[Ghoser777]

Okay, so here's your dumb question of the day - let's say you "forget" to register to vote (or never get around to it, etc) before that registration date that passed like a month ago. Are you completely, without recourse, able to vote?

Probably a quick no answer, but if yes, I'd love to know!

[Gankdawg]

"No".

[Krusty]

At this late hour (elections on Tuesday), I'd assume you are SOL. There is probably a website for you county voting board that will have specifics for your state. The rules here are : 1 month prior for new registration, 2 weeks prior to change a registration (such as when you move and change voting districts). The rules are state-specific, so I'd at least check if I were you ... but I'd imagine its something similar to what it is here.

[Rev-O]

Originally posted by Ghoser777:
Okay, so here's your dumb question of the day - let's say you "forget" to register to vote (or never get around to it, etc) before that registration date that passed like a month ago. Are you completely, without recourse, able to vote?

Probably a quick no answer, but if yes, I'd love to know!

try identity theft...

[wataru]

A lot of places will let you register the day of the election. Your state should have a website about election policies and procedures. Google is your friend.

[dreilly1]

I think the answer is generally that if you are eligible to vote, you can vote whether or not you are registered, but the procedure to do that varies from state to state. Some states will make it virtually impossible, and others won't. Since you are from Illinois, though, I'd expect that you ought to be able to vote no matter what, as often as you want, and especially if you're deceased! (or is that just Chicago...)

You chould call your local Board of Elections first thing Monday, and prepare to take a trip down there. They may let you cast a provisional ballot at their offices, provided you have proof of citizenship (birth certificate/naturalization papers) and proof of your address. Keep in mind, though, that if any election on the ballot is close, your ballot will be among the first challenged by the other side, and if your proof of eligibility is not sufficient, it would likely be thrown out.

Some states let you make that provisional ballot on election day at the polling place, but only your local Board of elections knows what you'll be able to do.

[Spheric Harlot]

Wow. That seems an unnecessarily complex way to run a democracy.

[TETENAL]

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
Wow. That seems an unnecessarily complex way to run a democracy.

I thought the USA aren't a democracy. You should make up your mind.

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
Wow. That seems an unnecessarily complex way to run a democracy.

We aren't a democracy. We are a Republic.

There is a lot of ignorance about U.S.A. politics.

[wdlove]

I can't imagine how someone would forget such an important civic duty.

[dreilly1]

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
Wow. That seems an unnecessarily complex way to run a democracy.

I think it stems from the fact that there is a lot of latitude given to state governments here. It is the "United States", after all, and any power that is not expressly given to the Federal Government is given to the individual states.

So while there are federal guidelines for elections, each state gets to set the actual rules for their elections, and they can vary as long as the federal guidelines are honored. Even the Presidential election is conducted as 50 simultaneous state elections, all with slightly different voting procedures, thanks to the Electoral College. Which is why no one can give a straight answer to the question Ghoser posed unless they know what the election rules in Illinois are.

[wataru]

Originally posted by wdlove:
I can't imagine how someone would forget such an important civic duty.

News flash: Not a lot of young Americans understand their civic duty, nor do they care. Not that that's necessarily Ghoser777's situation, but it's the truth.

[Eriamjh]

Why didn't you register to vote when you hit 18? Why did you wait? Once registered, always registered (unless you move).

Only 50% of all registered voters typically turn out for a presidential election. Pretty pathetic if you ask me.

[wataru]

Originally posted by Eriamjh:
Why didn't you register to vote when you hit 18? Why did you wait? Once registered, always registered (unless you move).

Only 50% of all registered voters typically turn out for a presidential election. Pretty pathetic if you ask me.

Maybe he moved. Maybe he's abroad, like I am. There could be any number of reasons.

[MindFad]

Originally posted by Kilbey:
We aren't a democracy. We are a Republic.

There is a lot of ignorance about U.S.A. politics.

That didn't take long. Thanks for the info, Sherlock.

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by MindFad:
That didn't take long. Thanks for the info, Sherlock.

Get off your high horse. Incase you missed it, someone thought the USA was a democracy.

It's not as commonly known as you think. Most people are surprised to learn that the US is a republic and not a democracy. We aren't all as blessed as you are with great knowledge.

[MindFad]

[TETENAL]

Originally posted by Kilbey:
Most people are surprised to learn that the US is a republic and not a democracy.

Are "republic" and "democracy" mutual exclusive?

(This is a socratic question, so only Kilbey answer please)

[dreilly1]

Originally posted by TETENAL:
Are "republic" and "democracy" mutual exclusive?

(This is a socratic question, so only Kilbey answer please)

Sorry, can't help it...

Haven't you ever played Civilization -- Democracies are more productive than Republics, but they are more costly to upkeep and generally don't want their troops outside their home cities, right?

