So, I got my absentee ballot the other day, filled it in and will be mailing it off at the embassy tomorrow. It came along with a nice letter from the Texas Secretary of State and a list of declared 'write-in' candidates.

The write-in candidates listed on a separate sheet of paper were as follows:

LIST OF DECLARED WRITE-IN CANDIDATES

Jonathan Allen / Jeffrey D. Stath President / Vice-President
Chuck Baldwin / Darrell L. Castle President / Vice-President
Thaddaus Hill / Gordon F. Bailey President / Vice-President
Alan Keys / Marvin Sprouse Jr. President / Vice-President
Cynthia McKinney / Rosa Clemente President / Vice-President
Brian Moore / Stewart A. Alexander President / Vice-President
Ralph Nader / Matt Gonzalez President / Vice-President

I haven't heard of most of these people..may have to look them up and post something about them. It doesn't really matter, because the one that just barely managed to get my vote is on the ticket...

There was also a very nice letter from the Texas Secretary of State:

Dear Voter,

Thank you for choosing to exercise your right to vote. You have chosen to cast your ballot by mail, and I would like to share with you information about the process of voting by mail.

Applications to vote by mail become a public record 72 hours after the ballot has been mailed to you. In recent years, certain campaigns have used this information to identify and influence voters casting a ballot from home. When you vote by mail, you may take the following steps to protect your ballot and your vote.

1. Know your rights as a voter: You have the right to vote for the candidates of your choice. You have the right to mark your own ballot or to receive assistance with reading or marking your ballot from a person you know and trust. Your vote is secret. You do not have to tell anyone how or for whom you voted. If a person assists you with reading or marking your ballot, it is a crime for that person to reveal how or for whom you voted.

2. Be careful about assistance: No one should help you with your ballot, unless you cannot read the language written on the ballot or unless you have a disability that makes you unable to write or to see. If one of these conditions apply to you, we recommend that you ask a family member or trusted friend for assistance with your ballot. The assistant must place his or her name, address, and signature on the carrier envelope.

3. Mail your own ballot: If you can't get to the mailbox to mail your own ballot, give your ballot to a family member or trusted friend to mail for you. Do not accept offers from strangers to mail your ballot for you. Texas law prohibits voted ballots from being delivered by common or contract carrier from campaign headquarters.

If you follow these simple guidelines, be assured your vote will count. If anyone attempts to pressure or intimidate you, we urge you to report this to your county elections office, your district attorney's office, or our office toll-free at 1-800-252-VOTE(8683).

Early voting in person begins October 20, 2008 and will continue through October 31, 2008, and Election Day is November 4, 2008. You may contact your country elections office for the locations and hours of operation for your early voting sites. If you change your mind about voting by mail and would prefer to vote in person, you must take your mail ballot with you and cancel it at the polling place. You may then vote in person, either during the early voting period or on Election Day.

Sincerely,

Hope Andrade
Secretary of State

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