Voting Suggestions, Please
A
BUZZFLASH READER COMMENTARY
by Cathy
Attention
mailbaggers!
There's less than a week before we go to the voting booths. BuzzFlash
has been including articles about possible voting problems in areas of
the country. These articles serve as a heads-up for we voters. Hopefully
everything will go ok, but I get the impression that we should be prepared
for just about anything. Here are some heads-up preparations off the top
of my head:
- Make sure you are prepared to vote in your state and know your rights as a voter
- If you have a cell phone, take it with you to the polls so that if you need to report any improprieties, you can do it right there. Take down names of anyone you complain to
- Don't permit long lines and malfunctioning voting equipment deter you from voting
- If you know you are registered as a voter and are challenged about it, call the elections board
- If you can't get through to the elections board, call a media hotline or state representative's office
- Read
voting instructions carefully and take your time. If you are instructed
to vote for no more than 4 candidates for a certain office, make sure
you do just that. Voting for more (may) result in your ballot being
tossed out
- Make
sure you turn punch-card ballots over and remove any dangling or slightly
perforated chads
- If
you make a mistake on your ballot, get a new one. That is your right.
Don't permit anyone to tell you differently
- Make
certain any touch-screen voting summary matches how you voted. If it
doesn't match, call an attendant and report it. Insist on a new ballot
and machine
- Above
all, be persistent in voting as you choose and do not allow any intimidation.
If you have questions, don't be afraid to ask them
If
BuzzFlash or mailbaggers have other suggestions on the unexpected scenarios
or cautious voting, send them in to BuzzFlash. Information is power! In
view of the 2000 election, we need to be on our toes this time.
~ Cathy
