ACTION ALERT: VOTE in the NOV. 4th ELECTION!
 
(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ, 11/3/2008) The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) calls on all members of the New Jersey Muslim community to go out and vote tomorrow in this historic election.
 
"In order to ensure that Muslims have a voice, we must participate in the political process. Selecting your leader is not only a right but an obligation in Islam and we encourage all New Jersey Muslims to excercise their right to vote in this important election." stated CAIR-NJ Executive Director, James Sues.
 

ACTION REQUESTED: 

1. GO TO THE POLLS on Tuesday and VOTE!

2. TAKE A MUSLIM friend or family member along with you to vote.

3. REPORT any incidents of voter intimidation, harassment or denial of the right to vote to CAIR. Contact CAIR by calling 202-488-8787, or by e-mailing csaylor@cair.com 

4. DISTRIBUTE this alert on your personal e-mail list. 

To learn more about the Presidential, Senatorial and Congressional candidates and their positions, please see CAIR-NJ's voter's guide at:  http://nj.cair.com

WHAT TO DO ON ELECTION DAY: 

1. KNOW WHERE TO GO. To determine where you should go to cast your vote, please see: 
https://voter.njsvrs.com/PublicAccess/jsp/PollPlace/PollPlaceSearch.jsp
 

2. BRING PROPER IDENTIFICATION. For voting ID requirements in New Jersey, please see:  
http://www.nj.gov/state/elections/vote_id_req.html
 

3. READ SIGNS AT POLLING PLACES for instructions on how to vote and how to file a complaint if you believe your rights have been violated.

 4. REVIEW THE SAMPLE BALLOT BEFORE VOTING. Ballots are often confusing, and their designs can change considerably from election to election. If you have questions about how to vote on your ballot, ask a poll worker or poll monitor for help.

 5. CHECK YOUR BALLOT BEFORE CASTING YOUR VOTE. If you are having a problem understanding instructions, or if you just want to make sure you are voting in the correct manner, ask to speak to a poll worker

6. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS CONCERNING "PROVISIONAL BALLOTS." No voter can be turned away in any state this year without being allowed to vote. If there is a question about your eligibility, you must be allowed to vote on a provisional ballot, the validity of which will be determined later. But if you are entitled to vote on a regular ballot, you should insist on doing so, since a provisional ballot may be disqualified later on a technicality.

 7. KNOW WHERE TO TURN FOR HELP. It is a good idea to bring a cell phone and phone numbers of nonpartisan hotlines such as 1-866-OURVOTE and 1-866-MYVOTE1.

8. BE PREPARED FOR LONG LINES. Try to get to your polling place very early in the morning, or between the before-work and after-work rushes. As long as you are in line before the polls close, you are legally entitled to vote. Do not let poll workers close the polls until you have voted.

 
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