OCTOBER 5 IS EAGER VOTER DAY

The first day for voting in New Mexico is October 5, and we have designated it Eager Voter Day. On October 5 any registered voter in New Mexico can show up at their County Clerk's office and cast their vote using a paper absentee ballot. We expect hundreds of people to show up that morning in Santa Fe to cast their vote against the Bush regime. Our goal is to see the polls nearly empty on November 2, because everyone has voted eagerly long before Election Day.

On Sunday, October 3, we will gather to make signs, talk about maximizing media exposure, and make flyers that voters on the 5th can distribute to friends to encourage them to vote early and eagerly, showing dates and places for voting. We will ask for donations of coffee and cookies for voters in line that morning. We will already have alerted the County Clerk and the local police so they can accommodate the crowd.

The morning of October 5 will dawn with college students waking up at the door of the Santa Fe County Clerk's office. We will have voters with signs at major intersections that morning, encouraging people to Vote Eagerly at the County Clerk's office. We will have buttons made that say something like "I Couldn't Wait for November 2" or "Don't Delay, Vote Today", or "I Already Voted Against W", so those who voted eagerly can encourage others to do the same. If we can get a newspaper ad donated, we will run it on October 4, announcing to all that the next day is the first day to vote against George W. Bush. We will invite the media to cover the event.

Here are a few reasons for using an absentee ballot and voting eagerly.

1. Your vote is on paper, and is capable of being recounted, even if entered into an electronic voting machine.

2. If the media project a winner as soon as polls in New York and Florida close, your vote will still be counted, and you won't be dissuaded from voting. (Voters on the West Coast, Alaska, and Hawaii, take note!)

3. You won't be taken in by e-mail hoaxes that tell you to vote on November 3rd. (Such an e-mail was circulated to California Democrats in 2000.)

4. You don't know what will happen that might prevent you from voting on November 2 in spite of your good intentions. Sick dog? Flat tire? Business trip? October surprise? Don't take that chance.
   

New Mexico's voter turnout in 2000 was dismal - only 47.4% of voting age citizens. We ranked 42nd out of 50 states. We can improve on that with an enthusiastic and informed electorate that votes early. Spread the word. Let's have an Eager Voter Day at every County Clerk's office in New Mexico. And for those in other states that permit early voting - a list of early voting states is here - find out what the first day of voting is, and make it a fiesta. Share your plans and ideas here on the blog at Democracy for New Mexico, and help all of us have a great event.

What a great message to spread around the country: We Want Bush GONE, and We Cannot Wait Any Longer! Contact us at Santa Fe or Albuquerque if you'd like to help, and check back here for updates and notices of planning meetings.

John McAndrew
Democracy for New Mexico/Santa Fe
democracyforsantafe@comcast.net
Santa Fe, NM

PS: We will be discussing Albuquerque's version of Eager Voter Day at tonight's Meetup at Page One. If folks in other parts of the state would like to have a similar event in their community, please contact John or me.

Barbara Wold
Democracy for New Mexico/Albuquerque
dfnm_albq@comcast.net