This blog is to help get out the correct information in regards to voter registration. For regular voter registration, the deadline is October 7th. When registering please have two forms of identification or a piece of mail indicating your name and current address.
As a reminder, if you have moved or changed your name since the last time you voted, you must get re-registered!! It is important that in case you are challenged at the poll and are asked to show identification, your address must match what is listed on your voter registration card.
Please know your rights as a voter!! If you are a convicted felon but will not be incarcerated on November 4th (election day), you do have the right to vote. I know many of you have been given false information and perhaps even intimidated against voting. Please be aware that the laws have changed in the state of Illinois and you do have the right to vote if you have a felony. Please help spread the word to your friends and family.
If you happen to miss the October 7th deadline to register, you will still have an opportunity to get registered and vote! Between October 8th and October 21st you may get registered at the Election Commission office in downtown Peoria. The only difference is that you must also vote at the same time you register.
Voting in the city of Peoria has been made as convenient as possible. Please be aware and take advantage of early voting. Early voting dates are between October 13th and October 30th. If you will be out of the Peoria area on election day or are concerned that there may be inclement weather on that day, please vote early. For information and locations for early voting, please call the Election Commission at 494-8683. When voting early, please be prepared to present your ID because you will be voting at a location where officials may be unfamiliar with you.
Know your rights in the voting process. If you are challenged or in any way feel harassed at the polls ask to speak with a supervisor. If you are still not satisfied with their response call the Election Commission at 494-8683. If you are refused a ballot, request a provisional ballot. That will allow you to vote, and if there are any questions you may be contacted at a later time.
We are blessed to have a host of community leaders and activists that are making the registration and voting process as convenient and simple as possible. I would like to thank Jackie Petty and Helen King for providing this information. If you have any questions regarding the election please call the Election Commission as listed earlier, or Jackie Petty at 688-2323 or Attorney Don Jackson's office at 637-1010. They will be able to answer any questions you have and also provide transportation if needed.
Please register to vote and get out to the polls. Be a part of this historic election.
With Love,
J
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
RNC Nightmare
I have to get on my political soapbox once again. I watched all of the speeches from last week's Democratic National Convention and to get a clear picture of what the other side stands for, I was determined to watch this week's Republican National Convention. I try to be balanced and fair, but I have to honestly say that what I witnessed last night left me horrified. I tried to watch with an open mind, but the dark tone and the angry hateful rhetoric from just about all of the speakers left me frightened.
First of all, the Minneapolis/St.Paul area is rich with cultural diversity which was not evident at the RNC. I know there are many people of color who happen to be Republican and that was not in evidence when the RNC audience was panned. This historic election should be about inclusion and diversity. This would have been an opportunity to show that the Republican party is now a party of actual reform. What I witnessed last night was business as usual, good ole boy politics. I felt like we had taken a giant leap backwards in how we relate to one another as human beings, let alone Americans. Fred Thompson's speech was the most negative hatemonger piece of garbage there could have been. Not once did he mention Sen. Obama by name, but referred to him as "he." Is Sen. Obama not worthy of being respected as a man enough to call him by his name? Even if you do not agree with Sen. Obama's political platform, you should at the very least respect him for his accomplishments and as a man. I was disgusted by this blatant display of disrespect. Don't dare say you put country first, when in actuality you are in support of spending billions of dollars every month on a senseless war when our economy is the worst it has been since the great depression!!!
Secondly, how dare anyone say that if you do not prescribe to the Republican agenda you don't love your country or you are unpatriotic, or worse yet, Ungodly!!! I put the question out there in blog land months ago about religion and politics. I do not make my voting decisions based on whether or not someone claims to be a Christian. Politics is not where I place moral value, because quite frankly, anyone can claim to be a Christian but be living a morally corrupt life behind closed doors.
I could go on and on, but I will save my rants, especially for tonight when Gov. Palin addresses the RNC. I'm sure I will have lots more to discuss. LOL!!!!
Be informed and make an educated decision come November 4th!!! Remember, you just under a month to get registered to vote if you have not already done so!!
Love,
Jittaun
Please share your thoughts via email.
First of all, the Minneapolis/St.Paul area is rich with cultural diversity which was not evident at the RNC. I know there are many people of color who happen to be Republican and that was not in evidence when the RNC audience was panned. This historic election should be about inclusion and diversity. This would have been an opportunity to show that the Republican party is now a party of actual reform. What I witnessed last night was business as usual, good ole boy politics. I felt like we had taken a giant leap backwards in how we relate to one another as human beings, let alone Americans. Fred Thompson's speech was the most negative hatemonger piece of garbage there could have been. Not once did he mention Sen. Obama by name, but referred to him as "he." Is Sen. Obama not worthy of being respected as a man enough to call him by his name? Even if you do not agree with Sen. Obama's political platform, you should at the very least respect him for his accomplishments and as a man. I was disgusted by this blatant display of disrespect. Don't dare say you put country first, when in actuality you are in support of spending billions of dollars every month on a senseless war when our economy is the worst it has been since the great depression!!!
Secondly, how dare anyone say that if you do not prescribe to the Republican agenda you don't love your country or you are unpatriotic, or worse yet, Ungodly!!! I put the question out there in blog land months ago about religion and politics. I do not make my voting decisions based on whether or not someone claims to be a Christian. Politics is not where I place moral value, because quite frankly, anyone can claim to be a Christian but be living a morally corrupt life behind closed doors.
I could go on and on, but I will save my rants, especially for tonight when Gov. Palin addresses the RNC. I'm sure I will have lots more to discuss. LOL!!!!
Be informed and make an educated decision come November 4th!!! Remember, you just under a month to get registered to vote if you have not already done so!!
Love,
Jittaun
Please share your thoughts via email.
