Read your ballot carefully before voting! Especially in North Carolina.

Voters in North Carolina may unwittingly not vote for president on November 4th. Why? Their ballot offers a single check box to vote a straight party ticket but you must separately vote for president by checking another box. Many voters who have used this ballot format in the past did not realize they had not cast a vote for president when they checked a straight ticket vote.

Not all states have a straight ticket voting option. The requirements for voting a straight ticket vary by state. In North Carolina you have to also vote for president separately when voting a straight ticket. In other states you only need to vote a straight ticket which includes a vote for president. In all states you can vote for each person separately. You are never required to vote a straight ticket in a general election.

Make sure you understand your ballot before going to the polls. Many newspapers and libraries will provide a copy of the official ballot before the election. Your local election office will have a copy which you can access on their website or in the local office. Your political party office may also have a copy. I read mine online before going to the polls. It was very helpful.

Also beware of bogus mailers or phone calls that suggest you should vote after November 4th. A flyer is under investigation in the state of Virginia for posing as an official notice requesting that Democrats and independents voting for Democrats must vote on November 5th because of expected high-voter turn out. I think you would have to be high to fall for this ruse.

Read more about the North Carolina ballot.
Read more about the Virginia flyer fraud.


I confirm that I am a private citizen and in no way officially connected to the Barack Obama campaign other than personally being in support of the Obama candidacy.


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