The state of Florida is the focus of this election. As we listen to news commentators outline what states that are needed to win the election for Obama, the conclusion is — if Florida is in the win column for Obama, it is virtually impossible for McCain to win the election. It takes 270 electoral votes to become President. Florida has 10% of the votes needed (27). The popular vote is so very important because the candidate with the most popular vote takes all 27 electoral votes!

Florida is the number one battleground state in this election. We must turn Florida blue in order for the White House to have a Democratic President in 2009. The White House is within our grasp; all we have to do is deliver the votes.

Six simple steps will assure us victory on November 4th

1. Find five(5) people who are not registered who will Vote for Obama and register them. There are 750,000 eligible African Americans in the state of Florida who are not registered.

2. Review the application to make certain that the information that must be completed is filled out properly (the application is standard for the entire state of Florida: items 2-8 and 16 must be completed). Item 11 requests a telephone number. Be sure to get a phone number so that you can follow up.

3. Complete an absentee ballot request for each person you register. Make sure it is filled out correctly, signed and dated. Also make sure that you write the name, address and phone number down for your records of each person that you register.

4. Take the voter registration and absentee ballot and deliver it to the Supervisor of Elections Office (either by mail or hand delivery).

5. Make certain that the four persons you register, “Vote” early or vote on Election Day. Call to let your registrants know that their absentee ballot will come in a long white envelope from the Supervisor of Elections Office and to be on the lookout for the envelope. If you feel comfortable, give a phone number to call when they receive the ballot, or tell them you will call back and check to see if they are in receipt of their ballot.

The Supervisor of Elections Office will begin sending absentee ballots out on September 29, 2008. Once the registrant receives the ballot, you should go and pick it up, and make sure that it is properly signed and dated. You should deliver the ballot to the Supervisor of Elections Office.

Early Voting and/or Absentee are the key to the success of this election. You may resolve many potential problems by voting early. For persons living in Orange County, you can get Voter Registration forms and Absentee Ballot requests from the Supervisor of Elections Office located 119 W. Kaley Street.

6. For those who are already registered, we must make sure they vote as well. We need a 90% turnout of registered voters to be assured a victory in Florida. Encourage them to Vote early, or submit an absentee ballot request. Early Voting occurs from October 20 – November 2, 2008.

Let us all work hard and make history by electing Barak Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America.

VOTER REGISTRATION

Voter Registration Application

Absentee Voting in Bay County

Deadline to register New Voters/Change Party Affiliation or Address: October 6, 2008
Early Voting for General Election: October 20th-November 2, 2008
General Election: November 4, 2008

The State of Florida has implemented a statewide voter registration system effective January 1, 2006. A Florida resident may register to vote at any location throughout the State using the Florida Voter Registration Application Form. The voter's county of registration will be decided by his or her residence address within the state. Once registered in the State of Florida, if a voter moves to another address within Florida, a change of address may be submitted even if the voter crosses into another county. The deadline for a new Florida voter registration is always 29 days before the upcoming election.

To register to vote, a person must:

• Be a citizen of the United States.
• Be a Florida resident.
• Be 18 years old (you may pre-register if you are 17 or if you have a valid driver’s license before your 17th birthday.)
• Not now be adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to voting in Florida or any other state.
• Not have been convicted of a felony in Florida, or any other state, without your civil rights having been restored.
• Provide your current and valid Florida driver's license number or Florida identification card number. If you do not have a current and valid Florida driver's license or Florida Identification card, you must provide the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you do not have a FL DL#, FL ID Card#, or SSN, then you must indicate so when filling our your application by writing NONE in the space provided.

You can also register to vote at the Supervisor of Elections Office, 205 Mosley Drive, Lynn Haven, FL 32444 (Phone 784-6100), any Driver's License office, public library or at most post offices. You may also register to vote by mail.

Information on Civil Rights Restoration.