On 2004/11/01, at 11:12, JimKandJulieB@xxxxxxx wrote: > It's really scaring me that the polls show a dead heat. That makes me=20= > think > that whatever happens it will be litigated into the next decade, =20 > effectively > handing Bush another chunk of time in which to do his damage. Hold on to the idea that the last Gallup Poll in 2000 showed Bush up 8=20= points on Gore, who went on to win the popular vote. Better yet, follow=20= the advice of my ever so sage and committed spouse. =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D It's nail-biting time, but there are still things you can do: 1) Think of the people you know who might have given up on voting and=20 let them know there's still a chance. Because of a new law just signed, everyone who has applied for a ballot=20= can use the federal write-in absentee ballot. I have that ballot in digital format. So if you know someone who is=20 still waiting for a ballot, send that voter to me, now, please. Furthermore, 8 states are still accepting faxed ballot applications. If=20= you know someone who's a Democratic voter but just somehow forgot . . .=20= send them to me. They could very possibly fax in their ballot requests=20= and then vote with the federal write-in ballot. 2) Bug people in the US to vote and to volunteer. (Whoops--that should=20= have been "reach out to.") Check out the program of calling new voters=20= in swing states (http://abn2.civicactions.net/justvote/gotv to learn=20 more) and also try reaching Dem voters in swing states through=20 http://calls.johnkerry.com/eblocks/=A0 to encourage them to join=20 canvassing campaigns. Polls show that Kerry is 25 points ahead among new voters=20 (http://alternet.org/election04/20316/)! But new voters, especially=20 those who signed up via websites, need a little reinforcement to get=20 them to the polls. So calling can really make a difference. 3) Organize a returns watch party, so you don't have to suffer through=20= the suspense of Wednesday on your own. Luckily, this year, it's a national holiday in Japan, so many of us=20 will not have to pretend to be working. We can watch the returns=20 openly--and it will be more fun to watch with other Democrats. The watch party in Tokyo is already at full capacity. If you are down=20 in the Kansai, check out the info about the Osaka party at=20 http://www.demsjapan.jp/node/view/615. Doesn't work for you? Do your own. All you need is 1) CNN and 2)=20 fellow Dems. A little food would probably help, too, but you can figure=20= that out. If you want to organize a party in your neck of the woods, let me=20 know--I will scour the database for others in your area and put you in=20= touch with each other. Kerry on! ruth mccreery voter assistance chair, daj -------- John= ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html