Teresa McGowan's Blog

MLK NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE IN COLLIN COUNTY

Teresa from Allen, TX — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:14:37 EST

January 19, 2009 is MLK National Day of Service. If you are working or have other obligations and cannot participate in volunteering on Monday, here is another opportunity to support the MLK National Day of Service. The Group Platinum Grits will be taking sock and undergarment donations starting tomorrow to support the below organizations. This is a project that Platinum Grits host every year during the Christmas Holiday. This year we have extended this mission so it can be included in the MLK National Day of Service. Please go online to the Target, Walmart, Sams, Costco, Hanes or any website and place an online order and have the item delivered to the following address:

Platinum GRITS
C/0 Shawna Ridley
1721 Fredricksburg Drive
Mesquite, Texas 75181

You can also simply go to any store and purchase a bag of socks, undergarments or pajamas and drop them off at the Collin County Presidential Innaugaral Ball on Tuesday or give me a call for an item pick up in Collin County. I will make "Sock Runs" for the kids! PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY.Teresa McGowan972-390-3656 or 469-675-1117

Collection Dates: January 19-Janaury 24, 2009

Boles Foster Home

A facility that provides residential care in a homelike atmosphere for children and single-parent families. It is licensed by the State of Texas to care for boys and girls. Most children in care are between the ages of 3 to 17. Children are placed in the Home because their family has become unable to provide for their needs. This may be due to family factors such as ill health, other destabilizing occurrences, or excessive needs of the child due to emotional or behavioral problems. Single-parent mothers and their children come to the program in search of basic needs, safety, and stability while acquiring vocational training and skills in managing their family. We are collecting the following NEW items for the foster home (70 children)

Socks (unisex) for girls and boys ages 3-17

Texas Youth Commission Teen Girls Ages 14-19 GIRLS SOCK DRIVE JANUARY 19-24, 2009

Mission Statement
The Texas Youth Commission, the stateʼs juvenile corrections agency, promotes public safety by operating juvenile correctional facilities and by partnering with youth, families, and communities to provide a safe and secure environment where youth in the agencyʼs care and custody receive individualized education, treatment, life skills and employment training and positive role models to facilitate successful community reintegration.

Bryanʼs House:

www.bryanshouse.org

Boy/Girls Sock and Undergarment Drive

Families coping with HIV/AIDS as well as other serious medical issues find love and warmth at Bryan's House when they have no place else to turn. Bryanʼs House mission is to respond to the needs of children and their families by providing medically-managed child care, adolescent programming, and community-based, family-centered support services.

Bryan's House is the only special-care facility in Dallas for children and teens affected by HIV/AIDS. They offer a full range of medical, educational, and psychosocial services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Their nationally acclaimed program is innovative, compassionate, and cost effective. We are collecting the following items for the children (ages 1-10 years old)

                        ¨Socks (unisex)
                        ¨Boys and Young Adult Underwear/Boxers (all sizes)
                        ¨Girls and Young Adult Underwear/Boxers (all sizes)
                        ¨Girls/Young Adult T-shirts (all sizes)
                        ¨Boys /Young Adult T-shirts (all sizes)

THE NEXT STEP FOR CHANGE

Teresa from Allen, TX — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:08:17 EST

http://www.change.gov/

THE NEXT STEP FOR CHANGE

Teresa from Allen, TX — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:06:12 EST

http://www.change.gov/

THE NEXT STEP FOR CHANGE.

Teresa from Allen, TX — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:05:09 EST

http://www.change.gov/

URGENT NOVEMBER TO DO LIST

Teresa from Allen, TX — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:14:24 EST

1. Relax.

2. Rest.

3. Sleep.

4. Meditate.

5. Reflect.

WE DID IT!

THANK YOU

Teresa from Allen, TX — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:04:13 EST

THANK YOU JESUS. THANK YOU LORD. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

EVERYONE HAVE A BLESSED DAY

Teresa from Allen, TX — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 04:46:10 EST

EVERYONE,

THIS IS THE MOMENT WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.....OUR CHANCE TO BE PARTY OF HISTORY. EVERYONE ENJOY YOUR MOMENT TODAY. We will tell our children and grand-children about this moment in history.

UNITED WE STAND TALL. Divided we fall short.

EVERYONE HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

COLLIN COUNTY GOTV EFFORTS

Teresa from Allen, TX — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:16:43 EST

EARLY VOTING TOTALS FOR COLLIN COUNTY

52% OF COLLIN COUNTY VOTERS VOTED DURING THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD.

219,000 PEOPLE IN COLLIN COUNTY VOTED DURING THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD.

DPCC REPORTS 50,000 NEW COLLIN COUNTY VOTERS ARE NOW REGISTERED.

TO DO LIST:

1. TAKE OFF ELECTION DAY.

2. VOLUNTEER AT DPCC OFFICE.

3. SET UP A GREETER STATION AT EACH VOTING LOCATION

4. HAVE A LAPTOP READY TO HELP VOTERS

5. PRAY.

GENERATION "O"

Teresa from Allen, TX — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:01:10 EDT

THE MEDIA HAS BEEN REPORTING ON THE LACKLUSTER YOUTH VOTE TURN-OUT.....THEY JUST DONT KNOW.....YOU ARE THE SECREAT WEAPON. YOU ARE THE KEY THAT WILL BRING IT HOME.

THE YOUTH OF AMERICA WILL BE FOREVER CALLED GENERATION"O"

YOUR VOTE IS GOING TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE. YOU ARE THE GENERATION THAT WILL FIND CURES AND PROMOTE SOCIAL JUSTICE. YOU ARE THE GENERATION THAT WILL END WORLD HUNGER.

YOU ARE THE HOPE FOR OUR FUTURE. I CAN FEEL IT IN MY BONES.

GET OUT THE YOUTH VOTE. PROVE THE MEDIA WRONG AGAIN! CAMPUSES AROUND THE COUNTRY MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT. YOU ARE THE FUTURE. YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.

GENERATION OBAMA.

DONT JUST VOTE. VOLUNTEER ON ELECTION DAY. CALL YOUR OBAMA OFFICE OR DEMOCRATIC PARTY OFFICE FOR YOUR STATE. WE NEED POLL GREETERS AT EVERY VOTING LOCATION ON ELECTION DAY. GET YOUR LAPTOPS AND HEAD TO THE POLLS. YOU MAY ASSIST VOTERS IN LOCATING THEIR CORRECT VOTING STATIONS BY PROVIDING INFORMATION VIA YOUR LAPTOP. THE ONLY RULE IS TO BE 100 FEET FROM THE VOTING ENTRANCE MARKER.

18-35 YOUTH VOTE. IT IS ALL UP TO YOU. YOU WILL DETERMINE THE OUTCOME THIS ELECTION.

VOTE PROUD. VOTE OBAMA!

GENERATION "O"

Teresa from Allen, TX — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:56:03 EDT

THE MEDIA HAS BEEN REPORTING ON THE LACKLUSTER YOUTH VOTE TURN-OUT.....THEY JUST DONT KNOW.....YOU ARE THE SECREAT WEAPON. YOU ARE THE KEY THAT WILL BRING IT HOME.

THE YOUTH OF AMERICA WILL BE FOREVER CALLED GENERATION"O"

YOUR VOTE IS GOING TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE. YOU ARE THE GENERATION THAT WILL FIND CURES AND PROMOTE SOCIAL JUSTICE. YOU ARE THE GENERATION THAT WILL END WORLD HUNGER.

YOU ARE THE HOPE FOR OUR FUTURE. I CAN FEEL IT IN MY BONES.

GET OUT THE YOUTH VOTE. PROVE THE MEDIA WRONG AGAIN! CAMPUSES AROUND THE COUNTRY MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT. YOU ARE THE FUTURE. YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.

GENERATION OBAMA.

18-35 YOUTH VOTE. IT IS ALL UP TO YOU. YOU WILL DETERMINE THE OUTCOME THIS ELECTION.

VOTE PROUD. VOTE OBAMA!

REGULATION OF DISPLAY OF POLITICAL SIGNS IN TEXAS

Teresa from Allen, TX — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:17:09 EDT

Reports indicate that a number of home owners associations have been removing Obama signs from homes and condos using deed restrictions as an excuse. This violates Texas Property Code. If your HOA gives you grief, provide them with a copy of the law.Texas Property Code - Section 202.009. Regulation Of Display Of Political Signshttp://law.onecle.com/texas/property/202.009.00.html202.009. REGULATION OF DISPLAY OF POLITICAL SIGNS. (a)
Except as otherwise provided by this section, a property owners'
association may not enforce or adopt a restrictive covenant that
prohibits a property owner from displaying on the owner's property
one or more signs advertising a political candidate or ballot item
for an election:
(1) on or after the 90th day before the date of the
election to which the sign relates; or
(2) before the 10th day after that election date.
(b) This section does not prohibit the enforcement or
adoption of a covenant that:
(1) requires a sign to be ground-mounted; or                     & nbsp;& nbsp;
(2) limits a property owner to displaying only one
sign for each candidate or ballot item.
(c) This section does not prohibit the enforcement or
adoption of a covenant that prohibits a sign that:
(1) contains roofing material, siding, paving
materials, flora, one or more balloons or lights, or any other
similar building, landscaping, or nonstandard decorative
component;
(2) is attached in any way to plant material, a traffic
control device, a light, a trailer, a vehicle, or any other existing
structure or object;
(3) includes the painting of architectural surfaces;
(4) threatens the public health or safety;               ; ;
(5) is larger than four feet by six feet;
(6) violates a law;
(7) contains language, graphics, or any display that
would be offensive to the ordinary person; or
(8) is accompanied by music or other sounds or by
streamers or is otherwise distracting to motorists .
(d) A property owners' association may remove a sign
displayed in violation of a restrictive covenant permitted by this
section.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 1010, 1, eff. June 18, 2005.

REGULATION OF DISPLAY OF POLITICAL SIGNS IN TEXAS

Teresa from Allen, TX — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:15:44 EDT

POLL WATCHERS NEEDED IN EVERY COUNTY AND STATE

Teresa from Allen, TX — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:59:24 EDT

THIS IS WHY WE NEED POLL WATCHERS DURING ELECTION DAY AND POLL WATCHERS AT THE MAIN COUNTING STATION! -----Original Message-----
From: brasschecktv@aweber.com [mailto:brasschecktv@aweber.com] On Behalf Of Brasscheck TV
Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 2:27 AM
To: Teresa
Subject: Brasscheck TV: How the US vote can be stolen

Teresa The US Presidential election is one week away. Here's a government hearing - never reported by the news media - that sums up the status of the securityof the US voting system.

http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/145.html -

Brasscheck P.S. Don't be too surprised in McCain and Palin"win" next week. No matter how unlikely the outcome, the US news mediastands ready to pump out a plausible "cover story"to explain the results. - Brasscheck

P.S. Please share Brasscheck TV e-mails andvideos with friends and colleagues. That's how we grow. Thanks. ============================== Brasscheck TV2380 California St.San Francisco, CA 94115

To unsubscribe or change subscriber options visit:http://www.aweber.com/z/r/?zAxs7OwctMwczKwsbCyMtEa0zJysrCysTA==

SIGN UP TO BE POLL WATCHERS

Teresa from Allen, TX — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:57:01 EDT

THIS IS WHY WE NEED POLL WATCHERS DURING ELECTION DAY AND POLL WATCHERS AT COUNTING STATIONS!

-----Original Message-----
From: brasschecktv@aweber.com [mailto:brasschecktv@aweber.com] On Behalf Of Brasscheck TV
Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 2:27 AM
Subject: Brasscheck TV: How the US vote can be stolen

Teresa The US Presidential election is one week away. Here's a government hearing - never reported by the news media - that sums up the status of the securityof the US voting system.

http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/145.html

- Brasscheck P.S. Don't be too surprised in McCain and Palin"win" next week. No matter how unlikely the outcome, the US news mediastands ready to pump out a plausible "cover story"to explain the results.

- Brasscheck P.S. Please share Brasscheck TV e-mails andvideos with friends and colleagues. That's how we grow. Thanks. ==============================

Brasscheck TV2380 California St.San Francisco, CA 94115 To unsubscribe or change subscriber options visit:http://www.aweber.com/z/r/?zAxs7OwctMwczKwsbCyMtEa0zJysrCysTA==

TCBD-SOULS TO THE POLLS SUNDAY

Teresa from Allen, TX — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:08:48 EDT

OBAMA SUPPORTERS PLEASE CONTACT YOUR AREA PLACES OF WORSHIP TO ADVISE THEM OF

EARLY VOTING "SOULS TO THE POLLS SUNDAY" ON OCTOBER 26, 2008 FROM 1:00-6:00PM.

THIS WILL ALLOW CHURCH FAMILES TO PROVIDE RIDES AND ASSIST THE ELDERLY WITH EARLY VOTING.

OBAMA WORKERS PLEASE VOLUNTEER AS GREETERS AND POLL WATCHERS ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 26, 2008 TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING RUNS SMOOTHLY FOR SOULS TO THE POLLS.

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DEMOCRATIC GROUPS TO VOLUNTEER AS POLL WATCHERS. THERE WILL BE POLL WATCHER TRAINING CLASSES ALL WEEK SO CHECK YOUR COUNTY DEMOCRATIC WEBSITES.

PRECINCT CHAIR TO DO LIST FOR WEEK OF OCT.20, 2008

Teresa from Allen, TX — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:02:41 EDT

1. VOTE EARLY!

2 SIGN UP TO BE AN ELECTION WORKER FOR TUESDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2008.

3 SIGN UP TO BE A GREETER OR POLL WORKER DURING EARLY VOTING.

4 COMPLETE TRAININGS FOR JUDGE, CLERK, AND POLL WORKER.

5 NOTIFY CHURCH'S OF SOULS TO THE POLLS VOTING ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2008

6 POST EARLY VOTING PLACES AND TIMES AT BEAUTY AND BARBER SHOPS!

7 POST EARLY VOTING PLACES AND TIMES AT CHURCH AND IN CHURCH BULLETINS.

8 REVIEW THE HANDBOOK FOR ELECTION JUDGES AND CLERKS.

9 PURCHASE OR RENT OR BORROW A LAPTOP COMPUTER FOR ELECTION DAY.

10 PRAY. PRAY. PRAY SOME MORE!

WEEK OF OCTOBER 20, 2008 PRECINCT-CHAIR TO-DO LIST

Teresa from Allen, TX — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 18:58:12 EDT

1. VOTE EARLY!

2 SIGN UP TO BE AN ELECTION WORKER FOR TUESDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2008.

3 SIGN UP TO BE A GREETER OR POLL WORKER DURING EARLY VOTING.

4 COMPLETE TRAININGS FOR JUDGE, CLERK, AND POLL WORKER.

5 NOTIFY CHURCH'S OF SOULS TO THE POLLS VOTING ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2008

6 POST EARLY VOTING PLACES AND TIMES AT BEAUTY AND BARBER SHOPS!

7 POST EARLY VOTING PLACES AND TIMES AT CHURCH AND IN CHURCH BULLETINS.

8 REVIEW THE HANDBOOK FOR ELECTION JUDGES AND CLERKS.

9 PURCHASE OR RENT OR BORROW A LAPTOP COMPUTER FOR ELECTION DAY.

10 PRAY. PRAY. PRAY SOME MORE!

URGENT OBAMA TO DO LIST FOR WEEK OF OCTOBER 20, 2008

Teresa from Allen, TX — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 17:58:54 EDT

1. GO EARLY VOTE THIS WEEK AND DON'T VOTE ALONE. TAKE A FRIEND OR TWO OR THREE!

2. KNOW YOUR VOTER RIGHTS!

3. CONTACT FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND MAKE SURE THEY VOTE EARLY.

4. ENCOURAGE YOUR GROUP ASSOCIATIONS TO VOTE EARLY.

5. ENCOURAGE YOUR CHURCH TO PARTICIPATE IN SOULS TO THE POLLS BY VOTING ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 26, 2008 FROM 1:00PM-6:00PM

URGENT OBAMA TO DO LIST FOR WEEK OF OCTOBER 20,2008

Teresa from Allen, TX — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 17:56:32 EDT

1. GO EARLY VOTE THIS WEEK AND DON'T VOTE ALONE. TAKE A FRIEND OR TWO OR THREE!

2. KNOW YOUR VOTER RIGHTS!

3. CONTACT FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND MAKE SURE THEY VOTE EARLY.

4. ENCOURAGE YOUR GROUP ASSOCIATIONS TO VOTE EARLY.

5. ENCOURAGE YOUR CHURCH TO PARTICIPATE IN SOULS TO THE POLLS BY VOTING ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 26, 2008 FROM 1:00PM-6:00PM

ATTENTION STRAIGHT PARTY VOTERS!

Teresa from Allen, TX — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:19:29 EDT

THIS INFORMATION IS DIRECTLY FROM THE TEXAS DEMOCRATIC WEBSITE.
http://www.txdemocrats.org/389
http://www.txdemocrats.org/389
http://www.txdemocrats.org/389
Attention Straight Party Voters!

If you wish to vote for all candidates of a particular party:

EITHER

Mark the straight party box of the party of your choice
and then cast your ballot

(This will allow the machine to mark all

candidates of your chosen party.)

Do not mark a straight party selection and mark each
individual candidate for whom you wish to vote
DOING BOTH WILL RESULT IN YOUR VOTE NOT
BEING CAST IN SOME RACES! DO NOT SELECT
“STRAIGHT PARTY” AND THEN SELECT INDIVIDUAL
CANDIDATES OF THE SAME PARTY!
Carefully read the review screen after marking your selection
and before casting your ballot.

Any Questions?

Ask an election judge for assistance

http://www.txdemocrats.org/389

COLLIN COUNTY-POLL WATCHER TRAINING

Teresa from Allen, TX — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:54:45 EDT

Poll Watcher and Greeter Training - 8 sessions to choose fromTrue or false:

Candidates and Poll Greeters can have literature and information to share as long as they are 100 feet from the polling place.
Poll Watchers and Poll Greeters need to have a Certificate of Appointment to present to the presiding judge at the polling place.
No electioneering or loitering is allowed inside the Distance Marker.

