Voters In Many States Must Register By October 6 182
Will F. Johnston writes "Voters in AK, AR, AZ, CO, DC, FL, GA, HI, IN, KY, LA, MI, MS, OH, PA, TN, TX, and VA must register to vote by tomorrow, October 6, in order to vote in November. Other deadlines coming up soon: IL and NM are October 7. MT is Oct. 6, but you can do same-day registration at the elections office. UT is also Oct. 6, but you can register in person until the 20th."
Re:North Dakota Doesn't Require Registration (Score:5, Interesting)
If you look at the history of the American democracy, there have been hyjinx in literally EVERY election since the start. There are stories of candidates sending wagons to the barrooms, and giving whisky to anyone who would vote for him. Registration is meant to curb the old "wheel them across town to vote again" trick. The problem isn't registration, it's general voter apathy. The thing about democracy is that the system only works if everyone votes. Luckly, we have layered upon the democracy a representative government, wherein you pick a good guy from your local area to represent you. The problem of course is that the good guy is most likely going to be more than 50% financed by corporations rather than individuals. Not always the case but often. Such is the state of affairs. 99% of the money in the hands of 1% of the population does that. The Republicans have moved from favoring the representatives to blantant corporatism--making corporations the government. It has been pointed out that this is exactly what happened in the 30's in Italy. It's affected the balance of America, because previously the subjugation of democracy has led to smaller government. Now, with democracy down AND a larger government (specifically homoland security), the political stability of the country is much lower. Now, we still have the 3 tiers, and not everyone in congress and senate has been bought by the immortality lobby yet. And really, the most important thing to you should be your local area. So, if you're going to worry about it, worry about local issues first, and move up as you go. Local can also mean on the internet, in your local network area (IE, your regular habitat). Be a leader and see the world change around you. Be a follower, and you'll see it change, but probably not to your liking.
Re:Tomorrow? (Score:2, Interesting)
The only sympathy I have is for people who turn 18 between now and then. People who are just registering now (again, unless then just came of age) are demonstrating a clear lack of interest in politics in general and are voting only because of the hyped campaign and the "get out the vote" efforts. Hell, they didn't even register to vote in primary. I registered to vote less than a month after I turned 18 because I care about these things (including primaries). Did you know that primaries frequently decide a large portion of local positions? Most people don't because they only vote every four years when the media tells them to. I'm not saying all late registrations are going to vote uninformed, but I'd be surprised if most didn't. Though luck to those who are so apathetic that they didn't bother to register by now.
How does US registration work? (Score:1, Interesting)
Okay, I live in another country (Canada) also in the midst of a federal election. It was called a few weeks ago, and it will be over before the US election has finished (Oct. 14th). How does the US voter registration thing work? Here in Canada we typically get a "voter registration card" mailed to our home with our identification information on it and the address and date of the poll and advance polls. The personal information is obtained from our tax returns, although it is something you have to opt-in to by checking a box at the time the tax form is submitted. Then we show up at the polls on election day or advance polls with that paper card in hand. But if we don't have a card, all we need is some government-issued photo ID (e.g., drivers license) and some proof of residence (e.g., a power bill with our name and address printed on it), and then you can vote. It's a different, slower line at the poll, but routine.
Are you telling me that in the US, if people don't do this "registration" thing a month in advance and they show up the day of the election, they won't be allowed to vote in some states? Huh?
Re:Please (Score:3, Interesting)
it sure smells like DEMOCRACY to me.
As long as we have the electoral system, it's painfully obvious that it's not a democracy.