Time is Running Out to Register to Vote

CAT Tracks Editor's Note:

The article above focused on Mt. Vernon, Illinois (Jefferson County), but the "impending deadline" notice for registering and voting applies to CATs who live elsewhere in Illinois (or in Kentucky, Missouri, or Tennessee. I'll leave it to you "foreigners" to learn and abide by the specifics. In Cairo, we have a reputation of voting early and often, dead or alive, but your locales may not be so liberal!)

Speaking of Cairo and Alexander County...

...the "purge" has been conducted and completed.

I personally ignored the process, for two reasons:

• The notice I received in the mail said I could. I actually thought that to be poor planning, but what do I know. I mean...I suppose that if I had moved (to another earthly location) or had "moved on" (as in died), one could ass-u-me that my notice about registration would have been "returned to sender, address unknown, no such party, not sure about the soul." Although...if it's not ghosts that we are trying to deny the right to vote to, but gypsies, tramps, and thieves...who's to say the usual suspects wouldn't intercept my mail? I woulda thought that maybe I would be required to sign sumthin', confirming my current residence, said signature acknowledging an oath that would send my "if you be lyin'" butt to jail...something that would at least limit illegal voting to forgers willing to pay the price.

• I had already announced my decision not to vote this time. Since that decision was based upon the actions of lying politicians...I am determined to keep that pledge. (Sigh...the "Vote 'No' on Amendment 49" is giving me a crisis of conscience, but I shall remain strong. Since I already have my sleepless nights...

But, all the rest of y'all...get busy!

If you have not registered...do so. Thirty days before (the November 6th) election day is common throughout the United States. (In IL, the deadline this year is evidently October 9th, but TODAY would be better/safer.)

If you "live" in Cairo and/or Alexander County, you might want to double-check that the County Clerk's office didn't drop you from the voting list. I mean...according to news reports, 2000 "souls" have been removed, so it could happen.

Going to be out of town on election day or too busy to vote on election day or simply want to avoid the long lines...

Long lines? In all my years voting in Cairo, I never experienced that phenomenon. I mean...I've seen lines...on TV...especially in areas where the Republican Party was trying to keep poor and minority Democrats from voting, but never in Cairo. Probably for another two reasons: (1) Cairo is reliably Democratic, wants (some allege "pays") poor folk and minorities to vote, and (2) ghosts don't take up much space in line and have that invisibility thing workin'.)

...remember that absentee voting and early voting are available.

BTW:

For vote-buying, absentee voting is the method du jour since the payer can actually fill out the payee's ballot and return it via the mail. (Yes, using the USPS double-downs on the voting fraud thingy- adds an additional federal charge, but it would give extra business to the Post Office in its time of need...facing as it is that billions-of-dollars shortfall in revenue. Hey, you can plead patriotism at your sentencing...the judge might knock off a few months...or not!)

Early voting is problematic since the "voter" would actually have to show up (appear?)...a blatant discriminatory act against our ghostly citizens.

I started to close my catty commentary by saying "See you at the polls", but that would be a lie.

On November 6th, I plan on going into trick-or-treat mode...absenting/hiding myself...just in case the precinct captain comes a-callin', reminding me that "It's election day, Mr. Newell. We've noticed that you haven't voted yet." (Don't laugh, that actually happened once!)

So...

In closing, let me simply remind you that November 6th is election day. If you haven't yet registered, do. Then, be sure to "exercise your patriotic duty" and VOTE (early if you wish, but not often.)

As I used to tell my Government students:

"If you don't vote, then don't complain about the people who are in office. YOU helped put them there!"

Yeah, I noticed...

...this year, I guess it's one of those "Do as I say, not as I do" things.

Oh, well...

...never said I was purrfect!

FOOTNOTE:

Tonight's the night!

Obama v. Romney

The first of three scheduled presidential debates (and one VP debate)!

8:00 - 9:30 p.m. Central Time

In my cat cave universe, Season 4 of Fringe will be playing...