An open letter to student voters, especially greeks:\nIn Bloomington elections, student turnout is usually dismal. We're talking low single-digit percentages.\nSuddenly this year tons of students are newly eager to vote. Some are so eager, they're risking breaking the law to do it.\nSince I'm a candidate, I'd love to promote myself here, but suddenly this election isn't about candidates any more.\nIt's about my mom. Who's also a Greek.
Working her ass off\nNo. I mean, she's actually from Greece. The country. Where Greek letters come from. She has a Greek accent and everything.\nMy mom's also the quintessential "house mom." She's been baking trays of Greek cookies. Wrapping them in hundreds of little baggies. Attaching stickers that say, "Stephen Volan for District 6," and, "Cookies compliments of Stephen's mom," all for me to hand out while I go door-to-door asking for votes. All her idea.\nMy mom works her ass off. She has all her life. She's taught me a lot about an honest day's work. You ought to know why.\n\nThe right to go to a poll\nMy mom grew up during the Nazi occupation of Greece. One reason she came here was because for two centuries now, Americans have conducted elections peacefully (yes, even in 2000).\nHerman B Wells was one of those Americans. For three months in 1946, while he was IU's president, he actually observed the elections in Greece, just to make sure they were fair. That's how important elections were to him.\nIt didn't help. The Greeks soon broke into civil war. Mom says it was worse than the Nazis, if you can imagine.\nMy mom went to a lot of trouble to live here. America's a place where, among many other things, she can go vote without having to risk her life.\nShe'd have a hard time appreciating a voter too lazy to show up at a polling booth.\n\nHarmless little checkbox?\nSpeaking of an honest day's work, 250 people in IU greek houses have applied for mail-in absentee ballots this year. They all checked the little box claiming that they have to "work" the entire 12 hours the polls are open (starting at 6 a.m.!) on Election Day.\nSome slick dude did some fast talking at those houses. He played politics with their ignorance. Besides being almost criminal, this guy was unbelievably lame because he's totally dissing my mom.\n\nHow to vote legit\nI don't care who you vote for. Just do it in person. If not for my sake, for my mom's.\nBy the way, the state's made voting easier for you. Nowadays in Indiana, you can vote early. Starting this year, you don't need any special reason to vote before Election Day. But to do it, you have to show up at the early-polling booth. It's the Voter Registration Office, in the Justice Building downtown. You can vote there through Nov. 3 during regular business hours.\n\nHop in my mom's minivan\nSo don't fill out that mail-in ballot.\nInstead, let my mom give you a ride to the polls.\nStarting Oct. 27, she's helping me drive people to the Justice Building, to anyone who wants to vote early. \n(The mom-type minivan is really cute.)\nCall 335-8720, or email svolan@bluemarble.net. We'll schedule a time to take you. Dorm residents and other non-greeks are equally welcome.\nYou'll at least score some cookies from a nice little old Greek lady.
