Nicole writes in,
My grandmother is 76 years old and has never registered to vote. During the 2004 election, I remember her vehemently voicing her choice not to vote, because she didn’t think it made a difference. Never the less, I’ve always thought she was an amazing woman.
When she announced at dinner a few weeks ago that she finally registered to vote (it was on her “bucket list,” she said), we all starred in awe. Why this election? Why now?
Well, she freaking loves Barack Obama. She thinks he’s the patron saint of politics. Also, I think it’s that she finally realized that there is something wrong with the way our country is being run. And while part of my family has suddenly turned conservative, because a black man is running in the race, my grandmother and I are going to the polls in November to vote for Barack Obama. She even suggested we go campaign for him. Now that is a desire for change!
Indeed!
Be like Nicole’s grandmother and get your ass down to your local registration office to register to vote. In many states today is the last day to register to vote in the 2008 presidential election. Where I’m from, your registration has to be filled out and in the office by the end of the business day. If you’re mailing it in, it must be postmarked for October 6th.
Get on it!
question: I recently moved and updated my voter registration and while I know they have the new address (I was able to look up my info online to make sure they got my request for change) I never got the new voter card in the mail. I know I lost some other mail due to Ike and that might have been why I never got the new card. Is there a way to get a new card mailed to me (a quick glance at the voter registration site didn’t find me anything useful, yet) or can I just use my ID since I do in fact have up to date voter info?
I would add that people can register to vote at the BMV (at least in my state), for those who find it daunting to figure out where the registration office is.