U.S. mid-term elections 2006

As I am sure many Americans, and a few non-Ami's know, U.S. Mid-Term elections are 5 weeks away. Usually these are rather sleeper elections, but not this year.

As the balance of power and party in the Senate may be up for grabs, with tight races, and with the large divisions in the country over most areas of policy, it may bring out record numbers.

So if you are an American, are you registered and planning to vote? I am not asking what party or for whom, but simply if you will be exercising your right to vote.

Have you experienced a lot of difficulty or help with the process from abroad? How did you register?

No hassle voting. Just go to votefromabroad.org
Got my ballot on Saturday and will return it tomorrow.

This election is certainly going to be a critical turnpoint. A lot of hotly contested states and some really big blunders by key republicans. It would be funny if it weren't real life. Seriously. Dems have done strategically well this time, not getting dragged into unending debates, i.e. abortion, and mostly letting the Republicans fight amongst themselves. I also think that regardless of state lines, that Freak Pedophile Foley put a big hole in the "family values" card both for the upcoming state races and the GOP in general.

Note: if you have anything to say on VOTING, please feel free to add your thoughts. I am not really interested in WHICH party you are voting for, simply if you are an American exercising your right to vote or not.

Of course I am exercising my right. One of the first questions I ask anyone (American) who is bitching about our government is, Did you vote?? If not I don't think they have a right to bitch, they choose not to take part in the selection, therefore have no place taking part in the critique.

Basically, vote so you can bitch, otherwise shut-up!

Have been registered for several years and will be voting this year. I vote in Virginia, so races tend to garner a lot of media attention and are never really boring.

Did it through the consulate which had organized a non-partisan event at a local American bar - very simple and straightforward.

Thanks Perdido - I think you are back in OR, so hopefully voting in person, everything should go smoothly.

@JW: I didn't know the consulate had sponored a voting reg event, that is good to hear. I was very involved in registering voters last election (all parties) both with civilian and military, but have been too busy with work this year to be involved.

I too am a VA registered voter. It will be a tight and interesting race to watch. I called last week and my ballot had gone out, so hopefully it arrives soon. Latest poll there from Real Clear Politics...

Poll Date Sample Allen ®* Webb (D) Undecided Spread
RCP Average 09/23 - 10/01 - 47.3 43.3 6.7 Allen +4.0
Rasmussen 09/28 - 10/01 750 LV 49 43 5 Allen +6.0
SurveyUSA 09/26 - 09/28 612 LV 50 44 3 Allen +6.0
Mason-Dixon 09/23 - 09/27 625 LV 43 43 12 Tie

just arrived to germany, and attempting to fax in mine and my partners fpca forms today - we're registered in texas, specifically austin, which means that our votes are spread all over the state due to the redistricting. the recent supreme court ruling doesn't affect us. If my understanding is correct, we just have to fax in, then mail a copy, and hopefully it will get there (and back here) in time. anyone know of a good cheap place to fax from? literally just arrived, my german -speaking partner is off on his first business trip, so it will be an adventure for me today

Hi Bigmo and welcome to Munich. With 5 weeks to go it "may" be difficult to get your info in and have you registered as an absentee voter and a ballot sent out in time...I hope not. Not sure on the specifics of Texas.

I would say that it would probably be best to call yout town's Voter Registration Office directly or Secretary of State...http://www.secretary-of-state.org/index.htm...for the most immediate and hopefully accurate advice. But definately fax in your FPCA TODAY!!! As to where...where are you located? May help people make suggestions.

Gemini - thanks for the info. I'm in northwestSchwabing area. Am planning on heading down to the Hauptbonhof today though for other business, so may just hop in to that easy internet place, as I imagine they will have some decent prices? We shall see. Will def. be doing it today!

That sounds like the best plan and place to get it done. Let us know what happens and if you get your ballot in time.

Well... not to be too pedantic but it wasn't an official consulate "event", though they did have staff from the latter on hand to answer general questions and help the volunteers from OVF. But yes, it was cool. Definitely.


I got mine last week, but my stuff still gets sent to Belgium, though I imagine yours will arrive imminently.

