welcome to election day in the States, everyone! the polls just opened, here in Georgia, where we’ve got tight races for both Senate and Governor. no matter what state you’re in and what your politics are, go vote. it’s a right too many of us take for granted. if you don’t vote, you don’t have a voice. and if you don’t vote, i don’t want to hear your voice complaining about what’s happening in your city, county, state or country. period.
well, thank goodness for a bunch of smart people with a lot of social reach who are trying to to make getting information about the election and voting easier for all of us, in every state (and DC!).
[WordPress has] teamed up with the good folks from The Pew Charitable Trusts, who, along with Google, and election officials nationwide, have developed the The Voting Information Project (VIP). Together, we’re offering cutting-edge tools that give voters access to the customized information they need to cast a ballot on or before Election Day. The Voting Information Project is offering free apps and tools that provide polling place locations and ballot information for the 2014 election across a range of technology platforms. The project provides official election information to voters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and voters can find answers to common questions such as “Where is my polling location?” and “What’s on my ballot?” through the convenience of their phone or by searching the web.
i’m on my way to vote before work this morning, so technically, my badge is a little premature. but i thought it was important that it be up all day as a reminder or inspiration for everyone else who didn’t plan their day around this activity, like i did. i have an American friend who’s currently living in Moscow. he’s seen a lot in his past decade or so over there, and recently posted this on Facebook about his dedication to getting in his absentee ballot:
My fellow Americans: It’s 3:50am on a Saturday night. After a night out drinking with friends, and with a taxi to the airport arriving in 10 minutes, I just finished a 50-minute battle with a dodgy new printer/scanner to get my absentee ballot printed, signed, scanned and faxed to an elections office in the lovely state of Florida. For most of you, the process of voting on election day this Tuesday would entail a simple stop by a school or other public facility on your way to work or home. So…I implore you… VOTE!!! Whatever the deficiencies of our system (and we all admit there are some), you really don’t know how lucky you are to have a serious choice in the way your country is run. That is all.
i mean, for real, he even had to use a fax machine. it’s like 1989 all over again, y’all! so get out there. get out the vote. and have a happy Tuesday!
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