Through AlterNet Books' website, I purchased a book they have just published. It's written by Steven Rosenfeld, co-author of "What Happened in Ohio: Record of Theft and Fraud in the 2004 Election." This new book is titled "Count My Vote: A Citizen's Guide to Voting."
For those who are old hands at voting, there is useful information concerning each state's voting laws, with pending legislation which may apply after 2008. Each state's page includes internet addresses for where the information was found.
1) The first chapter deals with the basics of finding the correct precinct. It is the duty of the voter to register. Gives advice of when and how to apply for a voter card. Many states require a lead time before an election. Best to get card early and then check list before the day to vote. (State pages come in handy for application forms and deadline dates.)
2) Students who live in one state and vote from college in a different one have special decisions to make. A whole chapter is devoted to them and to other first-time voters. Absentee voting is involved.
3) Absentee voting and early voting takes a chapter. Here questions involving such voters as overseas residents, the military, veterans in VA hospitals, shutins, etc, have more rules spelled out.
4) Chapter 4 is dedicated to the capturing and recording of votes. It involves the kind of machines, instructions on their use. and how tallies are usually made. The official tally is not made on election night.
5) The last chapter touches on activities broader than the actual casting of a ballot. Getting involved can include recruiting others to register, and organizing in neighborhoods.
I found the book a handy reference tool. First, to make sure that I look up changes in my state's rules. Also it reminds me that going to the polls to choose a candidate is somewhat like going to the chapel to say "I do." Each involves first steps. After that, comes the notion of long-term commitment.
For those new to voting, I hope this is information which you can use either as a person wanting to register or for those in the process of trying to organize others to vote.
And for those who make voting a part of advanced study, it would please me greatly if you would comment on how I helped (or didn't) in covering a subject we discuss often on OEN.
Margaret Bassett is an 86-year old, currently living in senior housing, with a lifelong interest in political conumbrums. She hopes to hold out for one more presidential election. Bachelors from State University of Iowa (1944) and Masters from Roosevelt University (1975) help to unravel important requirements for modern communication. Early introduction to computer science (1966) trumps them. It's payback time. She's been "entitled" so long she hopes to find some good coming off the keyboard into the lives of those who come after her.
I gotta trust your take on the book, Margaret, which I had not even heard about before.
Given that most states have changed their laws regarding registration and voter identity, then for those who do vote, this sounds like a handy resource with valuable information.
My study into software driven voting systems compels me to withdraw from what I see as a charade, although I earnestly work for election integrity. Honestly, I go back and forth on this issue - and can wax philosophical about it on either side - to vote or not to vote.
But one good piece of wisdom that floats out there cautions me not to force people into learning what they are not ready to hear; and that applies to me, too. I certainly don't want to learn about torture and rape as a weapon of war, and many other realities... I learn what I can and move forward from there, as best I can.
So, in the interests of those who vote, thank you for bringing this book to their attention...
In solidarity...
by
Rady Ananda (124 articles, 283 quicklinks, 36 diaries, 1061 comments)
on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 at 8:12:20 PM
The question is not, dear Rady, to not or not to vote, but rather, to rebel or not to rebel. To rebel is to go on the offensive towards the cartel. To not rebel, or to submit, is to talk about whether or not we were ripped off an whether or not we will ever throw out electronics. Get it ? Let's all support open source / paper ballot systems- and clean this mess up- BT
by
Brent Turner (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 94 comments)
on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 12:55:35 AM
The question is not, dear Rady, to not or not to vote, but rather, to rebel or not to rebel. To rebel is to go on the offensive towards the cartel. To not rebel, or to submit, is to talk about whether or not we were ripped off and / or whether or not we will ever throw out electronics. Get it ? Let's all support open source / paper ballot systems- and clean this mess up- BT
by
Brent Turner (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 94 comments)
on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 12:56:20 AM
See, that's how I am. I just come alive every year divisible by 4. Well in 48 I lived in Greenwich Village. My landlord was, to hear him, a big shot in watching the shoreline for German Uboats during The War. For reasons which I never understood he once confronted me with having voted for Henry Wallace, which would have been an abomination to him. I didn't bat an eye, so I guess he never learned who I voted for. Since I escaped from McCarthyism of DC to live in NYC, I recognized the venom of that race. He was perhaps the first encounter I ever had with the neocons who were beginning to sprout in New York.
My theory of fair voting is to watch the people at the voting place where I vote. I usually go to early voting in Tennessee. This August I met the daughters of two friends here at the Towers, who served as officials. When I voted in May, my voting buddy and I went to the Senior Center because his niece was an official. I don't think anyone cares how I vote. We all know this zipcode is fire engine red. I don't suppose I've ever cast a vote which made a difference. But I do think it's important not to trust electronic devices. It's a lot harder to haul paper ballots to the lake in the dark of night than it is jimmy computer chips. (This is related to Mayor Daley and the 60 election. I worked in Chicago but lived in a suburb, which was solid Republican.)
