VOTE IN THE PRIMARY ON AUGUST 5^TH!

Don’t forget to vote on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 in the primary elections! Very important state, county, judicial, and local primaries are likely taking place in your district! The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

To find your polling location or see your sample ballot, visit www.michigan.gov/vote.

· Do I have to show ID when I go to my polling location? Election workers will ask voters to show a photo ID as part of the usual ballot application process at the polls. Acceptable forms of identifica­tion include a Michigan driver’s license or personal identification card. Examples of other acceptable forms include current versions of U.S. passports, military identification with photo, driver’s licenses issued by other states, etc. Any ID must include your name and photo. If you do not have identification, you can still vote! You just need to sign an affidavit at your polling location saying you do not have identification in your possession.

· Can I vote absentee? As a registered voter, you may obtain an absentee voter ballot if you are (a) age 60 years old or older; (b) unable to vote without assistance at the polls; (c) expecting to be out of town on election day; (d) in jail awaiting arraignment or trial; (e) unable to attend the polls due to re­ligious reasons; or (f) appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of your precinct of residence. Requests to have an absentee voter ballot mailed to you must be received by your clerk no later than 2 p.m. the Saturday before the election. After receiving your absentee voter ballot, you have until 8 p.m. on Election Day to complete the bal­lot and return it to the clerk's office.

Here is the application to request an absentee ballot: http://www.mi.gov/documents/AbsentVoterBallot_105377_7.pdf.

The Asian American Vote – Our Voice Counts!

Ballot initiatives in 2008 ....and a poem.

This morning, I did a workshop with about seventy kids (grades K-8?) at the Association of Chinese Americans' youth summer camp in Plymouth. In addition to learning about the process of voting, doing a mock election for favorite Disney movie, and seeing voter registration and turnout rates Asian Americans in Michigan, the kids broke into their small groups and created either a picture, song, poem, or radio announcement. This is one of the poems --

Get Out & Vote!

Poem written by youth campers at the Association of Chinese Americans summer camp, July 22, 2008

Eat chicken for lunch.

Then go out voting.

Then hit the ocean to go boating.

Let us vote to float your boat

It’s your vote you’ll send

And that’s the end!

Chicken tenders!

Chicken chicken chicken chicken…

Adorable, isn't it? I thought it was hilarious!! By the way, WALL-E was the winner of the mock election.

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In other news -- there are a number of controversial ballot initiatives that appear to have collected enough signatures to make it onto the Michigan ballot in November 2008. What do you all think about the:

• Reform Michigan Government Now! proposal; and
  
• Embryonic Stem Cell initiative?
  

Please comment with your opinions! Click on the links above to visit each of the proposals' websites.

Stephanie

New APIAVote-Michigan blog!

Welcome to the new blog for APIAVote-Michigan!

This is where we will post announcements, events, volunteer opportunities, news, and more. We can also use the blog as a forum for discussion on various topics within the Asian American community in Michigan.

APIAVote-Michigan has many great activities planned in order to register, educate, and mobilize Asian Americans to vote in 2008!!

Please help sustain this important and groundbreaking work by contributing $20, $50, or a donation of any amount. Checks can be made out to "APIAVote" with "Michigan" in the memo line, and sent to: 5105 Trumbull St, #2-N, Detroit, MI 48208.

Have a wonderful day, everyone! :-)