The following is from Yes! magazine, please read & share widely!

12 WAYS YOU CAN SAFEGUARD THE VOTE

Will it happen again? On November 7 we may see voters waiting in long lines,
only to find they¹re not on the voter rolls. We may see election workers
struggling with malfunctioning machines. If you¹re worried that we will wake
up November 8 to find that, once again, election procedures in key races are
in question, read on.

The staff at YES! Magazine has researched the recommendations of voting
integrity advocates and offers 12 ways you can protect your own vote‹and the
fairness of the system. Please forward this checklist to others to help make
our election system work.

BEFORE ELECTION DAY

1. Check your registration. Even if you think you're registered, you may not
be. Check online at www.CanIVote.org. Or call your local election officials
(find contact information at Overseas Vote Foundation).

2. Mail with care. If you¹re voting by mail, check carefully where you need
to sign, how to seal the envelope, and how to mark the ballot. And note:
Some ballots weigh more than an ounce and require extra postage.

3. Find out who¹s in charge. Make a phone list of your county and state
election officials‹it may save valuable time on Election Day if you need to
get registration verification or other information.

ON ELECTION DAY

4. Vote early. If you encounter problems, you'll have time to sort them out
and may be able to help others.

5. Take your government-issued ID (such as your driver's license). You may
not need it, but it's best to have it.

6. Bring your cell phone, if you have one. If you have problems, or see
problems, you can call a hotline immediately (see point #9).

7. Ask for a paper ballot. Some states, such as California, require polling
places to have paper ballots available on request. If you don't want to use
a machine, see if your polling place can provide a paper ballot. If machines
aren't working or there are other problems, ask for an emergency ballot
(although they may not be available everywhere).

8. Verify your vote. If you¹re voting on an electronic voting machine, check
the review screen to make sure it reflects your vote. If the machine
produces a paper record (28 states require one), read it carefully to make
sure it correctly reflects your vote. If it is incorrect, speak to a polling
attendant‹don¹t leave until you¹re sure your vote has been properly
recorded.

9. Document and report. If you encounter difficulties, or see others
experiencing difficulties (excessive lines, voter harassment, malfunctioning
machines, etc.), make a detailed record. Get all the facts you can‹location,
names, specific problem.

We recommend two nationwide networks where you can report problems. One is
1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683), which will have volunteer lawyers in 15
locations standing by to provide assistance. The other is 1-866 My Vote-1
(1-866-698-6831), which will record your problem by voicemail, then forward
your call to your local board of elections. Both will enter the information
you provide into a database to use to support challenges to problem
elections now and demands for reform in the future.

AFTER ELECTION DAY

10. Call your candidate. If there are questions about an election result,
urge your candidate not to concede early; encourage that person to follow
through with all available challenges and recounts. Ask how you can help.

11. Call your election officials. Let your county and state election
officials know that you have concerns about the election and will be
monitoring their response. Ask them not to certify the election before all
challenges and recounts are finished.

INTO THE FUTURE

12. Work for fair, transparent elections. Voice your questions about voting
machines, vote suppression, and election problems promptly. Keep the issue
in front of your election officials. If we want clean, trustworthy elections
in 2008, we have to start working on it now.

Want more information? Here are three websites from the leading edge on
voting issues.
www.verifiedvoting.org
www.VotersUnite.org
www.truthout.org/voters.rights.htm

Get more on fair elections from YES! magazine at
www.yesmagazine.org/fairelections.

Yours for democracy,
Fran Korten, Doug Pibel, Paul Mozur and the staff and interns at YES!
Magazine.
www.yesmagazine