I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election

Subject: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Oct 12 - 09:31 PM

The configuration for early voting (and absentee voting) varies around the U.S., but I encourage everyone, regardless of your political beliefs, to vote. All of this chatter on Mudcat is just that, chatter. The one thing that really has meaning is if you exercise your right to vote.

Stilly River Sage, a Texas voter

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Oct 12 - 10:08 PM

We filled out our mail-in ballots this weekend; plan to deliver them, tomorrow.



kat & her Rog, Colorado voters

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Jeri
Date: 22 Oct 12 - 10:25 PM

We can vote early (I just verified that), but I like the experience of going to the polls. Of course, it's a small town. The first time I voted, it was elsewhere. I stood in line for a long time in an echo-y school gym, with a lot of irritated people. It's a lot more fun going to the town hall, chatting with the campaign folks out front, and buying bake-sale stuff inside.

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Don Firth
Date: 22 Oct 12 - 10:53 PM

We just got our mail-in ballots in this afternoon's mail delivery. We know who we are going to vote for in the national election, and for most of the state offices, but we have a smidgen of research to do on candidates for some state and local offices, and for a couple of the initiatives and referenda. On these, we're pretty certain, but we just want to make sure we haven't missed anything.

We're studying the voter's pamphlet and other sources of information, and our ballots will be mailed in within the next day or two.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Oct 12 - 10:54 PM

I only waited about five minutes at the sub-courthouse, shared a few brief remarks with the man behind me, but basically people were there to vote and get it over with.

SRS

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: GUEST,marks(0n the road)
Date: 22 Oct 12 - 11:04 PM

Did it this afternoon. No lines, no sweat, no time off from work, and shared some laughs with the folks at the courthouse.
It is a nice way to go
Mark (New Jersey voter)

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Oct 12 - 11:55 PM

The rest of the world voted weeks...even months ago...why the USA procrastination?

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 12:04 AM

Guest, I suspect you speak of the Primary Elections. In the USA there are definite rules as to when one can vote in any election.

I too like the ambiance of Election Day itself but this year I was thinking of going early. Then the other evening I got a call from a volunteer urging an early vote. I told her I'd been thinking of doing it and said she had made me decide to go tomorrow.

So I went "tomorrow" and discovered that in Alaska, voting early (as well as absentee voting) is not legal until TODAY, October 21.

Humph. Maybe I'll go tomorrow.

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Don Firth
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 12:05 AM

Well, GUEST, when we vote depends on a number of things. Among these things, it's difficult to vote unless the polling places are open (kinda pointless, really), or until the official mail-in ballots are sent out to the voters.

Sort of basic. . . .

Don Firth

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 09:39 AM

GUEST was gargoyle. Need I say more?

Silly question, all things considered.

The question should be "why does your country work so hard to prohibit specific demographics from being able to legally vote?" These "voter fraud" laws are NOT aimed at preventing illegal voting, they are generated by the GOP and are aimed at groups who can not easily access the "free" IDs that are now required for voting in many locations. Who usually vote Democratic as a block. This local Dallas NPR hour-long program is an interview with a researcher in the field:

Defending the right to vote

SRS

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 10:09 AM

Have my absentee ballot right here - am just trying to decide how to vote on the various State proposals...

Funnily enough, I will actually be in the US on voting day (for the first time in many years), but not in my home state - and my absentee ballot MUST be posted from outside the US, so it'll be "done & dusted" before I head "home".

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 10:22 AM

The rest of the world voted weeks...even months ago...why the USA procrastination?

Because the choice to hold general elections in November was made when the US was still a largely agrarian society. It was the month when voting would pose the least hardship to farmers. The harvest was in, winter travel wasn't yet difficult, and supplies of home-made hard cider were plentiful so as to make election day bans on alcohol sales more bearable.

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 01:43 PM

My absentee ballot goes into post this Saturday. When do they actually count the mail in and absentee ballots?

