The 2012 Election is right around the corner, and there is nothing more upsetting than walking into that school gymnasium on election night, filled with national pride, only to have the blue-haired lady with the thick book tell you sorry, you can't vote. You're not registered. (Followed by dramatic facepalm. Yours.)
Today is National Voter Registration Day and the day to check your voting status and make sure you're registered, and if not, to do it. Time is running out. Each state has its own rules, but most require you be registered at least a month before the election.
If you are one of those people who knows you aren't registered and could care less, because you feel it's only a contest of the lesser of two evils again anyway, I'm going to clue you in on something really cool you might not have realized ...
First off, voting is a responsibility and a duty of all citizens. You gotta do it, make your voice be heard. You'll feel worse if you don't, especially with these hidden incentives that are really the icing on the cake:
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-- You get to be alone, in a quiet booth, for five freaking minutes.
-- Great reason to justify getting a babysitter.
-- Tuesdays are usually slow days anyway.
-- "I Voted" stickers. Kids love those.
-- Voting allows you to feel self-righteous all day long.
-- Filling in small bubbles on a Scan-Tron is more relaxing than playing Candyland.
-- No one talks back in the voting booth.
-- You get to be with other adults.
I know I've inspired you to take action. First, check to see if you are registered at CanIVote.org. If not, all you need to do is go out of doors and chances are you'll run into someone out on the street with a clipboard just dying to collect your info. Or you can go to the Election Assistant Commission website and get all the forms and instructions for your state. Do it. You'll be glad you did.
Are you registered to vote? Are you sure?
Image via allyaubry/Flickr
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Comments 7
I am registered and live in Washington State where they send your ballot to your home. It is also a state where we give illegal aliens valid drivers licenses and then send them cards asking them to register to vote. Was just at a friends house who is going through the process of becoming a citizen and that's right folks they tried to get her to register to vote. She is the perfect example of the kind of people we want coming to our country and becoming part of our community so she said no thank you, but it makes you wonder how many people made the same choice. I am all for reminding people the importance of voting but I don't think we should spend tax dollars sending people notices with reminders and I don't think we should be allowing non-citizens to vote.
"This will be the first election I've voted in since I was 19 since I just got my citizenship last year. ... I tried to vote when I was 22, right before I emigrated, and I was told I wasn't registered. "
Non-citizens cannot legally vote.
Checking your status is important, people really do fall off of voting registries. ... I have no idea why I was removed from the book
In most states, if you are legally eligible to vote, and are registered, you are automatically re-registered every year that you vote. However, if you go 4-6 years without voting, usually you are dropped from the rolls, and have to re-register.
Guest she sure made my point about non citizen's voting didn't she. And they say we don't have voter fraud.
Guest my boyfriend was donating his time to an ex felon going to college that needed help with his homework. He was shocked when the guy told him he had been contacted by Keith Ellison a state representative from Minnesota and was told to vote. The felon was instructed by Ellison to vote and then if he was approached later to claim that he didn't know he was not allowed to vote. To me and any intelligent person that is voter fraud and the left can deny it all they want but it does happen. Voting is a right but it is also a responsibility.