Facebook might be kind of terrible much of the time, but I really appreciate the fact that they emphasize Election Day and encourage participation through both the app and the website by displaying an alert banner link to the 2014 Voting [Poll] Information, which is easy to use and informative. The site is described as “a collaborative project supported by leading technology companies in order to make sure all registered voters in the United States have the information they need to Get to the Polls on November 4th.” I’m a fan.
If you have yet to vote today, go vote. I can be as cynical about politics as the next person, but on a certain level, I’m entitled to my approval/disapproval of how certain issues are handled because I voted and therefore took action in a way that has the power to shape how events unfold. I vote because I care; and even if the election results aren’t the ones I want, at least I tangibly expressed my opinion in a meaningful way.
The Massachusetts Secretary of State website has a wealth of information available. If you use their handy poll-finding tool (wheredoivotema.com), once you fill it out and view your results, there’s a link at the top to view the specific state election ballot for your city/ward/precinct. All relevant MA 2014 State Election information can be found in this 2014 Election Information pdf posted on the MA SOS website (if you’re cool like me and miss the days that hard copies were mailed out, you can also obtain a hard copy from your local public library, which is something I may or may not have done). Also, a decent overview of statewide candidates, etc., in Massachusetts can be found on BostonGlobe.com in this Voters’ guide to the Mass. general election.
There are four important ballot questions this election (again, in Massachusetts). (Behind the cut, because if you’re not a MA voter, there are a lot of words not specifically relevant to you.) But seriously: go out and vote. It matters. It’s your civic duty, and a privilege/right we are lucky to have.