Want the answers to these and other rules governing greeters and poll watchers? Sign up for a 1 1/2 hour training session.

Even if you are working on Election Day, we need you to be a visible Democratic presence at all 17 polling locations for the 12 days of Early Voting (10/20-10/31).In the sessions we will review the rules and procedures for Poll Watchers and Greeters. Classes are open to any Democrat who can volunteer two hours or more at any polling location during Early Voting or on Election Day.

Invite family and friends to attend.
Schimelpfenig Library Program Room, 5024 Custer Rd, Plano 75023
Session 1: Sunday, October 19, 1:00-2:30 pm,
Session 2: Sunday, October 19, 3:00-4:30 pm,
Session 3: Sunday, October 19, 5:00-6:30 pm,
Session 4: Sunday, October 19, 7:00-8:30 pm,
Haggard Library Program Room, 2501 Coit Rd Plano 75075
Session 5: Wednesday, October 22, 2:30-4:00 pm,
Session 6: Wednesday, October 22, 4:30-6:00 pm,
Session 7: Wednesday, October 22, 7:00-8:30 pm,Collin College Preston Ridge Campus in Frisco, 9700 Wade Blvd, Founders Hall, Rm F148 Session 8: Saturday, October 25, 10:00 am -12:00 pm

RSVP: gotv@collindems.us or office@collindems.us or 972-578-1483
Class size minimum is 15. If not enough sign up for that session, you will be notified to re-schedule for a different time. Don't stop at the top of the ballot! Barb Walters, GOTV Coordinatorgotv@collindems.us214-477-5183 (c)DPCC Office 2504 Ave K at Park972-578-1483 (o)

COLLIN COUNTY-POLL WATCHER TRAINING

Teresa from Allen, TX — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:52:33 EDT

Poll Watcher and Greeter Training - 8 sessions to choose fromTrue or false:

Candidates and Poll Greeters can have literature and information to share as long as they are 100 feet from the polling place.
Poll Watchers and Poll Greeters need to have a Certificate of Appointment to present to the presiding judge at the polling place.
No electioneering or loitering is allowed inside the Distance Marker.

Want the answers to these and other rules governing greeters and poll watchers? Sign up for a 1 1/2 hour training session.

TO DO LIST Week of October 12, 2008

Teresa from Allen, TX — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:21:24 EDT

1. SIGN UP TO BE AN ELECTION CLERK!

2. ATTEND ALL TRAININGS FOR ELECTION CLERK, ALTERNATE JUDGE, AND ELECTION JUDGE.

3. SIGN UP AS AN ELECTION CLERK BUT TRAIN LIKE AN ELECTION JUDGE! MORE INFORMED is always better than less informed.

4. STAY FOCUSED ON THE GOAL: STRAIGHT DEMOCRATIC TICKET!

5. UNITED WE STAND TALL. Divided we will fall short.

CORNYN NORIEGA DEBATE!

Teresa from Allen, TX — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:09:16 EDT

Incumbent U.S. Senator John Cornyn and Democratic challenger Rick Noriega square off in this important debate to be aired live on television and radio across Texas, and worldwide via streaming video at this Web site.

The debate will be moderated by KERA News Director Shelley Kofler, and will feature questions from panelists Maria Renée Barillas of KUVN Univisión 23 television, Paul Burka of Texas Monthly and Gromer Jeffers, Jr. of The Dallas Morning News.

Where to Watch:

(will air live unless noted)

AmarilloKACV-TV (PBS) - Channel 2
(delayed - will air at 9 p.m.)

HoustonKUHT-TV (PBS) - Channel 8

KRIV-TV (FOX) - Channel 26
(delayed - will air at 10:30 p.m.)

AustinKLRU-TV (PBS) - Channel 18

KilleenKNCT-TV (PBS) - Channel 46
(delayed - will air at 9 p.m.)

BeaumontKBMT-TV (ABC) - Channel 12
(delayed - will air at 10:30 p.m.)

LubbockKTXT-TV (PBS) - Channel 5

College StationKAMU-TV (PBS) - Channel 15

Lufkin/NacogdochesKTRE-TV (ABC) - Channel 9
(delayed - will air at 11:05 p.m.)

Corpus Christi
KEDT-TV (PBS) - Channel 16

KDF-TV (Ind.) - Channel 47

OdessaKPBT-TV (PBS) - Channel 36

Dallas/Fort WorthKERA-TV (PBS) - Channel 13

KUVN-TV (Univisión) - Channel 23
(delayed - will air Sat, Oct. 18 at 10 a.m.)

San Antonio Tyler/Longview/
Jacksonville

KLRN-TV (PBS) - Channel 9

KLTV-TV (ABC) - Channel 7
(delayed - will air at 11:05 p.m.)

El PasoKCOS-TV (PBS) - Channel 13
(will air live at 7 p.m. MT)

WacoKWBU-TV (PBS) - Channel 34

HarlingenKMBH-TV (PBS) - Channel 60

Wichita FallsKSWO-DT (ABC) - Channel 11.3
(will air live, with replay on Fri., Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.)

Central Texas
(Austin, Fredericksburg, Killeen, Temple, Waco) Time Warner Cable News 8
(will air live; replays on 10/16 at 10:30 p.m.
and 10/17 at noon; also available on News 8
On Demand - TWC Channel 1408)

Where to Listen:

(will air live unless noted)

Bryan/College StationKEOS - 89.1 FM

Dallas/Fort WorthKERA - 90.1 FM

CorsicanaKAND - 1340 AM

MarfaKRTS - 93.5 FM

VOTER PROTECTION SEMINAR

Teresa from Allen, TX — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:52:15 EDT

VOTER PROTECTION SEMINAR

Time: Saturday, October 11 at 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Location: CCCC-Preston Ridge Campus

9700 Wade Blvd

CCCC EVENT CENTER

Frisco, TX 75035

The Democratic Party of Collin County is pleased to announce the Voter Protection Seminar.

Esquire Frederick Barrow, an attorney who is experienced with the Election Protection Coalition, will conduct the seminar.

The Election Protection Coalition is the nation’s largest, non-partisan voter protection coalition. Their interest is to ensure that every voter, regardless of party or candidate preference, is able to cast a ballot that counts for the candidate of their choice.

Although the seminar is planned to assist in educating Election Workers for the upcoming election, everyone in the community is invited to attend.

Please call the DPCC Headquarters Office 972-578-1483 or e-mail office@collindems.us

I RATE THIS TRAINING A+

Teresa from Allen, TX — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:49:49 EDT

Attended the October 9, 2008 training on Thursday night. It is Excellent. Very informative. This is a training you do not want to miss if you are a Judge, Alternate Judge, or clerk. Sign up for the next class as it is well worth your time.

Practical How-To Election Worker Training

We are hosting a bi-partisan presentation with experienced Democratic and Republican Judges in a panel type setting covering the nitty gritty of Election Day at the polls. This is a session packed with practical how to’s for Judges, Alternate Judges and Election Clerks. Training will be on
October 9 -- 7 – 9 pm
October 18 -- 2 – 4 pm
October 23 -- 7 – 9 pm

All trainings are held at Spring Creek Campus CCCC, Room C104

RSVP for these sessions by calling the DPCC office at 972-578-1483 or e-mail to office@collindems.us

DOWN TO THE WIRE-VOTER REGISTRATION

Teresa from Allen, TX — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:00:27 EDT

LAST DAY VOTER REGISTRATION

Host: Teresa Mcgowan

Time: Monday, October 6 at 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Location: BROOKSHIRE'S SUPERMARKET

109 N Greenville

Allen, TX 75002

PLEASE FOWARD THIS INFORMATION TO ALL FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO RESIDE IN COLLIN COUNTY AND STILL NEED TO REGISTER TO VOTE. WE CAN ALSO REGISTER DALLAS AND TARRANT COUNTY AS WELL. PLEASE COME OUT AND SUPPORT A SUPERMARKET THAT SUPPORTS ITS COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW MY MANTRA...UNITED WE STAND TALL! DIVIDED WE FALL SHORT!

URGENT OCTOBER TO DO LIST

Teresa from Allen, TX — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 22:07:23 EDT

1. TURN IN ALL VOTER REGISTRATION CARDS BY TUESDAY.

2. CONTACT EVERY DEMOCRAT YOU KNOW ABOUT EARLY VOTING LOCATION, DATES, AND TIMES.

3. CONTACT EVERY DEMOCRAT IN YOUR PRECINCT AND ADVISE THEM OF THE EARLY VOTING DATES, TIMES AND LOCATIONS. ALSO ADVISE THEM OF THEIR ELECTION DAY POLLING LOCATION. GET THE WORD OUT.

4. SIGN UP FOR ALL CLERK/JUDGE TRAININGS.

5. ATTEND THE VOTER PROTECTION SEMINAR ON SATURDAY.

6. TAKE THE TEXAS ONLINE POLL WORKDER TRAINING COURSES.

7. CONTACT HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH LAPTOPS TO PROVIDE INFO BOOTHS OUTSIDE EACH POLLING LOCATION TO ASSIST VOTERS.

8. TAKE OFF ELECTION DAY AND VOLUNTEER WITH A DEMOCRATIC GROUP.

9. NOTIFY ALL CHURCH'S OF THE SUNDAY VOTE ON OCTOBER 26, 2008.

10.

THANK YOU BUNCHES!

Teresa from Allen, TX — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 20:39:20 EDT

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT ASSISTED WITH THE VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE. WE REGISTERED 150 NEW VOTERS TODAY. TODAY WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY! 4TH Annual Plano International Festival (Voter Registration Drive)Tour the world in downtown Plano at the 4th Annual Plano International Festival Saturday, October 4, 2008 Come celebrate Plano’s rich tapestry of cultures at this free family event. Enjoy… • Multicultural music and dance performances • International cuisine • Displays and artifacts from around the globe • Ethnic crafts and activities for kids • Festival passports • Naturalization ceremony • Parade of nations • International fashion show • And so much more!! THIS IS THE LAST WEEK-END TO REGISTER TO VOTE! THIS EVENT WILL BE FROM 11:00AM-5:00PM (6) HOURS. ARRIVE WHEN YOU CAN. WORK AS LONG AS YOU CAN. LEAVE WHEN YOU NEED TO GO. THE BUSIEST TIME WILL BE 12:30PM-3:00PM AFTER THE PARADE AND NATURALIZATION CEREMONY. REMEMBER THIS IS A NON-PARTISAN EVENT.Time:Saturday, October 4 at 11:00 AMDuration:6 hoursHost:Teresa McgowanContact Phone:469-951-0514Location:Haggard Park (Plano, TX) 901 E 15th St
Plano, TX 75002

URGENT OCTOBER TO DO LIST

Teresa from Allen, TX — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 21:07:54 EDT

1. REGISTER AS MANY NEW VOTERS AS POSSIBLE THIS WEEKEND.

2. HOLD NON-PARTISAN VOTER REGISTRATION AT CHURCH'S THIS SUNDAY

3. VOLUNTEER AT AS MANY ACTIVITES AS POSSIBLE WITH OBAMA GROUPS,DPCC,TDWCC,DU4A, AND AS MANY DEMOCRAT GROUPS AS YOU CAN FIND.

4. REGISTER VOTERS ALL DAY MONDAY AND THEN TURN IN ALL OF YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION CARDS ON TUESDAY.

5. IMMEDIATELY GO INTO PHONE BANKING MODE AND MAKE CALLS.

6. IMMEDIATELY GO INTO BLOCK WALKING MODE.

7. SEND EMAIL TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW IN COLLIN COUNTY OF THE EARLY ELECTION LOCATIONS.

8. ENCOURAGE EVERYONE YOU KNOW TO VOTE EARLY STARTING 10/20/2008-10/31/2008.

9. CONTACT CHURCH'S WITH EARLY VOTING LOCATION INFORMATION.

10 CONTACT RADIO STATIONS WITH EARLY VOTING INFORMATION AND LOCATIONS.

COLLIN COUNTY ELECTION CLERKS NEEDED!

Teresa from Allen, TX — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:14:46 EDT

The duties are as follows:

Election Clerks

You are eligible to serve as an election day poll worker if you:

Are registered to vote in Collin County
Fluent in English (second language desirable)
Do not hold an elected office
Are not a family member of an elected official on the ballot
Are not the employee of an elected official
Enjoy interaction with the public
Able to take direction well and not easily distracted
Have dependable transportation to the Election Polls
Can work variable or long hours on election day
Are 18 years or older

Hours of service (approximate):

Presiding Judge: 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., depending on voter turnout and time it takes to deliver supplies to the Election Administration office when the polls close.
Alternate Judge: 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., depending on voter turnout. Dismissed by Presiding Judge
Clerks: Hours designated by Presiding Judge

General Job Duties:

Qualifying the voter
Assisting the voters with the election equipment
Opening and closing the election polls

Job Duties:

Presiding Judge: arrange and set up voting area, complete paperwork, return materials to Election Administration at the end of voting, assign duties to clerks, contact Elections Administration for voter verifications or equipment questions, manage the polling location.
Alternate Judge: work as directed by Presiding Judge, stand in as Presiding Judge if they are called away from the polling location.
Clerks: qualify voters and assist the voters as they cast their ballot.

The Collin County Elections Office offers Election Law and Voting Machine Training to all election workers. To support and supplement training provided by the County Elections office the Democratic Party of Collin County will offer additional election training that includes some practical advice of well seasoned Democratic Election Judges and Clerks.

Poll Workers assigned by the Democratic Party of Collin County will predominantly serve in Alternate Judge and Clerk positions, but they must to be ready to offer competent support to the Election Judges, especially first-time Judges, and be ready to step into a Judge position when the situation arisesIf you are interested in becoming an election worker, call the office at 972-578-1483 or send an e-mail to office@collindems.us

GUIDELINES FOR “POLITICAL ACTIVITIES” BY CHURCH'S

Teresa from Allen, TX — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:37:23 EDT

Items 9, 10 & 11. Non-partisan voter registration, voter identification, and get-out-the-vote activities. A church may participate in non-partisan voter registration, voter identification, and get out the vote activities. To be non-partisan, these activities may not be directed at the supporters of any particular candidate or political party. A church may, however, direct these activities at certain groups using non-partisan criteria, such as church membership, geographic location or position on certain issues. Furthermore, such activities will not be viewed as non-partisan if they are accompanied by literature praising or criticizing particular candidates or political parties for their positions on issues.

Item 12. Non-partisan voter education. Churches may participate in non-partisan voter education. Here, voter education involves discussion of the electoral process, such as how to run for public office or delegate, how to register, and where to vote. All these activities are permissible as long as they are not directed at supporters of a particular candidate or political party.

A+ PRECINCT CHAIR URGENT OCTOBER TO DO LIST

Teresa from Allen, TX — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 20:40:54 EDT

1. REGISTER NEW VOTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2. REGISTER CHANGE VOTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3. REGISTER REPLACEMENT VOTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LAST MOMENT TO REGISTER TO VOTE IS MONDAY OCTOBER 6, 2008 AT 4:59PM.

BEST PLACES TO REGISTER LARGE NUMBER OF NEW VOTERS IS:

1. NATURALIZATION CEREMONIES

2. CHURCH'S

3, THE TEXAS FAIR

4. HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAMES AND FUNCTIONS

5. AREA EVENTS

6. RADIO EVENTS

REPORT ON ALLEN TEXAS BLOCK WALKING

Teresa from Allen, TX — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 16:21:34 EDT

THANK YOU TO THE 40+ COLLIN COUNTY AREA VOLUNTEERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE ALLEN TEXAS BLOCK WALKING EVENT. EVERYONE GIVE DPCC VOLUNTEER MONICA READUS A HIGH FIVE WHEN YOU SEE HER FOR TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS EVENT. ALSO THANK YOU TO CANDIDATES GLEN MELANCON AND VICTOR MANUEL FOR THEIR BLOCK WALKING PARTICIPATION AND OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY. ALLEN TEXAS BLOCK WALKING (Canvass)Blockwalking Event in Allen - BA-Rock the Vote! Block walking for our Democratic Presidential Nominee Barack Obama and Vice President Nominee Joe Biden. Block walking for our Congressional and County Commissioner Candidates - Glenn Melancon and Victor Manuel WE WILL HAVE FREE CANDIDATE SIGNS . COME JOIN US IN THE PARK FOR THE BIGGEST BLOCKING WALKING EVENT ALLEN HAS EVER SEEN! DPCC We will provide the maps, the walk lists, the candidate literature and the water. Allen Tx for Obama will provide the donuts and gatorade. You provide good walking shoes, sunscreen, hat and enthusiasm! We will blanket the area in pairs. Melancon/Manuel Team Captain: Monica Readus, monica@maloyandassociates.comTime:Saturday, September 27 at 9:00 AMDuration:4 hoursHost:Teresa McgowanLocation:BETHANY PARK PAVILLION (Allen, TX) 745 S Allen Heights Dr
Allen, TX 75002

COLLIN COUNTY EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS

Teresa from Allen, TX — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:33:33 EDT

November 4, 2008
General and Special Elections
Early Voting Locations, Dates and Hours

Refer to the calendars and polling places below for Early Voting Locations, Dates, and Times.
To review the sample ballot or to find your election day polling location,
please refer to the Election Day Polling Locations & Sample Ballots page.

SundayMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdayOct 19

Oct 20
Early Voting
8 am – 5 pm

Oct 21
Early Voting
8 am – 5 pm

Oct 22
Early Voting
8 am – 5 pm

Oct 23
Early Voting
8 am – 5 pm

Oct 24
Early Voting
8 am – 5 pm

Oct 25
Early Voting
7 am – 7 pm

Oct 26
Early Voting
1 pm – 6 pm

Oct 27
Early Voting
7 am – 7 pm

Oct 28
Early Voting
7 am – 7 pm

Oct 29
Early Voting
7 am – 7 pm

Oct 30
Early Voting
7 am – 7 pm

Oct 31
Early Voting
7 am – 7 pm

Nov 1Nov 2Nov 3Nov 4
Election Day
7 am – 7 pm

(see election day pollinglocations)
Nov 5Nov 6Nov 7Nov 8Polling Place Address City Directions

Collin County Elections(Main Early Voting Location)

2010 Redbud Drive, Suite 102 McKinney S. of Wal-Mart

Allen Municipal Courts Facility301 Century Pkwy. Allen E. of Hwy 75/S off McDermott

Collin County Government Center210 S. McDonald StMcKinneyHwy 5 (McDonald & Davis)

Carpenter Park Recreation Center6701 Coit Road Plano Btwn Legacy and Spring Creek

CCCCD-Preston Ridge Campus 9700 Wade Blvd. Frisco Off Preston Road

CCCCD-Spring Creek Campus2800 E. Spring Creek Pkwy PlanoE. of Hwy 75

Christ United Methodist Church3101 CoitPlanoSW Corner of Coit and Parker

Harrington Library1501 18th St PlanoE. of Hwy 5

Murphy City Hall206 North Murphy RdMurphyN. of FM 544

PISD Administration Center2700 W. 15th StPlanoBtwn Custer & Independence

Parr Library6200 Windhaven ParkwayPlanoOff Communication Drive

Renner Frankford Library6400 FrankfordDallasHillcrest and Frankford

Wylie Municipal Building2000 N. Hwy 78WylieN. of Downtown

* The following temporary early voting locations are only open on specified days.

Temporary Branch LocationsPolling Place Address City Directions

Celina City Hall Council Chambers, Oct 20 & Oct 21 only *302 W. WalnutCelinaSE Corner of Square

Anna City Hall Administration Building, Oct 22 & Oct 23 only *111 N. Powell Pkwy.AnnaNorth of FM 455 & Hwy 5

Farmersville City Hall, Oct 24 - Oct 26 only *205 South MainFarmersvilleSouth of Town Square

CCCCD-Central Park Campus,Oct 27 - Oct 31 only *2200 W. University DriveMcKinney W. of Hwy 75

Important Note: Eligible Collin County registered voters (with an effective date of registration on or before November 4, 2008) may vote at any of the above early voting locations.

PREMIER ELECTION SOLUTIONS aka DIEBOLD

Teresa from Allen, TX — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 23:48:31 EDT

Premier Election SolutionsFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to:

Premier Election Solutions[3], formerly Diebold Election Systems, Inc. (DESI) is a subsidiary of Diebold that makes and sells voting machines. Another subsidiary selling electronic voting systems in Brazil is Diebold-Procomp.

History

Premier Election Solutions, Inc. is currently run by David Byrd[4]. Previously, DESI was run by Bob Urosevich, who worked in the election systems industry since 1976. In 1979, Mr. Urosevich founded American Information Systems. He served as the President of AIS now known as Election Systems & Software, Inc. (ES&S) from 1979 through 1992. Bob's brother, Todd Urosevich, is Vice President, Aftermarket Sales with ES&S, DESI's chief competitor. In 1995, Bob Urosevich started I-Mark Systems, whose product was a touch screen voting system utilizing a smart card and biometric encryption authorization technology. Global Election Systems, Inc. (GES) acquired I-Mark in 1997, and on July 31, 2000 Mr. Urosevich was promoted from Vice President of Sales and Marketing and New Business Development to President and Chief Operating Officer. On January 22, 2002, Diebold announced the acquisition of GES, then a manufacturer and supplier of electronic voting terminals and solutions. The total purchase price, in stock and cash, was $24.7 million. Global Election Systems subsequently changed its name to Diebold Election Systems, Inc.

In 2006 Diebold decided to remove its name from the front of the voting machines for strategic reasons. CEO Thomas Swidarski announced he would decide in the beginning of 2007 if Diebold stays in the election business.[5] In August 2007 the company changed its name to "Premier Election Solutions".

Software

Together, ES&S and Premier Election Solutions are (as of 2004) responsible for tallying approximately 80% of the votes cast in the United States[6]. The software architecture common to both is a creation of Mr. Urosevich's company I-Mark[citation needed]. Some experts claim that this structure is easily compromised, in part due to its reliance on Microsoft Access databases. Britain J. Williams, responsible for certification of voting machines for the state of Georgia and a consultant to Diebold, has provided an assessment based on his accounting of potential exploits.[citation needed]

The Diebold GEMS central tabulator software, version 1.18.15 is at the center of controversy for apparent irregularities versus the 2004 United States presidential election exit polls. The Diebold AccuVote voting machine has also come under scrutiny especially by Ralph Nader's campaign.[citation needed]

Controversy

Ethical questions about Diebold personnel

Jeff Dean, Senior Vice-President and Senior Programmer at Global Election Systems (GES), the company purchased by Diebold in 2002 which became Diebold Election Systems, was convicted of 23 counts of felony theft for planting back doors in software he created for ATMs using, according to court documents, a "high degree of sophistication" to evade detection over a period of two years[7]. In addition to Dean, GES employed a number of other convicted felons in senior positions, including a fraudulent securities trader and a drug trafficker[8].

In December 2005, Diebold's CEO Wally O'Dell left the company following reports that the company was facing securities fraud litigation surrounding charges of insider trading[9].

O'Dell's fundraising

In August 2003, Walden O'Dell, chief executive of Diebold, announced that he had been a top fund-raiser for President George W. Bush and had sent a get-out-the-funds letter to Ohio Republicans. In the letters he says he is "committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the president next year." Although he clarified his statement as merely a poor choice of words, critics of Diebold and/or the Republican party interpreted this as at minimum an indication of a conflict of interest, at worst implying a risk to the fair counting of ballots. He has responded to the critics by pointing out that the company's election machines division is run out of Texas by a registered Democrat. Nonetheless, O'dell vowed to lower his political profile lest his personal actions harm the company. O'Dell resigned his post of chairman and chief executive of Diebold on December 12, 2005 following reports that the company was facing securities fraud litigation surrounding charges of insider trading.

Security issuesFor more information in the 2004 elections see: 2004 United States presidential election: Specific issues relating to Diebold machines and practices

DESI claims its systems provide strong immunity to ballot tampering and other vote rigging attempts. These claims have been challenged, notably by Bev Harris on her website, Blackboxvoting.org, and book by the same name. Harris claims there is also evidence that the Diebold systems have been exploited to tamper with American elections — a claim Harris expands in her book Black Box Voting.

The controversy regarding electronic voting machines is related to a larger debate concerning the relative merits of open source and proprietary security products. Advocates of the open source model say that systems are more secure when anyone can view the underlying software code, identify bugs and make peer-reviewed changes. Advocates of proprietary systems claim that so-called black box systems are more secure because potential weaknesses are hidden.

Avi Rubin, Professor of Computer Science at Johns Hopkins University and Technical Director of the Information Security Institute has analyzed the source code used in these voting machines and reports "this voting system is far below even the most minimal security standards applicable in other contexts."[10] Following the publication of this paper, the State of Maryland hired Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) to perform another analysis of the Diebold voting machines. SAIC concluded “[t]he system, as implemented in policy, procedure, and technology, is at high risk of compromise.”[11]

The company RABA did a security analysis of the Diebold AccuVote in January 2004 confirming many of the problems found by Avi Rubin and finding some new vulnerabilities.[12]

In June 2005, the Tallahassee Democrat reported that when given access to Diebold vote-counting computers, Bev Harris—a critic of Diebold's voting machines—was able to make 65,000 votes disappear simply by changing the memory card that stores voting results for one that had been altered. Although the machines are supposed to record changes to data stored in the system, they showed no record of tampering after the memory cards were swapped. In response, a spokesperson for the Department of State said that, "Information on a blog site is not viable or credible."[13]

In early 2006 the Diebold Election Systems subsidiary came under considerable fire from alternate media sources for creating voting systems without reasonable auditing, no paper trail, security holes, and software bugs. The attention negatively affected Diebold stock (though elections are only a small part of their business) and triggered investigations in several states after insiders revealed irregular practices in Diebold's election division. Diebold was the first major vendor to experience a serious backlash from poor quality, service and preparation in the election industry, and condemnation of Diebold helped to focus attention on other vendors (ES&S). According to Avi Rubin, the Johns Hopkins University computer science professor who first identified flaws in the technology in 2003, the machines are "much, much easier to attack than anything we've previously said... On a scale of one to 10, if the problems we found before were a six, this is a 10. It's a totally different ballgame." According to Rubin, the system is intentionally designed so that anyone with access can update the machine software, without a pass code or other security protocol. Diebold officials said that although any problem can be avoided by keeping a close watch on the machines, they are developing a fix. [14] Michael I. Shamos, a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University who is a proponent of electronic voting and the examiner of electronic voting systems for Pennsylvania, stated "It's the most severe security flaw ever discovered in a voting system." Douglas W. Jones, a professor of computer science at the University of Iowa, stated "This is the barn door being wide open, while people were arguing over the lock on the front door." Diebold spokesman David Bear played down the seriousness of the situation, asserting that "For there to be a problem here, you're basically assuming a premise where you have some evil and nefarious election officials who would sneak in and introduce a piece of software. I don't believe these evil elections people exist."[15]

On July 31, 2006 the Open Voting Foundation released a press release which explains, with photographs, how to open the case with a screwdriver and alter the boot configuration of the Diebold TS so as to boot from EPROM, on-board flash memory or external flash memory. The implication is that a previously tested and certified machine could be booted using an unauthorized boot profile, and that such a boot profile could be activated with relatively little technical expertise.[citation needed]

On October 30, 2006 researchers from the University of Connecticut demonstrated new vulnerabilities in Diebold AccuVote-OS optical scan voting terminal. The system can be compromised even if its removable memory card is sealed in place.[16]

On November 2, 2006, HBO premiered a documentary entitled "Hacking Democracy," concerning the vulnerability of electronic voting machines (primarily Diebold) to hacking and inaccurate vote totals. The company attempted to block the documentary prior to its broadcast, but was ultimately unsuccessful.[citation needed]

On January 2007, a photo of the key used to open Diebold voting machines was posted in the company's website. Hackers and just about anyone with a knack for lockpicking were then able to produce their own duplicate key based on the photo. The key unlocks a compartment which contains a removable memory card, leaving the machine vulnerable to tampering. [17]

A report commissioned by Ohio’s top elections official on December 15, 2007 has found that all five voting systems used in Ohio (made by Elections Systems and Software; Premier Election Solutions (formerly Diebold Election Systems); and Hart InterCivic) have critical flaws that could undermine the integrity of the 2008 general election.[18]

On July 17, 2008 Stephen Spoonamore, a longtime Republican operative,[19] made the claim that had "fresh evidence regarding election fraud on Diebold electronic voting machines during the 2002 Georgia gubernatorial and senatorial elections." Spoonamore is "the founder and until recently the CEO of Cybrinth LLC, an information technology policy and security firm that serves Fortune 100 companies." He claims that Diebold Election Systems Inc. COO Bob Urosevich personally installed a computer patch on voting machines in two counties in Georgia, and that the patch did not fix the problem it was supposed to fix.[20] Reports have indicated that then Georgia Secretary of State Cathy Cox did not know the patch was installed until after the election.[21]

States rejecting Diebold

In 2004, after an initial investigation into the company's practices, Secretary of State of California Kevin Shelley issued a ban on one model of Diebold voting machines in that state. California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, sued Diebold charging that it had given false information about the security and reliability of Diebold Election Systems machines that were sold to the state. To settle the case, Diebold agreed to pay $2.6 million and to implement certain reforms. [22] On August 3, 2007, California Secretary of State Debra Bowen decertified Diebold and three other electronic voting systems after a "top-to-bottom review of the voting machines certified for use in California in March 2007."[23][24]

In April 2007 the Maryland General Assembly voted to replace paperless touchscreen voting machines with paper ballots counted by optical scanners, effective in time for the 2010 general (November) elections. The law, signed by the Governor in May 2007, was made contingent on the provision of funding by no later than April 2008. The Governor included such funding in his proposed budget in January 2008,[25] but the funding was defeated by the state House in July 2008.[26]

Similar concerns have been voiced in other states, including Florida.

Leaked memos

In September 2003, a large number of internal Diebold memos, dating back to mid-2001, were posted to the Web by the website organizations Why War? and the Swarthmore Coalition for the Digital Commons, a group of student activists at Swarthmore College. U.S. Representative Dennis Kucinich, a Democrat from Ohio, has placed portions of the files on his websites.[27] Diebold's critics believe that these memos reflect badly on Diebold's voting machines and business practices. For example: "Do not to [sic] offer damaging opinions of our systems, even when their failings become obvious."[28] In December 2003, an internal Diebold memo was leaked to the press, sparking controversy in Maryland. Maryland officials requested that Diebold add the functionality of printing voting receipts. The leaked memo said, "As a business, I hope we're smart enough to charge them up the wazoo [for this feature]".

Diebold attempted to stop the publication of these internal memos by sending cease-and-desist letters to sites hosting these documents, demanding that they be removed. Diebold claimed the memos as their copyrighted material, and asserted that anyone who published the memos online was in violation of the Online Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation Act provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act found in § 512 of the United States Copyright Act. When it turned out that some of the challenged groups would not back down, Diebold retracted their threat. Those who had been threatened by Diebold then sued for court costs and damages, in OPG v. Diebold. This suit eventually led to a victory for the plaintiffs against Diebold, when in October 2004 Judge Jeremy Fogel ruled that Diebold had abused its copyrights in its efforts to suppress the embarrassing memos.

Stephen Heller (Whistleblower)

In January and February of 2004, a whistleblower named Stephen Heller brought to light memos from Jones Day, Diebold's California attorneys, informing Diebold that they were in breach of California law by continuing to use illegal and uncertified software in California voting machines. California Attorney General Bill Lockyer filed civil and criminal suits against the company, which were dropped when Diebold settled out of court for $2.6 million. In February 2006, Heller was charged with three felonies for this action.[29][30] On November 20, 2006 Heller made a plea agreement to pay $10,000 to Jones Day, write an apology, and receive three years probation.[31][32]

Diebold and Kenneth Blackwell's Conflict of Interest

Ohio State Senator Jeff Jacobson, Republican, asked Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell in July, 2003 to disqualify Diebold's bid to supply voting machines for the state, after security problems were discovered in its software,[33] but was refused. Blackwell had ordered Diebold touch screen voting machines, reversing an earlier decision by the state to purchase only optical scan voting machines which, unlike the touch screen devices, would leave a "paper trail" for recount purposes. Blackwell was found in April 2006, to own 83 shares of Diebold stock, down from 178 shares purchased in January 2005, which he attributed to an unidentified financial manager at Credit Suisse First Boston who had violated his instructions to avoid potential conflict of interest, without his knowledge.[34] When Cuyahoga county's primary was held on May 2, 2006, officials ordered the hand-counting of more than 18,000 paper ballots after Diebold's new optical scan machines produced inconsistent tabulations, leaving several local races in limbo for days and eventually resulting in a reversal of the outcome of one race for state representative. Blackwell ordered an investigation by the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections; Ohio Democrats demanded that Blackwell, who was also the Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2006, recuse himself from the investigation due to conflicts of interest, but Blackwell did not do so.[35]

The Republican head of the Franklin County, Ohio Board of Elections, Matt Damschroder, said a Diebold contractor came to him and bragged of a $50,000 check he had written to Blackwell’s "political interests."[36]

State finance records indicate Kenneth Blackwell has received a total of $40,000 in funds during his 2006 gubernatorial race from Diebold's only two registered lobbyists, Jonathan Hughes and Mitch Given and their wives. The donations were coordinated with the two pairs occurring on the same dates.[citation needed]

PREMIER ELECTION SOLUTIONS aka DIEBOLD

Teresa from Allen, TX — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:11:44 EDT

Premier Election SolutionsFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to:

History

Software

Controversy

Ethical questions about Diebold personnel

In December 2005, Diebold's CEO Wally O'Dell left the company following reports that the company was facing securities fraud litigation surrounding charges of insider trading[9].

O'Dell's fundraising

Security issuesFor more information in the 2004 elections see: 2004 United States presidential election: Specific issues relating to Diebold machines and practices

The company RABA did a security analysis of the Diebold AccuVote in January 2004 confirming many of the problems found by Avi Rubin and finding some new vulnerabilities.[12]

States rejecting Diebold

Similar concerns have been voiced in other states, including Florida.

Leaked memos

Stephen Heller (Whistleblower)

Diebold and Kenneth Blackwell's Conflict of Interest

PREMIER ELECTION SOLUTIONS aka DIEBOLD

Teresa from Allen, TX — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:00:49 EDT

Premier Election SolutionsFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to:

Premier Election Solutions[3], formerly Diebold Election Systems, Inc. (DESI) is a subsidiary of Diebold that makes and sells voting machines. Another subsidiary selling electronic voting systems in Brazil is Diebold-Procomp.

History

Premier Election Solutions, Inc. is currently run by David Byrd[4]. Previously, DESI was run by Bob Urosevich, who worked in the election systems industry since 1976. In 1979, Mr. Urosevich founded American Information Systems. He served as the President of AIS now known as Election Systems & Software, Inc. (ES&S) from 1979 through 1992. Bob's brother, Todd Urosevich, is Vice President, Aftermarket Sales with ES&S, DESI's chief competitor. In 1995, Bob Urosevich started I-Mark Systems, whose product was a touch screen voting system utilizing a smart card and biometric encryption authorization technology. Global Election Systems, Inc. (GES) acquired I-Mark in 1997, and on July 31, 2000 Mr. Urosevich was promoted from Vice President of Sales and Marketing and New Business Development to President and Chief Operating Officer. On January 22, 2002, Diebold announced the acquisition of GES, then a manufacturer and supplier of electronic voting terminals and solutions. The total purchase price, in stock and cash, was $24.7 million. Global Election Systems subsequently changed its name to Diebold Election Systems, Inc.

