate there who knew what had to be done to ensure my right to vote. But damn this whole situation is scary.

[skycrashesdown.livejournal.com]

"I don't care if the weather is nasty."

Up here in heavily Democratic Seattle it's pissing down rain and the radio keeps talking about how this is good for Bush because less people will go out and vote. What the fuck kind of person doesn't vote because it's raining? Especially in Seattle, where it will keep raining until, approximately, April. This just baffles me.

[pygmymetal.livejournal.com]

That comment *had* to come from someone who doesn't live in the PNW! LOL!

I'm in Oregon, I voted in my jammies and dropped the ballot off Saturday. :)

[t4-flirt.livejournal.com]

I voted first thing this morning. It doens't matter what the weather is, it matters that my behind goes to the polls and votes. People complain about how our country's run or whatever, but in reality, people HAVE to vote in order to make it work. I know, I'm rambling, but w/e. GO OUT AND ROCK THE VOTE!!!!!!

~~xoxo~~
VOTE OR DIE!

[orimornie.livejournal.com]

YOU MUST VOTE.

*sings* Vote vote vote... vote vote vote... unless you are a goat... cos goats can't vote...!

[lots42.livejournal.com]

Some scumbags I personally encountered know about the 'Stay fifty feet away from the voting areas' law. BUT since so many people are out voting, the line streches farther then fifty feet so they 'can' go annoy them. I put 'Can' because I narced on them and they got a stern talking to

[ambiguousreason.livejournal.com]

i can't vote, since i'm not eighteen (and won't be until the end of may). but let me tell you, as soon as i DO turn eighteen i'll be registered. it pisses me off, how the timing worked out so i couldn't vote in this election. *stab*

[vladimirsever.livejournal.com]

And you thought Serbian or Ukrainian elections were fradulent?

[yarha.livejournal.com]

There's definitely some election 'cross-talk', as Putin did put in a plug for Bush. ;) I guess W must've really 'read his soul'. Bet it was a short read. :p

Pravdaya shootka, ne shootkee or whatever. :p

Yarha, Wishes to Find a Damned Cyrillic Font for Crap Like This

[yarha.livejournal.com]

Cleo..says...I..must..vote..must..vote..vote..echo..echo..

Hey!

Yarha, "I Am Adoring You for No Good Reason"

[pescivendolo.livejournal.com]

The Vestavia City Center was insane this morning, and it still is. It doesn't help that it's right next to an elementary school and the only polling place for Vestavia and possibly part of Hoover. I waited in line for almost an hour and a half.

Thank God Alabama doesn't have the damn machines.

The only thing I saw during my hour and a half there was a middle aged Asian man whose name they couldn't find on the list. I felt so bad for him, because I heard him say that this was his first election. What a terrible first experience.

Now, I know that voting is an extension of incompetent bureaucracy and shit's gonna get fucked up, but I can tell you I'm damn glad I don't live in a minority district. I'm also glad we don't register with a particular party.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Seriously. I just got back from the Homewood Library about an hour ago, and it was easy as pie. The hardest part was inking in all the bubbles and remembering which amendments to give a shit about to vote for.

[soulwatcher.livejournal.com]

Wow I can't believe the lengths you have to go to in order to cast your vote in a federal election. I'm also from a country where there is little to no confrontation about voting rights and what not.

Over here we don't even need to show a form of ID. We just walk in the gate, everyone stands patiently in line and when you get to the top you go to a person who puts a mark on the electoral role next to your name and address and gives you your forms. No protesters, no demanding a vote, no exclusion of people of minority groups.

At times I can dislike many things about the way Australia is run but I can say that I have a huge respect for the electoral system. Could be perhaps why Australians are asked to help developing countries establish their own electoral systems.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Don't y'all have compulsory voting? Which is totally awesome, I might add.