Virginia does appear to be tighter than usual this year, however I don't know if this is because of the quality of Webb's candidacy or the mistakes made by Allen coupled with the general backlash against the war... Virginia is pretty much Republican territory apart from a small Democratic enclave in the northern part of the state close to the District. We shall see though.

I think I'm already registered to vote in Massachusetts. Anyone know how toI find out if I am?

BigMo, I suggest that you go through the steps of registering at VoteFromAbroad. It will also fill out an FWAB (Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot) and you should send that with your FPCA card.
You do not have to join and we do not keep any of your information that you fill out. It will be the safest way for you to secure your right vote with so little time left. If you need more details or information, just ask.

Mr. Brain: Always really good to check. Being "registered" is not the same as being registered as an absentee voter. The easist and fastest is probably to google your Town's name and "voter registration", and you should be provided a phone number to talk to a real live person and verify what your status is and what mailing address your ballot is going to. You can also use the email to the Secretary of State, that I provided in my post #36.

The are several on-line expat voting sites. Some are party affiliated and others are not. Either way, they allow you to get a lot of info regarding your state and online registration for absentee ballots. Two sites are

www.votefromabroad.org (a Dem sponsored site)

or

http://www.overseasvotefoundation.org (non-partisan)

Hope that helps and let me know what happens

The above advice to MigMo goes for you too. If you aren't sure, simply reregister and send in a FWAB.

To anyone who has not gotten a ballot yet: register again and send in the FWAB with your FPCA. Do that this week! States vary on when you must be registered by (from 1 week upward) in order to vote absentee.

votefromabroad.org

Do it today and VOTE!

Thanks for the info... I'll scope it out.

If you want something non-partisan...

http://www.ovf-rava.org/

@JW: I already listed that as a non-partisan site in my previous post (#42)

Yes, it is a Dem sponsored site, but it is just as non-partisan as any other voter registration site and we do not keep any of a registrants info. You have the ability to opt-in to join Dems Abroad, but you are under no obligation to do so whatsoever.

By law, all voter registration is non-partisan. The right to vote and be sure it is counted is a non-partisan issue.

Eurovol: I would appreciate not beating to death a discussion on this. The reality is that people have the right to know which on-line service is funding/assisting in their resistration process. Though ultimately all may be "non-partisan" in that they have to process the paperwork regardless, and don't ultimately know who one is going to vote for.

Clearly a Repub would be less comfortable registering through a Dem sponsored website and vice-versa. Others, like myself, want to support their parties and thus register through their respective sites. Finally we have many Independents abroad who may not want to affiliate themselves (even by utilizing a given website) with a particular party.

So as long as people register and execute their right to vote, good on them

You are just adding to the myth that registering via this method or that method means more than what it really is: voter registration. Shame on you for perpetuating it.

That's rich from someone who is a nonstop, 24/7 propaganda machine.

I am not perpetuating anything. There is no myth. I am giving out the FACTS and information and allowing adults to make decisions for themselves. The only "shame" is in not allowing people to have access to all pertinent information and options.

Well, if anybody is soo worried about using certain sites, here are the U.S. Department of Defense Federal Voting Assistance Program sites. Who you going to trust?

On-Line Version of the Federal Post Card Application

Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot

Well the system worked as it should have...Just got my VA ballot, and will casting my vote. As my state is in such a tight race, every vote counts (or should count, but that is another thread )

Also had a marriage ammendment on the ballot. Didn't know that was coming, but not surprised.

faxed and mailed off the registration this afternoon. will be mailing off the voting next week. thanks to everyone for the help!

Another great election forecast website is www.centerforpolitics.org.

I look forward to voting absentee in person when I am home at the end of the month.

@Wahoo: so you're going home. I hope not for good yet.

I think the last several elections I have registered as absentee, and then happened to be home around the time of the election, and was able to vote early in person. In VA I think you can vote several weeks ahead of time.

Works for me. Have a great trip!

Not home for good, thanks gemini.

I will certainly have to look into things because I can't remember the specifications for voting absentee in person, but i'm hoping i'll be there within the time frame. I completely forgot to register for my absentee ballot far enough in advance. I am such a bad politics grad!

depending on your state Wahoo, it too may have early voting, most do. I would just go into the Town Hall and speak directly to the Voter Officer there. If you tell them you will be out of the country on the day of the election, they will most likely let you vote early. But eaither way, send in your registration NOW. It is most likely not too late.