HAVA has really stirred a hornet's nest. But I still have hopes that the youth will learn that voting is a small part of being a good citizen. That even the best of presidents are kidding that they are the president of all the people.
by
Margaret Bassett (31 articles, 1969 quicklinks, 30 diaries, 1282 comments)
on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 at 9:04:14 PM
I just ordered a book called "Uncounted" which deals with registered voters being disenfranchised in 2000 and 2004. I think we all know what happened both times. It warns that we should expect the same in the election of 2008. It is time for people to rise up against such an outrage. Greg Palast and Robert Kennedy, Jr. are attempting to put out the word in the Southwestern part of the United States. I have run across people who are simply not going to vote in November because they feel that their votes will not be counted. This is a sad commentary on what the United States voting process has become.
by
E. E. Jordan (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 3 comments)
on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 2:47:59 AM
I used to think it was useless to vote. That changed as Dubya entered, stage right.....far right. I registered and applied for an absentee ballot which was delivered ....just in the nick of time. Strange how they took their sweet time to deliver the thing, knowing the timeline and all. I made my marks, sealed the envelope, took it to the local post office and paid dearly to have the ardvark-sized thing delivered -as registered mail!- I then went to work to have the local elections office confirm in writing, their receiving of the ballot. It took them a few days to locate it but they were successful and I was assured my ballot was safe. Election day came and went and I asked for confirmation my *absentee* ballot was opened and counted. The reply I received knocked me over ; "absentee ballots are only opened and counted in the event of a very close tie". Trash, that's where my ballot ended up, unopened.....in the trash.
Does that smart book mention anything along that line, Margeret?
My State : Az.
County : Pinal
by
Tony Forest (7 articles, 18 quicklinks, 166 diaries, 1429 comments)
on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 6:04:05 AM
My "little book" is a how-to, not a whether or why. If anything I can read between the lines, it is "yes, we can" for those who are assaulted with dreary prognostications but are not ready to throw their hands up in horror. It's a kinda "here's the facts, best we know & be wary." My reason for writing about it is that I thought others might want to look into it, to discuss the issue of vote or not to vote. My reason for buying it was to have a handy guide on desk when questions in some state come into play in future conversations. And now that I've had some comments, I recognize that even talking about voting is a touchy subject. SCOTUS and 2000 have soured the body politic and thus won the ultimate victory, in my mind. Full (not honest) participation at the polls is the route to dictatorship. I repeat myself: how did Hitler gain his power? Be aware that I do not believe that Americans have become to entrapped yet. But this year we have a chance to test the will of future generations. Youth! We spend gigabytes discussing the youth vote. Nothing new in the phenomenon. In my lifetime, I've seen little "uprisings" and then downsittings. Currently, the question is why the Boomers didn't stay focused after they put aside their beads and flowers, turning "the establishment" into their "American way." And now that they are parents and grandparents, along comes Obama like a pied piper to engage the new voters who believe voting will set them free. To quote a former president I ordinarily find nothing to like about: Trust but verify. Dealing with the franchise question these days has all the intrigue of Reagan's Cold War questions. We have choices on November 4. Stay home. Do the "lesser of 2." Or take the third party "throwaway." If I meet someone on November 5, who is sure the country is going to the dogs, and they tell me they didn't "bother to vote" my reaction is likely to be that they need not bother me with their sad tale now. Quitting is not an option in my personal way of looking at citizenship.
by
Margaret Bassett (31 articles, 1969 quicklinks, 30 diaries, 1282 comments)
on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 9:23:52 AM
not voting is not equivalent to quitting. I'm not voting this time around but do I sound like a quitter?
I guess I'll have to look for the book to see just what chapter 3 does say about Arizona laws in regards to absentee ballots. It would be interesting to see what each state has to say about ABs : are they counted or not, if yes, when or under which circumstances.
by
Tony Forest (7 articles, 18 quicklinks, 166 diaries, 1429 comments)
on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 9:37:07 AM
I have the AZ page in front of me and of course it doesn't have details such as what you address. It mentions the 2008 primary where 10,000 registered voters were give provisional ballots because of a snafu. Website of Secy of State is www.azsos.gov/election/
It's always a good idea to keep the person who has to sign off on final totals in one's sight. I don't have any idea whether there is a different SOS from 06, but I expect you do.
by
Margaret Bassett (31 articles, 1969 quicklinks, 30 diaries, 1282 comments)
on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 10:00:59 AM
on a county level. Maybe I gave up too easily. Maybe not. Each time I look into it I get upset. Voting rights can be so frustrating. e.g. :
News
Requests for EARLY BALLOTS for the Presidential Preference Election have to be submitted to the county by January 25, 2008. Requests for EARLY BALLOTS for the Primary Election have to be submitted to the county by August 22 , 2008. Requests for EARLY BALLOTS for the General Election have to be submitted to the county by October 24, 2008. Request your EARLY BALLOT online today by clicking HERE!
Did I miss the train altogether? Sure looks like it. I don't believe so as there are possibilities of getting it done via temporary offices set up overseas. It's fight, fight, fight, pray and believe and in God we trust and pass the butter willya please.
Some claim there are over 6 million Americans living overseas. Sounds like a force to rekon with.
by
Tony Forest (7 articles, 18 quicklinks, 166 diaries, 1429 comments)
on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 1:42:43 PM
Are you likely to run into challenges this year? You can look at the page where I got the info to buy the book. There was an article. However, if you want to pursue this, let me know. I'll have to trace back to see when I ordered the book. It didn't take too long to arrive in the mail.
I post a lot of articles in OEN QuickLinks from the newsletter I get from Alternets everyday. I could start to trace it that way. But I can't get there without upsetting this comment. I'd be glad to have you write me through OEN mail, if that would be easier.
by
Margaret Bassett (31 articles, 1969 quicklinks, 30 diaries, 1282 comments)
on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 1:55:36 PM
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