] First, strategic voters enter their state and voting
] preference. They are then told whether they are voting in
] a swing state, where the race is close, or a secure
] state, where wide margins of victory are predicted for
] either Bush or Kerry.
]
]
] Voters who register with VotePair will be paired with
] another participant via email. In this way, a swing state
] voter whose first choice is Nader, Cobb or Badnarik and a
] secure state voter whose first choice is Kerry can
] communicate with each other about strategic voting in the
] upcoming election. Pairing will facilitate dialogue and
] provide an opportunity for partners to make sure that
] their pairing partner is pledging in good faith.

This is interesting. I'm sure Badnarik supporters cringe at the use of the word "progressive" (which is a code word for socialist). I'm not suggesting that anyone do this. Its totally insecure. If I'm in a "secure state" and I'm willing to engage in this kind of vote trade, then there is no reason for me to engage in it as I might as well vote for the third party candidate anyway. However, its quite a subversive use of Internet technology.

VotePair || How It Works

Elonka wrote:
] A list of the local issues that I will be voting on in
] tomorrow's election. I always feel like I'm cramming for a
] test, since some of the names and propositions I've never
] heard of.
]
] Where I grew up in California, we'd be mailed a complete
] sample ballot before the election, so we could see a complete
] list of what and who we were voting on. Here in Missouri
] though, it's always a struggle to find out ahead of time
] what's going to be on the ballot!

I want to underline this comment because I agree strongly with it. I lived in California for a few years and found the voter guide to be an incredibly valuable resource. I spent hours last night trying to research some of the local races in Georgia to determine who I'm going to vote for. Its difficult to even obtain information about some of these candidates. These elections are largely decided on name recognition, party affiliation, and newspaper editorial endorsements. Trusting any of these methods to make your decisions is unwise, in my opinion.

I would really like to see a voter guide in Georgia. I'm contemplating starting a website/mailing list about and trying to promote the concept. I think its a tremedously valuable resource.

I discuss this a little here:

http://www.memestreams.net/thread/bid13919/

RE: St. Charles County Voter Guide

] A widely published investigative journalist was tackled,
] punched and arrested Sunday afternoon by a Palm Beach
] County sheriff's deputy who tried to confiscate his
] camera outside the elections supervisor's headquarters.

...

] A sheriff's spokesman and a county attorney later said
] the deputy was enforcing a newly enacted rule from
] Elections Supervisor Theresa LePore prohibiting reporters
] from interviewing or photographing voters lined up
] outside the polls.

If I had to guess, this new rule was likely a response to requests that people film voter intimidation.

Deputy tackles, arrests journalist for photographing voters

] The order by U.S. District Judge Susan Dlott found that
] the application of Ohio's statute allowing individuals to
] challenge the legitimacy of a voter at the polling place
] was unconstitutional.
]
] The presence of challengers inexperienced in the
] electoral process questioning voters about their
] eligibility would impede voting, she said.
]
] Dlott ruled on a lawsuit by a black Cincinnati couple who
] said Republican plans to deploy challengers to largely
] black precincts in Hamilton County was meant to
] intimidate and block black voters.
]
] Republicans said they wanted to prevent voter fraud.

CNN.com - Federal judge in Ohio bars voter challengers - Nov 1, 2004

[ Granted this is a partisan source, but it's still a pretty telling sample of the kinds of bullshit going on across the country.

See in particular the flyer from alabama urging voters to get to those poles (sic) on the 4th. Life imitating art (cf The Onion) in the worst way possible. -k]

Daily Kos :: Voter fraud and disenfranchisement

"It's like being asked out on a date by someone who secretly thinks you're stupid and ugly."

Cleveland's Political Circus

Decius wrote:
] StankDawg wrote:
] ] ] Since 1933, when the Boston Braves were renamed the
] ] ] Redskins, the result of the team's final home game before
] ] ] the presidential election has always correctly predicted
] ] ] the White House winner. If the Redskins win, the
] ] ] incumbent party wins. If they lose, the incumbent party
] ] ] is ousted.
] ]
] ] That pretty much speaks for itself. Looking ahead...
] ]
] ] -- 2004: Redskins host Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Bush
] faces
] ] John Kerry on Tuesday.
] ]

the Redskins lost and the Packers won so if the trend holds true WE will have a new president by Wednesday morning.

RE: Yahoo! Sports - NFL - Redskins win, incumbent wins -- a history

] LWVGA is proud to partner with WSB-TV (Atlanta's
] Channel 2) and their Family2Family program to distribute
] this publication in the Metro Atlanta area.

League of Women Voters of Georgia - Voter Guide

AJC's voter guide...

Welcome to AJC! | Voter Guide

] Gov. Jeb Bush denied Saturday that he ignored the advice
] of state election officials to ''pull the plug'' on a
] controversial list the state was using to remove
] convicted felons from the voter rolls.

Jeb Bush DID pull the plug on the felon list, but only after pressure from the media.

Herald.com | 10/17/2004 | Governor denies rejecting advice to dump voter-felon list