Slog
News & ArtsMonday, October 5, 2009
Politics Online Voter Registration Crashes
Posted by Dominic Holden on Mon, Oct 5, 2009 at 10:22 AM
Today is the last day to register to vote online or by mail. But here's what you see at the voter-registration webpage:
There's been a "computer crash" at the state Department of Licensing, which maintains the online voter registration, says David Ammons, spokesman for the Secretary of State's office. "We were just informed by the Department of Licensing that they were having a problem and they will let us know when it is back up." You can register to vote in person until October 26 at the county elections office, but most people don't. "Today is the important deadline because most people register to vote by mail or online," he says.
Toby Crittenden, spokesman for the Washington Bus, which works to involve younger voters, says, "To have the online tool down on the very last day is really unfortunate—there will definitely be voters who would have otherwise registered, and aren't able to."
"There's always a big surge of people registering to vote right at the deadline, and in the last year and a half a large percentage of them have been registering online." Crittenden adds, "With two contentious and close initiatives on the ballot, any disenfranchisement is hugely concerning."
You can print out a voter registration form here and get it postmarked by today to vote in the November 3 election.
THE PAIN IS OVER! "Online voter registration is again open and active," Ammons writes.
Seattle OUTProtest has brought together a grassroots coalition of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and straight people and organizations to organize a series of solidarity events to coincide with the National March for Equality this October.
March and Rally
Forty years after the Stonewall Rebellion, we march in solidarity with our brothers and sisters and allies in Washington, DC to demand equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states and to show our public support for the Approval of Referendum 71 here in Washington state.
Sunday, October 11
2:00 pm: Volunteer Park, 10th Ave E & E Prospect
5:00 pm: Rally, Federal Courthouse, 7th & Stewart
Thinking Queerly: Community Workshops on LGBT Issues
Community organizers and activists will present a series of workshops on a range of issues affecting the lgbt community including Stonewall and lgbt movement history, homelessness, hate crimes and self defense, lgbt health, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, lgbt legal issues, Gay-Straight Alliances, marriage equality, and more.
Saturday, October 10
9:30 am to 5 pm
Piggot Auditorium, Seattle University
HIV/AIDS Vigil
As the AIDS pandemic nears its fourth decade, we gather to educate and raise awareness about the continued struggles of people living with HIV/AIDS and their families, friends, and support networks as well as to demand all resources and all funding necessary for prevention, treatment, and a cure.
Saturday, October 10
Starting at 6 pm
Seattle Central Community College South Plaza, Broadway & E Pine
Generation Q Mega Mixer
Come mingle and mix with seasoned leaders and activists of the GLBTQ community at the Generation Q Mega Mixer. Young leaders (25 and under please) will have the opportunity to socialize, learn from, and quite possibly have a dance off with some of the community's most inspiring members in a relaxed social environment.
Sunday, October 11
6:30 pm
Sole Repair Shop, 1001 E Pike
Seattle LGBT Equality Weekend March & Rally
http://nationalmarch.seattleoutprotest.o…
Get involved with one of our planning committees! Contact for more time and details:
March/Rally Committee, March@seattleoutprotest.org
Workshops Committee, Workshops@seattleoutprotest.org
Outreach Committee, Outreach@seattleoutprotest.org
Mixer Committee, Mixer@seattleoutprotest.org
HIV/AIDS Vigil Committee, Vigil@seattleoutprotest.org
Biweekly General Organizing Meetings, please contact whitney@seattleoutprotest.org for time and location.
National Equality March: Equality Across America
www.equalityacrossamerica.org
Going to DC? Check in and meet other folks from Washington who are going to DC:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-E…
Approve Referendum 71
Keep the Domestic Partnership Law
5
Please change them lest more people get confused and give up on registering.
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Now if we could only get beach volleyball teams ...
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This breakdown in registering by computer points out another reason to make it as easy as possible to register. Washington State needs to change to universal voter registration, requiring that people opt out of registering when they get their driver's license, not require them to opt in as the current sytem requires.
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