I live in the Atlanta metro area and belong to the local Obama group, which is working to register voters, organize neighborhood and regional action groups, and advance Obama's campaign in Georgia. My principal activity has been in voter registration, and I have witnessed a number of problems in this regard and its activity, as discussed below. It is very surprising to me to find so many people who have never registered to vote, or who have not updated their registration after moving or changing their name. On November 4, if you are not a properly registered voter, carrying a photo identification card, you will not be allowed to vote in Georgia!
I believe strongly that the Obama campaign in Georgia should continue full-force voter registration up to the very last day when it is allowed for the November election -- that would be October 6, 2008. I look at the election from the last step backwards, not from today forward, as to what the absolute requirements are. On election day, people will go to vote (and some will be able to vote early or by absentee ballot). If a likely voter is not properly registered, November 4 will not mean a thing in terms of helping to select our next President. So the people standing in line at the voting location need to be SURE they are properly registered and have a photo-ID in their possession.
Obama campaign volunteers are needed at every level in Georgia, and the organization of the volunteers and assignment of their tasks have an important impact on results. There are Atlanta-area and statewide Obama offices opening now, with fledgling staff members led by more experienced campaigners. It is a developing force, and not fully flying yet. If you have any interest in doing ANYTHING for Obama's election in Georgia, please contact the Obama website, http://www.barackobama.com, and guide yourself to some meetings and activities near you. You can find lots of things to do out front, as in voter registration and canvassing, or behind the scenes, including data entry and data management.
Luckily, so far, we have found many public locations and venues to set up non-partisan "Voter Registration Here" signs and tables, and to supply and assist people in filling out the form needed to register, or change name and/or address. We hope to find MORE locations during the coming months, but time is fading away quickly. If you know of likely Georgia voter registration locations, beyond the "official" offices, please speak up. We have set up at some locations successfully for a few weeks, and then been told to leave. So not every location works out 100%, but so far we have had many opportunities which we have been able to use as long as we have enough people to be there.
I'm just asking Georgia voters who want Obama to win Georgia to step up to the plate and volunteer your services. You are badly needed, and the sooner the better!