I also referenced Greg Palast:
But now, I'm pulling out all the stops. There's no gimmick I won't use to get the message out there: GO VOTE EARLY. Did I mention this is my first diary?
Not every state allows this. Mine does. I voted Monday. Details of which states allow what can be found here, but there is no substitute for just calling your City Hall and speaking to a human being.
According to the Internets, you can vote early in: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, DC, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
The other detail you need to know is: Do you need an excuse to vote early/absentee in your state? In my state, you do not. I voted early because I felt like it - not because I have a conflict with voting on Election Day. Again go here to find out whether you need an excuse or not to vote early.
Voting early can help us identify problem areas NOW - plus - we'll free up our schedules for Election Day. The more people that vote now, the more of us will be free to help drive others to vote, do last minute canvassing or what have you, or just sit at the bar and pre-emptively celebrate on November 7th. (From Elise - Volunteer with the DNC or Pollworkers for Democracy)
I am sick of being at war, I am sick of our healthcare system, I am sick of watching the money in our country trickle UP while the rest of us get shit on, I am sick of our 300 million people contributing to 25% of the world's global warming problem, I am sick of not talking to our enemies to work through the problems we have with them, I am sick of so much. I am also sick of this sham of an election system we've got, with these bullshit voting machines and voter roll purges, but we've got a chance now to change course and if we don't do it, we're stuck again until 2008.
You have a little under 3 weeks. Look up your state's early voting policies now. If you can vote early, make time to do so as soon as possible. Get your friends and family to do so too. And - if it looks like something fishy is going on where you live - WRITE A DIARY AND/OR CALL THE LOCAL NEWSPAPERS!!
Another Note: Ok, so some people (in the comments) like voting on Election Day. I am not one of them. Voting early got me a great parking spot and there was no line. However - there is a copy of the ballot posted at my City Hall right now where anyone can go see it if they want to, prior to voting. So if you're waiting to vote until the big day - see if you can scope out the ballot in advance.