Are you worrying about the election? Or are you working? A little story:

[IndyOp]

I am organizing volunteers to register voters at our local library. More often that not we get just a few registrations per shift (2-3 hours) so you have to be patient and believe that every vote counts to do this work. Also, to get permission to be at the library our effort is non-partisan, we can't talk any candidates or show any party preference while inside the library. One of my wonderful volunteers sent me the following -

A little story:

Today was quiet at the Library---There were even spots in the parking lot at 11:00. About 20 minutes into my stint a young woman ---carrying a beautiful one-year-old in her arms--- shyly walked over to read the signs on our table, keeping her head down. -----I had to speak first. I asked if she was registered to vote. She said she had never voted, and she did not know how. After some good exchanges, she registered. She continued to be quiet, but she did ask questions when I explained how she could vote early---when, and where.

Thirty minutes later the elevator door opened, and a young man walked with firm feet out that door and straight toward the table. He said, quietly but forcefully:

"I want to register to vote.
I have not voted before.
I am going to boot camp on the 12th of October.
I understand that I can register here and vote for Obama before I go."

I said as few words as possible and joyfully watched him as he worked over the form. He listed the same name and address as the shy young woman who had been there earlier.

I will not soon forget their faces.

:D :cry: :D :cry: :D :cry: :D


To everyone who is registering voters and calling and knocking on doors and supporting those who are getting the work done ->

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[OKNancy]

1. thank you for the lovely post

[gblady]

2. wonderful story....

thanks

[Tikki]

3. Thank you for being there....

I have registered new citizens and the young first-time voter...it is
always a humbling experience for me.

Tikki

[tblue]

4. Thank you for that lovely story and for your hard work. I did some voter reg today and

most were already registered. But, a lot of enthusiastic people stopped by the booth. I feel so good just being out there, informing people about our guy, and spreadin' the hope!

[IndyOp]

5. You bet - just being there helps keep the excitement going that gets people to the polls!

So, thank you for being there today!

:hi:

[PDJane]

6. Amazing story............

and you deserve kudos for doing a slow and boring job with great consequences.

Voters here don't usually register, except the homeless and those who opt out of the permanent voter rolls, but they are entitled to vote.

In fact, everyone is entitled to vote if they are a citizen and of age...homeless, felons......

[gypsylud]

7. working

I'm making pohne calls right now here in Minnesota. My best story thus far was talking to a 77 year old man, who said he was "strongly for Obama." He was happy to get a call and seemed really enthusiastic. We talked for awhile, and when I asked him if he would like to volunteer, he said "I anin't much use anymore, but I work on some of the unbelievers at coffee everyday."
That's good enough, I told him.

[IndyOp]

9. Your story is very good too! What we need are millions of the man who you talked to

working on the unbelievers at coffee everyday.

:hi:

[ColbertWatcher]

8. Off to the greatest for you! Great job! n/t

[Turn CO Blue]

10. 120 forms today. Some updates, maybe 25% new voters. Woot!

This was at a festival in a city called Broomfield, northwest of Denver (or east of Boulder).

What a great day!

In our state where the winner between McCain't and Obama will probably come down to 2000 votes, our registering/updating 120 today could possibly make a difference!

[IndyOp]

12. Thank you! Over 100 today? You rock! Go Colorado! (n/t)

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[trashcanistanista]

11. I also brought some voter registration forms

to work and could not believe how many people have never voted. I registered 3 who never voted, and 2 who changed addresses, explained to them their options on the form, how to fill it out and mail it (postage is included on our forms) and explained how to vote (fill out and scan the ballot) if they go to their precinct on election day. I was asked to bring a few more forms for others who wanted to register. It is shocking and humbling at the same time. I try to remain composed. Tomorrow I phone bank at our Dem. office.

[IndyOp]

13. Wow, terrific summary -> "It is shocking and humbling at the same time."

I worked at the County Fair a year ago at the Democracy for America table. We had voter registration forms and registered only a few people, but one couple stood out for me - elderly, they had retired to the tiny town next door to mine about a year before they wandered past the DFA table. They were grateful that we helped them register at the fair and their comment to me rings in my ears, "No one in the neighborhood came by to register us since we moved in." It is easy to interpret our neighbors' lack of participation in government these days as self-absorption -- people just don't care, they are too self-absorbed -- when the truth is that democracy has always been a neighbor-2-neighbor affair. Just a few decades ago it was perfectly reasonable to expect that someone in the neighborhood - probably both the Democratic and Republican precinct chairs - would drop by your house when you moved in to register you to vote.

It is going to take some effort to shake off the anti-government sentiments of the last 30 years and get back to where we talk politics at work and in the neighborhood -- with people of like minds and of different minds.

As Obama says - we've got to make government cool again. B-)

[Liberal_in_LA]

14. great story.