Posted by Jahari Davis on 11/6/06 10:22am
Msg #157493

OT - GET OUT THE VOTE!!!

Good morning folks! With this, the eve of the 2006 elections we have a lot of things to consider and look forward to. One of which being, no more of those damn campaign mailings, yard signs, robo-calls, or political commercials on TV!!!

It's no secret that I am actively involved in the political process and voting rights and campaigning. That said, I am encouraging you all to get out there and vote. Your vote is your voice and its important to get others out there to vote as well. But before you do, please be sure to read and understand who and what you are voting for.

While I cannot and will not encourage you to vote one way or the other, I will ask and encourage you if have not done so already to learn about the candidates and their positions. If they are the incumbant candidate, research their voting records to see if their stances fall in line with your beliefs. Read your ballots carefully as some of the ballot proposals can be confusing and misleading for some voters. Go to your Secretary of State's website to have a look at the language for those initiatives on the ballot. Reading them and fully understanding them and the effects they will have are very important as some just glance over them while standing in line making a snap decision in the booth. I've done it in the past and I know others that have done it too. We all have.

Also, there will be various volunteers and organizations out there to monitor polling stations to watch out for problems such as voter intimidation, voter fraud, illegal challenges of voter identification and the like. There is a grassroots organization out there called "Video The Vote" that is reaching out to people with camcorders to video the vote and monitor polling stations to make sure things are orderly and no one is wrongly turned away and prevented from exercising their right to vote. Should you experience or witness problems at your polling station, be sure to call one of the following numbers:

1-866-OUR-VOTE
1-866-MY-VOTE-1
1-888-VOTE-TIP
1-888-SAV-VOTE
1-877-SEIU-VOTE

or go to the follwing websites:

http://www.protectourvote.org
http://www.videothevote.com
http://www.ep365.org

Your vote counts, so make sure it is counted. Be sure to pass this information along.

Good luck!

Reply by Jahari Davis on 11/6/06 10:34am
Msg #157496

Re: OT - GET OUT THE VOTE!!! ONE MORE THING!

Should you vote on an electronic voting machine and the wrong name(s) pop up, have any difficulties with the machines, or are unsure of your vote being cast correctly, step back and ask for help. If they do not give you satisfactory assistance, call 1-866-OUR-VOTE for assistance.

Reply by Poppy on 11/6/06 10:57am
Msg #157501

Is it just me or does anyone else strongly dislike those

electronic voting machines? I've only had to use them twice but I'm sure they are a permanent thing now. It's hard to trust that your vote goes where it's supposed to...
Anyway thanks for all the links... And Thank you! For not trying to tell me or anyone else how to vote. It is appreciated.

Reply by Jahari Davis on 11/6/06 11:25am
Msg #157506

Re: Is it just me or does anyone else strongly dislike those

I'd much rather vote using good old fashioned paper ballots drawing the line or pulling the lever. I think there should be a ban on all electronic voting as it simply cannot be trusted. Electronic voting machines count the way someone wants them to count by way of hardware and software tampering, viruses or hacking. Ban them all and use paper ballots with barcodes and barcode scanners to record them, or vote on electronic machines that give you two printed ballots with a barcode to record ballot invetories and count the votes by hand. I also think election day should be moved from Tuesday to Saturday to increase turnout.

Reply by Calnotary on 11/6/06 11:29am
Msg #157507

Have you seen HBO "hacking democracy" I think that's thename n/m

Reply by Jahari Davis on 11/6/06 12:05pm
Msg #157513

Re: Have you seen HBO "hacking democracy" I think that's thename

Not, not yet, but I've heard about it and want to. I know Diebold wants them to stop airing it awfully bad. They must have something to hide or that they dont want us all to know. Remember the motherboard I found listed on E-Bay for one of those machines? It was mysteriously yanked down within an hour after exposure on CNN's Lou Dobbs. Also there was a software engineer that testified before a congressional forum about the software and how the voting machines were tampered with. Just shameful and sad that we've gotten here.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 11/6/06 4:07pm
Msg #157561

I can't think of anyone disagreeing with you on e-voting! n/m

Reply by Julie/MI on 11/6/06 11:40am
Msg #157509

Yeah, bring back the levers!

I agree about voter fraud, Jahari.

I usally work the elections as a precinct worker. This year, I was offered the precinct chairman job, but because of my pregnancy, I was too sick to go to the training so I am not working it this year.

Jahari reminds me of the 2004 presidential election. There was a challenger at behind our table, he was absolutely spastic that he didn't find us doing anything wrong! We didn't know what party he was from until the end when his guy didn't win--he had a temper tantrum like a two year old. I know our township has evenly matched workers as you have to declare your party if you want to be a precinct worker. They make sure there are not too many republicans/democrates in one precinct. I don't think the problem is from the workers, but from the voters who try to impersonate other voters. This is why I think identification is essential. Every registered voter is issued for free, a voter registration card in Michigan. This should be brought to the polls.

