Absentee voting

[ccharles000]

Should I do absentee voting I got this thing in the mail today. Is it safe? I have never voted in a general election before as I am only 19.

[Boz]

1. Depends on your state, I feel in most cases if you want your vote to matter, you do it in person

unless you can't. In California almost 50% of the votes cast are by mail in absentee ballots.

To me thats just screaming manipulate me, especially when you realize this is people mailing in a vote they could cast but are to lazy to go the polls.

The other thing is in most cases the absentee ballots arent counted unless they are needed, which in a close election as this is likely to be means they may not count until too late.

[ccharles000]

3. What about early voting.

Is early voting safe.

[Boz]

4. For our guy, yes, it cost him california in the Primary, by the time voting rolled

around into california in february people knew who he was and he was dead bang strong, but more votes were cast in december for Hillary, but thats a different beast all together and doesnt play here.

Pre voting is counted immediately as part of the vote( in most places) where as absentee votes are counted as Provisional ballots(in most cases) and Provisional Ballots are only counted if they are "needed" because Provisional ballots usually need extra vetting and confirmation, so they only do it if they have to(in most cases).

[POAS]

2. In Ohio

this is the first time anybody for any reason can vote absentee. The Obama campaign is encouraging early voting, either by mail or in person in Ohio.

[Boz]

5. Early voting is different then Absentee (in most cases) so be careful

[POAS]

7. Ohio Has new procedures this year

You can early vote in person at selected sites in each county. My county only has one site but it is going to be open 7 days a week.

For the first time this year anyone is eligible to vote using an absentee ballot. No reason need be given. Absentee ballots will be accepted up to the close of polls on election day but those must be dropped off at the county BOE office. In fact when the county sent out its voter notification cards stating the place to go vote they included an absentee ballot application.

[crispini]

6. I don't know the laws in your state.

In my state, only those who will be out of town, or are older than 65, are allowed to absentee vote. It's not the same as early voting which is a couple of weeks before the election. If you are a student away at school you may have to absentee vote.

However, I would doublecheck what you got in the mail - lots of folks have gotten stuff from the McCain camp lately. I would google your county elections office and read the instructions on their website for absentee voting -- just google your county name + elections.