I can't vote.

[Neoma]

I don't mean that I've been cheated, or that I'm being suppressed. I mean that I'm registered in Tennessee, when I'm in Illinois. It's too late for absentee, and I'm just stuck. I've thought about going to Obama's party, but my fiance doesn't want to be around a million people, and I don't blame him since I'm agoraphobic anyways.

I'm frankly torn up. This would have been the first person I would have voted for. I wanted it to be Obama. I wanted to change the world a little, and a vote in a sea of votes would have been nice. I've even thought about how much more ashamed I should be, because of how hard it was for women to get around to actually voting. Then I thought about donating, but $40 doesn't change much since it's almost at the end of his campaign. And it doesn't really make up for not voting for the guy.

:hide: :cry:

[gkhouston]

1. That $40 could help someone in a downballot race. Getting a supermajority

in the Senate would be a Good Thing.

[Fridays Child]

2. How far of a drive would it be?

Not that I know your time or transportation constraints. I'm just asking if it's even slightly possible that you could go home for long enough to cast your vote, then turn around and go right back.

[Neoma]

4. 8.5 hours there, and 8.5 hours back.

I can't drive, my fiance drives me around. He only has 6 days off until March...

[B Calm]

9. If I was going to Tennessee this week I would give you a lift in my 18 wheeler.

[uppityperson]

3. When was the last date you could have gotten absentee ballot?

withholding judgment for the moment.

[Neoma]

7. I was recovering from emergency room visits.

The letter had to be received by the secretary of state 7 days before voting day.

[uppityperson]

11. If you want a suggestion, I have one for you.

Have you called them recently? Call them now and tell them you were being seen for emergency health issues, can you fax them documents saying that and still get an absentee ballot. It never hurts to check, and emergencies rule lives sometimes.

[Neoma]

17. Fax? What fax?

Hell, what's the phone number for that matter...

[uppityperson]

28. Good lord, you have the time you say. Here, I'll do it for you, here you go...

You are online, look it up. Tennessee voting, or electoral commission. I am sorry but I am getting the sense you either are not serious or are joshing us or have some other problem. Wait, here you go.

http://www.tennessee.gov/sos/election/index.htm
http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/residents/voting.html

Contact info here, click on your county and it will give contact info:
http://tnsos.org/elections/election_commissions.php

[Neoma]

29. First time voting, not sure how to go about anything.

[Neoma]

30. First time voters in TN have to vote in person the first time...

Just found out.

[Ms. Toad]

34. That cannot be right.

You cannot be deprived of your vote just because you are physically unable to get to the polling place or the local board of elections. In other words, there have to be provisions for absentee voting for individuals who are ill, or out of town, or otherwise cannot make it to the polling place - regardless of whether it is their first vote or their 100th vote.

You may have missed the deadline, but there have to be provisions for first time non-physically-present voting. What do all of those 18 year old college freshmen do who intend to vote in their home state/town, rather than the state/town they happen to be in for college? (Especially since there used to be massive fights in college towns to prevent college students from registering at college - so until it was settled most college students voted absentee (for their first voting experience).)

I would still call and explain your circumstances.

[rucky]

5. I accidentally early-voted for a Republican judge.

and I made it up by campaigning for him while I was on the Obama canvass - handing out flyers and telling Dem voters which judge they should vote for, since party affil isn't on the ballot.

I hope I replaced my vote with at least two others.

[bobbolink]

6. I understand your dilemma

Sadly, this isn't the forum for expressing your sadness and sense of loss.

You're much more apt to be vilified and get unsolicited advice, which you are then compelled to spend energy defending.

I"m sorry you're in such a situation... I know it's distressing.

:pals:

[tigereye]

8. I bet someone in Ill. would drive you to Tennessee if you wanted to go...

I'm serious. Call your Obama office. Maybe they have some answers. Assuming you could go and didn't have to work or something.



you might as well ask to see if there are any other options...

[uppityperson]

12. That is a very good thought. Seriously, ask them for help or advice.

If you want to vote, there are people willing to help you do it. Good luck.

[Neoma]

13. I'm free in time.

I wouldn't think that they'd do that. I mean, they'd be trading their vote for mine, wouldn't they? Unless they early voted.

[uppityperson]

15. People do vote early and they want to help others vote also. Try it.

You won't know unless you try. Do you have their contact info? Good luck.

[Neoma]

20. Nope.

I don't know the Obama office number around here...

[tigereye]

21. online?

I get lots of emails from the one here....

[uppityperson]

31. Here is contact info for Obama campaign in Illinois, links for volunteering there also.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/ilhome

[Neoma]

33. Going to have to travel to TN.

I'm getting it arranged to fly up there, stay with my folks, then fly back.

[uppityperson]

36. Good. I'm glad it looks possible.

Sorry if I am abrupt but this is touching a nerve for me. Last election I worked hard to get people registered and had a couple early 20's (people I'd walked through the registrations process, filling out form, left for them to simply put it in the mail) tell me afterwards they just never got around to mailing the registration form in and really wanted to vote but couldn't.

I hope it works out for you and hope your health issues are over for a while.

[tigereye]

16. I dunno, it might be worth asking

maybe some volunteer would be driving back there or something.


Or maybe a ride sharing? I'm just speculating here, but you never know.

[B Calm]

19. and there's a good chance once you're in Tennessee you will find a ride back!

Many Obama volunteers will be headed to Chicago next week!

[Neoma]

25. Is flying out of the picture?

Can't say I trust the whole driving thing.

[Robbien]

10. Do some GOTV. Convince someone else to vote who normally would not have

Either knocking on doors or phone banking. Volunteer at Obama's site

[Breeze54]

14. Why didn't you get an absentee ballot sooner? Or register in Illinois?

:shrug:

How long have you been living in Illinois?

Did you call Tennessee voting registra?

It's about 513 mi – about 8 hours 13 mins to drive to Tenn. from Illinois.


GET GOING!!!!!!!!!!

[Neoma]

18. Emergency room visits.

I was busy getting MRI scans, cat scans, spinal taps, headaches, blood patches, and nerve pinches.

I'm still sort of recovering.

[Breeze54]

22. I'm sorry you're sick but doesn't TN have ER's?

If not, all the more reason to vote there!!

I hope you are better soon. :hug:

[rateyes]

23. I hate to say this, because I know how much you want to vote, but

you can take consolation in the fact that Tennessee is going into McCain's column with or without your vote.

[Neoma]

26. Yeah, but any vote for Obama is a vote for Obama.

[varun]

24. I cant either - Non citizen here

I've been in US for 18 years, and am finally getting my green card (in a year or so). Its so frustrating to see the repugs ruining this country and not be able to vite :(

[Dark]

27. It's ok. You'll get a chance to vote for himin 2012

n/t

[CC]

32. You could donate to a Dem running for

Congress or Senate if you really feel Obama doesn't need it. It won't make up for not voting but then nothing does. You could canvass, phone bank or help at the polls where you are to make up for it if you really do want to make up for it.


Hard for me to feel much sympathy though there is understanding. I have two broken feet and was worried about being able to get to the polling place. When I went to get the pins taken out of one foot Monday I decided I would go vote absentee at the courthouse. Vote in and stress gone.:) My house is not wheelchair accessible (2 flights of stairs to get out) so it was a concern.

[Orsino]

35. The rest of us have been voting extra hard...

...so you're covered. :toast:

But I did take great joy in actually casting my ballot, so I'm sorry you have to sit out that part of the effort. Hope you're able to do other things to make Tuesday a big success!