my icon is crying inside. sniff.

[keryx]

If all this preparation and seeming paranoia from the left turns out to be necessary to protect valid, democratic elections (or worse, still doesn't help), I think I might cry.

Seriously, the thing that 9/11 did for older people, making terrorism suddenly real and not something that happened elsewhere, that's how I feel about election tampering. But it CAN'T happen here... right?

That said, if you don't get MoveOn's emails, this may be of use to you.


We've put together a wallet-sized card that has all the numbers and information you
need if someone tries to stop you from exercising your right to vote. You can
download it now at:

http://cdn.moveonpac.org/content/pdfs/ep_card.pdf

(Requires Adobe Acrobat software to load.)

In a great majority of polling places, of course, voting will be very efficient --
even fun. Poll workers will guide you through the process. They're non-partisan,
and they are there to help.

But it's likely that some precincts will be targeted for vote suppression, and
that's what we have to be on the look-out for.
Since one key suppression tactic is slowing down the voting process, we have to be
careful not to fall into that trap. Don't obstruct: just demand that whoever is
giving you trouble step aside with you and let the voting continue.

But before we get into what you should do if things go wrong, here are a few
pointers to help make sure your voting experience is a good one:
* Find your polling place ahead of time. Having this information ahead of time
will help make sure that you can zip to the polls and back during that half-hour
lunch break. You can locate your local polling place using your zip code at
http://www.mypollingplace.com. In most cases, the site will tell you what kind of
voting machines to expect and how they work. (By the way, if
www.mypollingplace.com conflicts with information you've received from your county
or state election officials, use the official information.)

* When in doubt, ASK. Poll workers are there to help you. They'll show you how to
work the machines, and if you're at the wrong polling place, they should tell you
how to get to the right one. Every polling place should also have a posted list of
your voting rights, and instructions for filing a complaint if your rights have
been violated.

* Know your rights. If you're an eligible voter, you have the following rights:
--If your name is not on the official voter list but you believe you are eligible to
vote in that precinct, even if an election official challenges your vote, you have
the right to cast a "provisional ballot."
--If you're in line when the polls close, you should stay in line because you're
entitled to vote.
--In many states, your employer must allow you time to vote at some point during the
day. You can't be fired for being late due to long polling lines.
--You have the right to vote without being intimidated by anyone.
--For your rights in your own state, check out this website: http://www.ourvote.com/

* Bring photo ID, preferably government-issued ID or a utility bill, phone bill, or
paycheck with your name and current street address. If you're a new registrant, it
may be required.

* Vote in the morning. In a great majority of polling places, everything will go
smoothly, but by going early you can help prevent lines later in the day.

* A regular ballot is better than a provisional ballot. If your eligibility to
vote is questioned, ask if you can cast a regular ballot by providing additional ID
or by going to another polling place. Only cast a provisional ballot if there's no
alternative available.

So, what if something does go wrong?

First, document it. If there are specific individuals involved who are challenging
your right to vote, intimidating voters, or interfering with the process, try to get
their names. Write down exactly what happened, including the time of day,
descriptions of the people involved, and any other details you can remember.

Then, report it. There are lots of organizations that will be working to respond
quickly to complaints of voter intimidation, suppression, and fraud. Here's who to
call:

* The Democratic Party: Call 1-800-322-1144 in Virginia. In each swing state, the
Democratic Party has set up a special hotline you can call if you're concerned that
your vote won't count. Just call 1-800-322-1144 . This should be your first call
if you run into a problem.

* Common Cause: Call 1-866-MYVOTE1. Common Cause has set up a hotline that you can
call to report any problems you have voting. They'll document where problems are
occuring, watch for wide-spread voter suppression, and provide real-time legal help
to the hot spots.

* 1-866-OUR-VOTE. This hotline has been set up by a coalition of nonpartisan
groups to deal with the most serious problems on election day. They have hundreds
of lawyers standing by to immediately respond to the most egregious problems.
1-866-OUR-VOTE is the "911" of voter suppression hotlines. Please don't call
unless your problem is serious enough that you have to talk to a lawyer
immediately.

Comments

[raanve]

Thank you for this post! More people (particularly those in my state!) need to have access to this information. Is it ok if I link your entry?

[keryx.livejournal.com]

Of course. Feel free to spread it around; people may need this info.