The links that follow are mostly California-specific, so if you are in another state, check with your Secretary of State for addresses of offices and specific policies or forms.Hours of operation: The polls are open from 7am to 8pm. If you're in line when the polls close, you can still vote.Time off to vote: Employers are legally obligated to allow you time off from work to vote and in fact, to inform you of that right. If you do not have the time outside of working hours to make it to the polls, or if your shift covers the entire time the polls are open, the time off can be paid. If this is the case, you have 2 hours max of paid time to vote.Vote-by-mail: This is what was known as Absentee voting prior to 2007. If you haven't received your absentee/vote-by-mail ballot yet, go to the polls or an early voting location in your county and vote by provisional ballot (see below). You should not need ID to vote provisionally if you've voted before. If your entire city is vote-by-mail, try another area in the same county. You should be able to vote at any polling place within the county you're registered in. The League of Women Voters is a nonprofit nonparisan organization that has information about voting in person and by mail.If you haven't mailed your vote-by-mail ballot by now (the guaranteed date was Oct. 28th), drop it off in person or priority mail it to be on the safe side. The deadline is 8p on Nov. 4th, and it is not a postmark deadline! If it arrives after 8p on Tuesday, it will not count no matter when you dropped it in the mail. Drop it off instead at your local polling place on election day, or your local county election official's office anytime beforehand. Remember to sign the inside flap (not the spoiled ballot form on the outside flap!) of your ballot envelope or your vote will not count!Provisional ballots: The Voter Bill of Rights gives you the right to cast a provisional ballot if your name is mistakenly not on the rolls or if you have moved within your county and did not re-register. You can also vote provisionally in person if you mailed a vote-by-mail ballot but are unsure it will arrive on time. If it does, your provisional ballot will not count, if it does not, your provisional ballot will count. Do not turn away if you're registered but they can't find you! For more details, read about provisional voting.Mistakes, assistance: You can ask for help in filling out your ballot, and if you mess up, you can ask for a new ballot. If you've messed up your vote-by-mail ballot, do not send it or turn it in - you can exchange it for a new one at your polling place or county election office. Initialing changes on the ballot invalidates your vote.First time voters: Bring your ID! You need it the first time you vote.No campaign paraphernalia: You can't vote with campaign stickers or t-shirts on since campaign materials are prohibited within 100 feet of the polls. Someone will stop you, so cover up or take it off!Fraud, intimidation: If you think you've witnessed election fraud or voter intimidation, there's an official complaint form you can file. The Sec. of State also has a voter fraud pamphlet (PDF) to give you some idea of what practices are kosher and what aren't.
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To the potential US election voter... if your right to vote is challenged for ANY reason, two words to remember that will keep your vote alive... PROVISIONAL BALLOT. It is EVERYONE'S right by Federal and State law... the state laws of course vary, but not YOUR RIGHT to ask any poll worker challenging your right to vote on election day for a PROVISIONAL BALLOT.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provisional_ballothttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help_America_Vote_Acthttp://votingmachines.procon.org/viewanswers.asp?questionID=316
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OBAMA gets my nod before anyone can try to change my mind (as if...) But if you're one of the unfortunates in other states who are forced to brave long lines and hostile robots -some dressed as voting machines, some dressed as humans, both quite annoying and sinister... consider the scary alternatives of four more years of Bush Jr. McCain and the not-so-silly-beauty-pagent-walker Sarah Paiin...Sometimes change is expensive, consider taking a personal day off from work to insure your vote isn't lost to the above scenarios.(Voting Holiday day-off... a long overdue American institution just waiting for YOU to make it happen! Tell your Congressman this is important enough to you want a bill proposed and a law enacted to make it so!!!) Change is GOOD! Change that gives the added benefit of HOPE is BETTER!World Peace... Not World Talk (KRS-One)
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