What's to stop voters from absentee voting en masse?

[kitkat65]

Really. I'm curious. Sorry if this has been discussed before.

[BlueEyedSon]

1. Laziness?

[kitkat65]

3. Maybe I didn't make myself clear.

Sure, laziness is a democracy's worst enemy.

But, I meant a grassroots effort to get people to vote early with absentee ballots that leaves a paper trail.

This would avoid the possibility of machine problems and long waits.

[Warpy]

4. That'll do it in most cases, but a lot of states

restrict the absentee voting process to the point that people have to produce notes from doctors or other extreme circumstances that prevent them from getting to the polls.

Working a 12 hour day shift on election day 60 miles from your home precinct is not taken as an adequate excuse, by the way.

The ruling class doesn't WANT us to vote.

[kitkat65]

6. Has anyone ever challenged this rule for qualifying for an

absentee ballot?

[Warpy]

12. That takes time and a lot of money

so unless the ACLU can be persuaded to get involved, I don't see it happening.

[napi21]

2. I feel caught between a rock and a hard place here in Ga.

Our absentee ballots are manually entered into one of the electronic voting machines by someone at the main voting center, so I have to decide if I want to risk somebody entering my info wrong, either intentionally or not, and just using the damn machine myself. Either way, it doesn't eliminate the data manipulation, and unless EVERYONE used absentee, the paper trail woldn't matter.

[kitkat65]

5. What do they do with the absentee ballots once they're entered?

Remember, I said "en masse."

[napi21]

9. I don't know for sure. I'm going to assume they keep them

somewhere for at least a period of time.

Yes, I know you said en masse, but I don't think you could ever get a really high % of all the voters in any State to do that. IF 90%+ of all the voters voted absentee, you're right, you'd have your paper trail, but trust me, there would still be a fight because of people crossing things out, or checking outside the damn box or something!

It would be better than NO PAPER TRAIL at all, but, I just don't see it happening. The only way it works in Oregon is that "as a State" they ALL vote by mail.

[unpossibles]

15. in Florida, they keep them in a box under a desk

oh wait - you said "after they're entered." those weren't entered at all. Sadly, I am not sure I trust absentee voting any more than some other methods.

We're a larger number of absentee votes not counted, or was that just the provisionals?

It really makes me sad and angry that I don't trust voting.... even when I have felt unrepresented at times, I've always voted, and always tried to do so in an informed manner. These bastards truly are ruining our country and we need to stop them. If there are more shenanigans this year, I seriously hope more people are made aware of it at the very least and do something about it this time (not that no one was, but more en masse).

[Kip Humphrey]

7. No stamps?

[Frustratedlady]

8. I'm promoting it with my family and friends...

as it will get the message across that we don't trust the machines. If enough people do it, it will also slow down the process, which will definitely get their attention. I am even going to take a photo of my completed form before they pick it up or I mail it in.

Someone said that the absentee ballots aren't always counted, but I asked the gal who handled them and she was shocked that anyone would ever think that or even say that. They are counted...at least in my district.

I didn't have to do anything. The Democratic party called and asked if I wanted someone to come out and sign me up for absentee voting. They brought the form out, gave me a signed receipt for the sign-up page and the ballot will be mailed. Didn't take any time or energy. Do it! It's a good way to protest the machines.

Edit to correct sequence of events.

[kitkat65]

10. Really? The Demodratic party took the initiative in Iowa?

So, why aren't they doing that everywhere?

[Frustratedlady]

11. Yes, about a month ago.

They were using college students, I think. They have done it in years past, too. She said they will come and pick up the ballot, but I said I would probably mail it via certified mail just to make another point. She also said a lot more people were signing in for absentee voting than in years past. Maybe it isn't more secure, but it makes me feel better.

[nosillies]

13. I've always absentee voted

I've done it in four different states, and I've never been asked to provide a reason for voting that way.

[kster]

14. Good idea

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x438285

[kster]

16. Heres another

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=439351

[ladjf]

17. I'm not opposed to absentee balloting. But, someone explain

to me why that is a more secure way to vote? I'm not dissing the idea, just want to know.