From Fr. Frank Pavone:
The Polls are open! Although Election Day is not yet here, your state is making available the opportunity to vote early. This has revolutionized elections by allowing people to make sure their vote is counted. Even the most dedicated voter could be stuck in traffic, have to care for a sick child, get a flat tire, or have to work overtime. The 2000 and 2004 elections show just how much every vote matters, and early voting gives you the chance to make sure your voice is heard.This is why we are asking that you encourage your friends, family, fellow parishioners, and any other likeminded people to cast their ballots early. With states being decided by hundreds of votes -- maybe less this time -- an election could be determined by a traffic jam. Procedures for early voting vary by state, but there are no instances in which it involves anything significantly more difficult than driving the polling site as the person would on Election Day. If the value of early voting remains unclear, think of it in these terms. If there is a close race, which many races this year are, and one candidate going into Election Day already has 25% of the votes for him cast while the other has only 10% of the votes for him cast, the first candidate has a significant advantage, as he has fewer voters that he still needs to turn out. In a race that will be decided by one or two percentage points, that's a tremendous advantage.
Here is information about early voting in Arizona:More information: Center for Arizona PolicyIn person - Any qualified voter may vote early in person from October 5 to November 3, 2006. An application to vote early is available from the voter's County Recorder's Office. Some counties permit the application for early voting to be downloaded from their websites. Contact information for County Recorder's Offices is available at www.azsos.gov/election/county.htm Applications for early voting in the 2006 General Election must be submitted by October 27.
By mail - Any qualified voter may vote early by mail. Early ballots may be requested from County Recorder's Offices, a list of which is available at www.azsos.gov/election/county.htm The voter may download the ballot from the County Recorder's website or request one by mail, fill it out at home, and then mail it to the return address listed on the ballot.
We hope that you will use these resources to vote early and to encourage your friends, family, and other likeminded people to do the same to ensure that Election Day impediments do not prevent them from having their votes counted.
And remember, candidate information is found at www.priestsforlife.org/candidates/
If you have further questions about early voting, please e-mail us at vote@priestsforlife.org
Best regards,
Fr. Frank Pavone, MEVPriests for Life
