[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=33155.07

Voter Registration Deadline Is Near
INDIANAPOLIS - The deadline to register to vote in the May 6 Indiana primary is April 7, Secretary of State Todd Rokita said.

The deadline is for voters who need to register for the first time and for voters who have moved or changed their name.

Anyone not registered to vote may register in person at the county voter registration office, county clerk's office, or any Bureau of Motor Vehicles license branch.

Voters may also mail in their registration form, available on the Secretary of State's Web site at www.sos.IN.gov. Mailed registration forms must be postmarked by April 7.

To be eligible to vote a person is both a U.S. citizen and a resident of Indiana, at least 18 by Nov. 4, not currently in prison, and have lived in a precinct where for at least 30 days.

Hoosiers can check registration status, polling places and county-specific contact information at www.indianavoters.com.

Also, the Web site www.PhotoID.IN.gov explains the basics of Indiana's photo ID law.

[Dave]

Just wanted to give this a bump. Any CBTLakers out there who aren't registered, why the heck aren't you? It's one day when all the political spotlights are on you.

I know people sometimes don't sigh up because they don't want to get called for jury duty. There are two problems with that.

Second is that it's despicable, because jury duty is a civic duty, part of the price for living in a civilzed society.

The first reason that it's a problem is that it is stupid. Jurors aren't chosen from the voter registration rolls anymore, they are chosen from a list prepared from information gathered from the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Revenue, so to avoid jury service you'd have to be a tax evader and either not drive or drive without a license. Being registered to vote doesn't enter into the equation.

You have until Monday to register. Lots of places to do it, including the Obama headquarters at 618 Franklin, the county courthouse in Laporte, and lots of other places.