Freedom Girl

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Sarko vs Sego or the French presidentials part 1
by joon

So I spent my whole Saturday (7:30 am to 9:30 pm) volunteering for my country! I was named assessor and basically checked people IDs and tell them what to do to vote for the first tour of the French Presidentials. When I was not doing that I was working on some small projects for my work because this whole thing was taking place at the school I work for so I was able to get some stuff done too which was pretty good.
Because I am telling you, we were not too busy!

This is the first time in history that french "expat" don't have to go to San Francisco to vote which they were not doing because who wants to fly twice in a month to go standing in line just to vote!
So they send a "consul deputy" in Portland, in Seattle and in others places in US to open a "bureau de vote" for local French immigrants! Thank you very much.

People were happy to come to vote, it was like being home. Going to a school to vote is very very traditional. Sunday is normally the day to vote in France but for the first time also, they decided to make us vote before which is pretty smart because last time people abroad knew what were the results when voting (difference of time) and so you don't vote the same that way!

Some numbers of people with French nationality in Oregon?
550 people (with French nationality) from Oregon and Idaho are registered to vote on the list of the Embassy in San Francisco (3 from Idaho)

1000 people (about) in Oregon are registered with the Embassy, according to the Honorary Consul present in Portland (Most of them can choose to vote "par procuration" in France. You basically choose someone (that you know and trust... obviously) to vote in your name in the city you are registered. This person must be registered on the same list)

2000 people would be present in Oregon without being registered to the Embassy, according to the same person. There is no way to verify this information obviously.

That would bring the numbers of people at 3000!?

550 people (with French nationality) from Oregon and Idaho are registered to vote on the list of the Embassy in San Francisco (3 from Idaho)

149 people came to vote yesterday. From whom, no Idaho voters, but some people came from as far as LaGrande and Bend!

57 votes for Sarkozy (Right)
42 votes for Royal (Socialist)
About 20 for Bayrou (right)
6 votes for Voynet (green party)
1 for Besancenot and 1 for Laguiller (communism party)
1 for Jose Bove
1 for someone that I don't remember
0 for Nihous, Shivardi, Buffet and (thank God) for LePen

2 votes were "nuls" People put two names in there!

The second tour is on May, 6th 2007. I won't be there and I will be flying from France to USA. And I will get the good or bad news when landing or maybe during my flight.

In June we will vote for the "legislative" and I will be asking someone to vote for me in France as it won't be happening here.

some people did say yesterday that it was like being in a small village and this is actually true. Having all those French people coming from all around did bring a nice feeling of community and when I think about it, if 550 people (149) do seem like a small village of "irreductibles gaulois" in Oregon.

It was really interesting to participate in this, even if it was quite difficult at the end (the four last 5 hours until we counted the votes and everything were pretty long) but we got to eat some "pains au chocolat" and "baguette sandwiches et pattisseries" delivered from one of my favourite bakery-pattisserie in Portland (St Honore). The "boulanger" (baker) delivering himself twice while coming voting is pretty cool and one of the assessor, known Wine Business man around got us some good beverage...

Feels good to be part of this community!

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