It's Citizenship Day!

[smofbabe]

First my new passport was waiting for me at the PO. Then, my absentee ballot was in the mail when I got home. Unfortunately, an insert says that "Due to printing delays, we are providing you a sample ballot on which to vote. When we receive it back, we will duplicate your ballot onto an official ballot and will tally your vote." Doesn't make me feel real warm and fuzzy... I at least know the ballot will be returned in time because of a tip from tilthouse about the Overseas Vote Foundation's Express Your Vote initiative that enables expatriates return their ballots by FedEx Express from many countries for a discount or, in the case of Australia, for free!

Frankly, because I'm voting in California, my Presidential vote won't make much difference in the overall scheme of things. However, I'm happy that I have the chance to vote against Prop 8, which proposes to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry.

Comments

[eefster.livejournal.com]

That right there (Prop 8) is one of the reasons I'm making more of an effort to vote this year than I normally do.

My vote for President won't make a blind bit of difference, realistically, but the state- and county-level initiatives are a different story.

double-check that 'ballot'

[parrismcb.livejournal.com]

sounds fishy to me. Check on the CA SOS site about this 'glitch'. For some states you can download a ballot directly off the web and use that instead. like New Mexico, which allows expats to download a registration form and ballot - with extended reg dates as well.

I know CA is going Obama, but there's lots of other offices and that odious 'amendment' to vote against, and every vote is vital.

Re: double-check that 'ballot'

[tilthouse.livejournal.com]

I agree that you should check, but that could be the case. The legislature substituted Prop 1A for Prop 1 at the last minute, as flaws in the original, years old high speed rail bond measure had become apparent. This may have caused delays -- certainly a supplemental voter guide had to be send out.

Certainly the action is mostly in the propositions in California, but a number of previously safe-R have tightened up, providing us with up to three U.S. House pickups (up from just one): CA-04 (Charlie Brown (D) v. Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks, why is he running in NoCal?)), which was always a competitive open seat; CA-46 (Coastal Orange County up to Long Beach) where Huntington Beach Mayor Debbie Cook (D) may knock off Rep. Rohrabacher (R), who is seriously a nutjob (not just in the usual wingnut sense); and even down here in San Diego where the CA-50 is now a two point race (Nick Leibham (D) v. Brian Bilbray (R)). If the Presidential race tightens up a lot, we wont take the 46th or the 50th. But if turnout is as good for Obama as it is looking, the 4th could be a very good night, even in California.

Re: double-check that 'ballot'

[smofbabe.livejournal.com]

It was definitely official mail from the Santa Clara Country registrar but luckily today I got another envelope with a real ballot.

And I hope you didn't think for a minute that I would consider not voting!

[wild-patience.livejournal.com]

That is odd. I received a real ballot in California. (I'm a permanent absentee.) Maybe they only had so many and sent them to people on the Continent first, thinking maybe those who aren't living here at the moment might not vote? I don't know, but it's fishy. They have big signs on the sides of buses urging people to vote by mail, so they should be prepared.

[smofbabe.livejournal.com]

It was definitely from the Santa Clara County registrar but luckily I got a "real" ballot today.