I don't like absentee voting....

[Dookus]

unless you're truly "absent" from your precinct.

I know all the arguments about paper trails.... but I believe somebody capable of rigging an electronic machine is just as capable of "losing" a few paper ballots.

I love to vote. I've done it every primary and general election for 25 years. I LOVE the whole process - waiting in line, signing in, thanking the old volunteers, marking my ballot, casting my vote. I think it's a great American tradition.

I also don't like that people vote up to 6 weeks before the election - I think that's wrong. I think if you DO vote absentee, it should be postmarked no more than 5 days before the election. Too much changes late in the game: I want everybody voting at once, not spread out over a few fortnights.

Who else loves voting in person?

[redqueen]

1. I love voting in person, too

I like taking my kids, and showing them the first, least-you-can-do step of keeping your government honest and yourself free (at least as much as possible, considering).

And I've talked with volunteers who have testified to how absentee ballots are just as susceptible as any method to being lost or whatever, either due to malice or poor training. I got hit in the early voting for the 2002 midterm primaries - probably had my vote miscounted, so I don't even vote early anymore.

Sad sad state of affairs these days.

[Dookus]

3. what do you mean

you got "hit" in the early voting? What happened?

[redqueen]

5. The DRE machines were recording all votes for Repub gov

*sigh*

Wonder how many extra votes Goodhair Perry got during early voting, before it was discovered.

[bossfish]

2. I like voting in person...

...but have voted absentee for years. My work takes me away from home on short notice very often. I usually send in my ballot 7-10 days prior to election day.

[gratuitous]

4. Stay out of Oregon, then

All elections are vote-by-mail, in effect, absentee balloting.

[LSdemocrat]

6. Are absentee ballots even counted if there are no close races?

[Dookus]

7. I think it varies

from state to state, or even locality to locality, but it's true that many places don't count them unless the number of absentee ballots could actually change the outcome. In other words, if Candidate A wins by 10,000 votes and there are 8,000 absentee ballots, they don't even get counted.

[ParanoidPat]

19. Please show me what state or locality doesn't count absentee.....

....ballots unless the election is close! I've read the election code for all 50 states and have not found anything that indicates what you claim. Once again I believe you are confusing provisional ballots with absentee ballots.

In California for example, the law regarding the counting of absentee ballots reads as follows.

ELECTIONS CODE
SECTION 15100-15112



15100. The provisions of this chapter apply to the processing of
absentee ballots during the 29-day period before any election, during
the semifinal official canvass, and during the official canvass.



15101. (a) Any jurisdiction in which absentee ballots are cast may
begin to process absentee ballot return envelopes beginning 29 days
before the election. Processing absentee ballot return envelopes may
include verifying the voter's signature on the absentee ballot
return envelope and updating voter history records.
(b) Any jurisdiction having the necessary computer capability may
start to process absentee ballots on the seventh day prior to the
election. Processing absentee ballots includes opening absentee
ballot return envelopes, removing ballots, duplicating any damaged
ballots, and preparing the ballots to be machine read, or machine
reading them, but under no circumstances may a vote count be accessed
or released until 8 p.m. on the day of the election. All other
jurisdictions shall start to process absentee ballots at 5 p.m. on
the day before the election.
(c) Results of any absentee ballot tabulation or count shall not
be released prior to the close of the polls on the day of the
election.


15102. The official shall appoint a special counting board or
boards in numbers that he or she deems adequate to count the absentee
ballots. The official shall provide for the forms of tally books
and the distribution of the duties of the members of the canvassing
board.
When the tally is done by hand, there shall be no less than four
persons for each office or proposition to be counted. One shall read
from the ballot, the second shall keep watch for any error or
improper vote, and the other two shall keep the tally.



15103. The elections official shall pay a reasonable compensation
to each member of the canvassing board of absentee ballots. This
compensation shall be paid out of the treasury of the agency
conducting the election as other claims against it are paid.




15104. (a) The processing of absentee ballot return envelopes, and
the processing and counting of absentee ballots shall be open to the
public, both prior to and after the election.
(b) Any member of the county grand jury, and at least one member
each of the Republican county central committee, the Democratic
county central committee, and of any other party with a candidate on
the ballot, and any other interested organization, shall be permitted
to observe and challenge the manner in which the absentee ballots
are handled, from the processing of absentee ballot return envelopes
through the counting and disposition of the ballots.
(c) The elections official shall notify absentee voter observers
and the public at least 48 hours in advance of the dates, times, and
places where absentee ballots will be processed and counted.
(d) Absentee voter observers shall be allowed sufficiently close
access to enable them to observe and challenge whether those
individuals handling absentee ballots are following established
procedures, including all of the following:
(1) Verifying signatures and addresses by comparing them to voter
registration information.
(2) Duplicating accurately any damaged or defective ballots.
(3) Securing absentee ballots to prevent any tampering with them
before they are counted on election day.
(e) No absentee voter observer shall interfere with the orderly
processing of absentee ballot return envelopes or processing and
counting of absentee ballots, including touching or handling of the
ballots.


