18-25s Want Kerry in Ohio

On a happier note than most on here, I want to tell you that I have been doing voter registration in Northeast Ohio and although I am non-partisan when registering, the 18-25 crowd I meet in clubs and other local spots are more than happy to offer up their desire to get rid of Bush & get Kerry in the White House. About half the people I run into thank me for being out there registering people.

I've heard in the news that many young people are pro-Bush. Not in my neck of the woods. I also think these 18-25s are not showing up in the polls because so many use cell phones as their main or only communications choice. Pollsters can't get to them, but they are there and they want Kerry.

If they actually go and vote, Ohio will go Kerry's way.

Are you associated with ACT or some other organization? I need to get materials and I would think it would be better if I was an agent of an organization.

Tell them you're from Vote Chicago or some such name & say it's a grassroots organization. All you need to do is get voter reg cards, a booklet or whatever the state provides to make sure you understand how exactly the cards must be filled out, and go. I use a card table, a hand-made sign and a clipboard. It does help to get the necessary permissions before you try to go into a place like a school or store, etc.

However, the polling places are rarely in clubs, on sports fields, etc. You have to go out of your way to visit one.

The real trick isn't registering people. It's making sure they show up at the correct polling place on the correct day with any expected documentation to prove they can vote there.

Voters don't have to bring in the card the board of elections mailed them or show a driver's license or utility bill to prove residency or identity.

But registering is half the battle. Step 1 is complete once they're registered. When November comes along, all they have to do is show up at the polling place. Plus, if they intended to register but were lazy about it, getting to them before they forget ensures they won't be sitting there on Halloween saying "I have to get registered. ZThe election's next week." It'll be too late by then. (At least that's how it works in Ohio. You have to be registered 30 days before the election.)

In KS, you can sign up for a mailed ballot when you register. It is only good for the whatever election is next but in this case, it is the election in Nov. The ballot gets mailed about a month before the election and they fill it out and mail it back in.

you have to get them to vote. Historically, they don't (at least not after the initial burnish was off the 18-year old vote and the draft was over).

Are you keeping the names of the people you register? Are you planning on calling the Democrats to turn them out to vote in November. Are you ready to spend election afternoon pounding on their doors, if necessary, because they haven't answered your AM phone call?

Registering voters is easy. It's like selling cupcakes for motherhood.

Getting them out to vote is the real work.