Don't forget to vote today, and if you have any problems, call the toll-free Election Protection hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE. It's a non-partisan hotline, so don't worry that anyone will try to influence your vote.
Also, one of the most common problems people called in about yesterday was absentee ballots. Either they hadn't received one, or they had, but wanted to vote in person instead.
If you didn't receive one, most states will allow you to state to the poll worker (orally or in writing) that fact, and you can receive a ballot and vote in person.
Similarly, if you did receive one, but want to vote in person, most states will allow you to do so as long as you state that you have not and will not use the absentee ballot. To make things go more smoothly, do me a favor and take the absentee ballot to your polling place with you. That way you can either vote on it and turn it in, or surrender it to the poll worker in exchange for an in-person ballot. California allows any absentee voter to turn in their absentee ballot at any precinct/polling place in the state.
(And don't be thinking you can stuff the ballot box this way! If you do this and your absentee ballot is later received, the signature will be compared up with your signature on the polling place register and the absentee ballot will not be accepted or counted. Plus, you would have bad election karma.)
Again, the rules vary by state, so take a minute and look them up (see my last blog entry below)--or call the hotline. :) We'll be happy to help.
Happy Election Day!
