Monday, November 3, 2008

Obama Obicycle to the Obarricades

We should distrust any enterprise that requires new clothes. - Henry David Thoreau

I guess I'm just going to have to disagree with Henry David on this one. Tomorrow is election day and if the Obama Obicycle stays dressed up as a partisan campaign counter-puncher then any area within 150 feet of a polling place would become a no-fly zone, so to speak.

So it's back to fair-and-balanced, stealth operating mode for me. That way I can let people know that there is a non-partisan hot line number for them to call (1-866-687-8683) and a website to visit (www.866OurVote.org), if they encounter any resistance while trying to cast their ballots. These resources are offered gratis, thanks to the hard work of folks at the Election Protection coalition. (A big thank-you goes out to Nettie Bernard for putting me on to this wonderful organization!)

Your polling place opening late or closing early? Then give 1-866-OUR-VOTE (same as the number above) a call. Faulty equipment or voting machines there? Do likewise. Challenged because of lack of photo ID or mix-up on the registration rolls? They can help. If the circumstances warrant, and if one is available, an election protection volunteer will be dispatched to your precinct to try to resolve the problem.

One thing to keep in mind according to the experts at Election Protection,
Provisional ballots are a LAST resort because they will only be counted if the county clerk can verify your registration status before the election is certified.
So it is a priority is to find a way to vote coventionally or by paper ballot, if at all possible.

We all have come this far with registration and campaigning. Now it's time to make sure that our precious votes - and those of our our friends and neighbors - are counted.

Please, share this information with anyone who may need a hand tomorrow.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It breaks my heart that the Obicycle is no more. The new Nonpartisycle is not as much fun.