Voter registration forms

I’ve been part of a voter registration effort at the Public Market the past two weekends.  Regular readers know voter registration is “my thing”.  It doesn’t matter if you are a bartender or someone  else- I’ll ask and if you aren’t registered, you will be.

Two weekends ago, we registered 34 people at the Public Market.  Coupled with the 18 more forms gleaned from an East High School Open house a day or so earlier, there were 52 completed forms that were dropped off at the Board of Elections on Monday.

This past weekend  we smashed the previous weekend’s efforts with 67 people registering to vote.

As I said earlier - since February 21,000 new voters have been registered.  Well, we added 101 more.

Above all most everyone said they were registered, couldn’t wait until November and, most importantly, said thanks for doing this.

Some quick stories that I found interesting.

I apologize for that MFer

My favorite is this one.  As I was registering voters - some rather huge guy with chiseled features (if he lifted his shirt his chest was a “12 pack” not a “six-pack”).  Anyway, he walks up to me at the same time that three guys, in what we in the ‘burbs might call stereotypical “gang” attire, walk past me.  The chiseled guy asks “what business is it of anyone if they are registered?”  I respond that “None - but if you want to vote in November you need to be registered and I help you do that now”.  He muttered something unkind under his breath and huffs away.  At that instant, the three guys walking by, stopped.  One of them says “I want to apology for that guy”, He went on to say “You’re out here trying to change the world and that MotherF**ker is dissing you”.  He continued to apologize for the actions of some stranger.

Guess what?  The two guys with him got registered.

Sarah Palin is really scary

I got a lot of women to register and the subject of Sarah Palin came up a lot.   Comments like; “she reminds me of that snobby/mean cheerleader in High School” or “that baby needs to be in a crib not used as a prop”.  My best moment here was when one women asked me what I thought of the VP debate.  I simply winked at her and she howled in laughter.  Then she responded that behavior belongs in a bar not in a Vice President.  I winked again.

Felons can vote too

I asked a lot of people if they were registered.  Most were appreciative.  One guy said he can’t vote because he was a convicted felon.   Well, I asked him if he was on parole?  he said Nope - then I said guess what, you can vote - as long as you are not on parole.  I read him the rules and gave him a form.  Call it silly but there was a genuine appreciation in his eyes.  There was also pride in me when I realized that after paying a debt to society, NY recognizes that convicted Felons can rejoin society.

Ask your Waitress if she can vote too

The Day after the Public Market event, a bunch of us in the ‘burbs were putting together lawn signs.  Once we finished we headed out to a restaurant. I asked the waitress who took our order, if she was old enough to vote.  She proudly announced that she was 21 and and couldn’t vote last time ( I wanted her form so I didn’t tell her that there are elections every year).  Well, I got her completed form as well.  In fact, I left some forms with her so she could ask the other workers.

She is number 102.