I have been trying to help four people to vote absentee in Cleveland area. The absentee ballot request forms were sent separately to board of elections more than 10 days back but no one has received the ballots so far. So finally I called the board of elections office today and they told me that they never received the absentee ballot requests for these people. This is very surprising. The person who I talked with was very helpful and she advised me to bring the voters to their office to vote. She also told me that the voters can also vote at their precinct on election day.
I am not sure whether this is a common problem or a rare occurence. Does anyone have similar experience in Cleveland metropolitan area?
I am not eligible to vote (not a citizen yet) but I have been helping few people vote this year. I have listed some of the instances below. All of these people are solid Kerry-Edwards voters now and will be voting the democratic ticket all the way.
Read below the fold for more..
- Helped a 87 year old lady vote Kerry-Edwards through an absentee ballot. We have punch card ballot and it was not possible for her to figure it out on her own. She did not want to go to the precinct on election day.
- Helping 78 year old FIRST time male voter. Requested absentee ballot but never received it. I will be taking him to his precinct on election day.
- Helping 72 year old FIRST time female voter. Requested absentee ballot but never received it. I will be taking her to her precinct on election day.
- Getting an ex-colleague and her boyfriend to vote for the first time in 35 years.
- Helped a friend to vote for the first time. He moved to Ohio from a solid blue state earlier this year.
- Convinced a co-worker to vote for the first time. He is not political but now will be voting on election day.
- Convinced an aunt and her family in Florida to vote for Kerry-Edwards.