GO VOTE, it's important

[nadinbrzezinski]

Ok folks this is it

You may be convinced that nobody is gonna steal your vote. Or like me, you may be convinced that it really doesn't matter... they will (and I want to be pleasantly surprised)

Here is the IMPORTANT POINT... GO VOTE. It does not matter if you are as cynical as I find myself right now. I had an incredible moment of dejavu to the time I was 18 and I got to vote... in another country, well before I became a US Citizen. That country was not known for clean elections... but we still voted.

Why?

We knew ballot stuffing was a common practice

We still voted, in the high 80% of the voter rolls

Why?

As we used to tell each other... so they are gonna steal it... MAKE THEM WORK AT IT!

So why is this important? As you wake up Wednesday morning, if the worst happens it will easier to organize an outraged population. There is something under the surface that is quite powerful. I saw it in early voting... the place was packed... and many of us were demanding PAPER.

So whether you are a cynic like I am, having unfortunately been there and done that in a country where elections were not clean... or the eternal optimist, you still NEED TO SHOW UP AND CAST THAT VOTE. You also need to work, to the best of your abilities, to ensure that there is little voter suppression, and we all know better, and that every voter who wishes to cast a vote (regardless of party) does so.

So go vote folks...

On a personal note it was scary to hear an 18 year old who was voting for the first time at the Registrar feeling the way I did over two decades ago in another country... it was jaring... but as he said, at least the bastards will have to steal it (in front of the registrar's employees by the way, who didn't like the comments)

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. kick

[magellan]

2. I did, and on a Diebold touchscreen in FL to boot (on purpose)

Confront your fears!! VOTE!!

[malaise]

4. My sis in Miami

voted on the weekend. She said the three of them were first in the line and had no problems. They voted straight Dem as usual, but their second son voted for the first time. They couldn't believe he got out of bed so willingly on the weekend. Her first born voted using an absentee ballot a while back.

[magellan]

5. That's the spirit, good lad!

I voted absentee last time but decided to be daring this time. When I saw our early voting would be done on touchscreen, I couldn't resist looking for trouble. (Is it just me, or is it an affront to equal protection or whatever for my precinct to run early voting on touchscreen while using opti-scan on election day?)

Like your sister, I encountered no problem -- that I could see. Any way you vote in FL you never know what really happens to your vote.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Use paper

that is the best hope we have of challenging anything.

It has NOTHING to do with fears of any technology

[Sugar Smack]

3. You don't sound so cynical to me. You sound fueled

and energized. :D

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Oh trust me cynical

But it is the kind of cynicism you have to experience....

Ballot stuffing WILL happen

Voter Supresion WILL happen

They will TRY To steal the vote

We don't have a plan

But if they are that obvious, the people will wake up even further from their slumber

Oh and I am not counting on any gains whatsoever precisely due to Diebold. I KNOW how this is done... and that is just being relistic. OTOH, if they are that blatant, there is something under the surface

As to fears... there is no fear when you know how the GEMS database works... many 'round these parts may not like Bev Harris but she's one of the pioneers on showing how its done. Knowledge is far from fear, and for god sakes I use early computer tech and adopt it as much as I can afford to

[H2O Man]

6. Vote

and be proud that you did!

[mrreowwr_kittty]

9. Great post. K and R. n/t