The Epidemic of Early / Absentee Voting

[PingSpike]

yeah it takes resources and creates opportunities for error, fraud, etc...

So, its just like regular voting then.

 

[hal2kilo]

So, its just like regular voting then.

What's the big deal? Oregon is 100% mail in and the vast majority of Washington state is mail in (exception is Seattle I think). Already voted.

Must be something about a party that really doesn't like the idea of making it easy for democracy to be implemented. I wonder which party that is?

 

[techs]

In general the Republican Party has traditionally been against early voting and longer voting hours.
The idea is that Republican voters tend to be wealthier and less tied to manual labor jobs that make it difficult for laborers and factory workers to make it to a polling station on election day.
Perhaps you are forgetting that one of the reasons for the Voting Rights Act was the areas of the country that tried to limit voting hours to make it difficult for minorities to vote.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Lets see.

I am not going to be in my home area on voting day.

Either use absentee ballot or early voting.
I need my vote to actually count

 

[rockyct]

Why are you against making it easier for people to participate in elections? It makes it easier for everyone. Since everyone wants the results basically immediately after the polls close, there is a mad rush to count votes. Spreading that out over two weeks makes everything run smoother.

If you have a small store and got let's say, 500 customers a day. Would you want them to come within the last hour of closing, or spread out throughout the day?

 

[theeedude]

I always vote absentee. Paper trail FTW

 

[Nemesis 1]

It's a lot better than only allowing people to vote on one day.

Exactly and the morality of people today rules out the possiability of cheating . Like allowing people who are felons vote . Most all of which are Dems.

 

[CallMeJoe]

Exactly and the morality of people today rules out the possiability of cheating . Like allowing people who are felons vote . Most all of which are Dems.

You can, of course, document this assertion...

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Keep in mind at the absentee ballots weeks in advances gives you time to figure out who you are voting for. In many areas you do not know what and who will be on the ballot until you see it.

 

[Jhhnn]

yeah it takes resources and creates opportunities for error, fraud, etc...

Hardly. It just creates opportunities to cast aspersions, deny legitimacy to election results.

Oregon votes entirely by mail, and I'd encourage anybody who can to do so, or to vote early so as to make it easier for the people who need to go to the polls on election day to cast their vote.

 

[wayliff]

I am not sure what the big deal is.

If people decide to vote absentee...

1. They have more time to educate themselves about what and who to vote for. But maybe they would still vote for just the party anyway...

2. Maybe people will actually vote - I think it encourages voting. Many people work during voting day and may not be able to make it, or don't want to because it takes too long. It would help if they moved voting to a weekend day.

I can't vote yet because I am not a citizen but I will next time and plan to do so doing absentee voting.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Keep in mind at the absentee ballots weeks in advances gives you time to figure out who you are voting for. In many areas you do not know what and who will be on the ballot until you see it.

Good point. At home I have my saved newspaper articles, voter's pamphlets, pro-candidate spam mail (useful for the list of endorsements), and access to the internet if I need to find out more than that.

 

[olds]

I voted a week ago.
I have to travel for work so I am never sure where I'll be on election day.
Eat me.

 

[CitizenKain]

Exactly and the morality of people today rules out the possiability of cheating . Like allowing people who are felons vote . Most all of which are Dems.

What exactly is wrong with people who are felons from voting? You are crazy and I assume they let you vote. I'm not sure if it counts when its drawn on a napkin with lipstick and it has a checkbox next to the Lizard People Party though.

 

[Craig234]

You can, of course, document this assertion...

Felons vote something like 90% Dem.

Which is why Republicans sometimes scheme to disenfranchise felons, to mask what they're doing.

 

[dawp]

Exactly and the morality of people today rules out the possiability of cheating . Like allowing people who are felons vote . Most all of which are Dems.

You do know that in a lot of states felons do get their voting rights back after they're off probation/parole and have paid their debt to society, don't ya?

 

[werepossum]

Felons vote something like 90% Dem.

Which is why Republicans sometimes scheme to disenfranchise felons, to mask what they're doing.

Why on earth would Republicans need to mask their "scheme" to "disenfranchise" felons, who in most places are not legally allowed to vote? Do they fear alienating the 10% of the population who think allowing felons to vote is a good idea?

I'm surprised you'd even admit that felons vote 90% Democrat, especially in a thread about Democrats' efforts to prevent voters from having to be identified. Perhaps you should do a quick run through of the stroke symptoms checklist; when you let the truth slip out, something bad's happened to your internal commissar.

 

[dainthomas]

The objection from the Pols seems to be mostly centered on the fact that people may vote before they release their last ditch slime attacks and thereby be immune to them. My personal objection would be that it widens the opportunity for fraud and shenanigans by partisan hacks of all persuasions.

Pretty much this.

Although slime attacks are pretty funny. The latest one in Oregon is that Chris Dudley loves rich people and hates waitresses. I'd pretty much never go out to eat again if I was that guy.

 

[CitizenKain]

Why on earth would Republicans need to mask their "scheme" to "disenfranchise" felons, who in most places are not legally allowed to vote? Do they fear alienating the 10% of the population who think allowing felons to vote is a good idea?

I'm surprised you'd even admit that felons vote 90% Democrat, especially in a thread about Democrats' efforts to prevent voters from having to be identified. Perhaps you should do a quick run through of the stroke symptoms checklist; when you let the truth slip out, something bad's happened to your internal commissar.

So why is felons voting a bad thing? Or anyone with a felony in their history?

We let soldiers vote for some reason.

 

[Exterous]

The more people vote absentee or early the less congestion and the smaller the chances of someone not getting to vote because of lines and such. I don't see any problem with it.

Sadly - in my area- I have never had to wait to vote.

That said I have no issue with voting early. I do think that absentee votes should always be counted too - regardless of whether it's a close race or not

 

[Siddhartha]

The more people vote absentee or early the less congestion and the smaller the chances of someone not getting to vote because of lines and such. I don't see any problem with it.

The higher the percentage of eligible voters vote the better the Demcratic Republic form of government works.

 

[Siddhartha]

Exactly and the morality of people today rules out the possiability of cheating . Like allowing people who are felons vote . Most all of which are Dems.

Please provide a link that supports your statement.

 

[Throckmorton]

Why on earth would Republicans need to mask their "scheme" to "disenfranchise" felons, who in most places are not legally allowed to vote? Do they fear alienating the 10% of the population who think allowing felons to vote is a good idea?

I'm surprised you'd even admit that felons vote 90% Democrat, especially in a thread about Democrats' efforts to prevent voters from having to be identified. Perhaps you should do a quick run through of the stroke symptoms checklist; when you let the truth slip out, something bad's happened to your internal commissar.

Why do you oppose felons voting?

 

[Bateluer]

I always vote absentee. Its easier, I don't have to worry about crowds or trying to get time off from work.