.
Well, have to mention for just 5 more days, that if you believe in environmental peace and justice, the campaign is not over! This Saturday, December 6, there is a chance to elect Malik Rahim to Congress. Info at: www.votemalik.com
But…for everyone who cares about voting and democracy…this is an important season for electoral activism. First, in the weeks and months leading up to Election Day, electoral activists watched voter registration. Then, we made sure policies and voting booths were in place for a fair election. Then, on Election Day, we helped/poll watched/campaigned and/or voted. Now, after Election Day is over, it is time to ensure that all the votes are counted, and that they are counted and recorded fairly.
Below is one story about making sure that write-in votes are properly counted, and another story about a unique opportunity to watch one state cast their electoral college votes.
Write-In Votes: Different states have different rules about recording and reporting the write-in vote. It would be a worthwhile thing for you to check at your Board of Elections web-site and see if write-in votes are listed. If not, you could write them a letter asking for the policy, research the law, or sic a local newspaper reporter on them.
At Independent Political Report, one of the contributors studied the rules for Alabama, and noticed some counties that were not complying. For more about his story, and details on how to help if you are from Alabama, go: here.
Some of the counties in Alabama that did and did not record count-ins are listed by IPR here:
If you live in Alabama, in one of the 47 counties that broke the law and did not tally any write-ins, you should consider making a complaint. Some years ago the Attorney General issued an opinion, saying that counties must tally all write-ins. The only 20 counties that submitted write-ins to the Secretary of State are Baldwin, Barbour, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clarke, Covington, Elmore, Etowah, Henry, Jefferson, Lawrence, Limestone, Marengo, Marion, Mobile, Montgomery, Russell, St. Clair, Walker, Washington.
The most populous counties that did NOT report their write-ins are Madison (which has Huntsville), Lee, Morgan, Shelby, and Tuscaloosa.
What does the Electoral College really do?: According to Ballot Access News, Virginia will broadcast the meeting of its Presidential Electors. The story is here and below:
Virginia presidential electors, like all presidential electors, will meet in the State Capitol on Monday, December 15, to choose the president. This year Virginia will broadcast their meeting, and send a tape of the meeting to public schools. Also the meeting will be in a large room, so that some interested members of the public may watch from the gallery.
Filed under: campaign 2008, election, Election 2008, elections, grassroots democracy, News, Political Websites, presidential, presidential race, US Politics, write-in vote Tagged: | Alabama, Ballot Access News, electoral college, electors, Lee, Madison, Morgan, Shelby, Tuscaloosa, Virgina, votes, voting
[…] What can an activist do in the lull after election day?… Well, have to mention for just 5 more days, that if you believe in environmental peace and justice, the campaign is not over! This Saturday, December 6, there is a chance to elect Malik Rahim to Congress. Info at: http://www.votemalik.com But…for everyone who cares about voting and democracy…this is an important season for electoral activism. First, in the weeks and months leading up to Election Day, electoral activists watched voter registration. Then, we made sure policies and voting booths were in place for a fair election. Then, on Election Day, we helped/poll watched/campaigned and/or voted. Now, after Election Day is over, it is time to ensure that all the votes are counted, and that they are counted and recorded fairly. Below is one story about making sure that write-in votes are properly counted, and another story about a unique opportunity to watch one state cast their electoral college votes. Write-In Votes: Different states have different rules about recording and reporting the write-in vote. It would be a worthwhile thing for you to check at your Board of Elections web-site and see if write-in votes are listed. If not, you could write them a letter asking for the policy, research the law, or […] […]