Right, Privilege, or Duty? Go Vote!

I'm working on the next part (what I thought would be the first part, even) to my light bulb discussion, but I want to interrupt that to talk about voting.  It's probably no surprise, especially if you've been near a radio, tv, or internet, that American Election Day is around the corner.  As always, it's the first Tuesday of November, which this year makes it 6 November.  I'm sure no one needs to be reminded that it's a Presidential year. Actually, I suspect some of you wish the election were over so that the ads and constant discussion about the Presidential election would stop.

Don't worry.  That's about all I'm going to say about presidents.  What I really want to remind y'all about is all of the other races going on.  Many people seem to feel disenfranchised from their government, and it's not just at the highest levels in Washington.  The laws and regulations (or absence thereof) that affect you each day start with those passed by your local government, as well as state and national levels.  The Presidental candidates get lots of press, but consider those other races as well.  And don't forget about the various referendums and special questions - things that, if you're a registered voter, give you some opportunity to shape policy.

So, what's the deal about Election Day?


Learn who (and what) is on your ballot before you get to the polls.  When I was growing up in New Jersey, I remember a sample ballot being sent to each voter in the house.  It showed you just what you'd see when you went into the voting booth.  I don't know if my hometown still does that, but it appears they do.  When I moved to Texas and went to vote for the first time, I was completely thrown by how many positions for which I was being asked to pick a candidate.  Railroad commissioners, judges, the electronic ballot was five screens!  I had no idea that half of those positions were even elected.

Just knowing what you can vote for may not feel like sufficient preparation to many of you.  But fear not, you can also find out about the candidates before you head to polls.  A primary function of the League of Women Voters is gathering this information.  The LWV is a non-partisan group that tries to educate voters on how to register, how to vote, and who the candidates are.  www.vote411.org will show you what is on your ballot.  Many local LWV sections interview the candidates, as well, with short questions for reply that are sent to each candidate running for a particular office.  Yes, it goes to everyone on the ballot, whether Democrat, Republican, Green, Libertarian, or other.  Some do not respond, but it's a nice side-by-side comparison.  You can pick up a hard copy in many local libraries, and you are generally allowed to bring the paper of candidates into voting with you.  (MJ and I did, and it was quite helpful to keep the names straight.)

Other websites and organizations also try to get out information on the various candidates, but all, like the LWV, are restricted by how much cooperation they get from the candidates, or how much information they can assemble.  For example:
www.ontheissues.org  Generally limited to House, Senate, and gubernatorial races, with a focus on the two major political parties.
http://www.opensecrets.org/elections/index.php Information on candidate funding for those aspiring to head to Washington.
Of course, also check out your local papers, which often will run information on candidates side-by-side.


Find how when and where you can vote.  Check with your state election office for this one.  They'll be able to tell you whether you're registered and where you're supposed to vote.  Some states allow early voting, while some do not.  The early voting location is often different from where you would go on election day.  (This year was my first year voting early.  It was nice to do it un-rushed on a Saturday!) The rules of absentee ballots vary by state, with some requiring pre-registration, some allowing absentee ballots only under certain circumstances, etc.  And, with recent redistricting in many states, where you voted last time may not be where you need to head this year.

To find your state's information, try googling "state election office" or checking with your secretary of state's office.  The LWV can also give you local polling information, or try searching "where to vote 'my state' ".
In any case, if you haven't yet voted, check this now.  From these resources, you should also be able to find out the hours that the polling place is open and what sort of identification you need to bring with you.


So that's what I wanted to share with you in these last few days before Election Day.  I hope that you'll get out there to vote if you're eligible.  Oh, and also, when things get into heated discussions in the next few days, remember to stay friends.

You don't have to dislike people you disagree with and it doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to have bipartisan friendships in this place. Life's too short to have it any other way. 

Dave Obey Source