@wahoo, gemini
Just out of curiosity, what congressional district are you voting in?

District five: Charlottesville - why are you curious?

Wahoo, I didn't realize you are a fellow VA voter! You should have no problem early voting.

Why are two people registered, but not voting? Either of you want to speak up?

I'd guess that the obvious answer is...(wait for it)... "no"

Hey, they could be Republican and simply refuse to vote this election cycle. That is what I would do if I were a Republican and couldn't bring myself to vote for a Democrat.

or they could be irish and unable to vote in Boston, or for any hundred thousand possible reasons. while I understand your curiousity, perhaps people would be more open to divulging their reasons if the question was not followed by an accusation. (I mean this as a helpful comment, not a slam.)

and knowing TT, it wouldn't surprise me if it was one two of our UK friends just having some fun.

or maybe they are from Florida and accidentally hit the wrong puch hole (damn you Buchanan!)

Voter excitement level highest in years By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer
Wed Oct 11, 6:00 AM ET

but this might

Whistleblowers:

John DiIulio The former head of the office of faith-based initiatives told Esquire magazine in 2003 that the administration had "a complete lack of a policy apparatus"

Paul O'Neill The ousted treasury secretary said in a book of 2004 that some officials were determined to go to war in Iraq from the moment they took office

Richard Clarke The counter-terrorism expert used his 2004 book to accuse Mr Bush of ignoring the al-Qaida threat before September 11

Colin Powell The former secretary of state said he was pushed out of his job because of opposition to the war

again this is a thread on the midterm races!!! NOT a Dems vs. Republicans policy thread. Thanks

This thread needs hijacking for cause.

And VA moves to the toss-up category.

Wrong. The right to free speech is not limited to voters.

Your argument would also seem to support the notion that if you voted, say, for the Republicans, and you later became disappointed with their performance, you shouldn't bitch about it, because you voted for them. Balderdash.

We call that in the south "come-uppance". I also agree; no vote, then no right to bitch unless you can't vote for some reason like being too young.

FYI: Tennessee will elect Ford.

Then you're for shutting down someone's considered, and possibly interesting, opinion because of a technicality?

Guess I'll have to stop posting on political forums, then. I'm not sure whether I'm registered in Colorado for this election or not, though I've voted absentee from here before. Probably I'll find out when I get a ballot, or not. If I get one, I'll probably send it in.

But at any rate, I have to vote in Colorado because that's the state I moved here from. It's not my home state or a state I feel I have any connection to. I think there is a legitimate issue, then, whether I should meddle in their affairs at midterm and local elections.

@Cinzia: I have to say I was surprised to read that you may not be voting. I have always thought you had a lot to offer in way of commentary and opinion on this board regarding the state and politics of our Country.

I feel we are so blessed to have the right to vote, even if I do not agree with the current policies or majority opinion, of whatever administration is currently in power, or frequently disagree with my own party. One can vote for the Dems or Repubs, or another party or a write in, and still honor their rights as a citizen. To me "abstaining" because "there all the same" or "it makes no difference" is not a legitimate excuse.

When I think of the living in other countries where I would be denied these rights, especially as a women, I shudder. To live under a system, where to voice my opinion could mean death, fills me with gratitude for our hard won rights. To read of persons regularly who are today dying or being jailed in order to obtain the rights we so freely enjoy, maked me feel it is my duty to exercise these rights.

So yes I do get upset when any person takes that right lightly. To register or to find out ones status takes only a few minutes. As to being engaged in the politics of "where" we are voting, I personally feel it is our duty to make that minimal effort to know what the candidates platforms are. It is as easy as going to their website for the most basic of info. I have never "lived" in the State I am now voting in, but have followed the races as best I can.

Those who do critique amd complain and do not vote, do inherently have less weight with me personally. I strongly believe if one wants one's country to be on a certain track, the one must be engaged in the steering of that ship...hopefully from the grassroots...up.

Most states offer a "Voter Information Pamphlet" that spells out the issues e.g. Montana.