Posted October 25, 2006

Do you want a paper jam to cancel your vote on November 7? Want to do something right now to ensure your vote is counted?

We all remember the rampant voting problems in past elections that sent the outcome of the presidential election to the Supreme Court in 2000 and called into question the results in states like Ohio in 2004.

States have spent millions to "fix" their voting systems, but headlines in districts across the country keep exposing new problems at the polls.

On Primary Day in a Maryland suburb near my home in Washington, DC, thousands of voters experienced problems. The county Board of Elections forgot to send out key cards needed to make the electronic voting machines work, and then ran out of paper ballots.  Voters were actually instructed to cast their votes on scraps of paper!

The upcoming general election is widely expected to feature many problems like these, plus some new ones.

In Arizona, voters who come to their polling place on November 7 may be surprised to find that they are required to show photo ID or two other forms of identification that show their name and address such as bank statements or utility bills. Since this requirement was only upheld by the Supreme Court last week, many voters might not be prepared, and it could be a real problem for some -- including elderly and Native American voters. 

Election Day 2006 will also be the first election in which every state will be using a statewide voter registration database.  States have encountered numerous problems trying to meet the new federal rules, and election experts - and state officials -- are predicting a variety of problems to result - including the removal of legitimate voters from voter rolls.  

But you can help ensure that your vote counts by taking the time to fix any issues before it's too late! Many states now allow early voting, or absentee voting, which also frees you up to help get out the vote on Election Day.

Click here to find all you need to know about voting in your state. You can find out whether your state allows early voting, get an absentee ballot application, and, if you decide to vote in person, verify your registration, double check your polling place and find out exactly the type of identification you need to bring with you to your polling place. 

I also encourage you to know your rights.  If someone tries to stop you from voting on Election Day, don't just take no for an answer.  Click here to find out the rules on provisional voting in your state.

It's your vote - be sure it's counted.