An editorial in the Detroit Free Press on February 5, 2009 warns of the harm that may come if the Supreme Court rules against the “pre-clearance” provision of the Voting Rights Act. In April, the Supreme Court is to hear a case challenging the Section 5 pre-clearance provision, which requires “jurisdictions with checked voting rights histories” to get federal approval before making changes in their voting laws. In doing so, “the law relieves aggrieved voters from having to file a lawsuit to correct violations after the fact.”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. considered voting rights to be “‘Civil Right No. 1′ calling it ‘the foundation stone for political action’ and surest means to racial equality.” Aligned with that perspective, Section 5 was reauthorized by Congress in 2006, but now “Civil Right No. 1 is under scrutiny. “[B]y striking down the pre-clearance requirement… the Supreme Court might strike down a valuable protection that is still needed broadly… Such a decision would entail the court substituting its judgment for that of legislative bodies.”

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This information doesn’t seem to be easy to find on google, so here it is. All times local unless otherwise noted.

* Depends on the size of the jurisdiction.
** 7pm. CST – 8pm. EST.
Source: Federal Election commission

While Obama is a sure victory in California, some of the hate and ideology driven measures on the ballot are at risk of passing. There are 12 propositions on California’s ballot this year, and getting a handle on them is not easy. This handy 2008 Progressive Voter Guide includes short, easy-to-read, chart of recommendations from numerous leading progressive organizations across California. There is a printable and a mobile version, or you can text VOTECA to 69866 to get the guide on your mobile. Thanks to CourageCampaign.org:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/2008voterguide

Please send this to your friends!

If you know that you are registered to vote, follow the steps below to ensure that you will be able to vote and your vote will count. If you need to check on your registration status, call your local election office.

1. The map below shows which states allow early voting. If you can vote early, do it. If you live in a state that only allows early voting with an excuse, click on the map to get the info on early voting.
   
   
2. Know what to bring and where to go: use GoVote.org to find out your early voting location. GoVote.org also tells you what you need to bring to the polls in your state.
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   Not Voting Early?
3. Be prepared: download and “read” this comic book by Greg Palast and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The last few pages provide advice for people who are sure they’re registered and are being told they’re not. Please consider donating to the creators of this book.
4. In most states it is illegal to campaign (i.e. wear buttons, shirts, stickers, hats, etc) near a polling station. The McCain camp is counting on Obama supporters showing up with their t-shirts, getting turned away and not bothering to come back to vote. This is one of many tactics that will be used to suppress the vote – keeping lines long, not enough ballots, malfunctioning voting machines, people saying that you will be arrested if you show up to vote when you have outstanding parking tickets, etc. In some states, such as Texas, it is forbidden to use a list to vote, presumably to to keep employers from giving employees voting instructions. If you have a list, keep it in your pocket until you are in the polling booth and out of sight. Remember that if you are in line at the polls and it is closing time, you still can vote. Lastly, know what time your local polls open and close.
   
5. Find out what documents you will need to vote in your state, and bring a cell phone, camera and/or video camera when you go to your polling place. If you have problems at the polling station, you can later upload your video to VideoTheVote.org.
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   Problems at the polling station?
   
6. There have been a lot of reports of “poorly calibrated” voting machines which don’t register your choice properly. Tell a poll worker about the broken machine and ask them to take it out of service. If they won’t, tell all the voters waiting in line exactly which machine flipped your vote (third machine from the left, etc), then ask for a paper ballot. If no paper ballots are available, ask to use a working machine to vote.
7. Insist that the polling center supervisor immediately call the head of elections for your county/parish and find out what’s going on. Don’t let them talk you into or “force” you into voting by provisional ballot.
8. Supervisor couldn’t help you? Do not leave your polling station. Call 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). This hotline will be staffed with legal experts who can help you determine your voting rights. The Election Protection group running the hotline will also have legal experts in the field monitoring the polls. If you don’t have a legal question and just want to report a problem you’ve encountered, call a separate hotline, 866-MYVOTE1 (866-698-6831), and leave a message. Please be sure to leave your name and phone number on the message if you want someone to investigate your problem and get back to you.
9. Vote using a provisional ballot ONLY if all other options have been exhausted.
10. When you get home, call 888-VOTE TIP to report your voting issue. You should also report it online and, if it’s your cupcake, report it via Twitter.
    

Don’t forget to STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS AND THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS IN YOUR POLLING STATION. WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T MAKE A SCENE AND GET THROWN OUT: BE CIVIC !

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