I decided to update my voter registration address at a “Rock the Vote” booth at the Pitchfork Music Festival in July, since I moved to Illinois from Florida last year. After filling out the paperwork, I was told that everything was “taken care of” and I’d be getting my new voter ID card in the mail in the next few weeks. Well, thank god I know better than to trust other people with something as important as my voting rights!
Since I hadn’t received my new card in the mail yet, I decided to stop by the Champaign County Clerk’s office to check my registration status. Surprise! I wasn’t on the list! Thankfully, I came prepared with a recent utility bill and photo ID, and the clerk registered and swore me in right there.
I asked him about the missing registration forms, and he informed me that they weren’t receiving forms from some Rock the Vote and other registration events until months after the events took place.
I hope this is a cautionary tale to anyone who registered or re-registered through a middle-man or a non-government organization. Check your shit! Make sure you’re actually registered and do it right now! Find the website for your local election official and contact her/him if necessary. Your voting rights are too important to leave in the hands of anyone else!
While I admire organizations who are attempting to register new voters, I’m deeply concerned about the fact that this paperwork is taking so long to get where it’s supposed to be! I don’t know if this is an isolated situation or not, but either way, I feel I must reiterate: make sure you’re ready to vote in November! Don’t wait! You cannot register during the 28 days prior to an election, so time is running out!
Digital Detritus 