I remember 9.11 by reading Tom Junod’s Esquire article “The Falling Man.” I cry every time. It is a masterpiece that could never be written by AI. GO HERE to read it.
Since many people will pen 9.11 remembrances today, I’m re-sharing this July piece: How the USA Patriot Act Became NSPM-7. Because there’s little value in remembering those we lost if we fail to connect the dots to how, twenty-five years later, we have lost our freedom.
I shared parts of today’s newsletter by note a few days ago. Since it involves voting in the midterms, I’m documenting it today from start-to-finish in case anyone else encounters confusion and mixed messages when registering and voting this year.
On the form, it indicated that I could return it to the county election office by email. It also referenced a secure online portal for submittal.
When I went to the “secure online portal,” it no longer existed. Instead, it loaded a page with a lot of links to other information. I couldn’t find the “secure online portal” anywhere. I spent a chunk of time trying to find it before giving up.
It also included updated language that is basically the SAVE Voter Suppression and Elimination Act minus a stated requirement that one’s voter name matches their ID name exactly. This confusing language made it sound like in order to register to vote from abroad, I had to physically go into the county office in person (which isn’t possible) OR mail my request (which will cost $75 - $80 from where I am…an added poll tax.)
It also only specified delivery by US mail, not private carriers. The rules for private carrier ballot submission vary by state. CHECK YOUR STATE’S RULES IF YOU PLAN TO RETURN YOUR BALLOT BY PRIVATE CARRIER. Because they aren’t postmarked, private carrier ballots are also at a higher risk of being disqualified.
I received an email reply to my submittal that read “Absentee ballot applications must be requested by phone, in person, or by mail in accordance with state law. Absentee ballot requests from active-duty military voters and overseas U.S. citizens may still be processed by email, as permitted under federal and state law.” I found this language to be confusing. I *may *be eligible for email processing? Or I may not?
I stuck on this point because ballots are mailed 30 days prior to the election in my state. The last time I received something mailed from the US, it took 30 days to arrive. If I must mail my ballot instead of submitting it electronically, it will not arrive by election day, even if I could use a same-day private carrier.
On Tuesday, I received a form email with the following language:
This message is to confirm that we have received your Federal Post Card Application. Your application is currently being reviewed.
If any additional information is needed to process your request, our office will contact you directly.
So I still didn’t know if I was eligible to vote by email in my state.
Let me also take this opportunity to say I’m not thrilled to vote by email. I’d prefer to mail a physical ballot, because to vote by email, I must waive my right to a private ballot. Not ideal in this climate, but the only sure way for me to get my ballot in by Election Day.
Anyway.
Yesterday, I called my county election office, asked them to pull up my submission, and verify whether or not I can vote by email. The very helpful staffer verified my information and said I am eligible to vote by email. I should receive my email ballot in the next week to ten days.
I have never spent this much time ensuring that I can vote.
I spent two to three hours on this process, between completing forms, navigating broken web links, reading confusing information, submitting forms, and making phone calls. And I must still check my vote status at vote.org to make sure my registration stays active. (You can check your voter registration status at vote.org HERE.)
Don’t forget to visit the WE THE PEOPLE tab to contribute to our ongoing project to build the country and the world WE THE PEOPLE WANT. Because democracy is a daily job.
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