Are you registered to vote?

I spent the past two afternoons walking around downtown Indianapolis, clipboard in hand, trying to get people to register to vote. I was for some reason surprised at the still high amount of apathy in people's faces. "I'm not interested." "WHY?!"

I had people tell me it doesn't matter anyway, the past two presidential elections were stolen, this won't be any different. I had people tell me that it won't matter, they only count for one vote. I had people tell me they think registering to vote will give the government too much information, and they don't trust the government. I've had people just glare at me.

I got frustrated when one guy just said he didn't care. I asked, "So you're willing to put your future in the hands of other people?" "Yeah." "Well, I'm not, and I'm sick of people that don't bother to try to change things bitching about how much the government sucks."

I had some great conversations on the street. Some people thanked me for taking the time to get people to register to vote when they otherwise wouldn't have taken the time to mail in a form. I had some people tell me that if it wasn't for the rest of us doing this, they wouldn't personally have really thought about bothering to do it. When I'm sitting in front of them with the form that I'm going to turn in for them, why wouldn't they take the minute and a half to fill it out?

I wore one of my Obama tees the first day. I asked a couple if they were registered to vote. the woman started to say something, but the guy cut her off with, "YES, and NOT FOR HIM!" Why was that necessary? I wasn't preaching about anything. I asked a very nonpartisan question. I was stunned with the negativity of that comment. Some people! I told him I didn't really care who he voted for, that democracy only works when everyone has the same opportunity to get their voices heard. He huffed and puffed away.

I had a couple of people ask for money in return for a filled out form, and even more hinted at it. OK, so I am trying to get a quota of voter registrations filled out, but this isn't about me. It's about letting you take advantage of one of your many rights as a US citizen.

I had several people tell me that they didn't like either candidate. Before Obama, I always chose the lesser of two evils. I even threw out the lign on my signature that I borrowed from a Saturday Night Live skit, about choosing the candidate you felt was least offensive. Many agreed, but said it wasn't worth them filling out a form and going to vote. UGH.

Is it just me? I think this is the most important election of my time, and most people's. The candidates stand for such different things I don't see how people are so numb and apathetic to the change that they can make. Indiana, for the first time in a looooong time, is close on a presidential election. Every vote will count, in this and so many other states.

Interesting things about Indiana voting policies:

-The state of Indiana was taken to court over their strict voting regulations (the tightest in the country). One must provide one of the following: an IN driver's license, and IN state ID card, a military ID card, a passport, or a state university ID card that has an expiration number on it. There were a few problems with this. 1. It used to cost $10 to get a state ID card from the BMV. 2. Transportation to the BMV to get a state ID. 3. If it is your first election, you cannot use absentee an absentee ballot. There is no way around having a state ID. Since the court case, Indiana ID card are now free. However, one must have his/her birth certificate, social security card, and/or other proof of identification. Does anyone know how much it costs to get a new social security card or copy of a birth certificate? It isn't cheap, and it takes forever! The affect is that the poor know they aren't welcome to vote.

-Convicted felons CAN vote. As long as they are not incarcerated, they can vote. House arrest and work release is irrelevant. I didn't know this until last weekend. I don't know what the laws are in other states, but I know Indiana used to have a law against this. Apparently, no one told these convicted felons that they weren't stripped of their right to vote.

Well, those were the most interesting things about Indiana state laws about voting. Go get registered! Or, if you have changed address or your name, you must register again! AND DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!