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News :: Civil & Human Rights : Elections & Legislation |
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Vote Early {Even If You Don't Vote Often} |
Current rating: 0 |
by ML
(No verified email address) |
02 Nov 2004
Modified: 09:33:08 AM |
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The polls are packed in what is shaping up to be a record voter turnout. |
I arrived at around 9:45am at my precinct, Cunningham 12, which is located at the Urbana City Building. Although I thought this time would wisk me right through during this usually slow time in mid-morning, there were short lines for Cunningham 12 and Cunningham 11, which is co-located with 12 at the city building. Things were moving right along and it took only about 15 minutes to get through the line.
It's apparent that this is likely going to be a year of record voterr turnout. You will want to try to arrive at your polling place as early as possible if you haven't already voted, because lines are likely to grow later in the day. However, do not give up, as long as you are in line at 7pm, when the polls close. They are required to allow everyone in line at 7pm to vote. In the past, this has taken several hours, especially at campus polling locations.
Republican County clerks -- currently Mark Shelden -- have traditionally underserved campus polls in hopes of discouraging those typically Democratic Party leaning voters. But the votes of these conscientious young citizens are important locally, especially with the anti-student proposal to undermine student voting power by adding two at-large seats to the Urbana City Council. The at-large proposal is strongly supported by local Republicans, because they hope it gives them a chance to dilute Democratic dominance in Urbana city politics, so Shelden has a major incentive to make things as difficult as he can for student voters.
At Cunningham 12, a women behind me in line was forced to cast the first provisional ballot of the day. She had contacted Mark Shelden's office yesterday to be sure that she could vote, since her voter registration card had never arrived after she updated her address from having to move. She was told to simply show up today and there would be no problem. In fact, there is a sign at the door from Shelden, promising that voters have the right to vote at their old polling place if they have moved in the last 30 days.
The election judge called Shelden's office, who told her that the woman has to cast a provisional ballot, hardly the result she expected after what she was told yesterday. The problem is that provisional ballots are usually not counted, so it is likely that this woman will not see her vote count. Whether she moved in the last 30 days or not, I don't know, but voters should try everything they can to cast a real ballot if they want it to count.
So every vote is important. Arrive at your polling place, insist on your right to vote, and stay in line as long as you arrive before 7pm -- you will still get to vote and it is vital that every vote count. |
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