Hey! I've voted for Kerry already! YIPPEEEE!!!

[PretzelWarrior]

I live in Oregon. My vote by mail ballot came today, and I've already voted for John Kerry and a straight democratic ticket (believe me, I only do that because the options just aren't good for any of these positions. THe Dem really was the best for each).

My little oval is colored in for John Kerry and I will be dropping it down at the post office tomorrow. However, I do so with heavy heart. I also got my Harpers magazine in the mail today. The "Briefings" section starting on page 75 covers the 2004 election issues and focuses on the many ways in which the Republicans have focused on stealing the election again in 2004 through undercounts of votes in Democrat-heavy counties, proposals to purge more voters from the rolls, and a host of other issues giving me the idea it is not WHO GETS THE MOST VOTES. IT's about Whose votes get counted the most.

It is deeply disturbing to face a prospective future where the election occurs and in multiple states everyone has a sneaking suspicion we Dems and the AMERICAN PUBLIC at large want BUsh gone, but the official record will place Bush in office for another 4 years.

Can you fathom this? We could well find ourselves proving a solid electoral victory and popular vote victory for John F. Kerry and yet see Bush at the inaugeration again.

PLEASE SOMEBODY TELL ME WHY THIS WON'T HAPPEN.

I realize even focusing on this topic and assigning it fait accompli in voters' minds can even work to suppress voter turnout especially among the crucial new registrants--precisely the result we want to avoid--but I don't know how else to face this issue head on and demand some kind of answers.

How will I survive knowing I voted for the Democratic canidate for US president in 2 straight elections and was cheated out of my rightful result both times?

So...it is with a bittersweet note that I inform you my vote is cast.

[sandnsea]

1. I voted too!

4 votes for Kerry today, in the drop box and on their way.

And they aren't going to do it because we're going to be at any county that has a close count and demand recounts. That ballot was your ballot, we have hand recounts. So your vote will count and so will every vote in this country. There's just too many of us paying attention. I just read that Rendell is sending out state officials to every single balloting location to make sure everybody gets to vote. I think we're really on top of it this year.

[PretzelWarrior]

5. I'm somewhat encouraged by everyone's efforts.

It really does look like the rage and disgust will hit a high enough point in this country to divest ourselves of one truly bad president and a very misguided and foolish man, GW Bush.

[kurtyboy]

2. My wife and I also voted last night

But no post office for me! I'll be delivering the absentee ballots directly to the courthouse, where the elections officials all call me by my first name---minimal chance that my ballot will be "overlooked".

And, yes, we both went straight DEM on the ballot, which was easy--DEMS drew top spot for every race!

[MrModerate]

3. Me Too -- Absentee . . .

From Romania, where I'm living temporarily.

As to how we win -- well, maybe we do and maybe we don't. But I go by the "incumbent needs to be above 50%" rule, since the undecideds tend to go to the challenger. Also, I think the new registrations tend our way.

It's all going to come down, I think, to GOTV efforts.

[newyawker99]

6. Hi MrModerate!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[PretzelWarrior]

18. heyyyooohh!!!! glad to hear from you

many more new ones will be added I am sure. why? Because the people WILL BE HEARD

[phattyt]

4. I live in Oregon too...

and I just got done filling out my ballot (straight Dem!). I will be going personally to deliver the ballot. I know for a fact that my mom, brother, sister, grandmother, grandfather, best friend, his two parents, my brother-in-law, and father are all voting for Kerry and all filled out our ballots. * WILL NOT win Oregon!

[Nana]

7. I'm in Texas..

..and we are voting tomorrow..can't wait..my whole family, both daughters, son-in-law, hubby and I are going together! :) Gonna invite Mom and her boyfriend..:)

[PretzelWarrior]

9. yeah.....I want it to be clos in Texas. I would love it if all 50 were

contested by Kerry and Edwards. I hear Georgia, Tennessee, and Oklahoma are close.

Well, time to start doing my bit to encourage others to get their vote in.

[Tweed]

19. Utah, Idaho, Montana, Kansas, the Dakotas, Wyoming, Alabama, Louisiana,

Those states aren't going to be close. Just like D.C., New York, California, Illinois, Michigan, Oregon, Washington, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and others won't be close for Bush.

[PretzelWarrior]

20. I agree there will be some states where Bush gets overwhelming majority

just like Kerry will in his states. I'm just hoping whereas NY and California are our overwhelming states...other very populated states in the south will tip slightly in Bush's favor in these days ahead with the real possibility that they will have a chance to go for Kerry

[TexasLady]

12. our whole family too'

well, over eighteen anyways..i raise smart, liberal kids...:D

I can hardly wait!!

[SammyWinstonJack]

21. Voting tomorrow also along

hubby, sister in law and nephew.

[Eurobabe]

8. I'm in VA and I voted K/E earlier in October!!

GO JOHNS!

[kaitykaity]

10. I voted for John Kerry today too.

Proudly and nose unheld.

My ballot is sealed and signed and ready to drop
of at the Multnomah County Library tomorrow.

:bounce:

Like you I voted a straight Democratic ticket, and I agree
with you that it was the best ticket on the ballot



edit: democratic ticket, not democrat ticket. damn my fingers.

[PretzelWarrior]

13. yes.....Repubs are all pretty archly conservative....

the best thing they did for governor's race was allow Mannix to make it out of the primaries. It was close even at that. However, this presidential election should be a COMFORTABLE victory for Kerry.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

11. Same here

My husband and I voted for Kerry by absentee ballot last week.

[insanity]

14. I just voted for the senator

add one more Oregonian to Kerry's column.

[Gloria]

15. Voted Friday, straight ticket in NM....found out today that this widower

I chat with when I walk my dogs also voted for Kerry already!!

I had applied for an absentee ballot...but they are swamped and when I went down to check in person, it hadn't gone out yet. While there, I decided to vote on the spot!!!! The system is sort of like the SATs--you have to complete an arrow, fill it in to make the full line. Then a machine takes it and you hear it click. I decided to vote because the system looks better than the crappy touch screen I used before.

Fingers crossed!

[eriffle]

16. Voted on Wednesday

First day for early voting in WV, featured on Mike Malloy's show because we camped out all night to be the first ones. I don't know about the deep south, but here in northern West Virginia the GOP Bush operatives are out-of-staters from their leadership down to the grunts. Young Repubs do some on-campus things, but they haven't canvassed. I live in a very republican town (luckily three houses on both sides have K/E signs, a little liberal oasis) and B/C people have never knocked on my door. We have an energized group of young, middle aged, and older folks walking and calling to GOTV and just to spread the word.

[PretzelWarrior]

17. ROCK ON! great pic of early voters...and awesome logo

the WTF? is really too good.

[Buck Rabbit]

22. Add another 2 Kerry votes cast Saturday in Oregon.

The rodents of Reed Canyon in Portland are firmly behind Kerry, except the rats, they like bush.