Are you ready for tomorrow?

[heidi]

Here's your checklist! (236.com has a funnier one.)

Today:

__ Visit the Voter Information Page to see what ID your state requires you to bring to the polls.

__ If you've recently moved, check your state's requirements regarding addresses. For example, in Florida, as long as you're at the precinct for your current address, the address on your ID does NOT need to match the address on the official voter list, but you may be asked to sign an affidavit attesting to your change of address, whereas in Massachusetts, your ID must have your name and current address, but it doesn't need to be a photo ID, as the state will allow you to use a government check or official document; current utility bill; or paycheck or stub.

__ Check www.canivote.org to make sure you're registered (although don't panic if you arent' listed as they are a bit behind the times) and to find your polling place. (Thanks, rookie131!)

__ Put these phone numbers into your phone now: 1-877-US-4-OBAMA (1-877-874-6226) and 866-OUR-VOTE. It's possible that one number might be jammed, or an overload of calls might make it hard for you to get through, so bring both.

__ If you have a Twitter account, visit TwitterVoteReport. Include the hashtag #votereport and report what's going on in your precinct using the info here.

__ If you have a phone with a web browser, put this URL into your bookmarks now: http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/vpcreport - you can report problems at the polls there. Do not report lines of under 90 minutes, because that's not a problem, that's expected to be the standard operating procedure.

__ Join me in reading Carl Hiassen's Election Day prayer for the Sunshine State:

Deliver us from scandal, Lord. Let our optical-scanners perform flawlessly. Let the trucks that carry our precious ballot boxes not be hijacked and later abandoned behind a strip joint, and let those who count those ballots be pure of character and pretty good with math.

__ If you're in a warm state, freeze a water bottle or two so you have cold water while you're waiting in line. If you're in a cold state, grab a cup of coffee to bring to the polls to keep your hands warm while you wait.

If you believe you are legitimately registered to vote and if you are at the correct precinct (check your precinct location today!), and you are not allowed to vote a standard ballot, here's a checklist of What To Do:

__ Do not vote a provisional ballot (or at least, don't vote a provisional ballot unless you've gone through all the steps below, and if you do, be prepared to file an affidavit on Wednesday stating why your vote should be counted). This article from New Jersey explains some of the problems with provisional ballots - if you sent your voter registration form in on time, you can vote a standard ballot.

Bring the phone number for your county's Election Office, and ask the poll workers to call to confirm that your name is on the voting roster, even if it isn't on the list at the polling station. For example, Ohio's Secretary of State Office has info about how to get a provisional ballot counted.

__ Call the Voter Protection Hotline at 1-877-US-4-OBAMA (1-877-874-6226) and someone will be able to help you. If you didn't put this phone number in your phone when I mentioned it before, stop and do it now. We'll wait for you.

__ Call the hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (888-Ve-Y-Vota in Spanish) and/or visit their companion site www.866ourvote.org, sponsored by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law -- a nonpartisan group that sponsors the Campaign for Fair Elections -- is working in partnership with more than 100 organizations to maintain

If the voting machine malfunctions or something else goes wrong:

__ Do the Twitter thing I posted about above or use one of the following things suggested by TwitterVoteReport:

* Send a text message to 66937 and start your message with “#votereport”
* Download and use the iPhone app
* Find the “votereport” app in the Google Android marketplace
* Key in a report by calling (567) 258-VOTE/8683 (coming soon)

If you're still in line when the polls close:
Stay in line. Anyone in line when the polls close must be allowed to vote. Even if your candidate of choice is announced as the winner of the presidency, there will be local and statewide races where you should make your voice be heard.


Um, what am I forgetting? Urls, phone numbers, email addresses, etc?
ETA: Right! Wear comfortable shoes! Bring an umbrella! Bring two, and share them with the people around you.

Comments

[gmth.livejournal.com]

This is a FABULOUS round up. Thank you.

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

Eeee! Thank you!

[drvsilla.livejournal.com]

Lovely, thank you. Am going to linky to this in today's bullety. :)

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And you might want to share this, too.

[marynotcontrary.livejournal.com]

This is great info--thanks for putting it all together!!!

[rivers-bend.livejournal.com]

Once again, you bring the awesome. Thank you for this!

If you have trouble standing

[romsfuulynn.livejournal.com]

People who have trouble standing may want to bring a walker with a seat if available. My mother (86) and her close friend (late 70s)checked out early voting in Maryland and the lines were so much longer than they'd seen at either of their polls that they are planning to vote on election day. But my mother is taking my late father's walker and will call her friend to come get it when she's done.

Don't know what local rules would be about folding chairs.

Re: If you have trouble standing

[belleweather.livejournal.com]

At least in MN and WI you can bring them. If you have those camping chairs that have carry straps, you can use those too -- bring extras for others who might not be up to standing in line.

Re: If you have trouble standing

[sugarjet03.livejournal.com]

In NC we have curbside voting. Those who might have a hard time waiting in line don't even have to get out of their cars.

[casirafics.livejournal.com]

I've voted absentee for about ten years. Most of this looks so strange and foreign to me now. ;) (King County goes mail-only early next year, so it's pretty much the norm around here already...)

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

I think it's worth mentioning that the Obama hotline will help you REGARDLESS of whether you are voting for Barack Obama. If you are voting for McCain and have problems at the polls, they will still help protect your right to vote.

Thank you!

[delawarean.livejournal.com]

Absolutely awesome post, Heidi -- with lots of very good info. Thank you for posting this!

Here's hoping for a good, reasonably event-free election day, where things are truly and definitively decided -- so our great country can move forward according to the will of the American people.

Thank you!

[delawarean.livejournal.com]

Absolutely awesome post, Heidi -- with lots of very good info. Thank you for posting this!

Here's hoping for a good, reasonably event-free election day, where things are truly and definitively decided -- so our great country can move forward according to the will of the American people. :-)

[nicocoer.livejournal.com]

Posted to Twitter and facebook. Adding a link to my vote post. :)

[isiscolo.livejournal.com]

A great list of useful stuff for all the poor suckers who didn't get to vote early! :-)

[amorettea.livejournal.com]

This makes me glad I live in a small town where one of the election judges lives next door and I can see my polling place from the balcony off my bedroom. Actually, because my husband is the photographer for the local paper, we are voting first thing in the morning so he can get a picture.

I live in eastern Montana and, based on yard signage, Obama may even have a chance here.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

You are fantastic. Linking to this.

(Also, they moved my usual polling place. Disaster now averted. I can see why they did it -- the new location is Much larger.)

[psycho-tabby.livejournal.com]

Far out! 90minutes is normal!?

My Dad runs one of the voting booths where I live (Western Australia)and he says the government starts feeling serious heat if people have to wait more than 15 minutes. I can't really imagine waiting 90 minutes, let alone 6 hours, especially if I was there vollenteerily.

[arboretum]

Awesome! I hope you don't mind if I link to this. ♥