April 2008 Berks VOTER
President’s Message:
Dear League Members:
These are exciting political times in Pennsylvania. As this is my last chance
to remind all of you before the primary, be sure to vote on April 22, and keep
in mind that there is more going on than just the contest between Obama and
Clinton. As I write this message, former President Clinton is in Berks County,
radio ads for Obama are playing in the background, and record numbers of voters
are planning to participate in Pennsylvania’s primary. The League should be
particularly proud of the nation’s accomplishments with a black man and a woman
driving this kind of excitement around a presidential election.
However there is a great deal more to be excited about. While we here in Berks
continue to educate voters and to help people decide how to cast their votes,
the State League is cooperating with the Delaware League to help get the
information out about SmartVoter.org. This website allows candidates the chance
to answer questions, and allows the voter to see the candidates on their ballot
based on their address. I encourage all of you to log on at home, or head to
your library and explore this site. I believe it should help encourage voting,
as it makes the connection between candidate and voter so much easier, if
somewhat less personal.
I want to thank all of you who helped us in our annual fund drive. We hope to
use this money through the year to continue to encourage voting and to inform
those voters. Stay excited and stay active as the nation’s eyes turn to our
state.
--Michael Worrall
Voting Information
Electronic Site for Voters Information Now Available. The League of Women
Voters of Pennsylvania now has an information site for election information for
voters. The site is http//www.smartvoter.org.
On this site a voter can enter their address. It will then provide the site
where the voter will vote and the ballot of candidates. If the candidate has
furnished information, that can be obtained. Try it out. It does not register
one to vote.
Presidential Candidate Voters’ Guide
Thanks to the collaboration between members of the Maryland, National Capitol
Area, and Virginia Leagues and the LWVUS/EF, the 2008 Presidential Primary
Voters’ Guide is now available. We have responses from: Biden, Clinton, Edwards,
Obama, and Richardson on the Democratic side and Giuliani, McCain, Paul,
Tancredo, and Thompson on the Republican side. Only Dodd and Romney were
invited to participate and chose not to. We ended up with an 83 percent response
rate, which is a testament to the League.
You can download a complete pdf of the Voters’ Guide from VOTE411.org .
Capitol Day: April 9, 2008
The schedule will include a Press Conference on the League’s Redistricting Bill.
*Please RSVP the state office so that we will know how many individuals will be
attending by calling Mary Verdelli at 717.234.1576 x 10. No fees will be
collected.*
Sponsored by: LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS® OF PENNSYLVANIA
Making Democracy Work®
Grassroots leadership since 1920
Election Day is April 22
Here is some additional information reprinted from the League of Women Voters of
Pennsylvania Citizen Education Fund Voters’ Guide:
ELECTION DAY PROBLEMS
If your right to vote is challenged at the polls on Election Day and the problem
cannot be resolved at the polling place, the judge of elections at the polling
place should telephone the county Board of Elections. The problem could be
resolved by phone if your name appears on the county records. If it does not
and you want to try to resolve the problem, then you can go in person to the
county Board of Elections where a judge from the Court of Common Pleas will be
on duty to resolve election problems. Alternatively you can ask for and vote by
provisional ballot. If it is later determined that you were eligible to vote
your ballot will be counted. You will be given instructions on how to determine
if your vote was counted.
IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW VOTERS
If you are a new voter or if you are voting at a polling place for the first
time then you must bring your voter ID card or a photo ID such as a driver’s
license, student ID or some other form of Federal or State government issued ID.
Some forms of non-photo ID are also acceptable such as a firearm permit,
current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government check. If you do
not have any acceptable ID then you must be allowed to vote by provisional
ballot. If your right to vote is challenged at the polls on Election Day, you
are in the right polling place, and the
problem cannot be resolved by the judge of elections, you have the right to ask
for and vote by provisional ballot. If it is later determined that you were
eligible to vote your ballot will be counted. You will be given instructions on
how to determine if your vote was counted.
ON-LINE VOTERS GUIDE
The Voters Guide and other useful information for voters can be found on the
League
of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Homepage:
www.palwv.org.
April 2008 Calendar
April 9, 7 pm Board Meeting, Holy Cross United Methodist Church, 329 N. 5th
Street
April 15, 8 pm League of Women Voters Presents, BCTV
April 15, 2008 Last day to apply for Civilian absentee
ballot
April 18, 2008 Last day for County Election Board to
receive civilian absentee ballot
April 22, 2008 General Primary Election
May 28, 6 pm Annual Dinner