ThePoliticalCat: 2008 Elections: Vote!

Countdown, folks. If you haven't voted, do it now, if you can. If you're voting absentee, remember to photocopy your Presidential ballot choice. For information on what you can do to protect your vote, see this. For information on what you can do to steal back your vote, see this.

Remember that the Republicans stole the vote before, once, possibly twice. They'll be trying again. Do EVERYTHING in your power to ensure that your vote counts. HuffPo has a kinda terrifying look at how McCain might win this election (deity-of-choice forbid). Commenter Bombenhagel has this response, with which we heartily concur:

Be ready for any sign of trouble. Have the numbers of your local media in your celly, as well as 1-866-687-8683 (1-866-OUR-VOTE) or 1-877-GO-CNN-08 to report any problems. Bring your camera to the polling place and get everything on tape. Photograph your ballot before you cast it to document your choice. Bring appropriate ID. It doesn't have to be a driver's license. NO ONE will be looking for parking ticket offenders or deadbeat dads (you really SHOULD pay up) at the polls. No one will try to arrest you for voting. It is your RIGHT. Do NOT accept a "provisional ballot." If your voting machine appears to be "out of calibration," gets pics or video and submit it. Bring a snack or a refreshing beverage to people of all parties waiting in line to vote. Contact at least one person you know who is voting for McCain and make an effort in earnest to reach them. Know their concerns going in so you can address them. Fight With Tools:

http://www.866ourvote.org/state/
http://www.ourvotelive.org/home.php/

http://www.politifact.org/truth-o-meter/attacks/
http://www.factcheck.org/
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/born_in_the_usa.html
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/common/5/51/BarackObamaCertificationOfLiveBirthHawaii.jpg
http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/
http://www.fightthesmears.com/
http://www.taxcutfacts.org/
http://www.google.com/
http://www.cnnbcvideo.com/
http://www2.bothervoting.org/index.html

To visit the sites listed in his/her comments, copy the URL and paste it to your browser.

So call your family, friends, neighbours, acquaintances, and ask them (calmly and politely) if they've voted yet. Offer to drive them to the polling place or walk their vote-by-mail envelope in for them. Check with your local senior center. Do they need rides to the polling place? Assistance with anything? If you live near a polling place, pick up juice and bottled water, umbrellas, folding stools, whatever you have laying around or can afford, and drive or walk down there. The elderly might need to rest their aching feet. People might be thirsty, or just in need of a friendly word. Regardless of their political persuasion, be there for them. If you can take November 4th off, do. If you work in HR, see if you can persuade the company to give workers the day off, or at least half the day off. Send a few dollars to your candidate, or to their down-ticket party members. Volunteer to GOTV.

This is the most important election of your lifetime. Act like your life depends on it — because it probably does. Depending on who wins, this nation will rise like a phoenix from the ashes or collapse into dissolution.

This is a nonpartisan appeal to all you voters out there. No matter who your preferred candidate is, get in there and write them in if necessary.

La Casa de Los Gatos is committed to Senator Obama, but encourages everyone to vote for their preferred candidate.