For American citizens, there is a Presidential election fast approaching. (Have you heard about it?) Election Day is Tuesday, November 4. It’s time to register to vote. The Obama campaign has set up a great tool that let’s you figure out whether you are already registered, and if not, prints out a form you can mail in to do so:
It works for Republicans, too! Even Republicans who want to vote for a Republican this time around, although those are increasingly scarce.
If you think this election is important, you can go even further and donate money. Ad buys are crucial, of course, but get-out-the-vote efforts will be equally important, and they don’t come cheap.
There are also various third party candidates. Sadly, the Socialist Workers Party has nominated Róger Calero, who was born in Nicaragua, and is therefore ineligible to be President. If he wins, it will be quite the constitutional crisis!
For those who can’t make it to a polling station on Election Day, deadlines are very fast approaching for absentee voting. Start here:
Note that there’s nothing stopping you from absentee voting even if you could vote in person on Election Day; if you’re feeling motivated right now but might be lazy on November 4, why not vote right away?
September 30th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
This is just a brief reminder to all overseas readers that it is illegal for foreign nationals to donate money to any American candidate.
September 30th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Voting in this election is very important despite Obama’s seemingly widespread popularity. I don’t think we can be so sure Obama will win this election. There are a great many people who live in other parts of the country and who hold very different opinions. And thanks to the Electoral College system, their vote counts for more than yours.
September 30th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
The absentee ballot request form I printed from the Maryland state website does specifically say not to use an absentee ballot if you are able to make it to the polling place. It doesn’t say it’s illegal to use the absentee ballot due to laziness, but apparently it’s at least officially discouraged.
September 30th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
I will be voting for the first time in this election because I am now a citizen. Too bad my first vote ever for POTUS will go to a republican. Several of my MI friends are voting McCain. Obama’s ACORN will be out in full force on November 4th too.
Obama will absolutely commit voter fraud. That’s just who he is. Dead people, repeat voting you name it. There are already reports out of VA and WI that his loyal supporters are doing this. We’ll see what happens.
I wonder if Obama’s overseas campaign contributions will ever be investigated since his website made it so easy for overseas “nationals” to contribute, the website only changed in July and now requires proof of citizenship.
McCain should’ve made it just as easy on his website.
September 30th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
LL #1 : you can if you have a green card.
October 1st, 2008 at 12:00 am
Obama has magical powers and will commit voter fraud via telepathy. He will summon legions of the undead to vote for him. He will burn Republican ballots in pools of kitten blood.
Our only hope is to wear tinfoil hats and block his demonic emanations.
October 1st, 2008 at 10:53 am
Foreign nationals can do as they please, US law doesn’t apply to them.
October 1st, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Well, that’s the first I hear of Democratic voting fraud. It must be a coupla months since I started hearing about Republicans making likely Dem voters’ registrations disappear.
I take the OECD doesn’t bother checking US elections?
How would one go about organising substanstial international donations to the McCampaign? Or is it only illegal to donate, not to receive?
October 1st, 2008 at 3:14 pm
My MA absentee ballot form said it should only be used under a set of circumstances that did not include laziness.
October 1st, 2008 at 5:33 pm
#5: True! I was assuming most green card holders probably aren’t overseas.
#8: I think they have to give the money back, but I don’t know if there are any other penalties, although soliciting is probably illegal.
State by state conditions for absentee ballots vary widely, and are generally more open the farther west you go. I think that in OR they are mandatory, but I’m not sure about that.
October 1st, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Don’t underestimate Palin in the upcomingn debate. Low expectations (deserved or otherwise) only help her:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122281636354892281.html
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Lets hope the election is this close, what happens if its a tie?