Early Voting? I Don't Get it.

[sportage]

Maybe I'm wrong, but isn't early voting simply absentee voting? And is that not legal everywhere?
If a state has early voting, don't that simply mean some physical location where absentee ballots are handed out, then filled out, and shoved into a ballot box?
Isn't this simply absentee voting minus the mailman?

So if a state cuts back or eliminates early voting, isn't that just concerning an actual location, a building somewhere, when people walk in and vote absentee?

So why could not someone, anyone just request an absentee ballot by mail, fill it out, mail it in, and there you have it. Early voting minus the brick and mortar.

So whats the problem?
Just do it by mail, if voting on the actual day is a problem.

I think people are confusing early voting with absentee voting, which are one in the same.
And absentee voting I thought was available to anyone everyone anywhere in any state?
Since when has there been restrictions on requesting an absentee ballot?

Missouri, for example

REQUEST FOR MISSOURI ABSENTEE BALLOT

I, _________________________________, do hereby request an absentee ballot for the (print name)
_________________________________________Election.
For identification purposes, the last four digits of my social security number are __________.
If the election is a primary election, please print the name of the political party ballot you wish to receive ____________. If you registered by mail and this is your first time voting you must provide a copy of current valid photo identification or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and address.

Reason for requesting an absentee ballot:
______(1) Absence on Election Day from the jurisdiction of the election authority in which registered to vote
______(2) Incapacity of confinement due to illness or physical disability, including a person who is primarily responsible for the physical care of a person who is incapacitated or confined due to illness or disability;
______(3) Religious belief or practice
______(4) Employment as an election authority, as a member of an election authority, or
by an election authority at a location other than your polling place ______
(5) Incarceration, provided all qualifications for voting are retained

Address where I am registered to vote:
_____________________________________________ (Street address) _____________________________________________ (City, State, Zip Code)
Address where ballot is to be mailed:
_____________________________________________ (Street address) _____________________________________________ (City, State, Zip Code)
Telephone number: _________________________________ (Include area code)
I do solemnly swear that all statements made on this application are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
________________________________________________ ______________ Signature of Registered Voter Date
Mail this completed form to your local election authority. The appropriate address can be found on the Missouri Secretary of State’s web site.
Missouri law requires that requests for absentee ballots must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the Wednesday prior to Election Day if the ballot is to be mailed. The deadline for absentee voting in person in the office of the election authority is 5:00 p.m. on the day before the election. If you registered by mail and this is your first time voting you must provide a copy of current valid photo identification or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and address.

 

[doubledeluxe]

I've done both. Going to the early voting place because I was going to be on vacation in November. However the absentee voting is more of a permanent thing. I now get the ballot and voter information packet months in advance by email. It stays in effect until I tell them otherwise.

 

[DCal430]

Maybe I'm wrong, but isn't early voting simply absentee voting? And is that not legal everywhere?
If a state has early voting, don't that simply mean some physical location where absentee ballots are handed out, then filled out, and shoved into a ballot box?
Isn't this simply absentee voting minus the mailman?

Yep this is correct, at least in California. I was shocked this year when I learned this is what "early" voting actually means. You just get an absentee ballot and envelope in person, that you can drop off in to a collection box in person. Your vote isn't fed though a counting machine until election day. It is no different than the other absentee ballots.

 

[DCal430]

I've done both. Going to the early voting place because I was going to be on vacation in November. However the absentee voting is more of a permanent thing. I now get the ballot and voter information packet months in advance by email. It stays in effect until I tell them otherwise.

In California you can do one time absentee, which really is no different than the early voting except instead of picking up the absentee ballot in person it is mailed to you.

 

[doubledeluxe]

There is a difference. I mail my absentee ballot in since I'm not in the USA.

 

[highland145]

My Dad would say, "I might be dead by election day."

 

[Londo_Jowo]

In Texas early voting is going to the polls and submitting your vote on a voting machine, no different than voting on election day. If you can't make it to the early voting or election day polls you can request an absentee ballot.

 

[Demo24]

In Texas early voting is going to the polls and submitting your vote on a voting machine, no different than voting on election day. If you can't make it to the early voting or election day polls you can request an absentee ballot.

Same here in Georgia.

 

[FerrelGeek]

In Texas early voting is going to the polls and submitting your vote on a voting machine, no different than voting on election day. If you can't make it to the early voting or election day polls you can request an absentee ballot.

Pretty much the same in Ohio. I recently moved and hadn't established full legal residence in my new town, so I had to go an early voting location and file for a provisional ballot, which I had to fill out manually vs the voting machines. Those doing early voting used the machines.

 

[boomerang]

In Texas early voting is going to the polls and submitting your vote on a voting machine, no different than voting on election day. If you can't make it to the early voting or election day polls you can request an absentee ballot.

Have they reduced the number of voting locations for early voting? The expense is what limits us to 'day of' in Michigan. You can absentee, but election day is voting day.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

Have they reduced the number of voting locations for early voting? The expense is what limits us to 'day of' in Michigan. You can absentee, but election day is voting day.

Based on the listing of polling places for early voting in Ft Bend County I would say no, it appears to be the same places as it was 2 years ago.

Looks like election day has 4 times the polling places to vote.

http://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/index.aspx?page=919

http://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/index.aspx?page=1099

 

[boomerang]

Based on the listing of polling places for early voting in Ft Bend County I would say no, it appears to be the same places as it was 2 years ago.

Ah, the advantages of a thriving economy... :thumbsup:

 

[row]

speaking of voting:



hahahahahahaha

 

[who?]

There are fewer places for early in Arkansas but you have the same choice of paper or electronic as on election day. Here in Washington county the electronic machines weren't showing party affiliations on Monday so they had to tape a paper with that info to them so people could vote by party if they wanted to.

 

[who?]

With early voting I can vote on my day off.

 

[werepossum]

In Texas early voting is going to the polls and submitting your vote on a voting machine, no different than voting on election day. If you can't make it to the early voting or election day polls you can request an absentee ballot.

Same in Tennessee. I considered it last election because I never know when I might be sent out of town on short notice, but the county has only the one location and lines were insane every time I went by. On election day, my wait turned out to be only ten or fifteen minutes IIRC.

 

[MtnMan]

My Dad would say, "I might be dead by election day."

Lots of dead people vote in places like Chicago.

 

[werepossum]

Lots of dead people vote in places like Chicago.

Voting after death is not nearly attractive enough to convince a southerner to move to Chicago.

 

[theeedude]

Permanent absentee is the way to vote. I think they should pay postage though.

 

[compuwiz1]

My ballot always arrives in the mailbox, as it has for years. I simply vote and mail it back in.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

My ballot always arrives in the mailbox, as it has for years. I simply vote and mail it back in.

Me three.

 

[chowderhead]

some states like Pennsylvania do not allow early voting only absentee voting with a valid reason.
The difference between early voting and absentee voting (in most states) is that you don't need any reason to vote early. In some states, there are strict reasons that the voter must give in order to vote by absentee i.e. out of the city/state, primary care giver, military, etc. It's a fine point but the states should really make voting as easy as possible but some states do not.

 

[who?]

Before Jimmy Carter got rid of the practice, many people in Georgia would vote for their dead spouses as well as for themselves.

 

[highland145]

Before Jimmy Carter got rid of the practice, many people in Georgia would vote for their dead spouses as well as for themselves.

Best President ever.

 

[michal1980]

liberals need time to stuff the ballot boxes.