I believe that everyone should vote. I vote religiously and have rarely missed an election. I always make sure that I am set to be able to vote my absentee ballot from France, and that all my paperwork is in order in New Orleans to do so. I always stop in at the Registrar of Voters to double check. I knew my paperwork was about to expire at the end of the year, so I went in expecting another 3 years. Glad I went. I discovered that now, you can only be certified for one year, not three. I'm set, but it had me wondering how any others could get caught short if they didn't know that laws or policies had changed?
I am appalled at the efforts to discredit our voting system and the blatant and disgusting efforts to dismantle our United States Postal Service. In the past, I NEVER had any concerns that my absentee ballots would not arrive in New Orleans. When I saw mailboxes being driven away on the back of trucks in the states, after I arrived in France this August; I immediately began to think about what I could do to protect my ballot and my vote. I explored a number of scenarios to ensure my vote would be received. I settled on going with a private overnight delivery provider who would deliver my ballots in New Orleans in around 3 days.
It is worth every bit of the 68 euros that I have paid to ensure that my votes get to New Orleans in plenty of time AND will be counted. This could be the most important vote of our lives!
I challenge each and everyone of you to do whatever you have to do to make sure that you will be able to vote and be sure that your vote is counted. It may require a little extra time, money, research, and just plain energy and leg work; but it is URGENT during this election!
Happy Friday!
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