Meg Whitman finally learns how it feels to lose out on your bid for something you really wanted at the last minute.

Meg Whitman finally learns how it feels to lose out on your bid for something you really wanted at the last minute., originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA

Nice job by the @nytimes telling @haydenblack that they used one of his tweets.

NBC LIve Election Night Video Chat on MSNBC.com

NBC LIve Election Night Chat on MSNBC.com, originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA

Great experiment with viewer video chat at MSNBC.com on election night 2010.

Are Massachusetts campaign workers breaking the law? 150 Feet

Are Massachusetts campaign workers breaking the law?



ELECTION DAY LEGAL SUMMARY:

Activities in the Polling Location
On Election Day, certain activities are prohibited within the polling location and within 150 feet of the polling place. General Law chapter 54, section 65 prohibits within 150 feet of a polling location, among other things, the posting, exhibition, circulation, or distribution of material--including pasters, stickers, posters, cards, handbills, placards, pictures or circulars--intended to influence the action of the voter. G. L. 54, § 65 (2002 ed.). Consistent with the activities restricted by statute, the implementing regulations prohibit the solicitation of votes for or against, or any other form of promotion or opposition of, any person or political party or position on a ballot question, to be voted on at the current election. 950 C.M.R. § 54.04(22)(d). Accordingly, a person standing within 150 feet of a polling location, including observers in the polling location, may not: hold any campaign sign; hand any person literature intended to influence the voter’s action at the polls; wear any campaign buttons or identifying signage; solicit a person’s vote for or against a candidate or question on the ballot; or, distribute stickers. Circulators of nomination papers, initiative and referenda petitions are also restricted from soliciting signatures within 150 feet of a building entrance door to a polling place. G. L. c. 54, § 65 (2002 ed.). This is true even where the nomination papers, initiative petition or referendum have nothing to do with the current election.

Anyone mind if I plug my new book while I'm here?

How to GET A PREVIEW of what YOUR ballot will look like in MASSACHUSETTS before you get to the polls

I'm always surprised when I get to the polls and see candidates for Governor's Council on there.

I usually have no idea who these people are, and at that pooint, it's too late to do research.

I contacted the Boston Election Department, and they showed me how to get a preview of the ballot.

Here's how:

Go to www.wheredoivotema.com Fill in your voter info (address, put in Boston as the city). When you click on the show me my election info link, a yellow highlighted area will pop up, with "show me my ballot", this will show the races that appear on your ballot as well as the ballot questions in an easy to read format.

Thanks!


State Election Ballot Sample

Did you know that there are three, non binding questions on the ballot?

THIS QUESTION IS NOT BINDING
*** Shall the state representative from this district be instructed to support legislation that would establish health care as a human right regardless of age, state of health or employment status, by creating a single payer health insurance system like Medicare that is comprehensive, cost effective, and publicly provided to all residents of Massachusetts?

THIS QUESTION IS NOT BINDING
*** Shall the state representative from this district be instructed to vote in favor of a non-binding resolution calling on the federal government to support the right of all people, including non-Jewish Palestinian citizens of Israel, to live free from laws that give more rights to people of one religion than another?

THIS QUESTION IS NOT BINDING
*** Shall the state representative from this district be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that would allow patients, with the written recommendation of their doctor or other registered caregiver, to possess and grow marijuana for the patient’s medical use?
Please Note: This is NOT a valid official ballot. Candidates for some local and county offices are not reflected in the ballot above. These offices may, however, appear on your ballot when voting.

Update: Those non binding questions might just be local to my area. Do you have local questions on your ballot?

Halloween: Take One. Please Resist Fear. Conan O'Brien

Halloween: Take One. Please Resist Fear. Conan O'Brien, originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA

msnbc.com will host a live video chat on election night

Over on SteveGarfield.tv at The Pulse Network I'm experimenting with Online Video and Social Media. Part of my exploration is into ways to make it easy for the audience to interact int eh live broadcast via a video chat.

I just heard from Brian August at Watchitoo that they are going to be working with msnbc.com to host a live video chat on election night. The chat is scheduled to take place Tues. Nov 2, between 7 and 8 pm.

Here is a mock up of what the experience will look like with instructions that explain how you can log into Watchitoo and activate your webcam.
msnbc.com election night video chat mock up

Here's more from Brian:

Once viewing the show, you will be contacted by a moderator via a chat room and you will be staged in our virtual "Green Room" until it is your turn to speak with the host. While that is happening, you will be able to watch the show. If possible, please have earbuds (or headphones) handy.

Looks promising.

Your thoughts?