POINTS BEYOND: So You Think You're Registered To Vote Huh?

Bear with me on the length of my post because it contains vital information and great tips and tools to help gain a victory in November. It is plain and simple everybody – the key to victory on November 4, 2008 is registering to vote and turning out at the polls. Not convinced? Well, many of us may still be saying things like:

“I don’t believe the polls, they are not polling Obama voters who just have mobile phones, especially the younger voters.” Well, don’t McCain younger voters only have cell phones too?

“Once school starts and the Obama people register students at colleges all across the country, voter registration for Democrats will greatly increase.” That may be true, but why assume that Obama supporters will be the only ones registering?

The Republicans are now much more energized and will be going all out to get their base in gear. They did a great job in the final eight weeks of the 2004 election and won the thing. People, we simply have to outnumber them. We have to be at 120% not 100% if you get my point here. This is about participation and being part of the solution. It is up to us to reach out and make sure everyone gets into the game. No excuses this time!

" I'm Sure I Am Already Registered” – You May Not Be!

Here are registration traps that people may not think of when believing they are registered to vote:

You have moved since the last time you voted
You just got married and your name changed
You have not voted in past elections and assume you are still registered – chances are you are not!
You changed your political party of choice
The name and address on your drivers’ license does not match your voter registration card – this will get you disqualified in states like Florida!

Here Is What You Need To Do

1) Verify that you are currently registered to vote - Verify your registration status and fix any inaccuracies. Any inaccuracies not corrected by the date imposed by your state will disqualify you from voting on November 4.

2) Get Registered to vote and help others get registered to vote

3) Find early vote locations/procedures – This can be very key if you know you will be out of town or not be able to make it to the polls on November 4.

4) Apply to vote absentee - Voting absentee can be helpful if your area has a history of having questionable activity at or around polling places.

5) Find voter registration deadlines – time is running out and some state deadlines are just a few weeks away

6) Know your state's requirements - Some states' procedures and requirements can be tricky! As an example:

Florida – I believe the information on your driver’s license and voter registration card must be the same. You may get turned away if they are not the same. Remember this if you just got married or had any other name change. I believe you need to re-register as an address change to change the address on your drivers license. Make sure to verify this through the links provided below.
California - For Los Angeles voters, if you don't receive a sample ballot in the mail with your polling place on it you should call the registrar immediately. It could be that for some reason you are not on the register for some reason. All registered in one household should receive a sample ballot. This may apply to other counties and states as well, so be sure to check the links below to find out for sure.

Note: If you chose to mail your ballot in and you weren't properly registered, please note that your ballot will not be counted & will be discarded by the supervisor of elections in your county. Also, this year the voting places will be so crowded that some people may even avoid them. It is important to make sure the voters have the right documentation when they go to vote.

Voter Registration and Voting...Made Easy!

Here are the links to easily to find voter registration forms, to read up on any requirements you need to fulfill for registering yourself and voters in your state, to find registration deadlines and to contact the right people for help and clarification. Deadlines may be sooner than you think!  

1) Barack Obama Website “Vote For Change” Link https://www.voteforchange.com/ - this great tool will guide you through the process step by step

2) Vote 411 Website – Easy to use site. Click on your state to find out all requirements that your state imposes as well as deadlines, etc.http://www.vote411.org/bystate.php

3) In case you can’t find what you need see the State-by-State Board of Elections weblinks at the end of this email

Helping Others Get Registered

Again please encourage people to visit the new Vote For Change page on the Obama website www.voteforchange.com. Also, if you want to help them in person know that registering someone can be a quick and simple process. It literally takes just a few minutes to get a registration form completed. Consider these actions to help getting others registered:

Keep a stack of registration forms with you and as you go about your day register family, friends, sales clerks, waiters and waitresses, folks at sporting events, the electrician, your neighbors etc. In most states you can pick up a voter registration form at your county elections office, library, or U.S. Post Office. The Vote 411 link www.vote411.org will have a link to your state offices where it should verify the location in your state where you can pick up the forms.

If you have people over to your house for an Obama event or any other gathering, keep a stack of forms on your table and say “oh by the way are you registered to vote? No? Well let me help you – it’ll only take two minutes.” Etc. Remember to use the points under "I'm Sure I Am Registered" section above to make them aware of reasons they may not be registered.

You can hand out slips of paper to people printed with the Obama site Vote For Change web address www.voteforchange.com. Or you can find voter registration forms to print out for each state at the Board of Elections links below. You'll also find contact information at these sites so you can call and ask about voter registration requirements

Again, if you're going to try to register voters, be sure to find out registration requirements for your area and also please remind people about the importance of bringing proper I.D with a correct address on voting day.

Remember The Machine We Are Up Against – Remember These To Do’s

Rigged machines, voters turned away from polls, rejected ballots, uncounted votes, caging lists, long waiting lines, calls redirecting voters to wrong polling places, intimidating voters, poor ballots, secret programming of tabulators to change votes, not counting provisional ballots, preventing military overseas from voting, etc. Who knows what voters may face? The campaign and the Democratic Party is doing all they can to ensure fair voting but let's chip in to help the cause by:

Donate to the Obama campaign preferably through my Personal Fundraising Page http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/BarackOfied :) Even small donations help get a canvasser the tools she or he needs to go door to door. All donations go directly to the campaign.

Pass this email along to all you know and urge them to act. Especially if you are in or know people in key "swing" and battleground states like Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Nevada, Michigan, Florida, Montana, Georgia and others.
Register new voters. This is getting to the critical stage of the campaign as time is running out to register new voters.

Work to get people to understand their rights

Work to help people get to polls

Work to monitor polls on election day

Work to help people find their polling place

Work to verify voter registration is in system

Get people out to vote early

Ask your friends and family if they are a member of the Barack Obama website and if not, sign them up. This is a great outreach tool to engage new members. (The tools on this site are amazing. It is being made easy for us people, it is up to us to deliver.)

Canvass your neighborhood using your “Neighbor to Neighbor” toolbar on your personalized page at www.barackobama.com

Write editorials for your newspapers via your toolbar on www.barackobama.com

Make phone calls - Don't be shy. Step out of your comfort zone.

Wear your Obama gear out when shopping, going to yard sales, sporting events,etc.

Take Nov 4th off if you can. Sign up to be a precinct captain or poll worker/watcher or driver.

Travel to another state and volunteer - I have already taken off November 3rd and 4th. I will go to a swing or battleground state if necessary to drive people to polls, look out for the elderly voters that may need special help getting around, etc. Make it happen!

Volunteer at your local Obama office or democratic headquarters.

Thank you for getting engaged and changing the direction of this country and restoring the direction of the world. And thanks to the people on the Obama site blog for helping to contribute such good information. Yes We WILL!

State Board of Elections Links

ALABAMA http://www.sos.state.al.us/elections/

ALASKA http://www.gov.state.ak.us/ltgov/elections/ 

ARIZONA http://www.azsos.gov/election/ 

ARKANSAS http://www.votenaturally.org/all_about_voting.html 

CALIFORNIA http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections.htm 

COLORADO http://www.elections.colorado.gov/DDefault.aspx? 

CONNECTICUThttp://www.ct.gov/sots/cwp/view.asp?a=3179&Q=411292&sotsNav=|47610|&sotsNav_GID=1846

 DELAWARE http://elections.delaware.gov/ DC http://www.dcboee.org/

 FLORIDA http://election.dos.state.fl.us/ 

GEORGIA http://www.sos.ga.gov/elections/ 

HAWAII http://hawaii.gov/elections/ ID http://www.idahovotes.gov/ 