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Nov. 4th unofficial statewide results from the Secretary of State and county and local results from the Washtenaw County Clerk are online. Unofficial results for other Michigan counties are also available. For 2008 nationwide results with an historical perspective, check out the Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.

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Your sample ballot, from President of the United States right down to your City Council Ward candidates, is available now from Michigan Votes. Once you fill in the info on the opening screen you'll go to a page with a purple "View My Sample Ballot" button. There's a handy print feature on the sample ballot page too. Need more info on the candidates and proposals? Check out the League of Women Voters of Michigan Statewide Voter Guide and the MLive local candidate guide.

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The most trusted name in non-partisan legislative research in Michigan, the Citizens Research Council of Michigan has produced analyses and summaries of the two proposals that will appear on the statewide Nov. 4 ballot. The MSU Extension Service has also produced a short analysis of the proposals. Proposal 01 would allow under state law the medical use of marijuana and Proposal 02 would permit--with certain limitations--stem cell research in Michigan.

This coming Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m., The Old West Side Association will be sponsoring a fall forum where you can meet your current representatives: Rebekah Warren, state representative, Mayor John Hieftje and Mike Anglin, City Council member. You can also meet the Fifth Ward candidates: John Floyd and Carsten Hohnke who are running for City Council and Chris Easthope and Eric Gutenberg who are candidates for 15th District Court Judge. The forum will be held at Bach School.

Also, check out an inspiring collection of true stories in Your America by John Siceloff based on episodes of the PBS news program, NOW, about ordinary Americans making changes in their local communities.

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The Michigan League of Women Voters 2008 Nonpartisan Voter Guide is now available at all AADL branches. The Guide covers all statewide elections and ballot proposals. The Guide also includes biographies and answers to questions for all candidates who responded. The League offers an online version of the Guide that includes the handy Clip & Take to Polls list. Polls open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4th. Click here for more information on voting in Michigan.

I Like Ike

Tired of all the presidential campaigning that's been going on for so incredibly long? Take a break from all the political ads with some...um, political ads. The Museum of the Moving Image has created an online exhibit that charts the history of presidential ads on television, beginning with Dwight Eisenhower's first commercials 56 years ago. The Living Room Candidate contains over 300 commercials from the last 15 presidential elections, with analysis of the themes that pop up over and over, election after election. Let yourself be charmed by 1952's singing cartoons or reminded that attack ads and calls for change as strategies to win elections are not recent inventions.

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Think Local! Local candidate debates will be broadcast live on CTN Channel 19 on Monday, Oct. 13 beginning at 6 p.m. and on Tuesday, Oct. 14, beginning at 7:00 p.m. The sponsors, the League of Women Voters of Ann Arbor, has a complete listing for the debates on their website. Candidates for State House, County Sheriff, District Court Judge, Ann Arbor Mayor, Ann Arbor City Council and Washtenaw Community College Board of Trustees will square off and answer questions posed by the League. A rebroadcast schedule will be published when available.

October is Fire Prevention Month. Please take some time out to remind kids how to be “fire smart.”

This super Web site is just the thing to help you teach elementary-age kids the basics of fire safety and prevention. The “Where’s the Fire?” five-minute online video covers all the basics in an entertaining way.

The library has some great fire safety resources to offer, as well!

Stop, Drop, and Roll and Fire Safety are both great books that teach kids about fire safety. The Big Red DVD, suitable for kids ages 2-8, takes a "fireman's view" and features fire trucks and fire safety lessons along the way. The Fire Busters DVD includes fire helicopters, planes, boats, and trucks.

The library also has plenty of wonderful picture books featuring fire trucks and firefighters. Check some out, and get fire smart!

Pulp Tree

Michael Moore will be at the Michigan Theater today to talk a bit then premiere his latest film "Slacker Uprising". The film is about Moore's tour of the US during the 2004 presidential campaign.

Doors open at 4 p.m. Film at 6:20. Admission is free.

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Just stop by the Downtown Library on Friday, Sept. 19, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. or Saturday, Sept. 20, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., and volunteers from the League of Women Voters will assist you in getting registered. Wondering if you're already registered? Check online at Michigan Votes.