Another Motor-votor breakdown: "Yes, that seems to happen a lot."

[guruoo]

LETTERS
Motor-voter breakdown cannot be tolerated

I called the Voter Registration Office on Monday before the recent election to find out where our polling place was located. I was told neither my wife nor I was registered.

I told them we had moved here from out of state in September 2005 and had registered when we went for our new Tennessee driver's license in October.

Her reply: "Yes, that seems to happen a lot."

Does anyone ever coordinate the respective agency/department to make sure everything is running smoothly and whoever registers at the Motor Vehicles Department gets their name on the voter registration rolls? Apparently in a some cases it doesn't happen.

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http://theleafchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061119/OPINION03/611190303/1014/OPINION

[SharonAnn]

1. Here's how you can vote under this condition:

1. Vote a Provisional Ballot at the Polling Place for your address. Never mind that they don't have you on the rolls of registered voters, just find out where the polling place is for someone at your street address. Check on the Provisional Ballot envelope that you registered when you got your Driver's License.

2. The Election Commission will to check with the Department of Motor Vehicles. They can get a copy of your application for Driver's License. If you checked the box for "registering to vote", then they will count your vote and put you on the rolls as a registered voter. If your application does not show that you checked that box, they will discard your vote.

3. In any case, check in a few weeks with your Election Commission to be sure you are on the Registered Voter rolls. You should receive a card confirming it and telling you where your polling place is.

4. Write a letter to Governor Bredesen about your problem with this, and include all relevant information such as date you applied for your license, where, etc. Copy the head of the DMV. Gov. Bredesen's office will ensure that you get an answer. Also, if they get enough of these, they may need to put pressure on the DMV to improve their processes.

You can track lots of this information from the information on the state web site, under Secretary of State and Election Commission.

Hope this helps.

[NashVegas]

2. My Experience With Tennessee Motor Voter Was Weak

They give you the form, but it's on you to make sure it gets to the elections board. Very easy to let it slip through the cracks. I did better by paying a visit to the county offices.