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 02:00 PM

It somehow sounds unsporting.

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 02:25 PM

"When do they actually count the mail in and absentee ballots?" VATam

Is there a typo there? Not sure what you are asking.

Absentee ballots must have been mailed (stamped) by the end of Election Day itself. They must be received in the Elections office within 15 days after the election. They are counted - as a group - AFTER the other ballots.

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Deckman
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 02:49 PM

I mailed our ballots this morning. So ... does that mean that our phone will stop ringing with those annoying "robo-calls"? bob

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Bill D
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 03:01 PM

My regular voting place is 2 min. away, and the 4-5 places for early voting are from 15-35 min. away. I've never had more than a 20 minute wait, so I'll go on election day.

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Oct 12 - 08:33 PM

It isn't a sport, so it is just fine to spread it out and make voting easier for more people. Absentee or mailed in ballots may be counted last, but the important point is, THEY ARE COUNTED. There is never an occasion when they aren't counted. Despite the myths floating around out there.

SRS

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Oct 12 - 08:29 PM

Today in my university library we had the vice provost discuss work he has done on making legal counsel available to indigent individuals who have been arrested. The topic hasn't come up in the debates or ads, but it is one of those "what makes America great" kind of topics - we provide legal representation if you can not afford it. This usually reserved and high-on-the-academic-food-chain Political Science professor really gets going when he talks about the work he did for 15 years on a committee to oversee and revise state policies. His closing remarks had to do with a race in the November 6 election against one of the corrupt judges in the state. She closed down her judge's office at 5pm, even though she knew that a death penalty appeal was going to be arriving any minute now. . . it made the news. It was wonderful to hear that in something, Texas has cleaned up its act.

The "Fair Defense Act" happened because Dubya, in one of his last acts as governor, vetoed a bill that had unanimous support in the Texas House and Senate. It seems the judges didn't like it because it took away a patronage perk they enjoyed. And the veto was such an embarrassment (it was discussed in many national news programs) that when the same state senator introduced the bill again to the next legislature, he tightened it up even more and it passed. Judges can no longer pick and choose what attorneys to give cases to - give a complicated death penalty case to someone who didn't support you in your last campaign and you can put him out of business if you choose not to pay him. Give simple cases to your supporters and they could take the check to the bank. Doesn't happen that way any more.

Elections make this possible. GO OUT AND VOTE.

SRS

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Bobert
Date: 24 Oct 12 - 08:29 PM

I voted today...

B~

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Ebbie
Date: 24 Oct 12 - 08:56 PM

Humph. I didn't. I went up the hill to the Division of Elections to the Alaska Office Building, the Spam Can (It is tall and silver with a red 'ribbon' around the top). There they sent me to the State Office Building, or as we fondly call it, the S.O.B. There, the only option was Absentee voting- no 'early' voting.

I could have gotten on the bus and ridden 10 miles to the Mendenhall Mall to do Early Voting. I decided not to. My whole aim - since I am going to be in town on Election Day - was to boost the early voting count. Absentee doesn't affect that.

So I'll wait until Election Day- which I prefer anyway.

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: GUEST,999
Date: 24 Oct 12 - 10:44 PM

As Ebbie said, absentee and early voting are two different things. It's much the same in my country. Canadian citizens can vote in elections in Canada provided they have that right (municipal, provincial, territorial or federal). Absentee voters are folks like military personnel, business folks, vacationers, etc., who are out of the country or area in which they would normally vote. Early voters are folks who expect to be away from where they would normally vote on the day of the vote.

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Jeri
Date: 24 Oct 12 - 11:00 PM

I've voted absentee, but never early. I might end up doing it this year, though, as I'll be working about 45 minutes away, but I'm sure I'll miss the fun.

Apparently, we have a voter ID law that will be in effect. However, if you don't have ID, you have to fill out a "challenged voter affidavit" (whateverthehell that is).

