Posted by: Dave Newton on November 6, 2012
This morning at 6:15 a.m., I got a call from Teddi Smith Robillard, 73, of Lexington telling me that she had just voted.
Teddi is a former felon who has been fighting since Spring of last year to get her right to vote back in Kentucky and this is the first time she's been able to vote since the early 80s.
"It's been very weird," Teddi said, thinking back. "For so much of my life, I've helped people to register to vote - hundreds of people - but I haven't been able to vote myself. It always felt strange to me, but I still did it because of how important voting is.
Posted by: Carey Henson on November 6, 2012
Madison County KFTC members young and otherwise have been hard at work getting voters to the polls.
Our "Just Voted" car is catching attention around Richmond and Berea.
Members, including 8 year olds Madison and McKayla, are passing out voter guides and waving signs at local businesses.
We've been calling Berea College students to get them on shuttles that the college Student Government Association is running. And we made a few shuttle trips ourselves.
We still have a few two and a half hours to get everyone to the polls, so we're going to do everything we can to get them there!
Posted by: Dave Newton on November 6, 2012
After passing out a few voter guides earlier in the day, Tim and Rosanne Klarer too to the streets of Georgetown with a sound truck, reminding and encouraging people to vote and letting them know how much time they had until the polls close.
Posted by: Dave Newton on November 6, 2012
In Floyd County, KFTC members have gotten out into the community today, passing out voter guides, helping people to find polling locations, passing out stickers, giving rides to the polls, and generally getting people ready to vote.
One of the voting locations that we drove a voter to had a an hour-long line, which is pretty incredible.
Posted by: Joe Gallenstein on November 6, 2012
Jo Long and other Northern KY KFTC members are still going strong - calling voters and answering questions regarding polling locations, hours of operation, and more.
We also met customers who are former felons and don't have the right to vote themelves. It was a powerful reminder that those of us who do have the right to vote have the responsibility to use it.
Posted by: Ondine Quinn, CKY Organizer on November 6, 2012
Members and friends of the Central Kentucky chapter of KFTC have been working around the clock to educate voters and moblize them to the polls.
Posted by: Dave Newton on November 6, 2012
Last night, Scott County KFTC and NAACP members called through the last of the people in our database, plus much of the Ed Davis precint's registered voters – about 200 people called in all.
Thinking through the impact of Scott County's Voter Empowerment work in 2012, Rosanne Fitts Klarer said:
"I think we're creating a positive buzz – making a space for people to get engaged in politics. It brought it home for people. It's about connecting people to real issues and not just sound bytes and it's rare for people to otherwise have information to cast an informed vote on local races. I also think it's great that we can take today to celebrate voting as a key part of our Democracy. Some people think Democracy happens on it's own. It doesn't. But we're making it happen."
Posted by: Alan Smith on November 6, 2012
Howdy from Bowling Green! The SOKY chapter got together for our second phone bank last night, and it was as much fun as we coud handle!
Eight members braved the cold and drizzly weather for pizza and a little democracy in action.
We called around 250 people and had some great conversations. Our meeting space is often shared by ESL classes, and we were delighted when one student and one instructor volunteered to make calls with us!
We also hope to have another student ride with us in the sound truck today, joining Jason Brown on the megaphone.
We'll also have a phalanx of bike riders alongside the truck today...pictures of that to come.
Posted by: Beth Bissmeyer on November 6, 2012
Here are a couple of fun images from our Jefferson County voter mobilization work this morning.
A picture of two Manual High School students Sam and Deep doing visibility work to encourage people to vote at 2nd and Broadway.
Posted by: Joe Gallenstein on November 6, 2012
In Northern Kentucky this morning, we have members here at Groove Coffee House helping with last-imute voter mobilization calls.
Members pictured are Sean McDonald (of Covington) and Carl Ralston (of Independence) who came out to help with our turnout calls starting at at 8:00 a.m.
Incidentally, you can stop by to say hello with your I Voted sticker and get 30% off.
