This Is Long...Read It Anyway

Tomorrow’s the big day. Don’t even pretend that you don’t know what I’m talking about. I know that some of you have been seeing news reports about the insane lines for early voting, some lines (including the ones in LA) go on for 4-6 hours. Maybe that’s given you second thoughts about casting your ballot.

Go cast your ballot anyway. Even if you’re in a solidly red or blue state.
This is going to be the most historic election of our generation, not just because Obama is Black and Palin is a woman. Not just because the electoral map is changing or because the issues are so big. It’s historic because this map marks our country’s return to true patriotism. Yeah, I know, this campaign season has been full of rhetoric charging that any question of America’s past patriotism is the equivalent of being a terrorist. Well, I’m sorry but in my opinion a competent person over the age of 18 can’t call themselves a patriot unless they participate in our democracy and they aren’t participating in our democracy if they’re staying home on election day.

The 2004 election had the highest voter turn out since 1968. So what does that mean? Did 85% of eligible voters make it to the polls? 90%? Maybe 78%?

Try 60%. THAT is our 40 year record. It points to a level of apathy and perhaps cynicism that has no place in a democracy. Women and Blacks used to endure torture and imprisonment in their effort to earn the right to vote and now we just sit on our butts and make up lame excuses. Can’t get time off of work? Go to the polls at 7 am or after 5. You don’t have childcare? Grab some snacks and toys and bring the munchkins along. Show them what it means to be part of a democracy. Don’t have a car? Either take the bus or call the local campaign headquarters of the candidate you plan to vote for and tell them you need a ride. It’s that simple.

Ten, twenty, forty years from now do you want to tell your grandchildren that when the people of this country finally got involved in their own government you were no where to be found? I didn’t think so. This is your opportunity to be part of history. Don’t pass it up.

Now that I’ve shamed you into voting, here are a few tips to make things easier. If you haven’t registered yet you may be out of luck UNLESS you live in Maine, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, New Hampshire or Wyoming. All of these states have same day registration so you can register on the very day you vote. Just be sure to bring your state issued ID. Even if you think you are registered it doesn’t hurt to check, to make sure there haven’t been any mistakes in the processing. You can check your registration status at The National Association Of Secretaries of State (NASS). This site will also tell you the hours of your polling place. Most states keep their polling places open until 7 or 8 but Indiana, Hawaii and Kentucky close theirs at 6. However the polling spots in Kentucky and Indiana are open at the early hour of 6 am. NASS will also tell you what kinds of ID you need but my suggestion is that even if it says you don’t need a State issued picture ID you should still bring one if you have it. If you don’t, know that only Indiana and Georgia require an identification with a current photo. If you don’t live in one of these states, don't have a picture ID and your poll workers says you need one then you need to argue and if they don’t let up stand right there, pull out your cell and call:

Election Protection: 1-866-OUR-VOTE
or
Election Assistance Commission: (866) 747-1471

If all else fails get a provisional ballot. When you walk out of that troubled polling place you should place one more phone call to CNN. Their voter hotline is:

877-GOCNN-08 (877-462-6608). CNN will report on some of your calls, and their partner InfoVoter Technologies can help get you in touch with your election board or find your voting location. It’s amazing how quickly a “misunderstanding” can be straightened out when media attention is brought to it.

If you don’t know where you’re supposed to vote (remember, voting locations can change year to year) go to www.maps.google.com/vote plug in your address and it will tell you exactly where to go and how to get there via car, public transit or walking.

Don’t wear ANYTHING with Obama or McCain’s name on it. Not a t-shirt, not a button not even a sock with the word “Hope” on it. Lots of polling places consider this campaigning for a candidate and you can NOT campaign in a polling place. They will turn you away.

If you are disabled or find the ballot confusing in any way you can bring another person that you trust into the booth with you to help.

Here’s another important note: Sometimes, when using the electronic voting machine, you will press Obama’s name and McCain’s name will come up or vice versa. That means there’s a problem with the machine. DO NOT STEP AWAY FROM THE MACHINE TO GET HELP! The minute you walk away from your booth your voting experience is OVER! Instead keep your feet exactly where they are and yell, loudly, for a poll worker to help you. They are required to come over and do so.

Lastly (and this is according to The Wall Street Journal) "The Republican Party has said it might challenge voters registered by activist groups…State laws vary widely about who can make challenges and under what conditions. In Ohio, only poll workers can challenge a voter; in Florida, any voter can challenge any other.
Be prepared for a challenge by bringing along proof of your age, identity and address. If those are in order and you are in the correct precinct, you must be offered a regular ballot. If they aren't, you may have to vote by provisional ballot."

Good luck and Happy Voting!
Kyra Davis
Bestselling Author of:
SEX, MURDER AND A DOUBLE LATTE,
PASSION, BETRAYAL AND KILLER HIGHLIGHTS,
OBSESSION, DECEIT AND REALLY DARK CHOCOLATE
and
SO MUCH FOR MY HAPPY ENDING