Getting Inauguration Tickets

President-elect Barack Obama is set to become President of the United States on January 20, 2009. With such an historic election and huge win - it's no surprise that thousands of people want to see him take the oath of office.

Congressman Robert Wexler's office said they've received more than 1,500 requests on their Web site alone for inauguration tickets. In 2004, they received 150 tickets to give away. They have no idea how many they'll receive this year. His office said they will most likely be given out on a first come, first serve basis.

To contact Wexler's office for tickets - send an e-mail to wexler.tickets@mail.house.gov

Congressman Tom Rooney's office also said they've received numerous requests from people asking for tickets. They also don't know how many tickets they'll be receiving. They are waiting to hear from the White House administration to find out how many tickets they can give away, but that probably won't be until January.

Congressman Ron Klein's office has also received numerous requests for inauguration tickets and they are compiling a waiting list. To be added to the list, call 202-225-3026. 

Florida Senator Bill Nelson's office has received around 7,000 requests for tickets. After the 2004 election, they received 400 tickets to give away. His office is expecting to find out by the end of November as to how many tickets they'll get. 

The senator overseeing Barack Obama's swearing-in ceremony is writing to Internet sites like eBay asking them not to sell scalped inauguration tickets.

Senator Dianne Feinstein of California is also writing a bill that would make it a federal crime to scalp tickets to the historic event January 20.

Feinstein, who chairs the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, says she foresees overwhelming demand for the 240,000 available tickets and has heard reports of them being sold for as much as $40,000 online.

The tickets are supposed to be free to the public and distributed through congressional offices. The offices won't get the tickets until shortly before the inauguration, to try to prevent scalping.