OPINION & EDITORIAL
Absentee votes can be cast while naked
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by Guest Columnist
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
This April, voters in Wisconsin will head to the polls to make their pick for offices that include the Wisconsin Supreme Court, mayor, City Council and the School Board. Given the politically active nature of Madison, voters in this city will be hounded for their vote — but not on our campus. Why? Because most students will be sipping daiquiris on the beach (maybe even a few will be slamming them), heading out west with Hoofers or dealing with family back at home for a week. Most of us will be enjoying our break from our usual school routine with voting far from our minds.
But the spring election still matters and you, the ever civic-minded Badger, still need to help guide your government. What can you do about this?
Imagine going to the mailbox and finding a large envelope with "Official Election Mail" stamped on the front. You run inside, lock your door and shed your clothes. All of them. You tear open the envelope in anticipation. The excitement continues to build as you reach for your pen to mark your choice for Mayor Dave Cieslewicz or Ray Allen … or perhaps write in one of your roommates. Political climax strikes as you move the tip of your pen across the ballot's surface. It feels so good to vote! You continue to mark a name for the Supreme Court, City Council and School Board races. You just performed your civic duty, naked.
This experience will probably feel slightly different for each one of us, but the point is clear. You can easily vote before leaving town for spring break — in the nude if you desire — by requesting an absentee ballot. How much easier and interesting could voting get? The process is as simple as this:
1) Go to votenaked.org and use the form to quickly request an absentee ballot. (Vote Naked is a project promoted by a handful of student organizations with a simple goal: to make absentee ballot voting easy and fun … and maybe just a little bit sexy.)
2) Although it depends on when you request your absentee ballot, you'll probably receive a ballot March 15. After it arrives in the mail, you can vote at your convenience, even taking some time to figure out just who those candidates are listed on the ballot that you've never heard of. We highly recommend completing this part of the process while naked — especially with friends — but that's ultimately your choice.
3) Once you have voted, mail the ballot back to the city clerk's office (the clerk even pays for the return postage) where it will be counted just like all of the other ballots cast on Election Day. Absentee ballots must be received by the city clerk by the time that polling locations close April 3 (8 p.m.), so it wouldn't be a bad idea to mail your ballot in at least a couple days before spring break begins.
If you feel voting is an occasion to get out of the house, the university will be running vans up to the city clerk's office to allow you to cast your vote. (Unfortunately, they'll insist that you keep your clothes on.) If a van ride isn't for you, you can visit the city clerk's office on your own to vote early starting Tuesday, March 13. The office is located at 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. — just follow the signs once you enter the building. Remember, if you choose to vote in person, you should check the voting requirements at uwmadisondems.org/vote. If you'll be staying in Madison over break and would just prefer to visit your regular polling location on Election Day, you should by all means go right ahead.
We're trying to ensure that no matter where you spend spring break, you still have a say in who leads our government. Plus, not everyone may be aware of how fun voting naked really is — I did for the primary election, and I can't wait until my ballot arrives for the April 3 election! I strongly recommend voting naked if you have the chance. It may not be streaking through your polling location in the middle of the day, but just like anything else, voting naked is bound to be more exciting than doing it with your clothes on.
If your organization would like to help promote Vote Naked, please contact me.
Adam Lang (lang@uwmadisondems.org) is the Electronic Media Chair of the College Democrats of Madison.
Anonymous (March 7, 2007 @ 2:01am):
Adam Lang for mayor!!!!
Anonymous (March 7, 2007 @ 2:19am):
I don't think I would be a very good mayor but I'll consider the idea.
Anonymous (March 7, 2007 @ 2:22am):
why isn't there an online registration for getting a ballot? If you wanted to make it easy that would be a big step - I mean come on, who uses stamps these days?
Anonymous (March 7, 2007 @ 2:23am):
Did Andy Gordon, freshmen, help in writing this?
Anonymous (March 7, 2007 @ 6:57am):
Unfortunately, absentee ballots are not legally permitted to be requested online . However, if Adam Lang is elected Mayor, that could all change.
Anonymous (March 7, 2007 @ 10:55am):
Adam Lang here again.
It's a state law that governs absentee ballot requests. No amount of mayoral work would pave the way for online ballot requests.
Also, Badger Herald, I tried to actually log in and post with my name and e-mail address but your comment system is broken.
Anonymous (March 7, 2007 @ 10:58am):
Hey Adam, it's super tacky to comment on your own comment board.
Anonymous (March 7, 2007 @ 11:06am):
A signature is required to request the ballot - that's why you have to print the form and mail it in.
Anonymous (March 7, 2007 @ 11:49am):
They could give you a pin like for the FAFSA.
Anonymous (March 7, 2007 @ 12:04pm):
Adam Lang really did vote naked in the primary. I saw it. And yes, I'll be as far away from him as possible when his ballot arrives this time around.
Anonymous (March 7, 2007 @ 12:41pm):
Adam Lang is my hero. Maybe we can vote naked together? what do you say?
Anonymous (March 7, 2007 @ 1:14pm):
Adam Lang for Mayor.
Anonymous (March 7, 2007 @ 1:14pm):
Wait, Andy Gordon's still a Freshman? Dammit, I guess someone should have told him that Marching Band isn't a five credit class...
Anonymous (March 7, 2007 @ 1:57pm):
We should do lots of things naked, especially in the fantastic weather we've been having!
Anonymous (March 7, 2007 @ 2:05pm):
I wonder who the 12:04 anonymous is... There certainly didn't seem to be anybody around when I voted...
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