Software

Together, ES&S and Premier Election Solutions are (as of 2004) responsible for tallying approximately 80% of the votes cast in the United States[6]. The software architecture common to both is a creation of Mr. Urosevich's company I-Mark[citation needed]. Some experts claim that this structure is easily compromised, in part due to its reliance on Microsoft Access databases. Britain J. Williams, responsible for certification of voting machines for the state of Georgia and a consultant to Diebold, has provided an assessment based on his accounting of potential exploits.[citation needed]

The Diebold GEMS central tabulator software, version 1.18.15 is at the center of controversy for apparent irregularities versus the 2004 United States presidential election exit polls. The Diebold AccuVote voting machine has also come under scrutiny especially by Ralph Nader's campaign.[citation needed]

Controversy

Ethical questions about Diebold personnel

In December 2005, Diebold's CEO Wally O'Dell left the company following reports that the company was facing securities fraud litigation surrounding charges of insider trading [9].

O'Dell's fundraising

In August 2003, Walden O'Dell, chief executive of Diebold, announced that he had been a top fund-raiser for President George W. Bush and had sent a get-out-the-funds letter to Ohio Republicans. In the letters he says he is "committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the president next year." Although he clarified his statement as merely a poor choice of words, critics of Diebold and/or the Republican party interpreted this as at minimum an indication of a conflict of interest, at worst implying a risk to the fair counting of ballots. He has responded to the critics by pointing out that the company's election machines division is run out of Texas by a registered Democrat. Nonetheless, O'dell vowed to lower his political profile lest his personal actions harm the company. O'Dell resigned his post of chairman and chief executive of Diebold on December 12, 2005 following reports that the company was facing securities fraud litigation surrounding charges of insider trading.

Security issuesFor more information in the 2004 elections see: 2004 United States presidential election: Specific issues relating to Diebold machines and practices

DESI claims its systems provide strong immunity to ballot tampering and other vote rigging attempts. These claims have been challenged, notably by Bev Harris on her website, Blackboxvoting.org, and book by the same name. Harris claims there is also evidence that the Diebold systems have been exploited to tamper with American elections — a claim Harris expands in her book Black Box Voting.

The controversy regarding electronic voting machines is related to a larger debate concerning the relative merits of open source and proprietary security products. Advocates of the open source model say that systems are more secure when anyone can view the underlying software code, identify bugs and make peer-reviewed changes. Advocates of proprietary systems claim that so-called black box systems are more secure because potential weaknesses are hidden.

Avi Rubin, Professor of Computer Science at Johns Hopkins University and Technical Director of the Information Security Institute has analyzed the source code used in these voting machines and reports "this voting system is far below even the most minimal security standards applicable in other contexts."[10] Following the publication of this paper, the State of Maryland hired Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) to perform another analysis of the Diebold voting machines. SAIC concluded “[t]he system, as implemented in policy, procedure, and technology, is at high risk of compromise.”[11]

The company RABA did a security analysis of the Diebold AccuVote in January 2004 confirming many of the problems found by Avi Rubin and finding some new vulnerabilities.[12]

In June 2005, the Tallahassee Democrat reported that when given access to Diebold vote-counting computers, Bev Harris—a critic of Diebold's voting machines—was able to make 65,000 votes disappear simply by changing the memory card that stores voting results for one that had been altered. Although the machines are supposed to record changes to data stored in the system, they showed no record of tampering after the memory cards were swapped. In response, a spokesperson for the Department of State said that, "Information on a blog site is not viable or credible."[13]

In early 2006 the Diebold Election Systems subsidiary came under considerable fire from alternate media sources for creating voting systems without reasonable auditing, no paper trail, security holes, and software bugs. The attention negatively affected Diebold stock (though elections are only a small part of their business) and triggered investigations in several states after insiders revealed irregular practices in Diebold's election division. Diebold was the first major vendor to experience a serious backlash from poor quality, service and preparation in the election industry, and condemnation of Diebold helped to focus attention on other vendors (ES&S). According to Avi Rubin, the Johns Hopkins University computer science professor who first identified flaws in the technology in 2003, the machines are "much, much easier to attack than anything we've previously said... On a scale of one to 10, if the problems we found before were a six, this is a 10. It's a totally different ballgame." According to Rubin, the system is intentionally designed so that anyone with access can update the machine software, without a pass code or other security protocol. Diebold officials said that although any problem can be avoided by keeping a close watch on the machines, they are developing a fix. [14] Michael I. Shamos, a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University who is a proponent of electronic voting and the examiner of electronic voting systems for Pennsylvania, stated "It's the most severe security flaw ever discovered in a voting system." Douglas W. Jones, a professor of computer science at the University of Iowa, stated "This is the barn door being wide open, while people were arguing over the lock on the front door." Diebold spokesman David Bear played down the seriousness of the situation, asserting that "For there to be a problem here, you're basically assuming a premise where you have some evil and nefarious election officials who would sneak in and introduce a piece of software. I don't believe these evil elections people exist."[15]

On July 31, 2006 the Open Voting Foundation released a press release which explains, with photographs, how to open the case with a screwdriver and alter the boot configuration of the Diebold TS so as to boot from EPROM, on-board flash memory or external flash memory. The implication is that a previously tested and certified machine could be booted using an unauthorized boot profile, and that such a boot profile could be activated with relatively little technical expertise.[citation needed]

On October 30, 2006 researchers from the University of Connecticut demonstrated new vulnerabilities in Diebold AccuVote-OS optical scan voting terminal. The system can be compromised even if its removable memory card is sealed in place.[16]

On November 2, 2006, HBO premiered a documentary entitled "Hacking Democracy," concerning the vulnerability of electronic voting machines (primarily Diebold) to hacking and inaccurate vote totals. The company attempted to block the documentary prior to its broadcast, but was ultimately unsuccessful.[citation needed]

On January 2007, a photo of the key used to open Diebold voting machines was posted in the company's website. Hackers and just about anyone with a knack for lockpicking were then able to produce their own duplicate key based on the photo. The key unlocks a compartment which contains a removable memory card, leaving the machine vulnerable to tampering. [17]

A report commissioned by Ohio’s top elections official on December 15, 2007 has found that all five voting systems used in Ohio (made by Elections Systems and Software; Premier Election Solutions (formerly Diebold Election Systems); and Hart InterCivic) have critical flaws that could undermine the integrity of the 2008 general election.[18]

On July 17, 2008 Stephen Spoonamore, a longtime Republican operative,[19] made the claim that had "fresh evidence regarding election fraud on Diebold electronic voting machines during the 2002 Georgia gubernatorial and senatorial elections." Spoonamore is "the founder and until recently the CEO of Cybrinth LLC, an information technology policy and security firm that serves Fortune 100 companies." He claims that Diebold Election Systems Inc. COO Bob Urosevich personally installed a computer patch on voting machines in two counties in Georgia, and that the patch did not fix the problem it was supposed to fix.[20] Reports have indicated that then Georgia Secretary of State Cathy Cox did not know the patch was installed until after the election.[21]

States rejecting Diebold

In 2004, after an initial investigation into the company's practices, Secretary of State of California Kevin Shelley issued a ban on one model of Diebold voting machines in that state. California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, sued Diebold charging that it had given false information about the security and reliability of Diebold Election Systems machines that were sold to the state. To settle the case, Diebold agreed to pay $2.6 million and to implement certain reforms. [22] On August 3, 2007, California Secretary of State Debra Bowen decertified Diebold and three other electronic voting systems after a "top-to-bottom review of the voting machines certified for use in California in March 2007."[23][24]

In April 2007 the Maryland General Assembly voted to replace paperless touchscreen voting machines with paper ballots counted by optical scanners, effective in time for the 2010 general (November) elections. The law, signed by the Governor in May 2007, was made contingent on the provision of funding by no later than April 2008. The Governor included such funding in his proposed budget in January 2008,[25] but the funding was defeated by the state House in July 2008.[26]

Similar concerns have been voiced in other states, including Florida.

Leaked memos

In September 2003, a large number of internal Diebold memos, dating back to mid-2001, were posted to the Web by the website organizations Why War? and the Swarthmore Coalition for the Digital Commons, a group of student activists at Swarthmore College. U.S. Representative Dennis Kucinich, a Democrat from Ohio, has placed portions of the files on his websites.[27] Diebold's critics believe that these memos reflect badly on Diebold's voting machines and business practices. For example: "Do not to [sic] offer damaging opinions of our systems, even when their failings become obvious."[28] In December 2003, an internal Diebold memo was leaked to the press, sparking controversy in Maryland. Maryland officials requested that Diebold add the functionality of printing voting receipts. The leaked memo said, "As a business, I hope we're smart enough to charge them up the wazoo [for this feature]".

Diebold attempted to stop the publication of these internal memos by sending cease-and-desist letters to sites hosting these documents, demanding that they be removed. Diebold claimed the memos as their copyrighted material, and asserted that anyone who published the memos online was in violation of the Online Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation Act provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act found in § 512 of the United States Copyright Act. When it turned out that some of the challenged groups would not back down, Diebold retracted their threat. Those who had been threatened by Diebold then sued for court costs and damages, in OPG v. Diebold. This suit eventually led to a victory for the plaintiffs against Diebold, when in October 2004 Judge Jeremy Fogel ruled that Diebold had abused its copyrights in its efforts to suppress the embarrassing memos.

Stephen Heller (Whistleblower)

In January and February of 2004, a whistleblower named Stephen Heller brought to light memos from Jones Day, Diebold's California attorneys, informing Diebold that they were in breach of California law by continuing to use illegal and uncertified software in California voting machines. California Attorney General Bill Lockyer filed civil and criminal suits against the company, which were dropped when Diebold settled out of court for $2.6 million. In February 2006, Heller was charged with three felonies for this action.[29][30] On November 20, 2006 Heller made a plea agreement to pay $10,000 to Jones Day, write an apology, and receive three years probation.[31][32]

Diebold and Kenneth Blackwell's Conflict of Interest

Ohio State Senator Jeff Jacobson, Republican, asked Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell in July, 2003 to disqualify Diebold's bid to supply voting machines for the state, after security problems were discovered in its software,[33] but was refused. Blackwell had ordered Diebold touch screen voting machines, reversing an earlier decision by the state to purchase only optical scan voting machines which, unlike the touch screen devices, would leave a "paper trail" for recount purposes. Blackwell was found in April 2006, to own 83 shares of Diebold stock, down from 178 shares purchased in January 2005, which he attributed to an unidentified financial manager at Credit Suisse First Boston who had violated his instructions to avoid potential conflict of interest, without his knowledge.[34] When Cuyahoga county's primary was held on May 2, 2006, officials ordered the hand-counting of more than 18,000 paper ballots after Diebold's new optical scan machines produced inconsistent tabulations, leaving several local races in limbo for days and eventually resulting in a reversal of the outcome of one race for state representative. Blackwell ordered an investigation by the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections; Ohio Democrats demanded that Blackwell, who was also the Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2006, recuse himself from the investigation due to conflicts of interest, but Blackwell did not do so.[35]

The Republican head of the Franklin County, Ohio Board of Elections, Matt Damschroder, said a Diebold contractor came to him and bragged of a $50,000 check he had written to Blackwell’s "political interests."[36]

ROBERT F KENNEDY JR

Teresa from Allen, TX — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:37:14 EDT

From: brasschecktv@aweber.com [mailto:brasschecktv@aweber.com] On Behalf Of Brasscheck TV
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2008 1:11 AM
To: McGowan, Teresa
Subject: Brasscheck TV: The right wing media's war against America

Teresa

The US news media has always been seriously compromised. But in the last twenty years, things have declinedto a level that's practically beyond belief.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. explains how we got wherewe are - and some of the consequences: http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/326.html

http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/326.html

Teresa from Allen, TX — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:33:10 EDT

Teresa The US news media has always been seriously compromised. But in the last twenty years, things have declinedto a level that's practically beyond belief.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. explains how we got wherewe are - and some of the consequences: http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/326.html

A+ VOTER REGISTRARS TEAM-COLLIN COUNTY

Teresa from Allen, TX — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:21:36 EDT

US Naturalization Ceremony - Voter Registration (Voter Registration Drive)As part of Obama Dallas' community service, we will assist the League of Women Voters as they register new citizens right after their swearing in ceremony. This is truly a heart-warming experience. You must be deputy voter registrar. If you are not, please note on your RSVP and we can arrange for you to be deputized prior to the event. This is a non-partisan event (no Obama t-shirts, buttons, etc.)Time:Wednesday, September 17 at 9:30 AMDuration:3 hoursHost:Gillian ParrilloLocation:Dallas Convention Center (Dallas, TX) 650 S. Griffin Street
Dallas, TX 75202

OUR SMALL TEAM OF GILLIAN PARRILLO, ROSARIO ESTRIDGE, DEBORAH HYATT AND TERESA MCGOWAN PARTICIPATED IN ANOTHER VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE AT A NATURALIZATION CEREMONY IN DALLAS TEXAS. WE MANAGED TO REGISTER 100+ NEW VOTERS ALONG WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS WHO ALSO REGISTERED 100+ VOTERS. WE MANAGED THE COLLIN COUNTY TABLE.

A+ VOTER REGISTRARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Teresa from Allen, TX — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:16:15 EDT

US Naturalization Ceremony - Voter Registration (Voter Registration Drive)As part of Obama Dallas' community service, we will assist the League of Women Voters as they register new citizens right after their swearing in ceremony. This is truly a heart-warming experience. You must be deputy voter registrar. If you are not, please note on your RSVP and we can arrange for you to be deputized prior to the event. This is a non-partisan event (no Obama t-shirts, buttons, etc.)Time:Monday, September 15 at 9:30 AMDuration:3 hoursHost:Gillian ParrilloContact Phone:916-747-4140Location:Ruthe Jackson Community Center (Grand Prairie, TX) 3113 S. Carrier Parkway
Grand Prairie, TX 75052

OUR SMALL TEAM OF GILLIAN PARRILLO, DEBORAH HYATT, ROSARIO ESTRIDGE AND TERESA MCGOWAN REGISTERED APPROXIMATELY 100+ NEW VOTERS AT THIS EVENT! THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ALSO REGISTERED 100+ NEW VOTERS AS WELL. WE MANAGED TO ALSO PASS OUT APPROXIMATELY 50-100 WHITE CARDS.

A+ PRECINCT TEAM TO DO LIST

Teresa from Allen, TX — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:19:25 EDT

THIS IS FOR THE SEASONED OBAMA SUPPORTER:

1. PARTICIPATE AND/OR ORGANIZE VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE AT YOUR CHURCH.

2. PARTICIPATE IN VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE AT THE PLANO INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL.

3. GET THE EARLY VOTING/ELECTION DAY VOTING LOCATION LIST.

4. ORGANIZE A PRECINCT TEAM.

5. EMAIL DPCC TO VOLUNTEER TO BE ELECTION JUDGE AND CLERK.

6. BORROW, BUY, LOAN A LAP TOP FOR EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY.

7. VOLUNTEER TO BE A POLL WATCHER IF YOU CANNOT BE AN ELECTION JUDGE/CLERK.

8. PUT THE STATE ELECTION NUMBERS IN YOUR CELL PHONE FOR VOTING PROBLEMS.

9. HAVE A MEETING WITH YOUR PRECINCT TEAM TO ORGANIZE FOR THE EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY.

10. TAKE OFF WORK ON NOV 3,4,5 SO YOU CAN VOLUNTEER.

URGENT PRECINCT CHAIR TO DO LIST-SEPTEMBER

Teresa from Allen, TX — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:09:10 EDT

THIS LIST IS FOR THE PERSON THAT IS ALREADY A PRECINCT CHAIR OR ON A PRECINCT TEAM.

1. CONTACT YOUR CHURCH AND SEE IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A NON-PARTISAN VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE.

2. BLOCK WALK IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO REGISTER, INFORM, AND IDENTIFY DEMOCRATS.

3. SIGN UP FOR VIRTUAL PHONE CALLS FROM HOME OR AT THE DPCC OR TDWCC OFFICE.

4. MAKE SURE FAMILY MEMBERS ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE AND KNOW THE LOCATION OF THEIR EARLY VOTE LOCATIONS AND ELECTION LOCATIONS.

5. VOLUNTEER TO BE VOTING CLERKS AND JUDGES.

6. FIND OUT THE VOTING LOCATIONS FOR YOUR PRECINCT AND INFORM DEMOCRATS WHEN YOU BLOCK WALK AND MAKE CALLS. SPREAD THE WORD.

7. CONTACT THE COLLIN COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPT AND REQUEST A LIST OF EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS AND ELECTION DAY LOCATIONS.

8. PARTICIPATE IN VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES OR CONDUCT A REGISTRATION DRIVE FOR YOUR PRECINCT.

9. CONTACT YOUR OBAMA HOUSE DISTRICT LEADS ABOUNT YOUR PRECINCT CHAIR EVENTS.

10. COORDINATE AND COMBINE YOUR DPCC PRECINCT CHAIR EVENTS WITH YOUR OBAMA COLLIN COUNTY EVENTS.

URGENT TO DO LIST FOR SEPTEMBER

Teresa from Allen, TX — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 06:55:00 EDT

1. REGISTER TO VOTE ASAP!

2. FIND YOUR VOTING LOCATION ASAP!

3. EARLY VOTING STARTS OCTOBER 20,2008. EARLY VOTE.

4. INFORM YOU DEMOCRATIC NEIGHBORS OF VOTING DATES.

5. DONT EARLY VOTE ALONE. TAKE A FRIEND OR MAKE IT A FAMILY EVENT.

6. NOTIFIY YOUR COLLEGE AGE KIDS TO VOTE BY MAIL.

7. CONTACT YOUR CHURCH TO SEE IF THEY WANT TO HAVE A VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE.

8. DONATE TO THE OBAMA CAMPIAGN.

9. VOTE A STRAIGHT DEMOCRATIC TICKET.

10. ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN AREA BLOCK WALKING EVENTS!

