A reminder...and an inquiry

[thatcrazycajun]

First of all, as some on my friends list or yours may already have mentioned, today is Election Day throughout the United States. (I still think whoever had the bright idea to schedule it on a workday, instead of Saturday or Sunday when we might have better turnout, should be keelhauled behind a truck...but that's a rant for another day.) The League of Women Voters has a very helpful website up called Vote411.org if you need to find out how and/or where to vote. (And if you live here in Georgia—or one of the other states that has new voter ID laws in force—don't forget that picture ID or passport!) I plan to do so promptly after getting off work...and I hope my fellow US citizens reading this will do likewise, at your earliest convenience, if you have not done so already. (And if you have, good on ya, mate!) A quote from that galactic sage Lazarus Long seems apt here:

If you are part of a society that votes, then do so. There may be no candidates and no measures you want to vote for...but there are certain to be ones you want to vote against. In case of doubt, vote against; by this rule you will rarely go wrong. If this is too blind for your taste, consult some well-meaning fool (there is always one around) and ask his advice. Then vote the other way. This enables you to be a good citizen (if such is your wish) without spending the enormous amount of time on it that truly intelligent exercise of franchise requires.

Second, I've been notified by LJ a few times in the past couple of months or so of new people friending me whose handles and/or userpics I don't recognize. I take this as a compliment that people other than my own circle of meatspace friends and acquaintances is signing on to read my rants, filks and other musings, and you are most welcome so long as you don't step on the cat. (His name is Ari, and he's orange and weighs 22 lbs; you can't miss him short of being blind.) However, curiosity gets the better of me at least as often as it does him; so if you've friended me during this period, would you mind terribly posting here with as much information about who you are as you're comfortable with having on this site, how I or one of my friends knows you, and why you decided to put me on your list? I look forward to meeting my newest readers.

Comments

[smoooom.livejournal.com]

Please forgive my ignorance, but what are you guys voting for today?

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

It varies with location. Some states are electing governors and lieutenant governors; some electing other statewide, county/parish or local officials, such as judges or Secretaries of State; some have initiatives, city ordinances, bond issues or amendments to their state constitutions on the ballot, and a few are probably even having recall elections. Congressional members (Senators and Representatives) are only elected every two even-numbered years, so we can't vote on those today (more's the pity). And, of course, the President and Vice President are only elected every four even-numbered years, so that won't be for another year yet (though you wouldn't know it to watch all the horse-race coverage of the major parties' nomination races so far).

[smoooom.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, so ALL you elections are on this same day? I guess that would have some benifits. Oh, I like Icon for this post Very well put..

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

Well, no, not absolutely ALL of them; some states do have special elections in other months. Louisiana's gubernatorial primary, frex, was last month. All federal elections are indeed on the first Tuesday in November, not counting Presidential primaries and caucuses, whose dates are determined by the states holding them. (This last has been a source of much controversy here lately, as you may have heard, with states moving up their delegate selections to January and February in order to have more influence in the nomination process.)

[mdlbear]

Given that both Saturday and Sunday are days of rest and worship for various religious groups, it's not really surprising that voting takes place on a weekday.

mdlbear = Steve Savitzky.

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

Indeed, that's true.

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

Well, for the Christians at least (and others, I do believe), religious worship does not take up the whole day; at most, the Baptists need three hours, counting Sunday school. Earning one's livelihood, on the other hand, usually requires a full eight hours, five days a week or more; and for some of us (that is, ones on an hourly wage rather than salary, especially when you haven't been in long enough to earn paid time off), missing work is losing pay.

And even for the devout whose observance does require the whole day on Saturday, such as Jews, most polling places have evening hours so they could vote after sundown -- which, admittedly, is an inconvenience, but there are far fewer of them than there are non-Jewish voters. If you want to maximize turnout, you have to make voting easy and convenient for the largest number possible.

[mdlbear]

"after sundown" could interact badly with Daylight Saving Time if they do something stupid like make it permanent.

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

Okay, ya gotta point there. Maybe voting should be on BOTH Saturday and Sunday, to accommodate all religious groups. I'd certainly have no problem waiting an extra day to hear results if it meant we could get max turnout.

[mdlbear]

I'll buy that.

[filkferengi]

Now I'm hearing "Vote Those Rascals Out" by The Fibs.

:)