Arbitration & Mediation

Down to the Wire: Making Your Vote Count: Justice Flourishes Only in a Healthy Democracy

By Victoria Pynchon

UPDATE:  REPORT YOUR VOTE EXPERIENCES ON TWITTER VOTE REPORT HERE

Here's a helpful list from this morning's Today Show on how to insure that the vote you cast is counted thanks to LegalMaven at Twitter this morning:

1. Confirm your registration before you go to the polls
   
   1. here in Nevada, the early vote poll workers will check for you if you drop by one of the hundreds of nearby polling places
   2. here in Nevada, you DO NOT NEED TO VOTE AT ANY PARTICULAR VOTING PLACE if you vote on or before October 31.  You can vote anywhere you see a polling place.  Many of them are mobile units conveniently parked at your local Vons or Albertsons; in front of your gym; and, just about anywhere your local shopping day takes you.
   3. here in Nevada, call 455-VOTE if you have any questions about when, where and how to cast your ballot
2. On election day here in Nevada, you DO NEED TO VOTE AT YOUR DESIGNATED POLLING PLACE ON ELECTION DAY.  Call 455-VOTE to determine where that is.  Lines may be long even though Nevadans have been early voting for more than a week. 
3. Have proper identification.Though you need only to give poll workers the month and day of your birth here in Nevada (if you are not a first time voter) to SPEED THE LINE bring your sample ballot.  It contains information that poll workers can scan & you and your neighbors will be on your way to vote and back to your daily activities more quickly.
4. Don’t wear campaign t-shirts, buttons and the like.  They are prohibited at polling places here in Nevada because you cannot campaign within 100 feet of a polling place.  If you forget, pull a sweater over that t-shirt; turn it inside out; remove the button and you won't have any problems.
   1. I monitored the polls in early voting here in Nevada at three separate polling places before I begged to be put in the field.
   2. Campaign workers didn't turn anyone away on account of clothing.  There are McCain and Obama vote protection workers at most polling places in Nevada.  You cannot talk to them within 100 feet of the polling place but they will notice if you are turned away and will follow you out to make sure your problem is taken care of.

THE NATIONAL NUMBER TO CALL FOR QUESTIONS WITH VOTING IS 866-OUR-VOTE

THE NEVADA NUMBER TO CALL FOR QUESTIONS WITH VOTING IS 702-455-VOTE

The just resolution of disputes and freedom to negotiate your own contracts flourish in a democracy.  USE IT OR LOSE IT!

More voting resources in Nevada:

The Nevada Secretary of State (list of county clerks and voter registrars state-wide)

Election Information from the Nevada Women's League of Voters

Nevada Online Polling Place Finder

I'M ASKING LEGAL BLOGGERS IN EVERY STATE TO PLEASE POST THEIR STATE'S POLLING AND ELECTION INFORMATION:  PASS IT ON!

Nebraska Voting Info here courtesy of lindsycd at twitter.  Her Omaha law firm here!

Texas Voting Info here courtesy of madpoet at twitter. His website Mad Poets Anonymous here!

New York Voting Info here courtesy of Jeenaesq at twitter.  Her lawfirm website here!

Illinois Voting Info here courtesy of R. David Donoghue of Chicago IP Litigation who twitters here.  Thanks David!

Go to the Legal Maven Speaks for election Day tips for DC, Maryland and Virginia.  Legal Maven sez

I strongly urge any voter who encounters an issue at the polls to contact Election Protection at 1-866-OUR-VOTE. Attorneys will be manning the phone lines and will be able to quickly provide you with the information that you seek.

Also, if you happen to be an attorney who wants to protect the vote, consider volunteering at a polling place through Election Protection. You'll be there to help voters who have problems with voting, voting machine errors, accessibility problems and to report any voter intimidation going on at the polling place.

Full post as published by Settle It Now Negotiation Blog on October 29, 2008 (boomark / email).