ALLEN TX PRECINCT 59, 80, 114 ROCK THE VOTE-BLOCK WALKING

Teresa from Allen, TX — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 23:03:37 EDT

PRECINCT 59, 80, 114, ALLEN TX BLOCK WALKING (Canvass)

Blockwalking Event in Allen - BA-Rock the Vote!

Block walking for Democratic Presidential Nominee Barack Obama and Vice President Nominee Joe Biden.

Block walking for our Congressional and County Commissioner Candidates - Glenn Melancon and Victor Manuel.

DPCC will provide the maps, walk lists, candidate literature and the water.

Allen Tx for Obama will provide the donuts and Gatorade.

You provide good walking shoes, sunscreen, hat and enthusiasm!

Melancon/Manuel Team Captain: Monica Readus, monica@maloyandassociates.com

Time: Saturday, September 27 at 9:00 AM

Duration:4 hours

Host:Teresa Mcgowan

Location:BETHANY PARK PAVILLION (Allen, TX)

745 S Allen Heights Dr

Allen, TX 75002

PRECINCT #80 HOUSE CALLS FOR OBAMA!

Teresa from Allen, TX — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 22:08:23 EDT

HOUSE CALLS FOR OBAMA

IF YOU RESIDE IN COLLIN COUNTY, ALLEN TEXAS, PRECINCT #80 AND NEED AN OBAMA SIGN FOR YOU FRONT YARD SHOOT ME AN EMAIL AT teresa4obama@rocketmail.com AND I WILL DELIVER A SIGN TO YOUR RESIDENCE.

IF YOU NEED TO UPDATE YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION OR YOU NEED TO REGISTER TO VOTE SHOOT ME AN EMAIL AT teresa4obama@rocketmail.com AND I WILL COME BY AND DO A VOTER REGISTRATION.

IF YOU NEED SOMEONE TO DO VOTER REGISTRATION AT YOUR CHURCH BEFORE OR AFTER CHURCH SERVICE SHOOT ME AN EMAIL AT teresa4obama@rockemail.com.

SIGNS GIVEN OUT 21 NEW VOTERS REGISTERED 6

COLLIN COUNTY PRECINCT #80 CHAIR-MAKING HOUSE CALLS

Teresa from Allen, TX — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 10:17:43 EDT

HOUSE CALLS FOR OBAMA

IF YOU RESIDE IN COLLIN COUNTY, ALLEN TEXAS, PRECINCT #80 AND NEED AN OBAMA SIGN FOR YOU FRONT YARD SHOOT ME AN EMAIL AT teresa4obama@rocketmail.com AND I WILL DELIVER A SIGN TO YOUR RESIDENCE.

IF YOU NEED TO UPDATE YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION OR YOU NEED TO REGISTER TO VOTE SHOOT ME AN EMAIL AT teresa4obama@rocketmail.com AND I WILL COME BY AND DO A VOTER REGISTRATION.

IF YOU NEED SOMEONE TO DO VOTER REGISTRATION AT YOUR CHURCH BEFORE OR AFTER CHURCH SERVICE SHOOT ME AN EMAIL AT teresa4obama@rockemail.com.

McCain, Obama to Speak to AARP Life@50+ Event Attendees

Teresa from Allen, TX — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:21:34 EDT

AARP Exclusive: Obama and McCain Speak at Life@50+ Event!
Having trouble viewing images? Click here to view as a webpage.
To ensure delivery to your inbox, please add aarpnews@news.aarp.org to your address book. WEBLETTER
A weekly publication from AARPVisit AARP.org Read Today's News Join AARP Send To A Friend AARP Breaking NewsMcCain, Obama to Speak to AARP Life@50+ Event Attendees

Don't Miss this AARP Exclusive!
Watch LIVE on www.AARP.org

Saturday September 6
Obama: 8:30 a.m. 9:00 a.m.
McCain: 12:30 p.m. 1:00 p.m.

AARP CEO Bill Novelli will host separate, live Q&A sessions via satellite with Senators Barack Obama and John McCain at the AARP Life@50+ National Event.

Watch live at AARP.org as each senator discusses how to tackle the health care and financial security challenges facing the nation. Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to hear their positions on the issues that matter most to you.

Can’t catch the live streaming broadcast? Watch a replay of the talks anytime at www.AARP.org

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AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP Member Benefits are offered by third-parties through contractual arrangements with AARP Services, Incorporated, a wholly owned subsidiary of AARP, or by AARP Financial Incorporated, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AARP Services, Incorporated.

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DON'T JUST VOTE. VOTE SMART!

Teresa from Allen, TX — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:54:39 EDT

The Voter's Self-Defense System

Every candidate and elected official from President to local government can be easily and instantly accessed through the:

• Vote Smart's Website: www.vote-smart.org

Voter's Research Hotline: 1-888-VOTE-SMART (1-888-868-3762)

Voting Records -- Compare what your representatives said during the campaign with how they actually voted on the record.

Biographical & Contact Information -- From their previous professions, education, families, organizational membership to their latest e-mail address, we gather it all.

Issue Positions (Political Courage Test) -- We test thousands of candidates for President, Congress, Governor and State Legislature with our Political Courage Test. The test accurately measures a candidate's willingness to provide voters with their positions on the issues they will most likely face if elected to represent you.

Interest Group Ratings -- Over 150 competing special interest groups, from conservative to liberal, evaluate your representatives. Look at what they say.

Public Statements -- The Project constantly collects speeches and public comments of the president, governors, and congressional representatives. Just type in a word, say; 'immigration' and all public utterances containing the word 'immigration' will appear. Compare what they said while campaigning in California a few years ago to what they are saying now in New Hampshire.

Campaign Finances -- How much money did your representatives raise and from whom? Just follow the money and then follow the votes.

DON'T JUST VOTE. VOTE SMART!

Teresa from Allen, TX — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:37:45 EDT

http://www.votesmart.org/index.htm

The Voter's Self-Defense System

Every candidate and elected official from President to local government can be easily and instantly accessed through the:

• Vote Smart's Website: www.vote-smart.org

Voter's Research Hotline: 1-888-VOTE-SMART (1-888-868-3762)

Voting Records -- Compare what your representatives said during the campaign with how they actually voted on the record.

Biographical & Contact Information -- From their previous professions, education, families, organizational membership to their latest e-mail address, we gather it all.

Interest Group Ratings -- Over 150 competing special interest groups, from conservative to liberal, evaluate your representatives. Look at what they say.

Campaign Finances -- How much money did your representatives raise and from whom? Just follow the money and then follow the votes.

MAKE SURE YOU ARE STILL REGISTERED TO VOTE

Teresa from Allen, TX — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:01:13 EDT

Make sure you're still registered to vote now, before going to vote: Click here for help in English: www.mydem.com

Para la ayuda en español: www.mydem.com/es/node/11

Go to www.MyDem.com or www.vote-smart.org to see registration deadlines by state, and to re-register if your name is not on the list. Your best defense against purging is written proof that you are registered to vote. Check to see if you're registered online, and if so, print a copy. Or call your local Elections office and ask them to send you an email confirmation of your vote registration if it is listed. While you are on the phone to the Elections office ask them if they will provide paper ballots at the polls in case a voter prefers paper. Paper ballots ensure a backup option in case voting machinery isn't properly recording the vote or is breaking down.

IF YOU HAVE MOVED PLEASE COMPLETE A VOTER REGISTRATION CARD WITH THE NEW ADDRESS. IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED IN THE LAST YEAR MAKE SURE YOU COMPLETE A VOTER REGISTRATION CARD TO ENSURE YOUR NAME HAS NOT BEEN PURGED.

DON'T GET LEFT OUT IN THE DARK....STAY INFORMED AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE.

MAKE SURE YOU ARE STILL REGISTERED TO VOTE

Teresa from Allen, TX — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 08:57:58 EDT

Make sure you're still registered to vote now, before going to vote: Click here for help in English: www.mydem.com

Para la ayuda en español: www.mydem.com/es/node/11

DON'T GET LEFT OUT IN THE DARK....STAY INFORMED AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE.

KUDOS AGAIN TO DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF COLLIN COUNTY

Teresa from Allen, TX — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 08:39:19 EDT

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF COLLIN COUNTY KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK YET AGAIN. IF YOU MISSED THE DPCC WATCH PARTY LAST NIGHT YOU MISSED A LOT. THE DPCC AND TDWCC PASSED OUT

BARACK OBAMA SIGNS

RICK NORIEGA SIGNS

TOM DALEY SIGNS

VICTOR MANUEL SIGNS

GLEN MELANCON SIGNS

POWER SIGNS

DEMOCRATIC PARTY SIGNS

THE DEMOCRATIC GROUPS IN COLLIN COUNTY ARE UNITED, FOCUSED, DETERMINED, AND WORKING TO TURN COLLIN COUNTY BLUE. VOLUNTEER. VOLUNTEER. DONATE.

REMEMBER, VOTE A STRAIGHT DEMOCRATIC TICKET SO WE CAN HAVE REAL CHANGE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. TTB...TURN TEXAS BLUE!

I LOVE FORMER PRESIDENT CLINTON

Teresa from Allen, TX — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:21:25 EDT

I LOVE FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AND IF YOU HAD ANY DOUBT THAT HE IS A TRUE DEMOCRAT THEN YOU KNOW IT NOW.

PRESIDENT CLINTON KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK.

LOOK OUT REPUBLICANS HERE WE COME.

WE ARE UNITED AND STANDING TALL.

OUTSOURCING ELECTIONS

Teresa from Allen, TX — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:17:13 EDT

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE THIS ONE. AT LEAST OKLAHOMA HAS IT RIGHT.

http://www.cnn.com/video/?iref=videoglobal

Tuesday, August 26 2008: Renewing America's Promise

Teresa from Allen, TX — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:01:47 EDT

Tuesday, August 26 2008: Renewing America's Promise

Hour #1 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (LOCAL)
Call to Order
The Honorable Shirley Franklin
Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia

Invocation
Reverend Cynthia Hale
Disciples of Christ - Decatur, Georgia

Presentation of Colors
The American GI Forum
Mile High Chapter, Colorado
Congressionally chartered Mexican-American veterans & civil rights organization

Pledge of Allegiance
Koby Langley
From Fort Mead, Maryland, he received the Bronze Star for leadership in the US Army
Credited with design & implementation of 1st Foreign Torts Claims Policy Act - Iraq

National Anthem
Rocky Mountain Children's Choir
A multicultural, multiracial choir committed to forming community around music

Remarks/Video
The Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton
Non-voting Member of the US House of Representatives, District of Columbia

Remarks
Ted Sorenson
Special Counsel, advisor and speechwriter to President John F. Kennedy
Researched and drafted Kennedy's "Profiles in Courage"

The Honorable Mike Honda
Member of the US House of Representatives, California

Dr. David Gipp
Member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
President - United Tribes Technical College

The Honorable Linda Sanchez
Member of the US House of Representatives, California

The Honorable Chet Culver
Governor of Iowa

The Honorable David Patterson
Governor of New York

The Honorable Patrick Leahy
US Senator, Vermont

Hour # 2 4:08 PM – 5:00 PM (LOCAL)
Remarks
The Honorable Chris Van Hollen
Member of the US House of Representatives, Maryland

Remarks
Cecile Richards
President of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Daughter of the former Governor of Texas, The Honorable Ann Richards

Congressional Black Caucus
The Honorable Carolyn Kilpatrick
Member of the US House of Representatives, Michigan
The Honorable Charles Rangel
Member of the US House of Representatives, New York
The Honorable John Conyers
Member of the US House of Representatives, Michigan
The Honorable Bennie Thompson
Member of the US House of Representatives, Mississippi

Moment of Silence

Video – “In Memoriam”

Remarks
The Honorable Dennis Kucinich
Member of the US House of Representatives, Ohio

The Honorable John Chiang
State Comptroller, California

The Honorable Jim Doyle
Governor of Wisconsin

The Honorable Ted Strickland
Governor of Ohio

DGA - Remarks
The Honorable Joe Manchin
Governor of West Virginia

Hour # 3 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (LOCAL)
US Senate Women
The Honorable Barbara Mikulski
US Senator, Maryland
The Honorable Barbara Boxer
US Senator, California
The Honorable Mary Landrieu
US Senator, Louisiana
The Honorable Blanche Lambert Lincoln
US Senator, Arizona
The Honorable Debbie Stabenow
US Senator, Michigan
The Honorable Maria Cantwell
US Senator, Washington State
The Honorable Claire McCaskill
US Senator, Missouri
The Honorable Amy Klobuchar
US Senator, Minnesota

Remarks
The Honorable Ed Rendell
Governor of Pennsylvania

The Honorable Tammy Baldwin
Member of the US House of Representatives, Wisconsin

The Honorable Xavier Becerra
Member of the US House of Representatives, California

John Sweeney
President of the AFL-CIO

Robin Golden
Autoworker from Michigan scheduled to lose his job

Video - First Time Delegates: Renewing America's Promise

Remarks
The Honorable Rahm Emanuel
Member of the US House of Representatives, Illinois

Live Performance
Alejandro Escovedo
Vocals & guitar

Hour # 4 6:01 PM – 7:00 PM (LOCAL)
Remarks
The Honorable Steny Hoyer
Member of the US House of Representatives, Maryland
Democratic Majority Leader

Katherine Marcano
Cedar Rapids, Iowa flood victim

Anna Berger
Officer with SEIU & 1st Chair of America's newest labor federation, "Change to Win"

Pauline Beck
Homecare worker & member of SEIU from Oakland, California

The Honorable Janet Napolitano
Governor of Arizona

America’s Town Hall - Economy
Moderator: The Honorable Jennifer Granholm – Governor of Michigan
Panelists: Aimee Christensen, Jim Rogers, Jim Bauer, Jerome Ringo

Remarks
Jim Whitaker
Republican Mayor of Fairbanks, Alaska

Pamela Cash-Roper
Unemployed nurse and lifelong Republican from North Carolina

The Honorable Nydia Velazquez
Member of the US House of Representatives, New York

Hour # 5 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM (LOCAL)
Remarks
The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius
Governor of Kansas

The Honorable Frederico Peña
Former Secretary of Energy and former Mayor of Denver, Colorado

Nancy Floyd
Founder of Nth Power – an energy technology investment firm in Portland, Oregon

The Honorable Robert Casey, Jr.
US Senator, Pennsylvania

Lily Ledbetter
Her actions against Goodyear Tire led to the passage of the Fair Pay Restoration Act

Keynote Speech
The Honorable Mark Warner
Governor of Virginia

Remarks
Ret. Rear Admiral John Hutson
President, Franklin Pierce Law Center in Concord, New Hampshire
Lifelong Republican

The Honorable Deval Patrick
Governor of Massachusetts

Hour # 6 8:02 PM – 9:04 PM (LOCAL)
Remarks
Gloria Craven
Laid-off North Carolina textile worker with huge medical bills

The Honorable Brian Schweitzer
Governor of Montana

Hillary Clinton Segment - Video/Remarks
The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
US Senator, New York

Benediction
Revs. Jin Ho Kang, Yoougsook Kang
Methodists - Aurora, Colorado

Recess
The Honorable Shirley Franklin
Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia

FAQ POLLWORKER TRAINING

Teresa from Allen, TX — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 17:21:46 EDT

http://act.credoaction.com/pollworkers/faq.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What's a pollworker?
Pollworkers are citizens who sign up for a one-day paid job with their county elections officials, and are hired and trained to help out from early in the morning on Election Day, through the close of polls that evening. The main thing to note upfront about pollworking is that just about everything election-related varies from county to county, and in some cases, from town to town. People tend to find pollworking a long day but a gratifying experience. Many appreciate the chance to show up and help people vote, and many value getting firsthand knowledge of our democracy's workings -- as well as its not-so-workings.
Pollworker duties may include helping voters sign in, assisting with voting machines, checking voter registration, etc. Training varies from a couple hours to a full day. Pay varies by county, typically ranging from $85 to $200. To get specifics for your area, contact your local elections officials.
What's a pollwatcher?
Pollwatchers or poll monitors are typically volunteers. They are not employed by the local elections office, and their activities vary from state-to-state and from county-to-county. Most commonly, pollwatchers work for partisan election integrity organizations.
Pollworkers, on the other hand, work inside the polls and get to make many of the crucial decisions that a pollwatcher can only observe. That's why we believe that being a pollworkers is the most effective way to ensure a fair election.
Why recruit pollworkers?
"Where's the next generation of poll workers? We need passion about this whole process and civic participation.";
— Kay J. Maxwell, president of the U.S. League of Women Voters, quoted in a 2004 Associated Press article
"[Poll workers are] the foundation upon which democracy rests... the cornerstone of democracy is the right to vote, but to be able to exercise that right there must be polling places and poll workers."
— Victor Salazar, Fresno County Clerk, quoted in the Fresno Bee, April 21, 2006
"As long as they're breathing and they can walk in, we have to take them. The people we hire for the most part are elderly, uneducated, and frequently unemployed."
— Barbara Jackson, Baltimore?s director of elections, quoted in USA Today
How do I become a pollworker?
To become a pollworker, sign up at the CREDO Pollworkers for Democracy website at http://pollworkersfordemocracy.com/
Once you've signed up with us, you'll receive a confirmation e-mail telling you how to get in touch with election officials in your area so that you can work the polls on Election Day.
Am I already signed up to work at the polls?
If you've signed up through our website, you have pledged your interest in working as a pollworker in the 2008 general election. This does not automatically sign you up to be a pollworker.
To become a pollworker, follow the instructions in your confirmation e-mail on how to get in touch with your county election officials.
If your confirmation e-mail does not have all the information you need, you can find general contact information for your county elections department.
What is the contact info for my county?
We provide county contact info on the confirmation page after you sign up with us, and in your confirmation email. You can also find your county elections department contact info.
How do I cancel my participation?
Click on the link to your pollworker event page in the confirmation email that you received when you signed up, and then click the "Cancel signup" link.
If you have already contacted your county to get on the pollworker list, contact them again to tell them that you are no longer available to work on Election Day.
You can find your county elections department contact info on the confirmation page after you sign up with us, in your confirmation email.
Can I volunteer in a district/precinct other than my own?
Rules and regulations regarding pollworkers differ by state and by county, so please contact your county elections department to find out if you can work as a pollworker in a precinct other than your own.
You can find your county elections department contact info on the confirmation page after you sign up with us, in your confirmation email.
To become a pollworker, sign up with us at http://pollworkersfordemocracy.com/.
How much will I get paid?
Rules and regulations regarding pollworkers differ by state and by county. Contact your county elections department to find out how much pollworkers get paid to work on Election Day.
You can find your county elections department contact info on the confirmation page after you sign up with us, in your confirmation email.
Do I have to volunteer for the whole day?
Rules and regulations regarding pollworkers differ by state and by county, and some counties do allow pollworkers to work for a half day. Contact your county elections department to find out if it is possible to work for part of the day, or if pollworkers must work for the full day.
You can find your county elections department contact info on the confirmation page after you sign up with us, in your confirmation email.
I'm interested in being a County Coordinator - what would I have to do?
Our County Coordinators are a crucial component of the Pollworkers For Democracy project and will have the biggest effect on the success of the project and our ability to make sure that all of our pollworkers are well-informed and better able to protect people's right to vote. The most important part of the job is to serve as the first point of contact for everyone in your county who signs up to be a pollworker.
This includes:
- Welcome phone calls to all new recruits explaining how to sign up with local election officials to become pollworkers
- Follow-up calls to any recruits who don't sign up with the county
- Answer pollworkers' questions, pass questions along to the State Coordinator or CREDO staff when necessary, and make sure that all pre-election protection incidents get reported
- Ensure that pollworkers complete surveys, participate in trainings, etc.
- Be available by phone (and preferably in person) on Election Day to make sure everything is going smoothly for the volunteers in your county
In addition, we'll also ask you to:
- Build relationships with county election officials, and check in on a regular basis to see if they still need more pollworkers; update your State Coordinator on that status
- Participate in periodic conference calls
- Build relationships with other groups doing like-minded work in your county
If this sounds like a job that you would be interested in, please send your answers to the questions below to pollworkers@credoaction.com and we'll get back to you as soon as possible:
1. Why are you interested in being a County Coordinator?
2. Do you have any previous experience being a pollworker or working with election officials?
3. Do you have any previous experience managing volunteers?
4. How much time would you anticipate giving to a project like this on a weekly basis?
5. Do you have any further questions?
I'm already signed up to be a pollworker - why should I sign up here?
The aim of our project is not only to recruit concerned citizens to work at their local polling place, but also to provide supplemental training and information that will help them prevent any problems or disenfranchisement on Election Day. That means you'll be better prepared for the challenges you might face as a pollworker, and better able to protect the votes of those you serve.
For more information about our training, please go to
http://act.credoaction.com/pollworkers/training.html.
We hope that you will also sign up through this website and make use of our additional training materials and training conference call (dates & times TBD) to supplement the training that you receive from your county - and help ensure that you are well prepared to protect the integrity of this upcoming election.

KUDOS TO DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF COLLIN COUNTY

Teresa from Allen, TX — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:10:37 EDT

IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO A DPCC MEETING LATELY YOU ARE REALLY MISSING OUT. LAST NIGHT THE DPCC EXECUTIVE COMMITTE MET AT COLLIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE. THE MEETING WAS ORGANIZED, FOCUSED, GOAL ORIENTED. THIS WAS THE BEST DPCC MEETING YET. DPCC HAS FILLED OVER 85% OF THEIR PRECINCT CHAIRS WITH A DIVERSE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS AND MORE PRECINCT CHAIRS POSITIONS WERE FILLED LAST NIGHT. THERE WAS ALSO RECORD TURN OUT FOR THE ANN RICHARDS FUND RAISER DINNER.

WHO SAYS THERE ARE NO DEMOCRATS IN COLLIN COUNTY.

WE ARE HERE.

WE ARE ORGANIZING.

WE ARE FOCUSED.

YOU KNOW MY MANTRA....UNITED WE STAND TALL. DIVIDED WE FALL SHORT.

COLLIN COUNTY NATURALIZATION CEREMONY

Teresa from Allen, TX — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:53:14 EDT

The Collin County Naturalization Ceremony at the Plano Center included 500 people at the morning ceremony and 500 people at the afternoon ceremony. Our small Non-Partisan group managed to register 200-250 people with only 7 people:

Winston&Rosario Estridge,along with their daughter;

Uvolin Graham;

Deborah Hyatt;

Ken Johnson (Belinda's husband)

Teresa McGowan.

We registered people from Dallas and Collin County. We also managed to pass out approximately 100+ white registration cards as well. We did not have to chase anyone to register to vote. They actually chased us:)

The League of Woman Voters was also at the event and registered voters as well.

All in all I think we had a good day:)

You know my mantra:) UNITED WE STAND TALL. DIVIDED WE FALL short.

KUDOS-BELINDA WOOLFOLK-JOHNSON

Teresa from Allen, TX — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:28:51 EDT

Everyone,

Belinda Woolfolk-Johnson and volunteers knocked it out of the park this past weekend. Belinda and her volunteers were able to register 120+ new voters this past weekend at Walmart

. CONGRATULATIONS BALINDA WOLFOK-JOHNSON AND CREW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF OBAMA UNITY AND PARTY STRENGTH.

Host:Belinda Woolfolk-Johnson

Location:WalMart - Spring Creek

Hwy. 75 (Plano, TX) 6001 N. Central Expy
Plano, TX 75074

EXCELLENT EVENT-ANN RICHARDS DINNER

Teresa from Allen, TX — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:11:27 EDT

ANN RICHARDS DINNER
Time: Saturday, August 16 at 7:00 PM - 2 hours
Location: HERITAGE RANCH COUNTRY CLUB
Country Club Dr ( @ Old Stacy Rd)
FAIRVIEW, TX 75069

If you missed the Annual Ann Richards Dinner last night in Collin County you missed history in the making. There was well over 200+ Democratic Supporters in attendance.

The following Texas Candidates were also in attendance:

RICK NORIEGA-US SENATE

MARK THOMPSON-RAILROAD COMMISSIONER

TOM DALEY-US CONGRESS DISTRICT 3

GLEN MELANCON-US CONGRESS DISTRICT 4

DON CHAE-JUSTICE 5TH COURT OF APPEALS

VICTOR MANUEL-COUNTY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 3

JEAN POWER-COUNTY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 4

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR TEXAS DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES BY VOTING A STRAIGHT DEMOCRATIC TICKET IN NOVEMBER 2008.

REMEMBER, UNITED WE STAND TALL! DIVIDED WE FALL short.

REGISTRATION ROLLS

Teresa from Allen, TX — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 08:54:35 EDT

Removal of Your Name from Registration Rolls

When a state removes a voter's name from the registration rolls without that person's permission, this act is called “purging”. This type of manipulation has occurred in states such as Florida, where many qualified African American voters were turned away at the polls due to purging of the rolls. Recently, in Los Angeles County, the Secretary of State changed the requirements for registering to vote resulting in a 43% rejection of new registrations before the policy was corrected in the spring of 2006.

Your best defense against purging is written proof that you are registered to vote. Check to see if you're registered online, and if so, print a copy. Or call your local Elections office and ask them to send you an email confirmation of your vote registration if it is listed. While you are on the phone to the Elections office ask them if they will provide paper ballots at the polls in case a voter prefers paper. Paper ballots ensure a backup option in case voting machinery isn't properly recording the vote or is breaking down.

Make sure you're still registered to vote now, before going to vote: Click here for help in English: www.mydem.com

Para la ayuda en español: www.mydem.com/es/node/11

VOTER REGISTRATION ROLLS

Teresa from Allen, TX — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 08:38:17 EDT

Removal of Your Name from Registration Rolls

Your best defense against purging is written proof that you are registered to vote.

Check to see if you're registered online, and if so, print a copy. Or call your local Elections office and ask them to send you an email confirmation of your vote registration if it is listed. While you are on the phone to the Elections office ask them if they will provide paper ballots at the polls in case a voter prefers paper. Paper ballots ensure a backup option in case voting machinery isn't properly recording the vote or is breaking down.

Make sure you're still registered to vote now, before going to vote:

Click here for help in English: www.mydem.com
Para la ayuda en español: www.mydem.com /es/node/11

Tip: To be 100% certain that your name is still on the rolls, please check with your local Elections office or www.mydem.com to see if you're listed as registered a week before the deadline so you have time to re-register if necessary. Go to www.MyDem.com or www.vote-smart.org to see registration deadlines by state, and to re-register if your name is not on the list.

Your best defense against purging is written proof that you are registered to vote.

YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE

Teresa from Allen, TX — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:48:52 EDT

To make sure you get to vote and your vote counts, you can prepare yourself possible intimidation tactics. Voter intimidation and suppression have been around for a long time. We've seen an increase in these tactics over the past six years. When a qualified voter is prevented from voting, democracy is the real loser. Here are things to watch out for, and ways you can protect your vote if someone tries to intimidate you to stop you from voting.

Examples

You might see flyers, notices, signs or door hangers whose information conflicts with what you read on Protect My Vote. You could be told that the date to vote is different from the actual election date of November 7th. You may hear reasonable sounding information on TV or in radio ads that could be in error. If in doubt about information being correct, contact one of the hotlines listed on this website. Or call your local political party office.

If someone comes to your home and offers to collect your absentee ballot to deliver to the Elections office, do not give them your ballot under any circumstances. If you are visited by individuals that question whether you are legitimately registered to vote, or that hassle you in any way, call a hotline number and explain what happened. Also contact your local political party office with your story.

If you should receive any intimidating phone calls where someone is trying to scare you or keep you from voting, hang up immediately and call the police if you feel comfortable doing so, or call a voter hotline, and then your political party office to report the call.

If someone tells you that if you have outstanding parking tickets, or court related matters, you could be arrested when going to vote - contact a hotline number and your political party office as soon as possible.

If you are in line at the polls and it is closing time, you still can vote. So don't let anyone dismiss you before you exercise your right. Call toll free for help in English and En Espanol: 1-(866) our-vote / 1-(866) 687-8683.

When you receive your sample or absentee ballot in the mail, please look it over carefully and make sure that your name, address, and your chosen party is printed accurately. If anything is in error, please contact your local party office as soon as possible to receive advice.

If you are at home when a registered letter arrives, do you sign it or not? If you don't it is possible that the “undeliverable” letter will serve as proof that you don't really live at that address and therefore are not a legitimate registered voter - if the intent is to keep you from voting. By signing the letter your chances of being “challenged” at the polls are far less.

Tip: Take a cell phone, camera and / or video camera with you when you go to your polling place. Call to report problems and video the interaction between you and anyone who tries to “challenge” your right to vote.

PROTECT YOUR VOTE-PLEASE FORWARD TO ALL GROUPS

Teresa from Allen, TX — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:30:19 EDT

ProtectMyVote.org Helps Protect Your Right to Vote

U.S. born and naturalized citizens have the right to vote and have their votes count, but human or computer error and unfair actions may stop you from voting. ProtectMyVote.org helps you protect your right to vote. Our job to help prepare you before you go to vote to prevent problems and help you if something goes wrong. Here are things you can do to help make sure your vote counts:

Identification (ID) IssuesIn the past voting was very simple. Now there are new rules that make it harder to vote. In many states you need to show a picture ID to vote. Bring a picture ID just in case.

Absentee BallotsIf you vote by paper ballot, your vote is more likely to count in an audit or "recount." Audits use paper records to double check the electronic results. If you can't get to the polls on Election Day you can vote by absentee ballot. To vote absentee, you have to ask for an absentee ballot by the deadline in your state.

Provisional Ballots

If election officials can't find your name when you go to vote, ask for a "provisional" ballot. The poll worker must give you one under the law. Voting by provisional ballot is not as good as voting absentee or on a machine, however.

Voter Intimidation

Prepare yourself for intimidation and suppression tactics which have increased over the past six years. Click here for things to watch out for and what to do if someone tries stop you from voting. Call toll free for help: 1-(866) Our-Vote / 1-(866) 687-8683 for English and español, or 1-(888) Vey-Vota / 1-(888) 839-8682 para la ayuda en español.

Voting Machine Breakdowns

Sometimes voting machines break down or stop working while you're voting.

Recommendation: Tell a poll worker about the broken machine and ask them to take it out of service. Then ask for a paper ballot. If no paper ballots are available, ask to use a working machine to vote.

Removal of Your Name from Voting Rolls

Your name might be removed from the voting or registration rolls without your permission. This is called "purging." In Florida and other states, many African American voters were turned away at the polls due to purging. In Los Angeles County, the Secretary of State changed the registration requirements rejecting 43% of new voters before this was corrected in the spring of 2006. Make sure you're still registered to vote now, before going to vote:

La ayuda en español.

Your Poll Location was Moved or Closed

You arrive at the address on your sample ballot only to find that it's not open or not the correct location. What can you do?

Recommendation: First check for a sign or notice telling you where the voting place is. If a sign isn't posted, call your local Elections office. Note: before you go to vote, find the local elections number, write it down and bring it with you or call toll free for help: 1-(866) Our-Vote / 1-(866) 687-8683 for English and español, or 1-(888) Vey-Vota / 1-(888) 839-8682 para la ayuda en español. to find out where your new polling place is located. Please tell them your poll location was moved or closed.

Tip: Arrange a ride ahead of time, just in case your polling place has moved and it becomes difficult to get to the new location.

Help us help other people. Spread the word about voting rights. Tell people to visit this website. Download a flyer and / or article, print out several copies, and distribute them at your place of worship, where you shop, meetings, schools, and any other places you can think of. Bring some to hand out at your polling place. Please contact us if there are any problems using this information.

More informtion: Click here to protect your vote
La ayuda en español.

ProtectMyVote.org is a nonpartisan effort to help people protect their right to vote.

COLLIN COUNTY ELECTION DIRECTORY

Teresa from Allen, TX — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:14:23 EDT

Election Official DirectoryUpdated 06/10/2008

Texas - Collin CountyLocal Elections Website

Visit Official Website

Mailing Address

Elections Administrator
2010 Redbud Blvd., Suite 102

McKinney, TX 75069-5466

Express/Courier Delivery Address

Elections Administrator
2010 Redbud Blvd., Suite 102

McKinney, TX 75074-5466

Local Election Official Sharon Rowe Phone (972) 547-1990

Fax (972) 547-1914 Email Address election@collincountytx.gov

Local Overseas Voting Contact Janessa Millican Phone (972)547-1903

Fax (972)547-1914

Email Address jmillican@collincountytx.gov

Office Hours: M-F 8-5

FAQ POLLWORKER FOR DEMOCRACY

Teresa from Allen, TX — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:45:57 EDT

http://act.credoaction.com/pollworkers/faq.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What's a pollworker?
Pollworkers are citizens who sign up for a one-day paid job with their county elections officials, and are hired and trained to help out from early in the morning on Election Day, through the close of polls that evening. The main thing to note upfront about pollworking is that just about everything election-related varies from county to county, and in some cases, from town to town. People tend to find pollworking a long day but a gratifying experience. Many appreciate the chance to show up and help people vote, and many value getting firsthand knowledge of our democracy's workings -- as well as its not-so-workings.
Pollworker duties may include helping voters sign in, assisting with voting machines, checking voter registration, etc. Training varies from a couple hours to a full day. Pay varies by county, typically ranging from $85 to $200. To get specifics for your area, contact your local elections officials.
What's a pollwatcher?
Pollwatchers or poll monitors are typically volunteers. They are not employed by the local elections office, and their activities vary from state-to-state and from county-to-county. Most commonly, pollwatchers work for partisan election integrity organizations.
Pollworkers, on the other hand, work inside the polls and get to make many of the crucial decisions that a pollwatcher can only observe. That's why we believe that being a pollworkers is the most effective way to ensure a fair election.
Why recruit pollworkers?
"Where's the next generation of poll workers? We need passion about this whole process and civic participation.";
— Kay J. Maxwell, president of the U.S. League of Women Voters, quoted in a 2004 Associated Press article
"[Poll workers are] the foundation upon which democracy rests... the cornerstone of democracy is the right to vote, but to be able to exercise that right there must be polling places and poll workers."
— Victor Salazar, Fresno County Clerk, quoted in the Fresno Bee, April 21, 2006
"As long as they're breathing and they can walk in, we have to take them. The people we hire for the most part are elderly, uneducated, and frequently unemployed."
— Barbara Jackson, Baltimore?s director of elections, quoted in USA Today
How do I become a pollworker?
To become a pollworker, sign up at the CREDO Pollworkers for Democracy website at http://pollworkersfordemocracy.com/
Once you've signed up with us, you'll receive a confirmation e-mail telling you how to get in touch with election officials in your area so that you can work the polls on Election Day.
Am I already signed up to work at the polls?
If you've signed up through our website, you have pledged your interest in working as a pollworker in the 2008 general election. This does not automatically sign you up to be a pollworker.
To become a pollworker, follow the instructions in your confirmation e-mail on how to get in touch with your county election officials.
If your confirmation e-mail does not have all the information you need, you can find general contact information for your county elections department.
What is the contact info for my county?
We provide county contact info on the confirmation page after you sign up with us, and in your confirmation email. You can also find your county elections department contact info.
How do I cancel my participation?
Click on the link to your pollworker event page in the confirmation email that you received when you signed up, and then click the "Cancel signup" link.
If you have already contacted your county to get on the pollworker list, contact them again to tell them that you are no longer available to work on Election Day.
You can find your county elections department contact info on the confirmation page after you sign up with us, in your confirmation email.
Can I volunteer in a district/precinct other than my own?
Rules and regulations regarding pollworkers differ by state and by county, so please contact your county elections department to find out if you can work as a pollworker in a precinct other than your own.
You can find your county elections department contact info on the confirmation page after you sign up with us, in your confirmation email.
To become a pollworker, sign up with us at http://pollworkersfordemocracy.com/.
How much will I get paid?
Rules and regulations regarding pollworkers differ by state and by county. Contact your county elections department to find out how much pollworkers get paid to work on Election Day.
You can find your county elections department contact info on the confirmation page after you sign up with us, in your confirmation email.
Do I have to volunteer for the whole day?
Rules and regulations regarding pollworkers differ by state and by county, and some counties do allow pollworkers to work for a half day. Contact your county elections department to find out if it is possible to work for part of the day, or if pollworkers must work for the full day.
You can find your county elections department contact info on the confirmation page after you sign up with us, in your confirmation email.
I'm interested in being a County Coordinator - what would I have to do?
Our County Coordinators are a crucial component of the Pollworkers For Democracy project and will have the biggest effect on the success of the project and our ability to make sure that all of our pollworkers are well-informed and better able to protect people's right to vote. The most important part of the job is to serve as the first point of contact for everyone in your county who signs up to be a pollworker.
This includes:
- Welcome phone calls to all new recruits explaining how to sign up with local election officials to become pollworkers
- Follow-up calls to any recruits who don't sign up with the county
- Answer pollworkers' questions, pass questions along to the State Coordinator or CREDO staff when necessary, and make sure that all pre-election protection incidents get reported
- Ensure that pollworkers complete surveys, participate in trainings, etc.
- Be available by phone (and preferably in person) on Election Day to make sure everything is going smoothly for the volunteers in your county
In addition, we'll also ask you to:
- Build relationships with county election officials, and check in on a regular basis to see if they still need more pollworkers; update your State Coordinator on that status
- Participate in periodic conference calls
- Build relationships with other groups doing like-minded work in your county
If this sounds like a job that you would be interested in, please send your answers to the questions below to pollworkers@credoaction.com and we'll get back to you as soon as possible:
1. Why are you interested in being a County Coordinator?
2. Do you have any previous experience being a pollworker or working with election officials?
3. Do you have any previous experience managing volunteers?
4. How much time would you anticipate giving to a project like this on a weekly basis?
5. Do you have any further questions?
I'm already signed up to be a pollworker - why should I sign up here?
The aim of our project is not only to recruit concerned citizens to work at their local polling place, but also to provide supplemental training and information that will help them prevent any problems or disenfranchisement on Election Day. That means you'll be better prepared for the challenges you might face as a pollworker, and better able to protect the votes of those you serve.
For more information about our training, please go to
http://act.credoaction.com/pollworkers/training.html.
We hope that you will also sign up through this website and make use of our additional training materials and training conference call (dates & times TBD) to supplement the training that you receive from your county - and help ensure that you are well prepared to protect the integrity of this upcoming election.

VOLUNTEER DEPUTY VOTER REGISTRAR

Teresa from Allen, TX — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:03:26 EDT

Worked Dallas County event, VIVA Dallas, this past weekend as a Volunteer Deputy Registrar. Picked up a few helpful hints from some very organized Volunteer Deputy Voter Registrars, Deborah Hyatt and Rosario Estridge:

1. Hi-Lite the portion of the Registration Card that need to be completed by the potential voter.

2. Bring your Deputy Registrar Book or just memorize it like Rosario Estridge.

3. Being Bilingual like Rosario Estride helps a great deal.

4. Load all items in a small suitcase with handle and wheels so you can set up and pack up your supplies quickly, like Deborah Hyatt.

5. Post your event on the Obama website and solicit volunteers from any/all of the Obama Groups, the DPCC, and the TDWCC as we are all working for the same goal, as did Deborah Hyatt.

Deborah Hyatt organized the Registration Table for this event with less than 2 days notice and did an excellent job of GOTV!

NO MORE STOLEN ELECTIONS.

Teresa from Allen, TX — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:22:46 EDT

No More Stolen Elections!

1. Register My Vote

Are you registered? Are you sure? Your recent application may have been lost or rejected - or your past registration may have been purged.

"Google" your registration to find out!

If you are not sure whether you are registered to vote call your County Election Office.

In 2000, Florida illegally purged 57,000 voters - mostly Democrats

2. Cast My Vote

a. Should you vote absentee? Definitely yes if you can't get to the polls.

But absentee tabulators can be hacked or rigged, so we only recommend absentee voting if your county uses paperless touchscreens - in purple on the map.

Click here to vote absentee - note that many states (mostly Eastern) require an excuse.

Americans living overseas - use VoteFromAbroad.org

b. How do I vote in person?

Some states allow Early Voting at the County Election Office or at a small number of convenient locations.

To vote on Election Day you must find your polling place.

Will there be problems at the polls on Election Day? Absolutely.

ProtectMyVote.org has valuable information about relocation of polling places, Photo ID's, purging of registered voters, provisional ballots, voter intimidation, and machine breakdowns.

If you have trouble voting on Election Day call:
1-(866) Our-Vote / 1-(866) 687-8683 for English and español, or
1-(888) Vey-Vota / 1-(888) 839-8682 para la ayuda en español

You can also report your problem online.

3. Count Every Vote

The Democratic Party needs pollwatchers to volunteer for a few hours on Election Day to help Democratic voters vote at a polling place near you - and make sure their votes are counted.

PollworkersForDemocracy puts you to work on Election Day as an official volunteer or paid worker at a polling place near you.

ElectionDefenseAlliance has Election Day Rapid Response teams for Election Monitoring, Legal Action, Exit Polling, Election Data Analysis, Communications, and Demonstrations. If you are interested in one of these areas, please join!

VerifiedVoting.org's Election Transparency Project provides six questionnaires to guide you in collecting crucial information about how elections are run in your county, and a web form to report your findings. Choose the project that interests you most - it will only take a few hours.

The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law needs attorneys, law students, and paralegals to staff the national hotline before Election Day in Washington, DC and on Election Day in Washington, DC, New York City, San Francisco, CA and at local call centers throughout the country.

VideoTheVote.org needs video volunteers to visit polling places on Election Day to film voter disenfranchisement - and upload it to the Internet immediately so citizens can demand action.

WWW.VOTE FROM ABROAD.ORG

Teresa from Allen, TX — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:54:51 EDT

IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND OVERSEAS MAKE SURE THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS WEBSITE. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE EVERY VOTE COUNTS.

http://www.votefromabroad.org/

VIVA DALLAS HISPANIC EXPO

Teresa from Allen, TX — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:50:29 EDT

The Details VIVA DALLAS HISPANIC EXPO (Voter Registration Drive)

WHO- Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (214 521-6007/Yolanda Tafoya)

WHAT- Viva Dallas Hispanic Expo

WHEN- Saturday, August 9th - 9 AM to 6 PM Sat.

Shift: 9-12, 12-3, 3-6(pick one)

Sunday , August 10th-10 Am to 5 PM

Sun Shift: 10-2, 2-5( pick one)

Where- Dallas Market Hall, Main Bldg 2200 N.Stemmons Fwy (Interstate 35) Dallas, Tx 75207, Expected Attendancee 20,000

Time:Saturday, August 9 at 9:00 AMDuration:

Host:Deborah Hyatt

Location:Dallas Market Center, Main Bldg (Dallas, TX) 2200 N Stemmons Fwy
Dallas, TX 75207 View Map:

Signup for 'VIVA DALLAS HISPANIC EXPO'

http://www.fvap.gov/index.html

Teresa from Allen, TX — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:35:45 EDT

Do I have to be registered to vote absentee?

http://www.fvap.gov/index.html

Registration requirements vary from state to state. Most states and territories require registration to vote absentee. Voter registration and absentee request can be done at the same time by submitting the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) form. If you are already registered to vote and only wish to request a ballot, you should submit your FPCA as soon as possible.

Back to Questions

Where do I send my Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot Request?

Your Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot request form must be completed, printed, signed, dated and mailed directly to your local election official. These officials will handle the processing and distribution of your absentee ballots and may need to contact you for further information or clarification. To facilitate this process, please provide a current email address, phone and fax number on your application.

Back to Questions

When mailing election materials to my state or territory, do I have to pay postage?

When mailed from any U.S. post office, U.S. embassy or consulate, or APO/FPO mail facility, the hardcopy voter registration/absentee ballot form is postage-paid. In order to receive free postage, the online version of the form must be mailed in our postage-paid envelope. You may mail the completed form in an envelope with proper postage affixed. Ensure that your form is postmarked (see postmarking instructions below) and sent before your state's specific deadline. You must pay postage if the materials are mailed from a non-U.S. postal facility.

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What is a postmark and how do I make sure I get one?

A postmark is a postal marking made on a piece of mail indicating the date and time that the item was delivered into the care of the postal service. Postmarks are used to determine if voting materials have been mailed by state deadlines. Due to varying mail pick up times, the day you 'mail' your election mail may not be the day the postal facility postmarks it.

You may ask the mail clerk to hand stamp the election material so that a date is clearly visible. In certain situations a handwritten postmark and signature from you or a notarizing official may be sufficient.

Back to Questions

When is the best time to apply for an absentee ballot?

We recommend that you register to vote/request an absentee ballot in January of each year, or at least 45 days before Election Day.

Back to Questions

Must I submit a separate application for each election?

The Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot Request form registers you for the next two regularly scheduled Federal elections, unless you specify otherwise in Block 6. Depending on your state of residence, you may also receive ballots for local and state offices during the selected period as well. We recommend that you submit a Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot Request form in January of each year and again each time you change your mailing address.

Back to Questions

When should I receive my ballot?

Most states and territories begin mailing ballots 30-45 days before an election. If you have not received your ballot two weeks before the election, contact your local election official (contact information available on most state election sites). If you encounter problems contacting your local election official, contact us. Always complete and return your absentee ballot regardless of when you receive it, even if you have already submitted a back-up Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (explanation below). Your local election official will ensure that only one of the ballots is counted.

Back to Questions

What happens if I do not receive a ballot from my local election office?

If you requested an absentee ballot but have not received one close to election day, you can still vote by using the back-up Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB).

In order to be eligible to use this back-up ballot, overseas citizens must:

Be absent from his/her voting residence;
Have applied for a regular ballot early enough so the request is received by the appropriate local election official not later than the State deadline; or the date that is 30 days before the general election; AND
Have not received the requested regular absentee ballot from the state.

Back to Questions

Where can I get a back-up Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot?

Hardcopies of the back-up Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) are available through Voting Assistance Officers at military installations or at U.S. embassies/consulates.

An online version is also available, which must be completed, printed, signed, dated, and mailed to your local election official. Check out your state's instructions to determine witness/notary requirements for voted ballots, deadlines, and mailing addresses.

TOP 10 ARMED FORCES ABSENTEE VOTING TIPS

Teresa from Allen, TX — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:23:22 EDT

Top 10 Armed Forces Absentee Voting Tips

http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/military10ptlist.shtml

Contact your Unit Voting Assistance Officer, if necessary, for help in requesting your absentee ballot using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA).
Obtain your FPCA as soon as possible using a hard copy form or the online version located at www.fvap.gov.
Determine your residency. To qualify as a Texas resident, you must consider it your permanent residence, a place where you have lived at some point and plan to live when you return.
If you are a Texas voter, visit the Texas Secretary of State's website at http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/militaryoverseas.shtml. If you plan to vote in another state, go to the Federal Voting Assistance Program's website at www.fvap.gov.
On the FPCA, make sure you provide your current mailing address to avoid delay in receiving your ballot.
Make sure you send your FPCA to the proper early voting clerk in your county of residence. Texans can find this information at our website at www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/county.shtml; if you plan to vote out of state, visit www.fvap.gov. You may submit the FPCA by mail, OR, if you are submitting the FPCA from outside your county of permanent residence, you may fax it to the early voting clerk.
Ballots will be mailed beginning 45 days before election day in most counties. Mail your ballot back as soon as possible to avoid having the ballot received after the deadline. Also, see number 9 below for late counting of ballots received from outside the U.S.
Use the Federal Write In Absentee Ballot if you are overseas and your State absentee ballot does not arrive in time to be mailed back by the state's deadline.
If you are outside the United States and mail your ballot by election day, your ballot can be received up to 5 days after election day (this rule varies in other states).
Visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program's website at www.fvap.gov for additional information on the absentee registration and voting process.
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/military10ptlist.shtml
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/military10ptlist.shtml
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/military10ptlist.shtml

PRECINCT CHAIR TO DO LIST-POLL WORKER TRAINING

Teresa from Allen, TX — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:59:19 EDT

http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/onlinepollworker.shtml

THIS IS THE TEMPORARY WEB-SITE TRAINING AS THEY ARE MAKING UPDATES TO THE SITE. THE NEW SITE SHOULD BE UP AND RUNNING IN SEPTEMBER. IN THE MEAN TIME YOU CAN GET GOOD INFORMATION AND PRACTICE AT THIS POLL WORKER SITE. YOU CAN ALSO LOG ONTO DENTON, DALLAS, AND TARRANT COUNTY WEBSITE AS THEY HAVE VOTING MACHINE TRAININGS ON THEIR SITES. COLLIN COUNTY WILL ALSO BE HAVING POLL WORKER TRAINING/EDUCATION IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

Web-based Online Poll Worker Training Is Here!

TO:City Secretaries, School Superintendents and Other Political Subdivision Election OfficialsFROM:Ann McGeehan, Director of Elections and Kim Kizer, Director of Special ProjectsDATE:April 22, 2008RE:Web-based Online Poll Worker Training Is Here!

We want to let you know that we have a fantastic training opportunity that is available free of charge, 24/7 for all of your poll workers. The Texas Online Poll Worker Training is available now.

This is a web-based curriculum designed to teach your election judges and clerks about polling place procedures. This training brings the Handbooks for Election Judges and Clerks to life, in that it contains all of the information discussed in the hard copy Handbook, plus it is interactive. The online training features video clips from our Election Judges and Clerks video, interactive features, close up of the forms, opening and closing the polling place, voter situations, pop quizzes, a test component, Election Resources and finally, a Certificate of Completion (which is why you need an e-mail address for each of your poll workers—husband/wife cannot share an e-mail address, or it will only print a certificate with one of the names on it).

The cool thing about this training is that you are the Administrator — once you log into the application and start entering your poll workers, you will be able to generate reports and you will be able to see who has logged in; who has taken the test; who hasn’t; and probably most important, what questions your poll workers are missing on the test. This online training does not replace your face-to-face training, it is merely another tool. And, it will help you in customizing your face-to-face training.

Here’s how it works: as the City Secretary, School Superintendent and Other Political Subdivision Election Official, we already have your political subdivision in a drop down menu. When you log onto the system, all you have to do is select your political subdivision, and the system will prompt you for a unique password, follow the prompts along the way, and you are ready to begin registering all of your poll workers for the online training.

Or if you rather, your poll workers can self-register! Yes, a new feature now allows your poll workers to register themselves, and you will still have access to who from your political subdivision is registered by going to your “View Reports.” Simply instruct your poll workers to go to: www.texaspollworkertraining.com/signup, have them select their political subdivision and the system will prompt them the rest of the way. You may wish to print and distribute to your poll workers a notice with the URL and the proper political subdivision, to make it easier on them.

Remember, if your poll workers don’t have an e-mail address, you can create one for them using one of the free providers such as Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail. We sure hope that you will use this new training tool—it’s super convenient and available now! If you have any questions about the Online Pollworker Training, please don’t hesitate to contact Alejandro Garcia or Kim Kizer or call us toll-free at 1.800.252.VOTE.

Texas Online Pollworker Training Logon Instructions

To Logon to the application:

Go to http://texaspollworkertraining.com/
Type in your e-mail address
The first time you logon, use the generic password: onlinetraining (all lower case, no spaces)
The system will then prompt you to create your own unique password
Go to ________(your political subdivision) County Admin.
On the left hand side of the screen, you will see "Manage Poll Workers"
Click on that, and then it will pop up a screen that will require you to enter their first name, last name, and e-mail address.
If your poll workers don’t have an e-mail address, assign them one through yahoo or hotmail, which are both free services. You don’t assign passwords, the poll worker creates their own password when they log in. Remember, everyone uses the generic “onlinetraining” password the first time they log on.
After you enter all your poll workers in, you then go to "Broadcast e-mail" and click on poll workers that have never logged on and send them all an e-mail (already written and in the system) about how to begin the course.

Face to Face Training feature: (also available in pdf as a guide)

With this intuitive new feature you will be able to:

create a new training location and specific training sessions at that location
update information on an existing training location
delete a training session or entire training location
register authorized users to access the class lists for each session
register individuals for sessions and
print class lists for each session

Remember, if your poll workers don't have an email address, you can create one for them using one of the free providers such as Hotmail, Yahoo, or Gmail. We sure hope that you will use this new training toolit is very convenient and is available to you now! If you have any questions about the Online Poll Worker Training, contact our support desk, or call our HP (HAVA Partners) hotline for technical questions or problems toll-free at 1.888.POL.WRKR (1.888.765.9757) or you can email questions to support@havapartners.net.

OBAMA VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

Teresa from Allen, TX — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:19:41 EDT

-----Original Message-----
From: My.BarackObama.com [mailto:info@barackobama.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 6:03 PM
To: McGowan, Teresa
Subject: Event Confirmation: OBAMA VOLUNTARY PUBLIC SERVICE

OBAMA-VOLUNTARY PUBLIC SERVICE

DA N U BARBER SHOP

Time: Saturday, August 16 at 12:00 PM - All Day Event Location:

DA NU U Barber Shop aka The New You!

