Today in North Carolina, citizens can start casting ballots in the state's excellent early voting program. In some places in the state, long lines are forming already:
Eager voters stood in lines at early voting spots in the Triangle this morning long before they opened.
More than 50 people were waiting in line at the Wake Board of Elections office in downtown Raleigh. Others started lining up at the Durham board's headquarters, another one-stop site, before 6 a.m.
...In downtown Winston-Salem, the line of early voters at the Forsyth County Government Center was 200 deep at 10 a.m.
Early voting runs through Saturday November 1st. (The early voting program includes opportunities for voting on Saturday and Sunday.)
Another report today found that 600 people had already voted in one downtown Raleigh location. Another report found a one hour wait in Cary, North Carolina.
With more than two weeks of early voting, we should know a lot about turnout in NC before Election Day.
Each state's election laws are different but here are a couple of quirky things everyone should know about voting in North Carolina.
First, do vote early. If there's a problem with your registration (you moved and forgot to update it) you can re-register and vote on the spot through the state's same day registration law. Unfortunately, you can't register on election day, so early voting is the ultimate election protection program in North Carolina.
Find where and when to vote early in your county.
Once you vote early, that allows the Obama campaign to cross you off a turnout list and allows you time volunteer and turnout other voters on Election Day.
Second, make sure that you vote for President AND for the down ballot races. Here's the problem: North Carolina ballots have an option for "straight party ballot." So you mark that thinking that you want to vote for all the Democrats. Only problem is that voting a straight party ballot does NOT count for the Presidential race. You must vote for the Presidential race first and then mark the straight Dem ticket.
Third, after you vote straight party ballot, vote for the judges. Judicial races in North Carolina are non-partisan and are not covered under the straight party ballot choice. If you are interested in only voting for Democratic judges, go here: http://ncdemocraticjudges.org/
Lastly, if you know anyone who's still not registered, they have until November 1st to go to an early voting location and register and vote (you muyst vote immediately after registering). If you are a college student you can re-register at your school address with proper ID. Here's more info on the state's same day registration law.
If you have any problems at the polls call 1-888-OUR-VOTE (outside of NC call 866-OUR-VOTE) or contact your local county board of elections.
Get a sample ballot here and know who exactly you're voting for:
http://www.sboe.state.nc.us/...
I realize a lot of this info you may know already, but many, many first time voters do not. Please pass it along to anyone who might need extra information.
Now go vote.!