GOTV
Hi all,
Election day is tomorrow!!! Rah.
Many of you have already taken the opportunity to vote early - and that’s fabulous.
If you haven’t voted yet, please, please, please take the time to got vote tomorrow (if you live in Chicago, you can find your polling place). If you don’t have two hours outside of your workday to vote, your employer must give you time off to vote. Some states (not IL) will allow you to register right at the polling place, if you have not already done so. You are also allowed to take in materials to assist in your voting (i.e., you can take a list of the candidates you wish to vote for into the poll box with you so you don’t forget).
There has been a lot of talk in recent weeks about the Democrats’ “tidal wave” sweeping into the House and maybe the Senate. Maybe you’ve heard that the House is a lock. Maybe Sean Hannity has told you that your vote doesn’t matter. Don’t you believe it. There are heaps of races in this country that are too close to call - so no matter which side of the aisle you’re on, you have the power to swing elections towards your candidates.
But you can’t do it if you don’t vote. The establishment on both sides only want their people to vote - feel free to show them who’s boss.
There’s also been lot of stuff hitting the fan about the crazy voting machines, fraud, waste etc. One of the best ways to counter voter fraud is to have informed voters at the polls documenting irregularities. Check out: Black Box Voting if you’re interested. If you have any horror stories after election day, email them (or email me and I’ll find someone noisy to pass it on to). (David also passed this on to me. If you’ve got a video camera think about documenting poll irregularities (www.videothevote.org)
Not to get all dramatic, but, for most of us, this is the only civic duty we perform. The line should be relatively short, and really a half an hour of your time every two years isn’t a lot for your country to ask of you. Aww, this is the only thing I’m patriotic about.
In summation, get out there tomorrow - the weather will be downright balmy for November (at least in Chicago). And remember that there are some third-party candidates out there if you’re not loving your choices (you’re welcome, Jeremy).
IL Voters - I know I always get in the ballot box and never know which judges to vote for. Here are two links to the Trib endorsements. You can print these out and take them with you into the booth:
Appellate Court
Circuit Court
