AmesburyDemocrats.org

Now that my two children (ages 19 and 20, both Unenrolled) are preparing to vote in their first Presidential election, they have been asking me a lot of questions: “Why are you a Democrat when you used to be a Republican?” “Why hasn’t anyone called us for a poll?” And most perplexing: “What’s the electoral college?”

Given that Civics isn’t taught in Amesbury schools, my kids are getting the basics from me. But I have to admit that today, I was stumped after my daughter and I saw a news item about the electoral map and current polls. According to CNN, “… if the presidential election were held today, Barack Obama would capture 223 electoral votes to McCain’s 200, leaving 115 electoral votes still up for grabs.”

Tess looked and me and asked, “Mom, I understand that a candidate could win the popular vote but lose the electoral vote, like Al Gore, and I know that a candidate has to receive 270 electoral votes to be declared President. But what happens if neither Obama nor McCain get that many votes?”

Gosh. I had to look up the answer. But not before some back-of-the-envelope ciphering to determine whether such a freakishly horrid thing was mathematically possible. (The answer: Yes, but only if the split of these remaining 115 votes goes 46 for Obama and 69 for McCain. At that point, both candidates would be deadlocked with 269 votes.)

And as to Tess’s question: According to HouseStuffWorks.com, “…If neither candidate wins a majority of electoral votes (i.e., 270), the decision is thrown to the House of Representatives by virtue of the 12th Amendment. The House then selects the president by majority vote with each state delegation receiving one vote to cast for the three candidates who received the most electoral votes.” Given the current make-up of the House, this would most likely spell a win for Obama/Biden.

If for any reason you or a family member does not expect to be in Amesbury on election day, November 4, you may vote by absentee ballot. There are detailed instructions on the Secretary of State’s site, but here are the basics:

There are two types of absentee voting:

Voting early, but in person at Town Hall: This is a convenient option for people whose work schedules or commutes pose the risk that they might not be in town (or home from work) in time to vote during polling hours. It is also helpful for college students who expect to be home for a visit two or three weeks before the election, but not on election day itself. Ballots are usually available in Town Hall approximately three weeks before the election. Call ahead (978-388-8100) to confirm that the ballots are available, and then go to Town Hall and let the Clerk know you wish to vote. The deadline for applying for an absentee ballot is noon of the day before the election.

NOTE: If you recently registered and have not yet voted in any Amesbury election, be sure to bring identification with you.

Voting by paper ballot: If you know for certain that you will not be in Amesbury at all before the November election, or if you or a relative is physically incapable of going to Town Hall, there are 2 steps you must take: (a) Obtain and submit an absentee ballot application (see below). Submit the application to the Town Clerk immediately; your ballot will be mailed to you as soon as it is available. (b) When your ballot arrives, complete it and mail it (or have a family member hand-deliver it) so that it arrives in Town Hall no later than 8pm on November 4.

Let’s all do our part to ensure that Amesbury voter turnout breaks all records! Download an absentee ballot application here.

Apply for an absentee ballot for yourself

Apply for an absentee ballot for a family member

If you are not yet registered to vote, the deadline is OCTOBER 15. Please encourage your friends, neighbors, and children 18+ .

According to the most recent stats from the Town Clerk’s office, Amesbury has a total of 11,489 registered voters. Of these, 3,246 (28%) are Democrats. Here’s how the numbers break down:

District 1: Total Registered Voters = 2,171
Democrat 589; Republican 332; Other Parties 10; Unenrolled 1,235

District 2: Total Registered Voters = 1,822
Democrat 529; Republican 225; Other Parties 13; Unenrolled 1,056

District 3: Total Registered Voters = 1,943
Democrat 527; Republican 249; Other Parties 16; Unenrolled 1,151

District 4: Total Registered Voters = 1,614
Democrat 474; Republican 227; Other Parties 19; Unenrolled 894

District 5: Total Registered Voters = 2,120
Democrat 548; Republican 317; Other Parties 24; Unenrolled 1,231

District 6: Total Registered Voters = 1,819
Democrat 579; Republican 256; Other Parties 16; Unenrolled 968

Of the 39 Presidents of the United States, 14 were Democrats:

William Jefferson Clinton: 1993-2001
James Earl Carter: 1977-1981
Lyndon Baines Johnson: 1963-1969
John Fitzgerald Kennedy: 1961-1963
Harry Truman: 1945-1953
Franklin Roosevelt: 1933-1945
Woodrow Wilson: 1913-1921
Grover Cleveland: 1885-1889;1893-1897
Andrew Johnson: 1865-1869
James Buchanan: 1857-1861
Franklin Pierce: 1853-1857
James Polk: 1845-1849
Martin Van Buren: 1837-1841
Andrew Jackson: 1829-1837

During the 1800s, a hybrid party – “Democratic-Republicans” – existed, but this group morphed into what we now call the Democratic Party. If you add these presidents (Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, and John Quincy Adams), this brings the total to 18 Democrats and 17 Republicans. Advantage, Dems. Let’s keep the ball rolling in 2008!

Grover Cleveland was the only American President to serve two non-consecutive terms. He was elected in 1884, but lost the 1888 election due to a scenario we Dems know all too well: He won the popular vote, but not enough electoral votes to trump Republican Benjamin Harrison.

In 1892, Cleveland was re-elected after defeating Harrison, a Republican who had successfully depleted the Treasury surplus during his four years in office. (More deja vu?)

Memorable quote: “What is the use of being elected or re-elected unless you stand for something?” (1888)