Also, I think that too many absentee ballot are being sent out. My mom had hers lying on the table (she didn't even request it) and since she's a little absent minded, I could have easily filled it out and sent it in. The former city clerk of Detroit had thousands of deceased peoples' names on the voter list and even sent her staff members to nursing homes to get those ballots filled out even if the patients were on meds that impared their thinking or had alzheimer's. That is shameful. If someone really wants to vote, they can call their city clerk to request the ballot.

This is just what my experience has taught me.

Reply by Julie/MI on 11/6/06 11:43am
Msg #157510

oops almost forgot

In one of the elections, when I was home with my babies and not working, the naacp was offering free rides to the polls. I called and asked for a ride since my husband was working late and they wouldn't do it.

Reply by Jahari Davis on 11/6/06 12:00pm
Msg #157512

Re: oops almost forgot

Julie,

Was it that they wouldn't do it or that they couldn't do it as they couldn't safely accomodate your children and their car seats? Usually the NAACP is really good about giving rides to polling stations and never turns anyone down unless there's an outstanding reason or request that they cannot accomodate. Were they able to refer you to another organization offering rides that might accomodate yourself and your children? If they couldnt give you a ride, they should have at least referred you to another organization.

Reply by Julie/MI on 11/6/06 3:03pm
Msg #157546

Re: oops almost forgot

No, my neighbor was going to watch the kids--I wasn't going to take them.

Reply by bestcal on 11/6/06 12:35pm
Msg #157522

Re: OT - GET OUT THE VOTE!!!Good job!You are truly committed

Y

Reply by CaliNotary on 11/6/06 5:57pm
Msg #157586

Good lord

you really just can't help yourself can you.

What a ridiculously inflated ego you have. We don't need you to tell us to vote and to learn about the candidates and teach us HOW TO READ THE BALLOTS?

Get the hell over yourself Jihad. If the rest of the world were 10% as impressed with you as you are with yourself, you'd be revered like Mother Theresa.

Reply by TitleGalCA on 11/6/06 9:38pm
Msg #157634

Re: Good lord - LOL Cali!

Jeez - if Jihad didn't remind me to vote tomorrow...holy koran! I would have forgot. Thank goodness we have our own personal political watch dog here. Too bad he can't give any notary advice/opinions/current events....which is sort of what this forum is all about...sorta.

Kudos to Notary Rotary to remind everyone (in their Rules & Guidelines) that ideologies and political agendas aren't welcome here. Jihad Jahari has nothing else to offer - no practical notary input = waste of internet space.

Reply by CaliNotary on 11/6/06 10:08pm
Msg #157656

Re: Good lord - LOL Cali!

I just don't know how democracy has managed to survive for all these years without Jihad there to show us all what to do. Just look at what happened in Florida a few years ago without his guidance. I guess we now know who to really blame for Iraq.

Reply by TitleGalCA on 11/6/06 10:16pm
Msg #157659

What I want to know is

how notaries have survived without a Fraud Detector Pen. My word. What this forum is coming to.

Reply by CaliNotary on 11/6/06 10:48pm
Msg #157672

Re: What I want to know is

I don't know, but at this rate I'm wondering how long it's going to take before someone starts a thread instructing me on how to wipe my butt in the morning.

- Back to front in one sweeping motion. Repeat as necessary.
- Be sure to take a lap around the perimeter so you don't miss any wayward fecal matter.
- Using moist personal wipes will ensure you'll get the maximum adhesion.
- while the undigested corn may look reusable, it's generally not advised.
- if you're going to photograph it and put it on ratemypoo.com, be sure to take the picture first, as the discarded toilet paper will prevent it from being shown in its full majesty.

Reply by bestcal on 11/6/06 11:06pm
Msg #157686

Re: What I want to know is-Arnold even if you are not good

for anything,at least you stand strong for morals and values.If you win tomorrow at least I know we will still have that for a while.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 11/7/06 2:42am
Msg #157711

Re: Good lord

Greetings all:

Funny how your bring the Lord into your distain for democracy. Voting excitement and participation, or the lack of it, is part of our way of life. You seem to be pretty full of yourself, there, sister. Apathy in voting is rampant, for many and sundry reasons. Your attitude, along with your attitude about many issues, reflects a self-importance that is unbecoming a professional and cognizent citizen. Why disparage the sharing of information, the community of democracy, and the passion for participation in its glory? Why diminish the importance of good-will and pride in the governance of our people by the people, for the people, and of the people?

Many topics, both off and on "topic" are brought up on this board. Whether is is apparent or not, our business is reliant upon, on many levels, the outcome of this election. Its discussion, in non-partisan terms, is relevant. If for no other reason, than we are all in this together, and voting is a cornerstone of this Democracy. Many "rules and regulations" directly affect this industry. Voting is our way of determining the integrity of the lending institutions and consumers' rights within those laws.

So, please, support the efforts of citizens to participate fully in our system, or, at least, refrain from showering distain upon those of us who do.