Part of me thinks that Bush is going to proclaim a Monarchy for a few years after the election -- or, if he is a Civ III player, a Fundamentalist state -- and go to town on the Middle East before reverting back to a Republic to gain the production advantages back...

Sorry for the diversion. We'll now take you back to your regularly scheduled Voting thread...

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by TETENAL:
Are "republic" and "democracy" mutual exclusive?

(This is a socratic question, so only Kilbey answer please)

Thanks for being polite, (even if a bit sarcastic). Spheric, this one goes out to you. Mindfad, screw you.

You see, here's where I admit where I was wrong.

O.K. people. Take note. Kilbey admits he was wrong.

a definition for "Democracy":
1 Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives.
2 A political or social unit that has such a government.
3 The common people, considered as the primary source of political power.
4 Majority rule.

And the definition for "Republic":
1 A political order whose head of state is not a monarch and in modern times is usually a president.
- A nation that has such a political order.
2 A political order in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who are entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them.
-A nation that has such a political order.

[MindFad]

[d0ubled0wn]

Originally posted by Ghoser777:
Okay, so here's your dumb question of the day - let's say you "forget" to register to vote (or never get around to it, etc) before that registration date that passed like a month ago. Are you completely, without recourse, able to vote?

Probably a quick no answer, but if yes, I'd love to know!

It's too late for you. However, my vote is for sale. Name the right price and I'll vote for the candidate your request. PM me.

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by d0ubled0wn:
It's too late for you. However, my vote is for sale. Name the right price and I'll vote for the candidate your request. PM me.

Or find someone with an opposing vote and ask them not to vote. Cancel each other out.

[awaspaas]

Originally posted by wdlove:
I can't imagine how someone would forget such an important civic duty.

That's the meanest thing I've ever seen wdlove say!!

[MilkmanDan]

Originally posted by wataru:
News flash: Not a lot of young Americans understand their civic duty, nor do they care. Not that that's necessarily Ghoser777's situation, but it's the truth.

I went to extra effort to get a ballot here in japan, even though I know my home state will go the other direction of what I'm voting. If you don't take part in the process, it doesn't work.

[Ghoser777]

Originally posted by awaspaas:
That's the meanest thing I've ever seen wdlove say!!

Bring wdlove out of his shell - the single greatest accomplishemnt of my life!

[wataru]

Originally posted by MilkmanDan:
I went to extra effort to get a ballot here in japan, even though I know my home state will go the other direction of what I'm voting. If you don't take part in the process, it doesn't work.

I also voted. But most of the Americans I know here didn't vote, mostly because they just don't care.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally posted by Kilbey:
We aren't a democracy. We are a Republic.

There is a lot of ignorance about U.S.A. politics.

Indeed.

Because your republic is a form of democracy.

If you're so convinced you're not a democracy, how the hell can you be exporting something you don't even have?

"The roots of our democracy can be traced to England, and to its parliament."
- George W. Bush, Nov. 6, 2003.

[Twilly Spree]

Originally posted by Kilbey:
We aren't a democracy. We are a Republic.

There is a lot of ignorance about U.S.A. politics.

Most democratic countries are republics. Including America.

[Lateralus]

I took the day off from school to go register to vote on my 18th birthday.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally posted by Twilly Spree:
Most democratic countries are republics. Including America.

Yep.

"There is a lot of ignorance about U.S.A. politics."

Indeed.

[PurpleGiant]

Ghoser: While I'm sure your elections are quite different to ours (they are), I have worked at our federal and state elections over here, and if you were here, you could still vote.

It's a strange situation over here. It is the law that every person over 18 votes at an election. If you are going to be on holiday, you send a postal vote in early. If you are going to be in a different state, within Australia still, you can go to their local voting booths, and make an 'absentee vote', which registers it in your local state.

However even though it is law that you vote (you are fined if you don't), you still have to register. So those that are haven't yet registered by election day (should be done at least a month early), aren't just turned away though, they just have a few more forms to fill out on the day. It's not really a big deal.

(Ironic side note: Despite it being illegal not to register and vote, if you do not register, then the govt don't have your details to fine you. However if you do the right thing and register, but then don't vote, they now have your details and you will receive a prompt fine. )

[Zimphire]

Originally posted by Kilbey:
We aren't a democracy. We are a Republic.

There is a lot of ignorance about U.S.A. politics.

Stop baiting the armchair Americans.

[itai195]

Originally posted by dreilly1:
Part of me thinks that Bush is going to proclaim a Monarchy for a few years after the election -- or, if he is a Civ III player, a Fundamentalist state -- and go to town on the Middle East before reverting back to a Republic to gain the production advantages back...

LOL. When's he going to raise taxes to 70% to pay for it all, though? Civ doesn't let you go into debt... what a sham.

