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How do absentee ballots count/work?

As far as I know, most states are quite similar.
[*]You ask for one.
[*]They mail you the absentee ballot when it is printed.
[*]You fill it out and sign it.
[*]You mail it back.
[*]They collect them and let them sit in piles uncounted.
[*]They count the number of normal votes.
[*]If the result isn't close, they never touch the absentee ballots at all.
[*]If the result is close, then they will count the absentee ballots.

I did this throughout college as I never changed my permanent address from my hometown (a stupid law won't let me count dorms as a permanent address even if you live there for years non-stop).
 
three-fifths vote 😛



Basically, you send them in and they count the vote.. just like any other vote.. And, just so you can't help but wonder, they don't give you a receipt or anything and you never know if it was actually counted. But, this happens in all votes. I want my damn receipt. I was a absentee voter in 2000 in FL for Bush.. maybe I wasn't counted!!! I WAS DISENFRANCHISED!! omg omg omg
 
Here (MI) I have to fill out a little "application" thing and send that in, and then they send the ballot which I fill out and send back.
 
Originally posted by: dullard
As far as I know, most states are quite similar.
[*]You ask for one.
[*]They mail you the absentee ballot when it is printed.
[*]You fill it out and sign it.
[*]You mail it back.
[*]They collect them and let them sit in piles uncounted.
[*]They count the number of normal votes.
[*]If the result isn't close, they never touch the absentee ballots at all.
[*]If the result is close, then they will count the absentee ballots.

I did this throughout college as I never changed my permanent address from my hometown (a stupid law won't let me count dorms as a permanent address even if you live there for years non-stop).
Click to expand...

If you establish residency in the new state, county, etc. that your school is in, there's no reason that I know of that you can't vote there. Except in certain limited circumstances, it's usually a good idea, because then you'd only have to pay out-of-state tuition for the first year.

I think the idea behind the law you're talking about is to keep people who haven't established residency from being able to vote both in their home state as well as where their school is located. What state is this, by the way? I'd be curious to look into it.

Also, I don't know where you got the idea that absentee ballots are only counted if the result is "close". As far as I know, federal law requires that all ballots be processed no matter what.
 
Originally posted by: dullard

[*]If the result is close, then they will count the absentee ballots.
Click to expand...

In CA, they start counting the absentee ballots up to 7 days before election day. Those are reported as soon as polls close. They are required by state law to count every valid absentee ballot.
 
Originally posted by: SirPsycho
If you establish residency in the new state, county, etc. that your school is in, there's no reason that I know of that you can't vote there. Except in certain limited circumstances, it's usually a good idea, because then you'd only have to pay out-of-state tuition for the first year.

I think the idea behind the law you're talking about is to keep people who haven't established residency from being able to vote both in their home state as well as where their school is located. What state is this, by the way? I'd be curious to look into it.

Also, I don't know where you got the idea that absentee ballots are only counted if the result is "close". As far as I know, federal law requires that all ballots be processed no matter what.
Click to expand...
The 2000 election problems highlighted the absentee ballot problem. At that time, most were unprocessed except for the close races. Maybe things have changed - ok an update, most states now start counting after the election polls have been closed. Many states still allow them to be received well after the election day (this has been shortened due to the 2000 election problems in many locations though). Florida in particular still counts overseas ballots 10 days after election day.

I specifically voted in Nebraska. Grew up there, went to school there. I was not allowed to change the county of my vote. It wouldn't have mattered either way on any election. My car was to be registered and licensed in my old county, etc. There are a lot of special laws for students. Maybe if I fussed I could have gotten someone to accept a dorm as a permanent residence.
 
Originally posted by: sciencewhiz
Originally posted by: jadinolf

There are so many propositions on my ballot that it will be a while before I mail mine in. :thumbsdown:
Click to expand...

Yep, I'm in the same position.
Click to expand...

I wish there were some on mine. I just did an absentee from NY and it was so boring. Done in 2 mins.
 
I'm working at the presidential election this year as an election inspector, so in Michigan, this is how it works:

ABSENTEE BALLOTS ARE ALWAYS COUNTED. Don't ever think for a SECOND that any precinct in any ward in this entire country just throws ballots away. That is not democracy, and that's not how a popular voting system works. City clerks are in the business of enfranchising voters, not throwing their ballots away.

Absentee ballots are delivered to the precinct where they belong (i.e., if you normally vote in Ward 4, Precinct 2, your ballot WILL end up at that polling place during election day) and they are fed through the voting machine during non-busy times during election day.

ONCE AGAIN, ALL ABSENTEE BALLOTS, JUST LIKE ALL REGULAR BALLOTS, ARE COUNTED.
 
Originally posted by: jumpr
I'm working at the presidential election this year as an election inspector, so in Michigan, this is how it works:

ABSENTEE BALLOTS ARE ALWAYS COUNTED. Don't ever think for a SECOND that any precinct in any ward in this entire country just throws ballots away. That is not democracy, and that's not how a popular voting system works. City clerks are in the business of enfranchising voters, not throwing their ballots away.

Absentee ballots are delivered to the precinct where they belong (i.e., if you normally vote in Ward 4, Precinct 2, your ballot WILL end up at that polling place during election day) and they are fed through the voting machine during non-busy times during election day.

ONCE AGAIN, ALL ABSENTEE BALLOTS, JUST LIKE ALL REGULAR BALLOTS, ARE COUNTED.
Click to expand...

THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION !!!!
 
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