Who early voted? I just did!

[meldroc]

This morning before going to work, I finished putting together my voting cheat sheet and went down to my local university's student union where one of the county's early voting stations are set up.

As far as voting systems go, I wasn't entirely happy - all the equipment is made by Diebold, but I got to choose whether to vote with a paper optical scan ballot or a new touchscreen system (at least the touchscreen systems do have printers that generate a voter-verified paper trail, unlike some places.) Of course, I chose a paper ballot (and you should too if you have the option!) It went pretty smoothly. I checked in, went from station to station, got my ballot (had to show my drivers license :mad: ) and filled out my optical scan ballot, and fed it into the Diebold optical-scanning ballot box machine.

So I've done my civic duty, for whatever good it will do. I don't know if my vote will be counted fairly and correctly, but if I smell fraud, I'll take to the streets on November 8th. Don't say I gave up on democracy.

I do recommend voting early if you have the option. Absentee ballots are vulnerable to fraud and disenfranchisement, and many of the dirty vote suppression tricks (not enough voting machine == long lines, voter intimidation, etc.) can be bypassed if you vote early instead of on Election day. And if you're fortunate enough to be able to still vote on a paper ballot, you can watch your ballot go into the ballot box, rather than dropping it in a mailbox and hoping it doesn't get lost.

[ronnykmarshall]

1. Absentee.

Mailed it last week.

[Philosoraptor]

3. me too last week, voted for Claire McCaskill

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. Voted absentee Monday. Paper ballot instead of punch cards.

Most people in Washington do. The paper ballots are new.

[SharonAnn]

16. TN has Early Voting, limited locations but on-site from 10-28 to 11-2

Early Voting is the Best Thing ever! I never have to worry about missing Election Day (happened once when I got called out of town on an emergency at the last minute and there was no time to get an Absentee Ballot).

We voted yesterday, usually we vote on the first day.

My husband said, as we're going in, "How are we voting?" So, I had to take a few minutes and explain the ballot to him (Anti-gay marriage amendment was confusingly written). We voted straight "D" and on the one uncontested race (State Senate) we just didn't vote. He said he was going to write me in but at the last minute he didn't.

[RobertSeattle]

4. And many states don't require "an excuse" - they just let you vote early

Grandma has a doctor appointment November 7th - No excuse Gramps - go vote!

http://www.ncsl.org/programs/legman/elect/absentearly.h...

No-Excuse Absentee Voting

The following states permit any registered voter to vote by absentee ballot. Voters are not required to state their reason or excuse for voting by absentee ballot.

Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Florida
Hawaii
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Maine
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Mexico
North Carolina
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Oregon*
South Dakota
Utah
Vermont
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

[Connie_Corleone]

11. Where's Ohio?

Ohio has No-excuse absentee voting.

[RobertSeattle]

17. Maybe that site has old info

Webpage is as of October 27th, 2004. Sorry.

[NoPasaran]

5. Did it first thing Monday morning

Straight Democratic ticket
:dem:

[Justice Is Comin]

6. I wrote it two on non candidate votes

as John Diebold.

[turbo_satan]

7. Me! Absentee -- voted for Katherine Harris.

Just kidding! Held my nose and voted for DINO Bill Nelson.

What happens with my absentee ballot, nobody knows...

[bluedog]

13. absentee also Florida n/t

[biscotti]

8. Got my ballot yesterday in the mail

Will do it this weekend. There are about 10 Judges on it. I will have to research them first.

[partylessinOhio]

9. Mailed back my absentee ballot on Monday.

Voted for all Democrats except for governor, no Blackwell, voted for Green Party candidate.

Voted no on most issues and taxes. Voted no on issue 4 and yes on issue 5, the Smoking issues.

Do be careful on the judges, in this area their party is not listed.

With Michael Vu heading our Board of Elections (Ohio, Cuyahoga County) I cannot be sure mine or any ballot will be counted.

[emdee]

10. Took my parents and early voted on the first day!! nt

nt

[medeak]

12. yesterday....and feel the need for a news fast now n/t

[Annces]

14. I did

felt very good.

[catmandu57]

15. Ours went back with the mail last week

Do it and then change your avatar to I voted.