why doesn't everybody vote absentee?

[gopunk]

i'm just curious... i can't think of any advantage to *not* voting absentee...

 

[Yossarian]

having your vote count in the initial count is always a good thing.

 

[sciencewhiz]

Originally posted by: Yossarian
having your vote count in the initial count is always a good thing.

why?

 

[KnickNut3]

You have to plan ahead to get the ballot, and decide earlier.

Plus, it feels less "democratic." (The form of government, not the party.)

 

[illustri]

its that form of voting most vulnerable to fraud, that said I tried registering absentee but haven't gotten my ballot, guess I'll just walk to my poll haha.

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: Yossarian
having your vote count in the initial count is always a good thing.

er... why? it's too late then to influence people anyways... since the ballots are supposed to be postmarked on the election day.

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: KnickNut3
You have to plan ahead to get the ballot, and decide earlier.

Plus, it feels less "democratic." (The form of government, not the party.)

plan ahead? where i live, they come in the mail... and you don't have to decide earlier, since they just have to be postmarked the day of the election.

 

[Yossarian]

Originally posted by: gopunk

Originally posted by: Yossarian
having your vote count in the initial count is always a good thing.

er... why? it's too late then to influence people anyways... since the ballots are supposed to be postmarked on the election day.

I thought absentee ballots weren't counted unless the initial vote was "close".

 

[KnickNut3]

My area you only get a guide to the ballot in the mail, not something you can mail back.

Absentee is a special application process, and it must be mailed back and RECEIVED by election day.

Well, states run elections, hence why this varies.

 

[BHeemsoth]

Originally posted by: Yossarian

Originally posted by: gopunk

Originally posted by: Yossarian
having your vote count in the initial count is always a good thing.

er... why? it's too late then to influence people anyways... since the ballots are supposed to be postmarked on the election day.

I thought absentee ballots weren't counted unless the initial vote was "close".

I think they are all counted. Usually they end up going along the same lines as the regular ballots so they make litte/no difference.

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: Yossarian

Originally posted by: gopunk

Originally posted by: Yossarian
having your vote count in the initial count is always a good thing.

er... why? it's too late then to influence people anyways... since the ballots are supposed to be postmarked on the election day.

I thought absentee ballots weren't counted unless the initial vote was "close".

i think that's only true in some states... but even if that is the case, if they don't count them, it means that the number of absentee ballots sent out by the elections office is smaller than the margin of the voting booths. so it makes no difference... if the race was close enough to the point where the absentee ballots might make a difference, they would then be counted.

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: KnickNut3
My area you only get a guide to the ballot in the mail, not something you can mail back.

Absentee is a special application process, and it must be mailed back and RECEIVED by election day.

Well, states run elections, hence why this varies.

i see... interesting

 

[nageov3t]

absentee ballots are usually counted last. plus, it's not like voting in person is a major hardship.

 

[Bryophyte]

All Oregonians vote by mail, and I heard on the news today that 2/3 of all Washington voters are permanent absentee voters (I was too when I lived up in Washington.)

 

[tk149]

I used an absentee ballot this time.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: gopunk
i'm just curious... i can't think of any advantage to *not* voting absentee...

I don't know but I've done it for 11 years.

No brainer.

 

[gistech1978]

i voted absentee one year, had to track down a notary public.

sort of a PITA if you axe me.

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: gistech1978
i voted absentee one year, had to track down a notary public.

sort of a PITA if you axe me.

Why would you need a notary? That kind of defeats the purpose (a lot of voters vote by absentee because they are handicapped/elderly and can't get out of the house easily.)

 

[imported_Strang]

Originally posted by: gistech1978
i voted absentee one year, had to track down a notary public.

sort of a PITA if you axe me.

That would be incredibly lame. In WA, the only reason you would need a witness (or any interaction with someone else, I guess) would be if you can't sign your name on the ballot (and have to put an X).

All I had to do was open the ballot, fill it out, put it in the envelope, seal it and sign it, then put a stamp on it and mail it.

 

[vegetation]

They count all absentee ballots as it's not unusual for local level elections to be won just by a few dozen votes.

 

[FoBoT]

here you have to go through a process to get a mail in ballot

i want my vote counted first, not last and it is much easier to stop by the baptist church on my way to work than to fill out a form 3-4 weeks before the election, wait for the mail stuff to come, pay my own postage to send it back, hope the post office doesn't lose it, etc, etc

voting "normal" is normal for me

 

[gistech1978]

Originally posted by: Bryophyte

Originally posted by: gistech1978
i voted absentee one year, had to track down a notary public.

sort of a PITA if you axe me.

Why would you need a notary? That kind of defeats the purpose (a lot of voters vote by absentee because they are handicapped/elderly and can't get out of the house easily.)

you sign the voter roll when you vote, there is someone there to see you sign it.

voting absentee, you sign the ballot or some form. you need someone there to witness it.

that was the breaks, dont know what else to tell ya.

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: gistech1978

Originally posted by: Bryophyte

Originally posted by: gistech1978
i voted absentee one year, had to track down a notary public.

sort of a PITA if you axe me.

Why would you need a notary? That kind of defeats the purpose (a lot of voters vote by absentee because they are handicapped/elderly and can't get out of the house easily.)

you sign the voter roll when you vote, there is someone there to see you sign it.

voting absentee, you sign the ballot or some form. you need someone there to witness it.

that was the breaks, dont know what else to tell ya.

I've never heard of a state with a requirement like that. Most places, they verify your signature by checking it against your signature on your voter registration card after you mail your ballot in.

 

[SuperTool]

I am a permanent absentee voter.
Not really in the mood to stay in line on tuesday. I did have to pay 80 cents postage on that huge ballot we have in CA though.