13999 Goldmark Dr. Keystone Ct II Suite 310

Richardson, TX 75240

You can view this event at any time by going to: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44f2k

The owner of a barbershop here in my building stopped by this afternoonand asked if I could help him out. Every year he hosts a "back-to-school" event at his barbershop for the kids and families that frequent his business. This year the event is scheduled for Saturday August 16, 2008and is expected to be the biggest and most well attended yet. Complimentary food and soft drink, fun and festivities What this business owner is hoping to do is have a presence from theObama campaign at the event...signage, fundraising, voterRegistration, the works. The event will take place at the barbershop (parking lot and grassyareas) located in the Richardson / Dallas area near US75 (CentralExpressway) & Spring Valley. What I'm in need of is contact information for some folks that can behelpful in arranging the desired presence and participation at thisevent. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Jerome Moore

OBAMA SUPPORTERS,WE NEED VOLUNTEER DEPUTY VOTER REGISTRARS TO WORK A BOOTH AT THIS EVENT. SHOOT ME AN EMAIL IF YOU ARE INTERESTED AT OR SIGN UP AT http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44f2k

Teresa4obama@rocketmail.com or teresa.mcgowan@experian.com

VICTOR MANUEL FOR COLLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONER

Teresa from Allen, TX — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:13:14 EDT

On The Radio And In The Flesh!
First area forum for the Commissioner race, Social Hour with VictorOn the Radio and in the flesh!

This weekend you can hear the first forum of the season - Joe Jaynes and myself discuss the pros and cons of the issues with Trey Graham on his radio show. It will broadcast at noon on Saturday, July 26 and 8pm on Sunday, July 27. Listen on 90.5 FM or at http://treygraham.com.

You can meet your candidates in person at a picnic to benefit Tom Daley this Sunday in Bob Woodruff Park. Tom and I will be there from 3pm until sunset. Brink a picnic basket and enjoy the day! 2601 San Gabriel Drive, Plano TX.

Take a break from the campaign trail with me at Prince Bistro in Plano next Friday! We will take over the Prince Bistro at Hwy 75 and Spring Creek Pkwy from 6pm to 8pm on Friday, August 1st. Enjoy happy hour and a chance to relax with Victor and his staff! 1201 East Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano TX.

Ever Onward,Victor Manuel,Candidate for County Commissioner, Pct 3votevictor@gmail.com www.victor4collincounty.com

THE A+ PRECINCT TEAM

Teresa from Allen, TX — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:10:49 EDT

REQUIRMENTS FOR THE A+ TEAM:

1. PRECINCT CHAIR OR CO-CHAIR

2. VOLUNTEER DEPUTY VOTER REGISTRAR WITH VOTER INFORMATION FOLDER

3. INFORM OBAMA SUPPORTERS ABOUT PRECINCT CHAIR OPENINGS/MEETINGS.

4. COMPLETED VAN 1 & 2 TRAINING.

5. COMPLETED ONLINE POLL-WORKER TRAINING.

6. DONATE MONEY TO THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN EACH PAY PERIOD.

7. PURCHASE, BORROW, OR RENT A LAP TOP FOR ELECTION DAY.

8. REQUEST TIME OFF FOR MONDAY, TUESDAY,WEDNESDAY DURING ELECTION WEEK.

9. ATTEND AS MANY TRAININGS AS POSSIBLE DURING THE MONTH OF JULY.

10. PARTICIPATED IN AT LEAST ONE VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE THE MONTH OF JULY.

VICTOR MANUEL FOR COLLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONER

Teresa from Allen, TX — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:21:01 EDT

Victor Manuel Campaign for County Commissioner
July 16, 2008We're on the air in Texas!This Friday at 6pm on 360 D Radio, you can listen in to a conversation between me and Dallas political reporter Michael Davis of Dallas Progress. Tune in to www.360dradio.com and listen to the webcast. We will also have a link on the Events page of www.vicmanuel.com.

And there's more! Trey Graham of First Melissa Baptist Church will interview me and Joe Jaynes on his radio show "Smart Talk with Trey Graham." It will air at 12 noon Saturday the 26th, and at 8pm on Sunday July 27th. Tune in to the first debate of the season at www.treygraham.com!

This month continues with the campaign contacting voters and raising funds to purchase campaign signs for this fall. If you'd like to host a coffee, contact us or you can donate directly to help Victor win this November!

Thanks for your support - this is going to be a great campaign,
Victor Manuel
Candidate for County Commissioner

PRECINCT CHAIR TO DO LIST

Teresa from Allen, TX — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:01:55 EDT

TOP 10 TO DO LIST FOR CURRENT PRECINCT CHAIRS.

1. ATTEND PRECINCT CHAIR TRAININGS.

2. ATTEND TEXAS VAN TRAININGS.

3. RECRUIT FOR OPEN PRECINCT CHAIR POSITIONS.

4. GET PRECINCT CHAIR ACCESS ON www.collindems.us

5. CHECK OUT THE RESOURCES ON TX DEM PARTY WEBSITE AT WWW.TXDEMOCRATS.ORG AND CLICK ON THE GRASSROOTS LINK FOR THE GRASSROOTS WEBSITE AND PRINT THIS MATERIAL.

6. REQUEST TIME OFF FOR ELECTION DAY. NOVEMBER 3-5,2008

7. IF YOU DONT HAVE A LAPTOP TRY TO BORROW ONE FOR ELECTION DAY.

8. START WORKING ON YOUR PRECINCT TEAM.

9. ATTEND THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY JULY 23,2008 AT 7:00PM.

10. ATTEND THE DPCC GENERAL MEETING ON JULY 26, 2008.

11. ATTEMPT TO GET SIGNED UP AS A DEPUTY REGISTRAR FOR COLLIN, TARRANT, DALLAS, DENTON COUNTY IF POSSIBLE.

12. TRY TO ATTEND THE ALLEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEETINGS ON TUESDAY 7:30AM.

13. SIGN UP ON THE DPCC WEBSITE FOR E-NEWSLETTER "THE RALLY".

TERESA'S TOP 10 SUGGESTIONS

Teresa from Allen, TX — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:13:48 EDT

1. SIGN UP WITH DPCC TO BE A PRECINCT CHAIR OR CO PRECINCT CHAIR.

2. NOTIFY OBAMA SUPPORTERS OF PRECINCT CHAIR OPENINGS.

3. BECOME A VOLUNTEER DEPUTY VOTER REGISTRAR AND MAKE A REGISTRAR INFORMATION BINDER.

4. ATTEND TRAININGS AND CLASSES OFFERED BY DPCC, TDWCC, TCBD, AND OBAMA GROUPS.

5. GO TO WWW.COLLINDEMS.US AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF COLLIN COUNTY NEWSLETTER CALLED "THE RALLY".

6. DONATE TO THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN.

7. MAKE A DONATION. Any donation, large or small, to your state and area parties will help. Become a Texas Democrat Sustaining member for only $10.00 per month. Pass on the message to friends and family.

8. VOLUNTEER FOR AT LEAST 2 VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES PER MONTH.

9. SUPPORT THE LOCAL CANDIDATES.

10. REQUEST TIME OFF FOR ELECTION DAY NOW.

TOP 10 THINGS TO DO BEFORE THE 2008 ELECTION

Teresa from Allen, TX — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:25:41 EDT

2008 ELECTION PREPERATION CHECKLIST:

1. SIGN UP ON THE OBAMA WEBSITE. CHECK

2. DONATE AT LEAST $10.00+ EACH PAY PERIOD TO THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN UNTIL ELECTION DAY. CHECK

3. BECOME A DPCC PRECINCT CHAIR OR CO-CHAIR. CHECK

3. GET A DPCC SUSTAINING LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP. CHECK

4. ATTEND THE PRECINCT CHAIR MEETINGS AND TRAININGS AT DPCC. CHECK

5. REVIEW AND PRINT THE DEPUTY VOTER REGISTER INFORMATION. CHECK

6. MAKE A DEPUTY VOTER REGISTRAR INFORMATION FOLDER. CHECK

7. REGISTER TO BE A VOLUNTEER DEPUTY VOTER REGISTRAR AT THE COUNTY OFFICE OR AT

ONE OF THE MANY TRAININGS CURRENTLY BEING OFFERED. CHECK

8. SIGN UP TO BE A DEPUTY VOTER REGISTRAR IN MORE THAN ONE COUNTY. PENDING

9. SIGN UP AND ATTEND A TRAINING TO BE AN ELECTION JUDGE OR CLERK. PENDING

10. VOLUNTEER AT A VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE AT LEAST 2X PER MONTH. CHECK

STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT TOP 10!!!!!!!!!!!!

DEPUTY VOTER REGISTRAR

Teresa from Allen, TX — Mon, 19 May 2008 15:40:04 EDT

Everyone,

Here is the State of Texas information website if you would like to become a Volunteer Deputy Registrar:

http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/pamphlets/deputy.shtml

1. Print the Deputy Registrar Guide.

2. Carefully read the information and high-light important information.

3. Place this information in a binder.

4. Contact the County Registrar and make an appointment to complete a Deputy Voter Registrar application.

The process takes about 30 minutes. You will complete the application and the County Clerk will review the Deputy Registrar requirements with you and have you sign an oath.

IF ENOUGH PEOPLE REQUEST A TRAINING THEN I WILL DO A TRAINING THIS WEEK.

Texas Volunteer Deputy Registrar Guide

Office of the Secretary of State
www.sos.state.tx.us
Elections Division
1.800.252.VOTE (8683)

Dear Volunteer Deputy Registrar:

Acceptance of the duties of volunteer deputy registrar places you in a position of trust and responsibility to the citizens you will register to vote.Please become familiar with the instructions and guidelines in this brochure and carry it with you while you perform your duties.

If, in the course of your service, a question should arise which you are unable to answer, please contact the Elections Division for assistance.Again, thank you for your service to the state of Texas. Office of the Secretary of State Elections DivisionVolunteer Deputy Registrars are entrusted with the responsibility of officially registering voters in the State of Texas. They are appointed by county voter registrars and charged with helping increase voter registration in the state.

Qualifications

A person must be at least 18 years old and never have been convicted of failing to deliver a voter application to a voter registrar.

How to Become a Volunteer Deputy Registrar

Contact the voter registrar in your county.
If you are eligible, the voter registrar will issue you a certificate of appointment and give you a receipt book.

Duties of a Volunteer Deputy Registrar A volunteer deputy voter registrar may distribute and accept a voter registration application form from any resident of the county who is:

A United States citizen;
A resident of the county;
At least 17 years and 10 months of age;
Not a convicted felon (unless the person's sentence has been completed, including probation or parole);
Not a person who has been declared mentally disabled.

A volunteer deputy voter registrar may distribute and accept applications from voters who wish to change or correct information on their voter registration certificate (such as name or address).

Checklist for a Volunteer Deputy Registrar

You should have:

A certificate of appointment;
A pen;
This brochure;
Plenty of voter registration applications; and
A receipt book.

The Texas Voting brochure provides information useful to you and applicants. It may be obtained from the Secretary of State's website at www.sos.state.tx.us or by calling 1.800.252.VOTE(8683).

Accepting Applications

You may help a person fill out an application.
Voters may correct or update information on their current voter registration certificate by filling out a new registration form and checking the "change" box.
You may help a person fill out the registration form if he/she cannot read or has a physical disability.
If an applicant cannot sign his/her name on the form, the applicant may make a mark on the signature line. Print the name of the applicant beside the mark. Sign your name and address as the witness and state the reason the applicant is unable to sign.
You may allow another registered voter (or anyone who has submitted a registration application) to fill out and sign an application for his or her spouse, parent or child. That person must sign the application as "agent" and state the relationship to the applicant on the registration form. The "agent" must have the permission of the applicant to do this.
Fill out a receipt for each applicant. Give the applicant the receipt. The duplicate receipt must be delivered to the voter registrar along with the application. You may wish to keep a copy or stub for your records.

Reviewing the Application

While the applicant is still in your presence, be sure to review the application for completeness. Be sure the application includes the following:

Full name, including any middle, maiden, or former name;
Residence address must be a street address or a description of the location of the residence;
Valid mailing address, if mail can't be delivered to the residence address;
Signature of applicant and date of signing;
Date of birth, including month, day, and year;
Citizenship question is answered either yes or no;
Be sure the applicant has read the statements that he is signing regarding qualifications to register; and
If an agent is registering for an applicant, be sure the agent provides his/her relationship to the applicant.

What you cannot do:

Determine if the applicant is actually qualified to register to vote;
Make the applicant provide his/her gender, social security or driver’s license number; or
Make the applicant provide his/her telephone number.

When is the Registration Effective?

Tell the applicant that he can vote as soon as the 30th day after submitting the application. This 30-day waiting period starts when the volunteer deputy registrar receives the application form.
If the applicant is under 18, the registration will become effective on the 30th day after the voter registrar gets the application or on the applicant's 18th birthday, whichever comes later.

How long is the Registration Effective?

Tell the applicant that the registration will be automatically renewed every even-numbered year unless:

the voter moves to another address; or
is convicted of a felony and has not completed the sentence, probation or parole.

Address Changes

The voter must update the address on the registration if the voter moves within the county.

The voter can make the change on the back of the voter registration certificate and mail it to the county voter registrar;
Submit a new application form to the voter registrar and check the box for "change"; or
Write a letter to the voter registrar explaining the change of address.

Tell voters that if they move to another county, they must re-register in the new county.

Name Changes

Voters can make the change on the back of their voter registration certificate and mail it to the county voter registrar; or
Submit a new application form to the voter registrar and check the box for "change"; or
Write a letter to the voter registrar explaining the name change.

Delivery of Applications

You must deliver completed registration applications and receipts in person to the voter registrar no later than 5 p.m. on the 5th day after the date you receive them. FAILURE TO DELIVER AN APPLICATION IN A TIMELY MANNER IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

SPECIAL NOTE: To be eligible to vote, a person must be registered 30 days before Election Day. When you receive a completed application after the 34th day and before the 29th day before the date of any election in the county, you must deliver the application to the county voter registrar no later than 5 p.m. of the 29th day before Election Day. If the 29th day falls on a Saturday or Sunday or on a legal state or national holiday, the deadline for delivering the applications is extended to 5 p.m. of the next regular business day.

Length of Appointment You may be appointed a deputy voter registrar at any time. However, your appointment as a deputy voter registrar can be terminated by the appointing authority if:

You fail to deliver a completed voter registration application to the registrar; or
If you failed to properly review a voter registration application.
All election materials issued to a deputy registrar, including the certificate of appointment, receipt books, receipts, applications and other forms in the volunteer deputy's possession, must be returned or accounted for upon termination of appointment.

For more information, Contact: The Secretary of State’s office, your County Clerk, County Elections Administrator or the Voter Registrar in your district.SECRETARY OF STATE
Elections Division
P.O. Box 12060
Austin, Texas 78711-2060
512.463.5650 or 1.800.252.VOTE (8683)
Fax 512.475.2811, TTY 7.1.1
www.sos.state.tx.us

Here is the contact information for Collin County Elections Department.

ElectionsAppointed Official
Sharon RoweCollin County Elections Department
2010 Redbud Blvd. map
Suite 102
McKinney, TX 75069

Email: election@collincountytx.gov

Phone: 972-547-1990 (McKinney) 972-424-1460 ext. 1990 (Metro) 800-687-8546 (Toll Free)Fax: 972-547-1914

Our Mission

The Office of Elections Administrator was created by the Collin County Commissioners' Court on August 18, 1980, pursuant to Section 31.031 of the Texas Election Code. The duties of the Elections Administrator are to facilitate voter registration and conduct elections.

TEXAS VOTER RIGHTS!

Teresa from Allen, TX — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:58:03 EST

http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/pamphlets/everytexan.shtml

As a Texas Voter, Know Your Rights—What are they? You Have:

The right to a ballot with written instructions on how to cast the ballot.
The right to cast your vote in secret and free from intimidation.
The right to receive up to two more ballots if a mistake is made while marking the ballot.
The right to ask the polling place official for instructions on how to cast the ballot, but not for suggestions on who to vote for.
The right to bring an interpreter to assist you as you qualify to vote if you do not understand the English language.
The right to assistance while casting your ballot if you cannot write, see the ballot, or understand the language in which it is written.
The right to bring written materials into the voting booth to assist you as you cast the ballot.
The right to vote at any early voting location in the county for elections conducted county-wide.
The right to report a possible voting rights abuse to the Secretary of State or to your local election official.
The right to cast a provisional ballot if your name does not appear on the list of registered voters, or you do not have proper identification.
The right to file an administrative complaint with the Secretary of State concerning violations of federal and state voting procedures.
The Secretary of State’s office may be contacted toll-free at 1.800.252.VOTE (8683), via e-mail at elections@sos.state.tx.us, and by regular mail at: Elections Division, P.O. Box 12060, Austin, TX 78711.

You may not:

Vote in an election in which you know that you are not eligible to vote.
Vote twice in an election.
Provide assistance to a voter who is not eligible to receive assistance.
Suggest how another person should vote by word, sign or gesture while in the polling place.
Intimidate, threaten, or coerce any person from voting or attempting to vote.
Electioneer or loiter within 100 feet of the entrance to the polling place or inside the polling place.
Buy or sell your ballot.
Deposit a ballot in the ballot box that was not given to you by an election official.

O.K., you’re at the polls, you know your rights, now, hopefully, you’ve brought your voter registration certificate with you! If you did not, it’s not a problem, you can still vote, but you first need to prove, by showing some form of ID, who you are. You will be required to show identification at the polling place if you don’t have your voter registration certificate. And, if you registered to vote by mail and did not provide a Texas driver’s license number, personal identification number, or last four digits of your social security number, you will be required to show ID at the polling place (see acceptable forms of ID already discussed above), other than your voter registration certificate.

WE ARE THE UNITED STATES

Teresa from Allen, TX — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:22:19 EDT

WE ARE THE UNITED STATES, NOT THE DIVIDED STATES. WE NEED A LEADER THAT CAN BRING US TOGETHER, NOT TEAR US APART. WE NEED SOMEONE THAT HAS A VISION OF ONE NATION FIGHTING POVERTY,HUNGER, PREJUDICE, INJUSTICE,GLOBAL WARMING,GROWING DEFICIT.

WE NEED SOMEONE THAT STANDS FOR A POSITIVE CHANGE .

BARACK OBAMA IS THAT CANDIDATE.

YOU KNOW MY MANTRA.....UNITED WE STAND TALL. DIVIDED WE FALL SHORT.