So I have been presented with three different choices for November 4th, all of them obligations that I would like to fulfill. As a third year law student in NY I have the time to do one of these three choices but not more then that.
- The Obama campaign has asked me to go to Pennsylvania in order to work election protection there.
- I am on a local democratic committee in New York State and have been asked by them to work the polls and do election protection in my own precinct and the surrounding area.
- Work for 866ourvote a non-partisan not for profit voter protection organization, this option has two sub-options:
a. Work phone lines in Manhattan fielding voter complaints and co-ordinating on the ground legal assistance to prevent vote denials without prejudice.
b. Work as a motor voter aid in Queens and be co-ordinated by people excepting phone calls, arriving in my black prius batmobile to prevent the denial of the right to vote to my fellow New Yorker's.
Follow me below the fold for the pro's and con's of each choice.
- Going to Pennsylvania has the most obvious Pro's I'd be helping Obama directly in a swing state it also has some of the worst Con's: As an out of state resident I wouldn't be allowed in the PA polling place and could only help from outside.
I wouldn't be able to vote. NY does not have early voting, if I had known I was going to go to Pennsylvania I could have gotten an absentee ballot anytime before 5:00 pm yesterday, I didn't get the e-mail telling me to go to PA till yesterday around 7:00 pm. I know that winning Pennsylvania is going to be harder then winning NY but my own vote is very important. Also I would probably have to miss two days of law school, which would be bad. Additionally I have no idea how I would pay for lodging food or gas while there.
- Working in my local precinct here's the email in full with names and contact info blacked out
IMPORTANT: Please note - XXXX is helping to recruit election monitors for Election Day. If you are available please contact Jennifer at 631-XXX-XXXX. XXXX
See forwarded message from DXXXXX below.
> > From: XXXXX@aol.com [mailto:XXXXXX@aol.com]
> > Sent: Monday, October 27, 2008 8:03 PM
> > To: XXXXX@optonline.net
> > Subject: Recruting Election Monitors for Election Day
> >
> >
> >
> > We still have a great need, especially in Suffolk County.
> > Please ask people (do not have to be lawyers) to sign up by
> > going to www.nydlc.org (our website) and to click the link
> > on the upper left hand side of the home page (Obama Voter
> > Protection). Then, follow the prompts to provide contact
> > information.
> >
> >
> >
> > Any questions, please contact me at cell: 516.XXX.XXXX
> >
> >
> >
> > XXXX X XXXXXXX
> >
They seem pretty needy and this would help build my local democratic street cred. I would also be able to vote, wouldn't have to spend as much on gas and could go home to sleep and eat, I could probably even make class on Election day.
This one is the easiest for me and I am leaning that way.
Con's: It's NY and barring the upset of the century my state will stay blue, the impact will be smaller.
- 866Ourvote
General Pro's: It would look good on my resume, I could vote, I already went to the training session.
Con's: I would have to miss class. I'd have to work for this Non-partisan organization which could be a good thing could also be bad.
Specific Pro's and Con's
a. Call center work: Pro's: I'd help out all of the states, and might be able to get an Ohio call center, where I could have a big impact.
Con's: I'd have to go to Manhattan find weekday parking and deal with the hassle of being bossed by the Non-partisan organization in a room with 50 other line handler's.
b. Motor Voter Work: Pro's: Direct voter contact, I could work in Queen's right by my school, direct legal action.
Con's: Gas money, Directed by Non-partisan, again working in NY.
So those are the factor's going into my decision. I have to make it today.
Please vote my poll and let me know what you think, I will make my own decision in the end, I'd just like some input.