Given that political maneuvering has pushed election regulations toward the complexity of Federal tax law, I thought I would provide a few tips and point out some common misconceptions about the process. Please note that the following applies to Miami-Dade County in September 2006 only. In Florida every county gets to make its own set of Byzantine and impenetrable rules at their whim, so if you don't live in Miami-Dade County, check with your local elections office to find out what hoops you need to jump through.

On Election Day, September 5, polls will be open from 7:00am-7:00pm. If you are in line by 7:00pm you will be permitted to vote, no matter how long it takes. Don't let anyone try to scare you away.

How to vote: There are three different ways you can vote: absentee ballot, provisional ballot, and electronic voting machine (DRE). They are not the same!

• Your best chance of having your vote counted is by using the machine. This is available at your polling place on election day, or at the early voting locations.
• Absentee ballots are intended as a last resort for people who cannot make it to the polls. They must be mailed in or hand-delivered to the county elections office, and cannot be turned in at your precinct. In spite of what some well-meaning paper ballot advocates may tell you, absentee ballots are less likely to be counted than electronic ballots. They are subject to challenge by anyone who wants to challenge them (usually for partisan reasons), and have a high chance of being rejected by the review panel.
• A provisional ballot is your only choice if something goes wrong on election day: you forget your photo ID, your name doesn't appear on the voter rolls, you go to the wrong precinct, etc. They are provisional, meaning that someone in the elections office will look it over and decide if your vote should be counted or not. They exist primarily to make you feel better about not getting to vote.
• Please note that if your absentee or provisional ballot is rejected, you will be notified within thirty days, for all the good it will do you.

Voter ID: You may not realize it, but you no longer have a Voter Identification Card. If you check the fine print it is a now Voter Information Card, and does not count as ID at the polls.

• Your voting location (polling place) and district candidate races are listed on your Voter Information Card. This card does not serve as identification that will allow you to vote.
• To be allowed to vote you must provide IDs with your photo and signature. There are a lot of different types of ID accepted, but both a signature and a photo are required. If you can't provide those, you are entitled to cast a provisional ballot (see above).
• If you have moved since last registering to vote, you must notify the Elections Department of your change of address. You are supposed vote at the correct precinct for your current home address.
• If you need to change your address on election day, and can provide your current address, the clerk will fill out an affirmation to record this change and allow you to vote normally. You should not fill out a provisional ballot.

What you can vote on: Republicans can vote in both Republican and Nonpartisan races; Democrats can vote in both Democrat and Nonpartisan races; all other voters can only vote in nonpartisan races (county commission, judges, issues and referendums, etc.).

Casting your ballot: Once your voting eligibility has been determined, you will be asked to sign both the precinct register and a Voter Authorization Slip. This will serve as a pass for voting and will be counted at the end of election day to reconcile the number of votes cast against the number of voters at the precinct.

• If needed, you will be provided instructions on how to vote using the current voting equipment.
• If using the electronic system, don't forget to press the damned VOTE button. If you don't do that you've just wasted your time.
• You may ask for and receive assistance in voting (usually a translator, assistant for the disabled, etc.). Bother the voter requesting help and the person providing it have to fill out and sign forms.
• You do not have to vote in every race or on every issue. You can vote in all of them, some of them, or none of them. It is your choice.
• If you have requested an absentee ballot but decide to vote at the polls, take your ballot with you so it can be cancelled. You will then be allowed to vote at your polling place. Again, absentee ballots cannot be turned in at the polls for counting, but must be turned in to the Elections Department by 7:00 PM on Election Day.
• Unopposed candidates will not appear on the ballot.

Your signature: It is important to keep your signature up-to-date with the Elections Department. If there is any question about your absentee or provisional ballot (such as partisan mucking about in a close race), the first thing checked is if your signature matches the file signature. Incidentally, this is also used to validate petitions.

Problems: If something goes wrong, or if you think someone is trying to disenfranchise you (which is a legal way of saying they want to keep you from legally voting), here are some steps to take.

• If you experience any problem with the electronic voting machine, notify a poll worker immediately.
• If you make a mistake while casting your ballot on an electronic machine, do not press the VOTE button. That confirms your selections. Instead, follow the on-screen instructions to change your vote.
• Report any problem or violation of election laws to the Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections at 305-499-VOTE (8683).
• If you believe that you voting rights have been violated according to state or federal laws, please contact the Florida Department of State, Division of Elections, at 1-877-868-3737.

Many races will be decided on September 5, so don't go into this blindly. Study a sample ballot, learn about the issues and candidates, and exercise your right to elect those representing you.

Special thanks to Activist Diana and the Miami-Dade Election Reform Coalition for helping to compile this list. Any editorializing is my own, as are any inaccuracies which may have crept in.