THE POPCORN REEL EDITORIAL
A mother and daughter show their allegiance.
Today's historical presidential election may be decided today or beyond.
Either way, the turnout will be record-breaking. (Photo: Flickr)
Time Has Come Today
By
Omar P.L. Moore/The
Popcorn Reel
November 4, 2008
Now the time has come. No place to run.
Those are the opening lyrics to the chorus of the classic Chambers Brothers song
"Time Has Come Today". And those lines are especially important on
Election Day in the United States of America, for today is the last day to vote
for who will become president of the country come January 20, 2009.
And when it comes to voting, America's citizens have more power than they
believe they do.
Young hearts can go their way. Can't put it off another day.
The country's mainstream media keeps saying
that young people will likely not turn out today, when they have already
turned out in droves during the early voting period of the election.
Speaking of early voting, between 25 and 30 million people have already voted
overall across 32 states, with Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma and
Virginia showing unprecedented turnout numbers, among other states.
The rules have changed today. I have no place to stay.
Those many millions who will instead chose today, November 4, to vote for more
ceremonial reasons are well advised to take the day off from work or school and
get to the polls in their cities early, for the chances of waiting on a long
line for more than four hours is better than even money. If you care so
much about how the last eight years have been in the U.S. under President George
W. Bush and are gravely concerned about the next eight years, deciding not to
stay in place and walk off a long line or to be frustrated by delays will be a
self-defeating philosophy.
People have fought and shed blood and died so that millions of Americans could
vote. It is very important to vote today in this presidential election.
If one must sacrifice a few hours to stand on a line and vote every four years
for a politician to occupy the White House in what is the most vital election in
decades, it will be a small, almost trivial price to pay in comparison.
If you encounter any trouble, confusion,
intimidation or other difficulties at the polling station where you are voting
today, call 866-OUR-VOTE or 866-687-8683. Election attorneys and
volunteers will be able to help you and give you advice. You can also (if
you happen to have a laptop computer while you are waiting on line) go to the
website for the phone number, which is
www.866ourvote.org.
If you are asked by a poll worker at the polling station to fill out a
provisional ballot, think again. Provisional ballots typically do not get
counted and if they do they are counted at least three or four days after the
election in many states, if not a week later (such as in Florida). In many
states that use provisional ballots, which are filled out by voters when their
registration status is challenged at the polls when they try to vote, the
provisional ballots are thrown out, never counted or are challenged on the basis
of those from one party or another (Democratic or Republican), long after the
voter who has filled out the provisional ballot has gone home.
Today represents a great opportunity. Please vote. And please do so
without the animosity, threats and violent conduct that we have seen at various
moments of this long campaign.
Today, America can show the world that it is bigger and better than some of its
small-minded constituents have demonstrated recently.
Here are some other great websites as resources:
voteforchange.com
videothevote.org
stealbackyourvote.org
electionline.org
bradblog.com
savevoting.org
Copyright The Popcorn Reel. PopcornReel.com. 2008. All Rights
Reserved.