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: GUEST,999
Date: 24 Oct 12 - 11:03 PM

http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/2651.htm

There ya go, Jeri. Pretty much the same here.

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Jeri
Date: 24 Oct 12 - 11:18 PM

Indiana's sorta close. They look a bit more hard-ass than NH, but that's only my opinion. I shouldn't have a problem, as I have a bunch of "approved" photo IDs... OK, I shouldn't have a problem if I remember to bring at least one.

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 10:48 AM

There's a good hour-long discussion now (first hour on Oct. 25, 2012) of the Diane Rehm show about "The Myth of Voter Fraud." It will be available later on a podcast.

SRS

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: John P
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 06:30 PM

Our mail-in ballots went out this morning. I've been very glad for the existence of the internet as I've researched all the issues over the last few days. Oddly, I even ended up voting for a Republican for Lt. Governor. He turned out to be a lot more progressive than the Democrat and got the endorsements from some of the environmental groups and from NARAL.

We don't have polling places anymore in Washington State. I like the convenience and money-saving aspects of all mail-in ballots, but I miss going to the polls and meeting my neighbors as we take part in our democracy.

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Jeri
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 06:37 PM

New Hampshire doesn't have early voting, but the polls are open late enough for me to get there. Then I get to stay up way too late watching the results roll in...or maybe I'll just wait to be surprised on Wed morning.

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Oct 12 - 12:09 AM

I cast my first votes in Washington State. I agree, it can be nice to meet friends at the polling place, but in my little town here in Texas it is usually pretty quiet at the polls. You'll have to go to the post office now if you want to meet your neighbors - as long as there is a post office, mind you!

SRS

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 31 Oct 12 - 08:16 PM

I'm a bit puzzled why anyone should choose to vote early, unless they knew it would be particularly hard for them to get to the poll on the day.

After all something might happen that made them change their minds, or altered the situation.

In one way isn't it a bit like opening your presents early?

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Oct 12 - 09:58 PM

Not likely, Kevin. Not in this race. And in this race, voting early might have been a good thing for folks who are now totally engaged in recovery efforts after the hurricane.

SRS

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 06:43 AM

The logical extension would be to have an arrangement ike a direct debit or a standing order, so you would register a permanent vote for one side which would continue until you cancelled it.

I somehow think that would be a bad thing.

How about all those early voters for Romney who now might be thinking it wasn't such a good idea as they watch events unroll during the storm disaster? Or of course any early Obama voters who might now wish they'd gone the other way and that they'd voted instead for a man who wanted to get rid of FEMA and who ridiculed the idea that there might be anything to worry about in "climate change".

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: The Sandman
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 08:49 AM

I suggest everyone votes for Obama, I have had 20 euros on him, but I think he is also the better candidate, unfortunately i am not able to vote

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: John P
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 09:43 AM

After all something might happen that made them change their minds, or altered the situation.

It seems unlikely that anyone will do something in the last two weeks before an election that would alter my opinion of them, which is based on looking at their behavior and words over many years. Even if they were reported to have done something that would change my mind, two weeks wouldn't be enough time to determine if the reports were true.

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 11:15 AM

The big question facing states now is how to get people to the polls if they don't have power or buildings where the polls traditionally are located. If voting is moved or postponed, the partisan arguments about who benefits the most may drown out the main fact that people who want to vote will be unable to because of circumstances beyond anyone's control.

SRS

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Nancy King
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 11:21 AM

While I understand the many advantages of early voting, I still don't really like the idea, because I feel everyone should be voting with the same knowledge base (as McGrath suggests). However, because the hurricane posed the possibility of long-lasting power outages here in Maryland (we've had them before), and since I figured I wasn't going to change my mind, I voted last Saturday. VERY long lines -- I've never had to wait more than a couple of minutes at my regular polling place. The electrical problems didn't occur, as it happened -- that's a very good thing -- and now I kinda wish I'd waited. There's just a better feeling about voting on election day. Ah well, it's done.

