[SusDet Announce] 12 Ways You Can Safeguard Your Vote

[Claire Maitre]

>
>
> Tips for this election, some vary with your state/local rules.   
> Especially note point 9.  Take cell phones and cameras.  Depending  
> on your jurisdiction, you may be asked not to use them inside the  
> polling place itself.  But try to document if you run into trouble.
>
> Published on Friday, November 3, 2006 by YES! Magazine
>
> 12 Ways You Can Safeguard the Vote
> by Fran Korten, Doug Pibel, Paul Mozur and the staff and interns at  
> YES! Magazine
>
>
> ON ELECTION DAY
> (For Points 1-3, BEFORE ELECTION DAY, go to http:// 
> www.yesmagazine.org/ )
> 4. Vote early. If you encounter problems, you'll have time to sort  
> them out and may be able to help others.
>
> 5. Take your government-issued ID (such as your driver's license).  
> You may not need it, but it's best to have it.
>
> 6. Bring your cell phone, if you have one. If you have problems, or  
> see problems, you can call a hotline immediately (see point #9).
>
> 7. Ask for a paper ballot. Some states, such as California, require  
> polling places to have paper ballots available on request. If you  
> don't want to use a machine, see if your polling place can provide  
> a paper ballot. If machines aren't working or there are other  
> problems, ask for an emergency ballot (although they may not be  
> available everywhere).
>
> 8. Verify your vote. If you’re voting on an electronic voting  
> machine, check the review screen to make sure it reflects your  
> vote. If the machine produces a paper record (28 states require  
> one), read it carefully to make sure it correctly reflects your  
> vote. If it is incorrect, speak to a polling attendant—don’t leave  
> until you’re sure your vote has been properly recorded.
>
> 9. Document and report. If you encounter difficulties, or see  
> others experiencing difficulties (excessive lines, voter  
> harassment, malfunctioning machines, etc.), make a detailed record.  
> Get all the facts you can—location, names, specific problem.
>
> We recommend two nationwide networks where you can report problems.  
> One is 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683), which will have volunteer  
> lawyers in 15 locations standing by to provide assistance. The  
> other is 1-866 My Vote-1 (1-866-698-6831), which will record your  
> problem by voicemail, then forward your call to your local board of  
> elections. Both will enter the information you provide into a  
> database to use to support challenges to problem elections now and  
> demands for reform in the future.
>
> AFTER ELECTION DAY
>
> 10. Call your candidate. If there are questions about an election  
> result, urge your candidate not to concede early; encourage that  
> person to follow through with all available challenges and  
> recounts. Ask how you can help.
>
> 11. Call your election officials. Let your county and state  
> election officials know that you have concerns about the election  
> and will be monitoring their response. Ask them not to certify the  
> election before all challenges and recounts are finished.
>
> INTO THE FUTURE
>
> 12. Work for fair, transparent elections. Voice your questions  
> about voting machines, vote suppression, and election problems  
> promptly. Keep the issue in front of your election officials. If we  
> want clean, trustworthy elections in 2008, we have to start working  
> on it now.
>
> Want more information? Here are three websites from the leading  
> edge on voting issues.
> www.verifiedvoting.org
> www.VotersUnite.org
> www.truthout.org/voters.rights.htm
> ###
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