A few voting reminders...

I know that this may be late for some of you who have already headed to the polls (you were smart to go early, & good on you for doing your civic duty), but I know that many of you will be going after work tonight. Here is my list of voting do's and don'ts for you to keep in mind before you head to the polls this afternoon and evening. And no, I'm not going to keep shouting the proverbial Get Out & Vote chat - if you need to be motivated to go out and vote at this point, I've got nothing for ya.

Anyway, here goes...

1. Be prepared to show ID! Depending on where you live and what state you live in, you may be asked to show a valid, photo ID in order to be permitted to vote. This is based on a Supreme Court decision from earlier this year. I won't get into the politics of it right now, but be prepared. Better yet, and I strongly advise this, bring a back-up photo ID just to be sure, as well as your voter registration card, and even a utility bill that proves you live at the address that your poll has on record.

Why this paranoia, you ask? Try this one - if your driver's license reads John Q. Doe, and your voter's registration reads John Quincy Doe, you may have been stricken off the voter rolls, and today might be the first day you're hearing about it. Yes, it's true - this is happening by the thousands around the country, and I hope, for once, no matter who wins this election, that our corporate media picks up on these absurd occurrences and this outrageous practice. Anyway, my point is, be prepared to defend your right to vote, and to even fight for your vote.

2. No one has the right to deny you your right to vote, if you are properly registered. If that happens, immediately call 1-866-OUR-VOTE to report a voter problem. Please, for the love of God, walk out of your polling place disenfranchised (And I don't care who you are voting for). Depending on where you are located, there are many state resources at your disposal, too. It's a good idea to have these numbers with you before you head to the poll. Pick a major newspaper near you, and visit its Website before you leave to vote, and with a little poking around, you should be able to easily locate some numbers to take with you in order to safeguard yourself.

3. If all else fails, you can cast a provisional ballot, but only do this as a very last resort. As I type these words right now, there are still 100,000 provisional ballots that were never counted in Ohio during the 2004 election. In most cases, they are never counted.

4. Be prepared for very, very long lines. I know that in Pa., the lines have been crushing, and it's only 12:30 p.m. as I type this. If you can go during off-peak hours, do it - take a long lunch, whatever. Anytime after 4-5 tonight, and you're going to be waiting, and waiting, and waiting. Do what I'll do, just in case - bring a magazine, and your cellphone. It's amazing how many games of brickbreaker I can get in while waiting on line. (And catching up on e-mail with my Blackberry is always a welcomed opportunity.)

5. Once you get inside the voting booth, be very, very careful about what happens when you begin voting. There have been dozens and dozens of votes of machines flipping votes; in other words, you hit Obama, and the McCain light glows (I haven't heard any cases of the opposite happening, but it certainly is possible). Insist that your vote be counted correctly, period. Don't be pooh-poohed by a poll worker, let alone be intimidated.

Here's some video of it happening in West Virginia:

6. MOST IMPORTANTLY, DON'T PRESS THE BUTTON THAT SAYS "STRAIGHT TICKET" - for either All Republican or All Democrat. Please, if you listen to one thing I've written, please don't do it. There have been numerous reports of this happening in West Virginia and other places. PLEASE PUNCH IN YOUR DESIRED CANDIDATES INDIVIDUALLY, ONE AT A TIME. (Yes, don't you just love our electronic voting machines?) I know I do.

7. Don't forget an umbrella. I know, this isn't a huge thing, but inclement weather is expected in certain regions of the Mid-Atlantic this evening, especially in Philadelphia, where I'm located. Don't let the weather spoil your efforts.

8. Avoid wearing campaign paraphernalia to your polling place. I think this is beyond outrageous, but in some states, including Pennsylvania, you could be turned away and not allowed to vote if you're wearing anything political. It's an blatant violation of our free speech rights, but hey, we'll fight that battle after the election. Why get denied your vote because of a campaign button or t-shirt? It's just not worth it.

9. If you live in the Western U.S., even if the media begins calling states before your polls close (which aggravates me to no end, and I live in Philly, so I can't imagine how you feel), please, go and vote anyway. Your vote is still vital and critical for so many reasons, not the least of which are the many Propositions on many state ballots, as well as the Congressional races.

10. If you are on line when the polls close, you will still be allowed to vote, so if it's 7:15, and you know the line is going to be tremendous, please, go vote! Hey, it's just one evening, and tonight's not a good TV night anyway (at least for other shows!) - it's gonna be all election, all night, so you might as well do your part. The polls close at 8 p.m. in most states, and if you are on line at 8 p.m., you will be allowed to vote. (If you're not, again, call 1-866-OUR-VOTE to let 'em know and to get the situation resolved).

Happy voting! It's a great feeling to get out there and to scream your voice from the mountaintops with the most potent weapon you have in a democracy - your vote.

As usual, I'll have much, much more tonight at my blog: www.CountMeBlue.org - stop on by - I would love to hear your comments.