And no, voting early does NOT, unfortunately, stop the robo-calls.

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: frogprince
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 11:21 AM

We took advantage of our over-sixty-ishness to pick up ballots at the township hall and do our thing a few days ago. We had our personal reasons, because of the effects of my wife's heart attack, with long resuscitation time, in June. There's nothing wrong with her basic intelligence, and she knows her mind so far as how she wanted to vote. But we had a real question over whether she could look at the ballot and keep what-goes-where straight without a little oversight.

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 07:22 PM

There have been years when the weather was horrible on election day - but the scope of the storm's disaster path early this week may trump the effects of any previous election day snowstorm. It's a question for the statisticians to examine.

SRS

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: GUEST,999
Date: 01 Nov 12 - 07:28 PM

. . . and 'Jimmy the Greek'.

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Don Firth
Date: 02 Nov 12 - 12:53 AM

Barbara and I went over all of the information available--Voter's Guide published by the State of Washington and mailed to every registered voter, and a number of other sources of reliable information we've gleaned over the last several months, discussed each candidate and issue. We know what our philosophies and principles are and we studied each candidate, initiative, and referendum in depth.

Then we filled in our ballots and mailed them in today.

Election day is Tuesday. So now we wait and see.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: GUEST,TIA
Date: 02 Nov 12 - 11:17 AM

Voted early with a paper absentee (PA), handed it directly to the board of elections rep....no optiscan or other bullshit machine. I'm doing it this way every time from now on.

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 03 Nov 12 - 10:50 AM

I had to mail mine from the UK, so no handing it in to anyone. However, I wouldn't be surprised if the registrar office in my last county of residence shreds or conveniently loses it. It is a heavily conservative district. Sigh.

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 03 Nov 12 - 03:22 PM

At least on the coverage we get in England, there are hardly any African Americans at the Republican rallies...was this the case before Obama? And will Americans ever be ready for Native American leadership? My poem on "Americans" - http://www.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse/blog/455408778

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Jeri
Date: 03 Nov 12 - 03:35 PM

I don't think leaders are elected because of their ethnicity.
It's mostly whether people think they'll be a good leader running on a good platform.

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: GUEST,999
Date: 03 Nov 12 - 03:35 PM

For those who wish to comment--an option on the site--but aren't on Myspace, here is David's poem.

WALKABOUTSVERSE 220 OF 230
Poem 220 of 230: AMERICANS

Before becoming a guest-lecturer,
    "Ethnic Americans," said a leader
From an equally-ethnic U.S. kind -
    Sparking Amerindian chant to mind...

(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Jeri
Date: 03 Nov 12 - 03:39 PM

O_o

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Nov 12 - 04:49 PM

I agree with Jeri. WTF?

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 03 Nov 12 - 06:56 PM

I prefer Obama's Democratic policies, for what it's worth; but I would have thought some African Americans would prefer Republican policies..? (P.S: unlike Facebook, we don't have to be signed-in to goto anything on Myspace.)

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Nov 12 - 07:15 PM

No, as a rule of thumb, most minority voters tend to vote Democratic. That's why the GOP is trying so hard to scare them away from polling places and passing "voter fraud prevention" laws with unreasonable requirements to make it difficult or impossible for many to comply with.

There is still early voting going on in some states, but it ended yesterday in Texas.

SRS

Subject: RE: I Voted Early: Nov. 6 General Election
From: Jeri
Date: 03 Nov 12 - 09:03 PM

Not as emphatic as "WTF". Mostly I was boggled. As in "that doesn't make any sense to me, and I'm TRYING."

There are African American Republicans. Remember the RNC Chairman Michael Steele? He got ousted, and I'm guessing that, as seen in his recent appearances on MSNBC as a pundit, he was a little too reasonable for the current GOP.

Remember Herman Cain?

But seriously, the GOP is the party of the privileged, or at least that's how many people see it these days. I think there are more white billionaires than African American billionaires.