I haven't followed any progress on a Civ 4, but they ought to add some terrorist element to it. I know they already have barbarians and such, but perhaps as time progresses they can morph into terrorists instead. We aren't really living in fear of barbarian attack in the 21st century...

[MindFad]

I still think my Lone Ranger bit was hilarious.

[TheBadgerHunter]

Originally posted by MindFad:
I still think my Lone Ranger bit was hilarious.

Apparently no one else thought so.

[MindFad]

I laughed.

[Kenneth]

I want to vote.. but I'm not yet a US citizen...a green card holder here.

[MindFad]

I'm not sure they let Hilary Duff fans vote anyway.

[BasketofPuppies]

Seeing as how you live in Illinois, which is firmly in the blue, you shouldn't worry as Democrats will win damn near every race here regardless of who you would have voted for. (Don't let Dennie Hastert fool you otherwise).

Now if you lived in a swing state or at least a state that that weren't overwhelmingly Democratic or Republican...

You had until October 5 to register to vote. Short of voter fraud, you won't be able to vote in this election.

You know the saying, don't put off until tomorrow...

[CharlesS]

Originally posted by dreilly1:
Haven't you ever played Civilization -- Democracies are more productive than Republics, but they are more costly to upkeep and generally don't want their troops outside their home cities, right?

Part of me thinks that Bush is going to proclaim a Monarchy for a few years after the election -- or, if he is a Civ III player, a Fundamentalist state -- and go to town on the Middle East before reverting back to a Republic to gain the production advantages back...

I believe the Fundamentalist government is only in Civ II. I think Civ III removed it because it was too un-balancing or something.

Then again, I don't actually have Civ III, so I could be wrong about this. The fundies are definitely in Civ II, though. Your people follow you unquestioningly, and military production goes through the roof, but your science rate goes down the crapper...

[badidea]

Does Illinois use the Diebold voting machines?
If it does, voting wouldn't make much sense anyway Ghoser!!

[BasketofPuppies]

I believe the way people vote in Illinois varies on a county by county basis.

Here in Cook County, we still use the same punch card ballots we used four years ago. They were redesigned in 2002 to prevent voter error and a poll worker now puts it through a machine right after you finish voting and tells you if you made any undervotes or overvotes. (And if you made any, you're asked if you want a new ballot so you can start over and are thus guaranteed that your vote will count.)

But they're still the same paper ballots we've been using for at least as long as I've been voting. No equipment needed to be replaced. The only thing added was the machine that a poll worker scans your ballot with immediately after you vote. (And it couldn't have cost much to train them how to use them.)

Florida went overboard. The same fixes made here in Cook County, Illinois would have also solved the problems they had there four years ago at a significantly lower price and without any of the issues (computer error, no manual recount, hacking) that are being brought up now.

[wdlove]

Im very concerned about this election and the future of our county. Luckily I have my faith to give me comfort.

[AB^2=BCxAC]

Originally posted by wdlove:
Im very concerned about this election and the future of our county. Luckily I have my faith to give me comfort.

Me too. Except your faith gives me no comfort at all.

[wataru]

Originally posted by wdlove:
Luckily I have my faith to give me comfort.

Your faith is what's ruining this country.

[BasketofPuppies]

And your hate of the concept of faith is bigotry.

In before lock.

[wataru]

Originally posted by BasketofPuppies:
And your hate of the concept of faith is bigotry.

In before lock.

I don't hate the concept of faith. I don't like how the Christian Right forces their faith on the rest of us through their politics.

[Eriamjh]

Originally posted by Kilbey:
We aren't a democracy. We are a Republic.

There is a lot of ignorance about U.S.A. politics.

True, but a lot of people don't know the meanings of the words "democracy" or "republic" or the differences between the two.

But that's not what this thread is supposed to be about.

Florida went overboard. The same fixes made here in Cook County, Illinois would have also solved the problems they had there four years ago at a significantly lower price and without any of the issues (computer error, no manual recount, hacking) that are being brought up now.

You are right. But you are assuming that "what works in Illinois will work in Florida". And if you know anything about anywhere, there are people who always say "Just because X works there doesn't mean it will work here." Idiots.

I'm going to vote for the one who will make our country the stronger, bring back jobs, save social security, and improve life for all human beings.

Oh wait, I forgot. I only get to choose between Bush and Kerry. D'oh!

[BasketofPuppies]

Originally posted by Eriamjh:
You are right. But you are assuming that "what works in Illinois will work in Florida". And if you know anything about anywhere, there are people who always say "Just because X works there doesn't mean it will work here." Idiots.

I can assure that in this case, what worked in Illinois would have worked in Florida.

The problem in both counties was the same: butterfly ballots causing an abnormally high amount voter error and overvotes. The equipment used for voting in both areas was the same so Palm Beach County could have solved the problem the same, (relatively) inexpensive, and less controversial way Cook County did.