How does someone vote twice for Obama in a single day, without pulling a single lever? By registering two new voters.
You might think that everyone who is going to vote has already registered. I can tell you that you're wrong. Today, by virtue of being in the right place at the right time, with a voter registration form in hand, I registered a 60 year-old woman (white, if you were wondering) who has never voted before in her life. She is voting for Obama.
I also registered someone who had been a citizen for only a few short months - it seems that, when they had the swearing-in ceremony, they had run out of forms. Only two voters? Sure, but think about it. What would you do for a chance to vote for Barack three times? I'll bet holding a clipboard and giving up a few hours of your time isn't too much of a price to pay.
You might also think that the voter registration deadline has passed already, but you may be surprised to learn that in many states, like my own Maryland, there is still some time left.
According the EAC, there is still time to register voters in the following states:
Alabama Fri, Oct. 24
California Mon, Oct. 20
Connecticut Tues, Oct. 21
Idaho Register at Polls
Iowa Fri, Oct. 24 (or on Election Day at polling place)
Kansas Mon, Oct. 20
Maine Tue, Oct. 21 (or on Election Day at polling place)
Maryland Tue, Oct. 14
Massachusetts Wed, Oct. 15
Minnesota Same Day Registration at polling place
Montana has "One Stop Early Voting": you can register and vote all at once, from October 6th up to AND including election day.
Nebraska Fri, Oct. 24 (mail by Fri, Oct. 17)
Nevada Tue, Oct. 14
New Hampshire Same Day
New Jersey Tues, Oct. 14
Oregon Tue, Oct. 14
South Dakota Mon, Oct. 20
Utah Mon, Oct. 6 or in person Tue, Oct. 28
Vermont Wed, Oct. 29
West Virginia Wed, Oct. 15
Wisconsin Wed, Oct. 15 (or on Election Day at polling place)
Wyoming Can register at polls
If you've never registered another American to vote before, you don't know what you're missing. It's almost as sweet as driving someone to the polls who wouldn't normally be able to go.
You're not just empowering them, you're empowering America. And, odds are, you're empowering Barack Obama.
Let me add two other stories from the event that I attended today - an Oktoberfest celebration (Ein Prosit, Ein Prosit).
First, there was an elderly woman (also white, for those who can't get enough demographic info) who was a self-described "life-long Republican." But, she said to me, "never too late to change for the better." She has been convinced by Obama's commercials in particular, talking about how his positive message and attention to the issues was noticeably different from McCain. "We can't keep voting for the same people and expect different results" she said. I'm not sure if she knew she was echoing Barack, but we both felt better after the conversation.
Secondly, in Maryland, we've been forced to scrounge up yard signs, buttons, and bumperstickers from where we can, usually buying them from the campaign and then selling them to cover our costs. Well, the Obama tent at this Oktoberfest was swamped with people willing to pay. And, talk about diversity. We had teenagers, elderly, Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and every other color, race, and creed you can imagine. The McCain tent? A few stragglers, of uniform appearance, and they were giving stuff away.
So, remember, it may not be too late to go out and cast a few more votes for Obama in your own state. Even if it is, there is plenty of GOTV and canvassing that needs to be done between now and November 4. Please sign up to volunteer today.