Early voting opportunity

Did you know that the polls were open this past Saturday, November 5, from noon till 3:00 p.m.? A few people found out from the City Clerk via email late Friday evening. This wasn't advertised in the Takoma Park Newsletter or announced on the yellow postcard registered voters received in the mail last week, but the information is available on the City's Election 2011 webpage under the "Late Absentee Ballots / In-Person 'Absentee Voting'" header.

Despite the lack of information regarding early voting, I think the in-person / absentee voting really throws people off. Basically, the absentee voting process is what allows an individual to vote in advance of election day, November 8. You still have an opportunity to vote early, and if you plan on heading down to the polls today from 9:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. here are a procedural notes about the process:

• Fill out a brief absentee voter application;
• Complete a ballot (the linked example is for Ward 6) with a special magic marker that is provided for you, which will reveal a random number(s) for the vote(s) you cast;
• Transfer the number(s) to your take-away coupon, which will allow you to go online later and verify your vote was cast;
• Seal your ballot in the smaller of the two envelopes provided to you, sign and seal the envelope;
• Place the smaller envelope into the second and larger envelope, seal it, and turn in the package to the election judge.

Happy voting!