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"In some states, if you cast a ballot in the wrong precinct, it will not be counted," said Greene. "While in other states, if you cast the ballot in the wrong precinct, but say you're in the right county, they will count your vote for the races higher up on the ballot, such as president and statewide races, that you'd be eligible to vote for anywhere throughout the state.

"I think most election officials see provisional ballots as a last resort ballot, a good backup to have, but not something you want to overly rely on because of the voter eligibility issues that arise afterward," he said.

Don't hestiate to ask questions
Wilson, of the League of Women Voters, said voters who are told at the polls they will need to vote a provisional ballot should ask for an explanation of why.

"Because, if that reason is that the voter is at the wrong precinct, the voter needs to get themselves to the right precinct, or they run a high probability that their provisional ballot won't count," she said.

If a voter is at the correct polling place, but registration information can't be found, the voter should insist upon getting a provisional ballot, rather than walking away without voting, Wilson said.

"Voters need to take that initiative because poll workers are busy on Election Day, and giving out a provisional ballot is a little bit of extra work for them, and they might not necessarily suggest that," she said.

She also recommends voters ask to speak with the chief election official at the polling precinct if there are questions.

"If they say, "Let me talk to the chief person at this precinct,' they'll get the right person," she said. "And that person does have additional training above and beyond what the typical poll worker has. Very often, speaking with that person can resolve the issue."

Photo IDs
Three states — Florida, Indiana and Georgia — require photo identification by all voters, something that's new for Indiana and Georgia voters in a presidential election.

And, the number of states requiring all voters to show some form of ID — be it photo ID or non-photo — has gone from 11 to 25 since the federal Help America Vote Act was passed in 2002, according to electionline.org.

In Georgia, you will have to show one of the following kinds of photo IDs: a state driver's license (even if it's expired); a state or federal government-issued photo ID; a valid U.S. passport; an employee ID card with your photograph that has been issued by any branch of the state or federal government; a valid U.S. military ID card; a valid tribal ID card.

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Member Comments

  • Posted By: ObamaYesWeCan @ 11/03/2008 8:03:48 PM

    This moronic scumbag Samuel J. Wurzelbacher "Joe the Plumber" had his AZ driver license suspended

    http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/128323

    Wurzelbacher, who lived in Mesa in 2000 and had an Arizona driver's license, had his driver's license suspended by the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division on May 4, 2000, following a nonpayment of a court-imposed fine for civil traffic violations, according to court records.

    ...owes nearly $1,200 in back taxes, according to public records, still owes more than $700 to the Mesa court system.

    Records show he was cited for failure to stop at a red light and for failure to provide proof of insurance on Feb. 9, 2000, in a black Dodge truck at the intersection of Dobson and Baseline roads in Mesa.

    After failing to pay his original fine of $627.50 issued in March 2000, his license was suspended and the fine was handed over to a collection agency along with a 16 percent surcharge. The now-resident of Holland, Ohio, still owes $727.90 to the Mesa Municipal Court, according to court records.

    Hopefully the collection agency will break both of his legs so he'll never be able to walk nor work ever again. This typical Republican scumbag deserves it.

  • Posted By: jpage85 @ 11/03/2008 5:02:13 PM

    I???m Jessica Page, co-producer of The Walden University Presidential Youth Debate, which features over 40 minutes of exclusive candidate video answers to previously unanswered questions. We're working really hard to inspire informed voting throughout America and in doing so we created this debate http://debate.waldenU.edu. See where the candidates stand on issues that are important to your vote http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alyQeizHYLs


  • Posted By: Concerned Canadian @ 11/03/2008 5:02:07 PM

    Obama said he denounced and left the radical Trinity United Church but it???s not true!!

    Obama has Trinity United pastor Rev Ottis Moss accompanying him on his campaign!!

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