Today my husband and I volunteered to do canvassing in Altamonte Springs Florida. My husband had canvassed for Al Gore and John Kerry but it was a new experience for me. We had a lot of fun even though it was drizzling most of the time.
We met many Obama supporters but the best part of the day was helping someone who thought she wouldn't be able to vote.
Betty had lost her absentee ballot. She wasn't certain but thinks she accidentally tossed it in the garbage. She was so upset. Devastated really because she has voted in every election since she became eligible and just couldn't bear it that she was going to miss voting for Barack Obama. She told my husband she couldn't stand the thought that Obama might lose because she hadn't voted. She said she was going to call the Supervisor of Elections Monday to find out what she could do about the lost ballot but she was very worried she wouldn't be able to vote because there was no way she could go to the polls on Tuesday. She really needed that absentee ballot to drop off at the elections office.
When we got back to the car we decided to call election headquarters to see what they could do to help Betty with her situation. Before you know it we were back at her door with campaign organizer on the cell phone with instructions on what she needed to do to invalidate the lost ballot and be able to vote. Betty was ecstatic. She was so happy that she was going to be able to vote after all. When we left her to finish our canvassing she was sitting at her kitchen table with a huge smile on her face giving Ryan her email address and fax number so he could send her the form she needed to fill out and fax back.
Needless to say we felt really great that Betty is going to be able to cast her ballot for Barack Obama. But the best part was realizing how much she cared about voting.
Getting out the vote is the most important thing Obama supporters can possibly be doing right now. We will be canvassing again tomorrow and Tuesday we will be helping people get to the polls. It is a great feeling to be a part of something so big and so important. And we truly believe we got so much more out of this than what we gave. So we hope you will give some of your time to the campaign if you can. It is so easy to contact your local campaign office or check out the online information for your area and VOLUNTEER! There are two days left to encourage people to go to the polls to vote. Just say YES!
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