Voter Registration? Really?

[Jeanette Baust]

Is it just me or is anyone else surprised and more than a little anxious that so many people I run into, esp. young people, aren't registered to vote "yet?" Yet is what people say, but I wonder "Well when are you planning to get around to this?" Also, in Colorado there is a big push to apply for mail in ballots because the assumption is that the polls will be crazy and mail-in votes are actually more certain than votes.

I know registration seems like a boring issue, but after Oct. 8th (I think that's the cut-off), it will be a non-issue. I'm also curious why many glbt folks who seem to have so much at stake in terms of the White House, Congress, and especially the Supreme Court don't know what national and local leaders believe and where they stand. Nobody is coming out for gay marriage nationally, because it's the kiss of death, but certainly Obama, for example, openly talks about protecting people around issues of sexual orientation, while McCain (and especially Palin) don't even mention these things.

Any ideas? Is voting registration, issues, and getting out the vote not sexy?

J in Denver

[Steven E. Webster]

Friends,

Voter Registration rules and deadlines are State-level issues. In my state (Wisconsin) we are able to register to vote on the day of the election at the polls. There is only a five (or ten) day residency requirement.

If your state has an October 8 deadline, you better get busy!!! I'd be very very suprised if the Obama organization doesn't have some voter registration program that you could volunteer to help. Find out what the rules are and get as many of your friends registered as possible!

If folks can do mail in or absentee ballots, all the better--again, I'll bet there is some program you could volunteer for to help turn out the vote!!!

Steven Webster

[Zerbie]

Registration deadline in AZ is Oct 6th. In my area, there is a huge, visible push to register eligible voters, and GOTV. In the LGBT community, I can't pick up a publication of any kind these past 6 months without seeing VOTE VOTE VOTE all over almost every page. The LGBT community in my area seems mobilized.

Maybe you can find out what voter reg drives are happening in your area and chip in to help. If they're that much under the radar there, they probably need your volunteer time.

[Alecto]

Whoa! I was told that (in my state anyway) absentee ballots are NOT COUNTED unless the election is "close". I'll be casting my vote in person if at all possible.

[ctozrn]

I have been to the Obama headquarters where I live and am supposed to take the training class for registering voters. I just can't seem to find the time in my schedule. Although, the arrival of Sarah Palin on the scene has motivated me! I keep thinking, "I don't need to go, I am so busy...they have so many volunteers...what's one more..." Then I started thinking, what if everyone thought that way? We wouldn't have been able to get so many things done!

So, I will make some calls and see when the next class is. Even little old me can get the vote out!!!!! :p

Christine

[Gennee]

There's a 'Get out the Vote' campaign here in New York. There is an Obama headquarter's a block from my home which has been registering voters.

Gennee

[Steven E. Webster]

Whoa! I was told that (in my state anyway) absentee ballots are NOT COUNTED unless the election is "close". I'll be casting my vote in person if at all possible.

Alecto,
I see you live in New York state. Is what you say about absentee ballots REALLY true? How about you call up the Obama headquarters and find out for sure.

All over the country there are voter-supression campaigns that try to discourage people from voting. Sometimes they create really long lines at the polls to discourage people from casting ballots. That's one good reason to cast an absentee ballot. Maybe this story that you've heard is just made up to discourage voting. Please find out if it's true. I can't believe that it is legal to not count absentee ballots.

I'm interested in finding out what you find out.

Steven Webster