How to Avoid Voting Errors that Could Cancel Your Vote

Thousands of votes were wasted in the 2004 election when some Florida voters didn't mark the ballots clearly. Don't let your vote go to waste. Here are ways to make sure your vote counts.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• sample ballot
• photo ID
• voter registration card

1. Be sure you're registered to vote. In Florida, registration is closed for the Nov. 4, 2008 election. Check with the local election office where you are if you haven't yet registered.

2. 
    

   Be sure you go to the right place to vote according to your precinct. Often the newspaper will print a list of the voting locations. If you show up at the wrong place, you might not have time to get to the right location before the polls close. Don't just go to the same place as last time, as the locations can change.

3. Take a photo ID with you that also includes your signature.

4. 
    

   If you can't go to vote on election day, find out about early voting in your state.

5. 
    

   Also check on an absentee ballot to see which would work best for you. In Florida, the absentee ballot has to be requested by October 29 for the November 4 election.
   Be extremely cautious if someone offers to hand-deliver your absentee ballot for you. It's much safer to put it in the mail yourself so there's no chance for it to go astray or be sabotaged.
   Read the instructions on the ballot carefully. It requires more than a single stamp. The Orange County (FL) Supervisor of Elections says it needs two stamps, but they asked to post office to assure that all ballots get moved through even if postage is insufficient. Don't take the risk, be sure to read the ballots instructions and follow them.

6. 
    
   Get the postage right

   Look for a sample ballot and fill it out ahead of time. These are sometimes printed in the local paper or distributed by the League of Women Voters. With the sample ballot in hand, you are less likely to mis-mark the regular ballot in the voting booth.

7. 
    
   Cover it up!

   Candidate's signs (and things like political buttons, t-shirts) are not allowed within a certain distance of the polling place. Don't get turned away for this.

8. If you have difficulty standing for very long, be prepared for waits of an hour or more if you happen to hit a peak time. This can happen on election day and also at early voting. Ask a poll worker if you can have a chair to sit on as you move along through the line. Alternately, you can ask the person behind you in line if they will hold your space while you take short sitting breaks nearby. If you happen to own one of those folding spectator seats, bring it along to sit on in line.
   Getting an absentee ballot might be the easiest way to cope with this problem.

9. If there is difficulty over the registration or ID card, you might use a provisional ballot. Ask for a receipt and follow through carefully providing the ID and requested information within the required time (usually 48 hours).

Tips & Warnings

• Wear comfortable shoes in case the lines are long. Be prepared to wait.
• If your home has been foreclosed, you still have a right to vote. If there is any problem at the polling place, ask for a provisional ballot. (Parade Magazine 10/26/08)
• Don't be misled by misinformation. Example, in Philadelphia, fliers were circulated, warning voters they could be arrested at the polls if they had unpaid parking tickets or if they had criminal convictions.
• "The Voting Rights Act makes it a crime to misled and intimidate voters," said McDonald. "If you can find out who's doing it, those people should be prosecuted. But sometimes it's just difficult to know who's doing what. Some of it's just anonymous." (Associated Press)

[iamageniuster]

on 10/22/2008 Excellent tips. 5 stars! Thanks for the article.

[flor2729]

on 10/22/2008 All excellent tips. Thanks.

[lildutchgirl56]

on 10/21/2008 This is very solid advice, thanks.