Question about voting

I'm not sure if this is the place to put it, I thought there was a Voting Rights forum someplace, but I can't seem to find it, so this seems the next closest thing.

I will be voting for the 1st time this November, and I'm wondering where do you find out "how" to vote? I'm not sure whether I will be voting by electronic machines, or what. If you have to use some elaborate device, do most cities have like tutorial sessions before voting day, or can you just ask someone to show you how to use the machines when you go to vote?

Also, I found out that my House representative has not had any Democratic challengers the last two years; if no one runs against him again this year, what can I do to to show I don't support him? Will I be allowed to write in a name? From what I've read, Democrats have felt that they didn't have a chance to win, so they don't run anyone to oppose him; I'd like to let them know that I am willing to vote for a Democrat, but if one isn't listed on the ballot, how would I do that to show them that there are people here that would vote for a Democrat? Maybe if they see that people are supporting them, Democrats will be more inclined to put someone in there to run against him.

or if you live in a large city, it might have its own, they will tell you what machines are used, the most important thing is to make sure you are registered, make sure you have ID with you.

...I wanted to vote in 2004, but found out the hard way that I was not registered. I had not been very political up until that point, and thought that I was sure I was registered because, back in high school, when I filled out my selective service card, there was a spot that said to check here if you want to be registered to vote as well. I don't know if my memory was foggy or what, but I could have sworn that was the case. Needless to say, when I went to check for sure a little bit before the election, I found out I was not registered.

But I am definitely a registered Democrat now :) Have my card and everything, so I have all that squared away.

Now the site should have a link that says something like Guide to New Voters, it will explain
how to vote. As your primary gets closer, you will see it posted on your BOE, right before
the primary they will have a sample ballot in the paper, ask people about who's running.
If it's like Baltimore, you will probably have heard about the major candidates on the radio,
you can ask your neighbors or go on your state forum here at DU to ask about local races or issues. It's really not hard, this is not a put down, the first time I voted I was afraid
that I would get stuck in the booth, but voted with no mishaps! Good Luck!

Oh and welcome to DU W_Hamilton!!

I'll try and find their site again and check and see if it has any information that can help me, thanks for the help!

DU is a really big place which most people don't realize, look at the 80,000 users yet you
only see certain names over and over again on threads that's because they are on the
other forums. If you go to the Lobby icon and click; you should see state and local
forums and click on it to find your state, then you can click to add that folder to
your forums, there are also a zillion forums on everything probably even goldfish
so you might check out some of the other forums as well.

The Local State forum is good in case you have a question, like where can I find a
really good vet in my town or something like that. People are good about sharing info.

Good Luck! Also don't feel bad if you didn't get a lot of replies to your thread, the
weekends are hard to get responses unless you have a major newsbreaking story.

Also instead of looking again for things which will drive you batty, you can use the favorites
on your tool bar at the top of your screen, when you click on it, the first question says add
to favorites, you click yes, & it will add what you have listed as your current site on
the tool bar. Then when you want to go back, click on favorites again and
you will see the shortcut you saved, this also works for DU and any other website.

Good Luck! W_Hamilton!

Sooooo..... 2 years from now, are you going to run against him/her ?

I felt like I was being admitted into an exclusive club. I felt like the whole thing was as special as could be. And it was.

Voting made me so proud, I was on cloud nine all day. I helped elect several good democrats that day, democrats who would end up doing a lot of good for me and other citizens in my state.

Each and every time in the next dozens of elections that I could vote in the pride always overwhelmed me. Then came the DREs. I felt cheated, used, and abused. Like a cow led to slaughter.

Things had changed, and I didn't like it one bit. I aim to get back to feeling that way again.

W_, look up the Supervisor of Elections office in your town. Go into that office like you own it - you do - and get the good people working there to tell you everything you need and want to know. They do work for you, you know.