Election News: Santa and V.U.I.
It seems that in West Virginia, anyone can be a write-in candidate for president. You don’t even have to live in the state. So guess who just wrote in to compete with the two front-runners? A guy called Santa Claus.
Contrary to what you might expect, he does not hail from the North Pole, he lives in Lake Tahoe, and he used to go by the name of O’Connor until he traded up. It’s a good thing for Obama that six-year-olds can’t vote.
And some guy phoned in to the radio show I was listening to the other day and asked if it was okay to bring beer into the voting booth. He said he favors a brand called “Independence,” and he was concerned he might get busted for promoting a political position at a polling place.
Apparently, back in the late 19th century, bars were polling places, so VUI (voting under the influence) was common. (This is how guys like Santa Claus get elected.)
Speaking of VUI , my friend S,’s house is a polling place this year. She is an expert cook and a party animal, so my guess is hers will be the hottest spot in town for voters. She happens to be a rabid Obama fan, too, and may or may not be handing out extra special martinis to those Republicans who look persuadable…
Jessica, if you don’t mind my asking…what is your political position?
Did you know that all write in votes, regardless of how wild or silly they are (M.Mouse comes to mind) must be included in the stack of “regular ballots” for counting? I kid you not. I learned this, among thousands of other election day tidbits, at a required two hour training session for pollworkers. Following the two hour session, which was conducted by a tag team of presenters, we volunteers were handed three rather sizable manuals to study prior to opening the polls on November 4th. We were also instructed to log onto an official pollworker website, and study up before the big day!
On final note, they are predicting 80% turnout at the polls. So vote early (and often—if you dare.)
Brett: I’m glad you ask that because it means i have exercised a proper level of restraint in my comments about political stuff…but now I’m going to give it up and tell you: GOBAMA!!
Suzanne: maybe you could fill us in when it’s over: what is it like, a day in the life of a pollworker on 11/4/08….? (You can leave out the part about the martinis, if you want.)
Will you vote to re-elect President Obama in 2012
Yes! I have found him disappointing in many ways, but the alternative is terrifying.