Tomorrow is election day
When I look back at what the day before the election was like for me 2 years ago, I'm glad I'm not working campaigns. We worked until 3:30 in the morning, and then I got up at 4:45 to go to Chehalis for an 18 hour day followed by a party. And the buidling I was in was flooding, which was fun.
I thought I would take this opportunity to toss out a few of the misconceptions I answered for people last year about voting and put out a plea for all of you: vote. I honestly don't care for who. Just vote. No matter how this breaks, it's one of the most pivotal elections in our history.
1.) Do I have to fill out the entire thing?
A. Nope. Just vote for who you want to. Your vote will still count even if you don't fill out each race.
2.) I didn't get my absentee ballot in time/at all, can I still vote?
A. Yes. Go to a polling place near you (check your county's auditor's office for a list) and fill out a provisional one. This works even if you aren't a registered voter in that state. Provisional ballots will still allow you to vote for national races, even if you are in the wrong place. My parents used this to vote in Oregon while still registered in Washington. If you have your ballot, make sure you drop it off by midnight tonight in a dropbox (also check the auditor's office).
3.) They can ignore/throw away ballots if the signatures don't match without telling you.
A. This one is a little iffy. There have been plenty of reported cases of it, but technically, it is illegal. All ballot challenges must be made at the time of opening the absentee ballot or at the polls. At the polls, each party has laywers issuing these challenges and protecting their own party's voters. If you are the victim of one party's lawyer, find the other's and they will help you.
If any one has any questions, call their county audtior's office, the Secretary of State's office, or contact the campaign of a candidate you support. Any of these people will help you.
Best of luck all, and I know I will be watching the returns tomorrow.
I thought I would take this opportunity to toss out a few of the misconceptions I answered for people last year about voting and put out a plea for all of you: vote. I honestly don't care for who. Just vote. No matter how this breaks, it's one of the most pivotal elections in our history.
1.) Do I have to fill out the entire thing?
A. Nope. Just vote for who you want to. Your vote will still count even if you don't fill out each race.
2.) I didn't get my absentee ballot in time/at all, can I still vote?
A. Yes. Go to a polling place near you (check your county's auditor's office for a list) and fill out a provisional one. This works even if you aren't a registered voter in that state. Provisional ballots will still allow you to vote for national races, even if you are in the wrong place. My parents used this to vote in Oregon while still registered in Washington. If you have your ballot, make sure you drop it off by midnight tonight in a dropbox (also check the auditor's office).
3.) They can ignore/throw away ballots if the signatures don't match without telling you.
A. This one is a little iffy. There have been plenty of reported cases of it, but technically, it is illegal. All ballot challenges must be made at the time of opening the absentee ballot or at the polls. At the polls, each party has laywers issuing these challenges and protecting their own party's voters. If you are the victim of one party's lawyer, find the other's and they will help you.
If any one has any questions, call their county audtior's office, the Secretary of State's office, or contact the campaign of a candidate you support. Any of these people will help you.
Best of luck all, and I know I will be watching the returns tomorrow.