Voter Information and a Request for Volunteers on Election Day

[tom-champion.livejournal.com]

I noted with interest that DSLJ is hosting a discussion of the local ballot questions.  Thanks for doing this.

I also wanted to share a message I just sent to local media outlets that may be of interest to this group:

 By every indication (total registered voters, total absentee ballots requested, total window traffic) the 2012 election cycle here in Somerville is on track to meet or exceed the historic levels of the 2008 election. 

As you know, however, Superstorm Sandy (or Hurricane Sandy, or Tropical Storm Sandy, or whatever the heck that was), has interrupted our normal pre-election operations and compressed the amount of time we have to get information out to voters.  That’s especially worrisome  given the fact that we have seven questions on this year’s local ballot in addition to an array of federal, state and  county offices .

Given the amount of official information needed to understand, and decide on, all those state and local ballot questions, and given the expected high turnout on Tuesday  (which is, of course, a wonderful thing and the kind of problem we want to have), I have posted a homepage alert on the City website that provides information about:

1. Volunteering at the polls on Election Day.

2. If possible, learning about the ballot questions before coming to polls and stepping into the voting booth.

3. If possible, voting at off-peak hours.

 We have also produced a brochure with the official language of the four local ballot questions.

Many of your organizations have already published valuable voter guides or other official information in both your print and online editions.  I’m hoping you will add our information to the mix and give it as much visibility as possible.

Thanks in advance for your help.    

Sincerely,

Thomas P. Champion

Executive Director of Communications and Cable

City of Somerville

93 Highland Avenue

Somerville MA 02143

http://www.somervillema.gov  

Comments

FYI

[aynatt.livejournal.com]

The first link is broken.

[tom-champion.livejournal.com]

Seems to be working now. If Ron or another moderator fixed it, I'm grateful.

[ron_newman]

Sorry, LJ doesn't allow me to edit your posts or anyone else's. Only you can do that. You are missing http:// at the beginning of that link. As it is now, the link works when reading the davis_square community directly, but not when reading your post on a friends-page.

[ron_newman]

I sent mpierotti@somervillema.gov an offer to volunteer. I didn't realize you could still take volunteers this late. Let me know as soon as possible when and where I am needed.

[tom-champion.livejournal.com]

There, the link should be fixed now.

And Ron, thank you for volunteering. You should be hearing directly from Maria. Just one word of warning: I know you have an orderly mind, which is one of the reasons you will be a great election day volunteer. But no matter how well we prepare, election day may end up being a little chaotic. So try to roll with it, and don't worry if things seem a little disorganized from time to time.

Also -- although I know you know this -- we're reminding volunteers that may not talk politics or advocate for any cause or candidate. There's plenty of official information to share, but the weighing pros and cons is not on.

Fortunately, we have DSLJ for that!

[ron_newman]

Thanks for fixing the link.

I just heard back from her. I'll be at 6-1 (Kennedy School, Sartwell Ave entrance) from 9 am to 1 pm, doing whatever Maria wants me to do there. I'll wear a VOTE button, not one for any candidate or issue.

I'm also printing out a few signs to post at the Dilboy VFW door, telling people that the polling place has moved to the Kennedy School. (I did this for the March and September primaries, too. This should be the last time it's needed.)

[tom-champion.livejournal.com]

A Connect CTY call will go out to 6-1 residents on Sunday evening to remind them of the change in polling location.

[ron_newman]

Thanks. Was the ballot questions brochure mailed out to local residents? If so, I never got one.

[tom-champion.livejournal.com]

Nope. Sandy did us in on both the production and distribution timetables. We should have plenty on hand for folks waiting in line at the polls.

[ron_newman]

Thanks. I'm happy to read it on the web, but just wanted to see if I had missed a mailing.

[ron_newman]

I just now got your robo-call. Thanks, Tom!

[nomacmac.livejournal.com]

I would like to add that if your polling place is at a school, there will most likely be a bake sale happening, so bring some $$ if you like baked goods, coffee and/or supporting PTA's and school groups. (I know the Capuano will have a bake sale to support the PTA, and at the Brown, the 6th graders are having a sale to support their week long trip to Nature's Classroom... I am not sure about other schools)

[somervillesnow.livejournal.com]

How are off peak hours defined?

[tom-champion.livejournal.com]

When I volunteered at the W3-P1 polls in 2004 (lbefore I worked for the City), the off-peak times were 10:00 a.m to noon and 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. It's hard to know exactly about Tuesday, but I'm expecting roughly similar off-peak times. Remember, we're talking about what's likely to be a record year, so all bets are off.

Of course, this is a wonderful problem to have: people WANT to vote. It's inspiring.

We'll have poll workers providing information to folks in line so that they arrive at the voting booth having already read the ballot questions and won't need to linger in the booth. They'll also help voters who aren't sure about their status.

But I hope people will be patient, persistent and good-humored on Election Day. Unlike officials in some states (and given the reality that Massachusetts doesn't have early voting), we really, really want everyone to have a chance to vote. If you're in line at the polls by 8 p.m., you WILL get that chance.