15105. Prior to processing and opening the identification envelopes
of absent voters, the elections official shall make available a list
of absent voters for public inspection, from which challenges may be
presented. Challenges may be made for the same reasons as those
made against a voter voting at a polling place. In addition, a
challenge may be entered on the grounds that the ballot was not
received within the time provided by this code or that a person is
imprisoned for a conviction of a felony. All challenges shall be
made prior to the opening of the identification envelope of the
challenged absent voter.


15106. Except as otherwise provided, the processing of absentee
ballot return envelopes, the processing and counting of absentee
ballots, and the disposition of challenges of absentee ballots shall
be according to the laws now in force pertaining to the election for
which they are cast. Because the voter is not present, the
challenger shall have the burden of establishing extraordinary proof
of the validity of the challenge at the time the challenge is made.



15107. If a challenge is overruled, the board shall open the
identification envelope without defacing the affidavit printed on it
or mutilating the enclosed ballot and, without viewing the ballot,
remove it and destroy the numbered slip, if any remains, and store
the ballots in a secure location.



15108. If a challenge is allowed, the board shall endorse on the
face of the identification envelope the cause of the challenge and
its action thereon.


15109. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the counting
and canvassing of absentee ballots shall be conducted in the same
manner and under the same regulations as used for ballots cast in a
precinct polling place.


15110. Reports to the Secretary of State of the findings of the
canvass of absentee ballots shall be made by the elections official
pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 15150) and Chapter 4
(commencing with Section 15300).


15111. The elections official shall keep an accurate list of all
voters who have received and voted an absentee ballot at each
election and compare this list with the roster of voters as provided
in Section 15278. That list shall include the election precinct of
the voter.



15112. When elections are consolidated pursuant to Division 10
(commencing with Section 10000), and only one form of ballot is used
at the consolidated election, the ballots cast by absent voters shall
be counted only in connection with elections to which absent voter
privileges have been extended by law.
Whenever the period of time within which absent voters' ballots
shall be received by the elections official in order to be counted,
as provided for any election by this code or any other law of this
state, is different from that period of time provided for another
election, and the elections are consolidated and only one form of
ballot used for both elections, all absent voters' ballots issued for
the consolidated election may be counted for both elections if
received by the elections official within whichever period of time is
longer.

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. They are in Pennsylvania

After the polls close at the precinct, the poll workers tabulate the machine votes and add in the absentee ballots.

[Florida_Geek]

11. In Florida they are counted BEFORE the election

in most cases. The only ones late counted are the ones that arrive on election day. Both Dems and Repugs have people there watching the count.

[lastliberalintexas]

9. Well, I like the benefit of early voting

In Texas, we have the option of voting during a 2 week period immediately preceeding election day. It is a wonderful option which allows people to vote at times and places which may be more convenient than the actual election day.

You still go to the polling place and you still get to talk to the little Blue Hairs running the show! Just much more flexible for people's very busy lives.

And of course, you still have the option of voting on that Tuesday in March or November if you choose.


However, since we do have early voting in this state, it is absolutely unacceptable that we rank 48 or 49 in turnout. Apathy is the murderer of democracy.

[AngryAmish]

10. I would prefer to absentee

but never have grounds to do so. I despise people.

My daddy would not be able to vote without absentee, too.

[Dookus]

13. oh, I have no objection

to people who sincerely can't get to a voting site.

But I think we lose something when we take out that little bit of communal ceremony.

[AngryAmish]

17. You should see my neighbors

Ugly, ugly people.

[Dookus]

18. lol...

ok, you get special misanthropic dispensation.

[MuseRider]

12. I agree.

The whole process feels good and right. I even love wearing that stupid "I Voted" sticker, I wear it with pride. I also took my kids when they were little and explained it all to them. Now they are voting and would not miss the opportunity. My oldest even drove 60 miles to come home from the university to vote in our last governors election. I don't think I could live with myself if I did not do it. The entire process, like you said, is a feel good moment.

[stevedeshazer]

14. I used to think that, too

I'm in Oregon, where we have vote-by-mail. In effect, EVERYONE votes absentee.

You get your ballot 2-3 weeks before the election. No hassle of getting off work early/coming in late. Elderly folks and shut-ins can just put a stamp on their ballots and mail them in without having to arrange for transportation. No lines, no chance you'll show up and find out you're not on the voting rolls and you've been purged as a "felon". It has raised voter turnout, and that is a good thing.

It's a family event for us. We sit at the kitchen table and mark our ballots and discuss the issues more freely than can be imagined at a public polling place. It's very cool.

I thought I would miss the election day ritual, too, but found that replacing it with a "family caucus" was much more rewarding.

We don't vote right away. Usually we wait until the day before or the day of the election and drop off the ballots at the county election headquarters.

Then we go home and watch the results come in on our teevee.

I am definitely a convert who was skeptical at first.

[Dookus]

15. I can't argue with the convenience of it...

I just think there are so few events in our culture that actually bring us together as citizens. Live voting is one of the last ones out there, and I'll be sad to see it go.

[redqueen]

16. Great point you're making here

I agree with you and am glad you brought it up.

:thumbsup: