I voted early in person here and it allowed me to do so with my husband and kids who came home from college to do so. Paper ballot, in person, so exactly the same as it would have been today. Two comments: we have to give a reason in Virginia which is kind of dumb, voting with your family isn't one! And two, maybe they should just call it "voting" rather than "early voting". Lots of countries vote over a period of time to make sure everyone gets a chance. Anyway, I'm a fan.
3
Some suggestions, which will require tax dollars to be spent:
(1) More polling places
(2) Up-to-date machines that have been tested and that work. Ballot scanners also require #3 below:
(3) Paper ballot trail to reconcile any problems
(4) Early, accessible and convenient voting sites with uniform hours/days throughout each state
(5) A streamlined, efficient process conducted by election officials (I was an election official today - it can be done)
(6) Adequate publicity about locations of polling places and requirements for registration and ID if needed
In my city, cab companies were giving voters free rides to the polls. There was a free ride available for voters without the necessary ID to get to the Dept. of Motor Vehicles. And there was a TON of publicity in printed and social media about how to register and what to bring to the polls.
(1) More polling places
(2) Up-to-date machines that have been tested and that work. Ballot scanners also require #3 below:
(3) Paper ballot trail to reconcile any problems
(4) Early, accessible and convenient voting sites with uniform hours/days throughout each state
(5) A streamlined, efficient process conducted by election officials (I was an election official today - it can be done)
(6) Adequate publicity about locations of polling places and requirements for registration and ID if needed
In my city, cab companies were giving voters free rides to the polls. There was a free ride available for voters without the necessary ID to get to the Dept. of Motor Vehicles. And there was a TON of publicity in printed and social media about how to register and what to bring to the polls.
2
Reading your's gives me hope.
I voted two weeks ago by mail. There are no polling places in WA State, there are no long lines or broken voting machines. Its all by mail. I can go online and verify my ballot was received and will be counted. My overseas family members van vote by email. I wish the rest of the country would get with it.
1
Utah backed into mail-in ballots this election. The Republican state legislature didn't exactly approve the measure. They just refused to fund enough polling stations thus making mail-in ballots a necessity by default. This is a defensible compromise to them I suppose.
The whole process is still a mess though. Voters need to have their ballots postmarked yesterday in order to count. That's reasonable if you live in Salt Lake County. If you live in San Juan County, a last minute voter has little chance for their ballot getting counted before the election is over. As of Monday evening, only 33% of mail-in ballots were received by election officials.
That leaves roughly a million voters with few alternatives. You can physically hand in your ballot at a polling station or wait in line for a machine. There are now only 37 polling stations in the entire state for about 1.58 million voters. After mail-in votes, that's somewhere around 30,000 voters per polling station.
If stations were evenly distributed and peak demand were disbursed, that might work but this isn't the case. These locations are all centered around a few urban hubs and people have jobs. Most people weren't even aware of the change in the first place. Expect long lines.
While I appreciate the convenience of early voting, I think Utah clearly demonstrates the intention can go awry quickly. Whether malicious or not, the reform was a botched job. You can bet most people won't even realize until it's to late.
The whole process is still a mess though. Voters need to have their ballots postmarked yesterday in order to count. That's reasonable if you live in Salt Lake County. If you live in San Juan County, a last minute voter has little chance for their ballot getting counted before the election is over. As of Monday evening, only 33% of mail-in ballots were received by election officials.
That leaves roughly a million voters with few alternatives. You can physically hand in your ballot at a polling station or wait in line for a machine. There are now only 37 polling stations in the entire state for about 1.58 million voters. After mail-in votes, that's somewhere around 30,000 voters per polling station.
If stations were evenly distributed and peak demand were disbursed, that might work but this isn't the case. These locations are all centered around a few urban hubs and people have jobs. Most people weren't even aware of the change in the first place. Expect long lines.
While I appreciate the convenience of early voting, I think Utah clearly demonstrates the intention can go awry quickly. Whether malicious or not, the reform was a botched job. You can bet most people won't even realize until it's to late.
1
I will shout Hallelujah the day I read a story that mentions the election-administration challenges and risks of early voting. When you vote on Election Day at a polling place (assuming a paper ballot), you have full control of your ballot until you insert it into the machine. If you mail a ballot, you must fill it out correctly; you don't get a second chance if you make a mistake. You must fill out a ballot envelope correctly, with the right destination address. You must get a witness to fill their part out correctly, without any poll worker there to confirm that the handwriting is legible and all the info is in the right place. You must trust the postal service to get it to the right place at the right time.
And what will happen after your ballot is delivered? Where will it be stored? Who will have access, authorized or otherwise? Who will judge whether your envelope is legible and correct, and what will happen if they decide it's not? What will happen if your ballot is damaged or unreadable? Who ensures the ballot you submitted is the one inserted into the computer?
I'm sure only a tiny minority of election workers are corrupt. But you wouldn't trust your paycheck deposit to a bank staffed entirely by honest but lightly trained temp workers who get maybe five days of experience a year with very little if any effective oversight. Yet we are not even curious about what happens to our ballot 'deposits.' Do we imagine some Election Fairy Godmother will protect our ballots?
And what will happen after your ballot is delivered? Where will it be stored? Who will have access, authorized or otherwise? Who will judge whether your envelope is legible and correct, and what will happen if they decide it's not? What will happen if your ballot is damaged or unreadable? Who ensures the ballot you submitted is the one inserted into the computer?
I'm sure only a tiny minority of election workers are corrupt. But you wouldn't trust your paycheck deposit to a bank staffed entirely by honest but lightly trained temp workers who get maybe five days of experience a year with very little if any effective oversight. Yet we are not even curious about what happens to our ballot 'deposits.' Do we imagine some Election Fairy Godmother will protect our ballots?
1
Anybody who says voting is too difficult is promoting voter fraud. I am constantly surprised how easy voting is. All you need to do is to state a name, address and birth date. That's it. No verification of any kind. Kind of disturbing.
2
I liked going to the polls in CA when I had plenty of time. If there had been long lines it would have been a different story. It was a time to catch up with people I hadn't seen in a long time; obviously this was a rural area.
However, I'm now in OR and I love the mail in voting. It is so simple. I can't see why everyone doesn't have it.
However, I'm now in OR and I love the mail in voting. It is so simple. I can't see why everyone doesn't have it.
Is'nt there something at odds with the democratic process about introducing "early voting" ? If an issue crops up in the days that might swing public opinion against a particular candidate coming up to Polling Day and people have already voted..is this fair to the opposing candidate? There seems to be a certain rationale behind the notion of an election period which gives all candidates time to put their message across and with holding voter choice to the end of this period.
3
Early voting...another sign of a lazy electorate.
3
Here in my county in the state of Washington we have to vote by mail, which we sent in a couple weeks ago. Is that early voting since they don't count the vote until today? It kind of leaves me cold since I don't get to feel the excitement of going to the polls. We have to put a stamp on our ballots and mail them in - I often wonder how many people that disenfranchises since you have to get to the post office to buy the stamp. No, I'm serious about that. I think election day should be a national holiday - every one off to vote. And automatic voter registration - somehow. I'm sure smarter people then I could figure that out.
I love mailing in our ballots. You should be able to put your ballot in a special box at a shopping mall, like I did, and not even purchase a stamp. Island County in WA does this, so I thought the whole state did. Maybe you just don't know where yours is?
1
I know of almost nobody here in CA who waited until today to vote. Virtually everyone votes by mail, and we can track the progress of the ballot being received and counted on line. I see news stories and posts from around the country about long lines, transit strikes disrupting turnout, and voter intimidation, and I wonder how in 2016 it's possible that some states cling to such an antiquated system.
2
While I recognize the need for some cases of early voting, most of it is nothing more than convenience. Stand in line for a movie or ball game, hey no problem, stand in line for a bit to vote and it's some sort of national calamity.
I honestly feel too early a balloting period can actually help discourage voting (as in articles we've seen about one campaign/candidate or another being favored early on by certain turn outs) which is a decided negative. I also think that while I don't enjoy waiting anymore than the next person, 30 minutes every two or four years won't hurt me in the least. Plus it's part of a unifying experience of citizenship to be together with your fellow Americans of all stripes and opinions, to share the experience together.
I honestly feel too early a balloting period can actually help discourage voting (as in articles we've seen about one campaign/candidate or another being favored early on by certain turn outs) which is a decided negative. I also think that while I don't enjoy waiting anymore than the next person, 30 minutes every two or four years won't hurt me in the least. Plus it's part of a unifying experience of citizenship to be together with your fellow Americans of all stripes and opinions, to share the experience together.
5
Casting your vote on a day that's not Election Day does not have the same meaning as voting on the day set aside by the Founders of America to vote. That's why they call it Election Day for heaven sake> Get it? Election Day? Duh!
3
I'd like to mirror the statements of the other commenters from Washington AC (across the continent) that we have a sane and rational voting system here. Ballots are mailed to all registered voters and are numbered. They are sealed in a signed envelope, which is put in another envelope and either mailed in or put in a conveniently located drop box. Any question about the legitimacy of the ballot can be resolved by checking the number and signature against a roll of registered voters. Along with our signatures we also provide a phone number in case of questions. Of course we are a reliably blue state, so anxiety is lower than it must be in Florida or N. Carolina. I'm sure if I lived in a battleground state I'd be out driving voters to the polls, vote monitoring, etc. instead of sipping a latte and watching early returns.
2
For those about to vote, I salute you. You've heard the reasons to vote for Clinton, so let me provide a different perspective.
We've all heard it said that she's a flawed candidate. I consider her so-called flaws major strengths. She's a knife fighter and that's what we need to fight off the Republicans and turn the tide. We've seen what the Republicans are like and we know they'll stop at nothing.
I'd say that the Republicans have tried to pull her down for decades because they're afraid of her strengths. They also know she has a long memory for those who do her wrong.
What's needed is a house cleaning and that'll take someone unafraid to get their hands dirty.
Liberals must stop rolling over for the Republicans. They just laugh at namby-pamby liberaldom and "can't we all just get along" and gleefully push their power-at-all-costs agenda.
You've seen what they did to Obama and the Supreme Court. All because we just don't fight back. But the best way to stop a bully is to punch them in the nose.
What we liberals need is someone skilled and unafraid to wield power - if she wins, I want to see some justice. And it would be particularly gratifying to see the Republicans get their comeuppance from a woman.
We've all heard it said that she's a flawed candidate. I consider her so-called flaws major strengths. She's a knife fighter and that's what we need to fight off the Republicans and turn the tide. We've seen what the Republicans are like and we know they'll stop at nothing.
I'd say that the Republicans have tried to pull her down for decades because they're afraid of her strengths. They also know she has a long memory for those who do her wrong.
What's needed is a house cleaning and that'll take someone unafraid to get their hands dirty.
Liberals must stop rolling over for the Republicans. They just laugh at namby-pamby liberaldom and "can't we all just get along" and gleefully push their power-at-all-costs agenda.
You've seen what they did to Obama and the Supreme Court. All because we just don't fight back. But the best way to stop a bully is to punch them in the nose.
What we liberals need is someone skilled and unafraid to wield power - if she wins, I want to see some justice. And it would be particularly gratifying to see the Republicans get their comeuppance from a woman.
2
We have mail voting here in Oregon... I like it, since we receive our voter info pamphlets well before they send out the ballots, so we have time to take a look at them and do any research ahead of time...
I also appreciate not having to drive to a polling place, deal with traffic, parking, and waiting in line to vote..!
:-)
I also appreciate not having to drive to a polling place, deal with traffic, parking, and waiting in line to vote..!
:-)
Voting must be convenient for all. For years, we have asked for a weekend or holiday from work day so everyone can participate conveniently. That hasn't happened. Early voting works well too, but it needs to be available to all. Really, months of campaigning is plenty of time to decide for those who wish to cast their vote early.
1
Congress should pass a law requiring mail balloting in all federal elections, like we do in Washington and Oregon. This standing in line for long periods is nuts and highly discriminatory.
2
It feels strange to be sitting at home, having voted two weeks ago, watching the long lines for polling all over the country. Given a choice, why would anyone want to wait in line like that? I did for years of course, ever since the 1968 election, but jumped at the chance for early voting this year here in Colorado.
I voted early by mail and hard to imagine any reason I would do otherwise. That said, on Election Day in Los Angeles, I was at my nearby YMCA in a mid city, urban, middle-class area and there was no line at high noon on election day. It is very, very, very sad to hear about so many places where there are huge barriers to registration, and to see photos of ethnic neighborhoods where the powers that be ensure the lines are three hours long to discourage minority voting. Horrifying.
I voted on very first day of Early voting in MD, to keep my sanity. I believe lots of voters are scared by both the candidates.
1
I have voted absentee in California for years. It gives time to listen and research each set of candidates and initiatives on the ballot each cycle. I wade through the media coverage, TV ads and then rely heavily on the LA Times for overviews and thoughts. This should be available everywhere. Maximizing time and knowledge for voters is certainly something anyone who cares about democracy can get behind.
1
So agree! It's much better to sit at home and really think carefully about the merits of the propositions and the candidates and take the time to really understand the issues.
I plan to vote early, from now on. I hate waiting until the last minute, and now, having to worry about Republican interference at the polls. I'm not having any of that.
2
Early voting is bad, as it eliminates late breaking events from consideration. Mindful that working people cannot afford to give up time during the workday, I believe that election day should be for federal elections uniform and a mandatory holiday. People who are ill or will be away from home should be able to get absentee ballots, as always, but they should have a date before which they cannot be sent in.
3
Thanks for sharing my views in a more articulate way! Standing in line to vote at a polling Station (and enduring the other inconvenience) seems in itself to be part of the leveling aspect of democracy and maybe lends itself to solidarity between haves and have-nots (rather like the NY businessman"strap-hanging" in a crowded subway carriage?) A pity this egalitarian aspect is being lost .
Voting early, sufficient polling places, no intimidation and honest people up to the task who also support the will of the majority has worked so far.
Except for the fact some among us are denied the right to vote, no reason to think much change is needed.
Except for the fact some among us are denied the right to vote, no reason to think much change is needed.
Finally, election day is here. This election campaign has gone on for 18 month, at least. That is far too long and far too costly. Isn't now, in the next two years, the time to prod Congress into changing the election laws to something like:
1. Election campaigns can only publicly start 90 days before election day;
2. Only human individuals can contribute to a candidates campaign fund and only up to $2,500.00;
3. There should be more voting locations, not fewer;
4. Voting locations can not be closed or moved in the year an election is held;
5. Districts for representation in the House of Representatives must be by population without regard to party voting patterns, Gerrymandering of any sort is forbidden;
6. Every state must have at least two Saturday early voting days in an election year;
7. Only human beings resident in a state may contribute money to candidates running for office to represent that state, with a maximum contribution per candidate of $2,500.00 per election (no out of state money);
8. Business entities of any sort can not vote and thus will not be allowed to contribute to any candidates because they can and do have hired lobbyists;
9. Candidates for public office may not "robo-call" phone numbers from lists of phone numbers whose owners have not given specific, in writing, permission to call their phone number;
10. States should process Absentee Ballots as they are received and not held until election day;
1. Election campaigns can only publicly start 90 days before election day;
2. Only human individuals can contribute to a candidates campaign fund and only up to $2,500.00;
3. There should be more voting locations, not fewer;
4. Voting locations can not be closed or moved in the year an election is held;
5. Districts for representation in the House of Representatives must be by population without regard to party voting patterns, Gerrymandering of any sort is forbidden;
6. Every state must have at least two Saturday early voting days in an election year;
7. Only human beings resident in a state may contribute money to candidates running for office to represent that state, with a maximum contribution per candidate of $2,500.00 per election (no out of state money);
8. Business entities of any sort can not vote and thus will not be allowed to contribute to any candidates because they can and do have hired lobbyists;
9. Candidates for public office may not "robo-call" phone numbers from lists of phone numbers whose owners have not given specific, in writing, permission to call their phone number;
10. States should process Absentee Ballots as they are received and not held until election day;
2
Dear Retired Guy, Thank You for reminding us what Democracy is. While many of us know what is wrong, how do we fix it? This paper of record here, did everything it could to subvert democracy in order to get everyone to line up behind their flawed candidate who represents only the Elite. Now stuck with that choice, what is this untenable stench emanates from our bought and sold election process which your comment illustrates what should be right about our democracy instead of what we are left with, this democracy in tatters. This whole thing stinks to high heaven n'est-ce pas?
1
Le Sign
"While many of us know what is wrong, how do we fix it? "
We fix it by voting; by writing and calling our representative and senators and writing letters to our news paper editors; by demanding changes to stop these insults.
We have to vote out the people who try to cheat by creating these obstacles.
"While many of us know what is wrong, how do we fix it? "
We fix it by voting; by writing and calling our representative and senators and writing letters to our news paper editors; by demanding changes to stop these insults.
We have to vote out the people who try to cheat by creating these obstacles.
Early voting by mail is the way to go. I live in California and it is wonderful. No long lines, no worrying about where do I vote, no threat of intimidation, time to research & evaluate local and state candidates & ballot measures and all that is required is a pen and a stamp. Seems crazy not to have everyone in the country vote this way.
States without early voting like Pennsylvania have republican legislatures that are afraid of the increased turnout among minority voters that would result from an easier path to voting. Voter suppression it is.
2
Easier path? Really? Just what we need, more folks who need the "easy" way to do things...
I am relieved to have voted on Saturday, November 5. The location was the Assembly Room at Timbercrest, a retirement community in North Manchester, Indiana. The room was packed, even as more people waited in line. I was told that the number of residents waiting to vote was unusual for Timbercrest, as the residents were accustomed to hearing their numbers called right away so they could to move forward to the voting booth.
Upon leaving, I met a friend, who was ecstatic that she was voting for the first time! She told me that she had just become an American Citizen!
Upon leaving, I met a friend, who was ecstatic that she was voting for the first time! She told me that she had just become an American Citizen!
In Wisconsin: many people I encountered in phone canvassing had voted early.
Too bad Governor Scott Walker and pals has tried to interfere with voter ID laws, many court cases back and forth here. The canvassed people sigh when reminding people to bring a an ID. Too bad. All for what? Just trying to make it more difficult.....that's government and life in Wisconsin since Walker, who is now a Trump pal, moved into the Governor's mansion. (He encouraged people to vote Ted Cruz a few months ago)
How many hours til it's over???
Too bad Governor Scott Walker and pals has tried to interfere with voter ID laws, many court cases back and forth here. The canvassed people sigh when reminding people to bring a an ID. Too bad. All for what? Just trying to make it more difficult.....that's government and life in Wisconsin since Walker, who is now a Trump pal, moved into the Governor's mansion. (He encouraged people to vote Ted Cruz a few months ago)
How many hours til it's over???
2
Early voting here in Maryland has been wonderful. We live in the DC suburbs, where traffic can a be a nightmare, so being able to vote on a weekend morning is great. Now if we can just get rid of voting on a Tuesday, we'll be in great shape. After all, the Tuesday in November voting date was chosen in 1845, when the country's primary business was farming. Farmers had to travel to their county seats to vote. Travel on Sunday was impossible, as that was a day of worship for the majority Christian population, and since it would take about a day to travel over ruts and dirt roads, Tuesday was chosen. Oh, and why do we vote in November? Harvests were usually gathered in October, and hard frosts, along with bad weather, set in by December, making travel impossible. Anyone see these conditions having an impact on our lives in the 21st century? I didn't think so.
30
"... hard frosts, along with bad weather, set in by December, making travel impossible. Anyone see these conditions having an impact on our lives in the 21st century?"
Hurricanes and snowstorms can occur in November.
Hurricanes and snowstorms can occur in November.
I voted several days ago. I sat down at my desk with my ballot, voter guide and computer, spending a leisurely hour-and-a-half to finish. I had long ago decided on the candidates and most of the time was spent ensuring I knew what my vote meant for ballot measures and advisory votes (a Washington artifact?).
I believe that our system in Washington (as far as it goes) will yield the best results across the country.
I believe that our system in Washington (as far as it goes) will yield the best results across the country.
18
"... our system in Washington ..."
For the record, Washington, Oregon, and Colorado have vote-by-mail, which is a superb system, as you explained.
States with all vote-by-mail elections
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postal_voting#States_with_all_vote-by-mail...
For the record, Washington, Oregon, and Colorado have vote-by-mail, which is a superb system, as you explained.
States with all vote-by-mail elections
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postal_voting#States_with_all_vote-by-mail...
I think more states should offer early voting. I'm less worried about early reports swaying attendance than i am that ppl need to understand the electoral process within their state. Also, a Saturday/Sunday afternoon would be most beneficial to the public. I do feel what should be reviewed for change is that this entire media election period ran too long. There were few undecided voters for quite some months already, adding to the less than pleasant communications . The period of voting wasn't too long, if the numbers showed ppl were voting. Early voting also creates added jobs that are beneficial for seniors to make some extra holiday funds.
5
Early voting should be legal in NYS to encourage greater voter participation and to reduce waiting lines in the large cities. There is no valid reason not to implement it.
14
End Citizen's United
Publicly financed elections
Mandatory Voting by paper ballot via mail
5% national polling for candidates to get on the debate stage
No more lines ~ Democracy restored
Publicly financed elections
Mandatory Voting by paper ballot via mail
5% national polling for candidates to get on the debate stage
No more lines ~ Democracy restored
19
We simply don't try to make the right to vote easy in America. The politicians are afraid of the voice of the people.
IF we just put some effort into it we could have a fair and accurate election day or days without long waiting lines.
Due to the threat of cyber hacking etc. I do think that each state should conduct their own elections but they should be under federal guidelines for issues such as #of polling places vs. population numbers, required voter identification, etc.
The goal should always be for easy, secure, accurate voting by as many citizens as possible.
IF we just put some effort into it we could have a fair and accurate election day or days without long waiting lines.
Due to the threat of cyber hacking etc. I do think that each state should conduct their own elections but they should be under federal guidelines for issues such as #of polling places vs. population numbers, required voter identification, etc.
The goal should always be for easy, secure, accurate voting by as many citizens as possible.
14
Surely this reporting in incomplete. Where is the Times' obsession with the scruples of Hillary's emails? That has been central to its early voting analysis to date! It's missing from this reporting.
4
Joe- Have you read the report on the Secretary's emails? You should. It will tell you that the email issue is really not that earth shattering. The GOP was looking for something on her, and failing on the Benghazi track which they spent about $8 million on investigating, they settled on the emails. They knew she would be running for president and ginned up the email story to taint her.
2
The voting period is too long. I understand the need for some early voting; maybe a week but a month, as it is in some states, diminishes the process and ultimately the outcome.
10
No it doesn't.
1
Early voting is quite simply a hedge\guard against disenfranchisement by republicans.
You have more time for the long lines because republicans have closed stations.
You have more time to go back and forth when republicans tell you to go elsewhere.
You have more time to collect the 136 pieces of ID that republicans now require you to have to invoke your constitutionally guaranteed right to vote.
You now have time to go to court to challenge all of the above, when republicans STILL do not let you vote.
Early voting should be compulsory everywhere.
You have more time for the long lines because republicans have closed stations.
You have more time to go back and forth when republicans tell you to go elsewhere.
You have more time to collect the 136 pieces of ID that republicans now require you to have to invoke your constitutionally guaranteed right to vote.
You now have time to go to court to challenge all of the above, when republicans STILL do not let you vote.
Early voting should be compulsory everywhere.
34
Sheer nonsense...
Sheer pantyhose ...
2
Is'nt early-postal voting-also open to voter fraud?
I haven't missed a presidential or state election since I was 18 and that was a long time ago, but I missed it when early voting became the norm instead of the exception. I was under the impression, until very recently, that early voting was only for absentee ballots and not for the general voting public. It was only this election when I realized that NJ is one of only a few states that does not allow early voting. Am I the only one out of touch or have others been surprised about the extent of early voting?
12
I just voted and think that New York State should think seriously about instituting early voting. I am a disabled senior citizen so I was escorted to the head of the line. However, my voting place was a disaster. It was horribly overcrowded. I was told the wait was over 2 hours. We should make voting easy, not difficult.
45
@JG
"I am a disabled senior citizen..."
I believe that New York law would allow you to vote by absentee ballot. No need for "early voting" law...
"I am a disabled senior citizen..."
I believe that New York law would allow you to vote by absentee ballot. No need for "early voting" law...
2
In my own country-Ireland-the electoral institutions put public notices out prior to Elections asking people like yourself (for whom attendance at a Polling Station would be a difficulty due to a disability) to submit a case for a Postal Ballot. I am surprised that the US does not have a similar enlightened policy.
Early voting is not the problem. Using early results to manipulate people is the problem. Of course, we like how people are being manipulated, so we hypocritically support it.
10
Contrary to what Jeremy Peters, absentee votes in CALIF are counted as they come into the Board of Elections, or so I was told by representatives from that
organization. Over the election cycles I have checked with them for clarification
on when absentee ballots are counted -- I've also been told by voters -- that absentees are counted only at the end of the election & then only if the
votes in CALIF are possibly too close to call. Please re-check this again, Mr. Peters, cause I've been told by the Board of Elections that absentees are counted as they come in in the mail...
organization. Over the election cycles I have checked with them for clarification
on when absentee ballots are counted -- I've also been told by voters -- that absentees are counted only at the end of the election & then only if the
votes in CALIF are possibly too close to call. Please re-check this again, Mr. Peters, cause I've been told by the Board of Elections that absentees are counted as they come in in the mail...
3
Somehow Mexico, with a devout Catholic population, manages to hold its elections on Sunday. While my own preference is the mail-in system we have in Oregon in that it gives time for reflection and buffering from self-appointed “ballot security“ buffoons, ample early voting and sufficient voting opportunities are also necessary. Above all we need criminal penalties for efforts to curtail the vote. Perhaps sending county election commissioners to do hard time among a prisoner population similar to people whose rights they wish to suppress would be beneficial.
But what is really needed is to take elections for federal office out of the hands of local bodies, or at the very least establish uniform standards for registration, documentation, access, and other facets of the electoral process. And those standards should be backed up by Department of Justice supervision. Too many Americans have bled and died trying to protect this country's freedom to have some jumped-up, brain-dead moron telling people they cannot vote because he does not like the color of their skin, religion, or national origin. We hear how we have to have national standards to protect companies from having to deal with a confusing array of rules and regulations. Well if a national standard is good enough for genetically-modified seed it is good enough for protecting American suffrage. In the meantime please distribute the NY office of the FBI among US embassies in central Africa to teach investigative techniques
But what is really needed is to take elections for federal office out of the hands of local bodies, or at the very least establish uniform standards for registration, documentation, access, and other facets of the electoral process. And those standards should be backed up by Department of Justice supervision. Too many Americans have bled and died trying to protect this country's freedom to have some jumped-up, brain-dead moron telling people they cannot vote because he does not like the color of their skin, religion, or national origin. We hear how we have to have national standards to protect companies from having to deal with a confusing array of rules and regulations. Well if a national standard is good enough for genetically-modified seed it is good enough for protecting American suffrage. In the meantime please distribute the NY office of the FBI among US embassies in central Africa to teach investigative techniques
10
The voting period is too long and this year's presidential contest was the most unpleasant, disturbing event one could imagine. People voting for Trump are primarily voting against Hillary without carefully considering the consequences of voting for such an unqualified, despicable character. I voted two weeks ago and have tried since to just shut out the noise. One thing I couldn't shut out was the amazing and totally inappropriate meddling by the FBI.
61
My husband is disabled so I took him to vote the first Saturday we could vote early. I waited until the next Saturday because I wanted to do some research on the local elections. I waited 4 hours in line, but I did not mind. We both wanted to ensure our votes were cast for President, Senate, and all of the local elections for those people who believe we already live in the best country in the world, which is getting better every day because we are becoming so diverse and because we care about taking care of each other. Don't let anyone tell you any different!
27
I disagree with the use of early voting. I think that if one can show they will be unavoidably out of the country or state on election day, they should be issued a ballot to vote. Otherwise, either vote on election day or no earlier than the prior weekend. Way too much can change to tip the balance or decision and if many have already voted they are not utilizing the most up-to-date info.
7
Everyone managed just fine years ago, and there was NO early voting except absentee ballots for the elderly or disabled. There was ONE day to vote, and no early voting ... and it WAS FINE.
This is just a lot of whinging, with the underlying idea that if you make it easier and easier...minorities will vote more often for hard-left liberal Democrats.
This is just a lot of whinging, with the underlying idea that if you make it easier and easier...minorities will vote more often for hard-left liberal Democrats.
I think we each get to decide what information we trust and is sufficiently up to date for us. A mail ballot is not sent months in advance but within a couple of weeks (unless you are military or overseas). We also have the option of waiting to deliver or have it postmarked on Election Day if one wants to have every minute of the news cycle.
in california we received our mail in ballots a couple weeks back. i know mine was returned quickly. the sooner i mail it in the sooner i do not have to speak or listen to any polling or candidate calls. they also do not want to waist their time with someone who has already voted
15
As another Californian, I agree. Get the early mail-in ballot, research the mind-numbing state and local propositions by going to the state Democratic site, fill in the ballot and mail it in. That way I can ignore the nonsense--like the FBI leaks--that always increases as Election Day draws closer.
7
I don't know why we still have the arcane process of forcing people to take time off from work, stand in long lines, and make tough decisions on the spot in a claustrophobic booth. There are many alternative voting models that have proved very successful, especially ours here in Washington State, where we have 100% mail-in (or drop-off) voting. This system gives voters time to review the extensive voter guide sent by mail, consider the options carefully, and then vote intelligently, without stress or coercion, in the comfort of their homes.
We can resolve many of these voter access issues by learning from what the different states have done -- let's move to all-mail voting nationwide!
We can resolve many of these voter access issues by learning from what the different states have done -- let's move to all-mail voting nationwide!
53
Election Day should be a nationwide Holiday, like Labor Day, maybe the second Monday in November.
19
"On the spot"? Wow, I hope not.
Totally agree. Washington state by mail is great. We have time to study and no lines to worry about. It's especially good for the down ballot positions and local iniatives that can be more obscure and take more time to find information.
I strongly dislike the idea of early voting and wish it were not allowed in the states that allow it. I think all voters should vote on the same day based on the same information.
8
Very good point-yes-all voters should be on an equal footing regarding the information they have about candidates at time of casting their ballots. This is only fair to to the candidates. Early voting denies this.
I want early voting in NY. jealous
21
Here, here, in California. Trying to cram millions of people into those tiny little voting booths in just one day is insane. Actually it's less than a day. Here the polls open on Tuesday at 7 am and close at 8 pm, which is only 13 hours. And on a weekday, it may come as a surprise to election officials, some of us actually have to go to work as well. That leaves about 15 minutes, when you factor in traffic. Now it's just plain laughable.
9
I want no voting by the public. The people are just too ignorant to make informed decisions. America needs a dictatorship, a firm strong dictatorship. As it is now, it is a benevolent dictatorship.
1
Iver Thompson - don't worry, when Clinton is President, you won't have to bother going to work any longer.
1
I am also troubled about the potential effect of all the reporting about early voting data -- which seems to have blossomed out of control this year. Sometimes, the networks are careful to mention that they are not reporting actual vote counts of early voters -- but usually they follow that immediately with an assertion that early voters are more partisan and there is a 90 something percent correlation between party affiliation and what candidate they voted for, so there is a certain wink-wink, nod-nod aspect to this reporting that seems distasteful. As the election day neared, even more demographic data got piled on top of that -- race, gender, age, location, etc. And when reporters start speculating on whether the early voters have already in effect decided the election, or whether Candidate A might lose because fewer early voters in Demographic Group B are turning out versus the last election, is it completely naïve to think that WON'T have some effect on election day turnout? And how measurable is that effect, given the difficulty of polling nonvoters about why they didn't vote?
I was even more bothered about early voting in the primaries, because it led to a lot of wasted votes in some instances, where a candidate dropped out of the race between when early voting started in a given state and that state's primary date.
It would take a 50-state agreement, but I would support a complete embargo on disclosing any early voting data in advance of election day.
I was even more bothered about early voting in the primaries, because it led to a lot of wasted votes in some instances, where a candidate dropped out of the race between when early voting started in a given state and that state's primary date.
It would take a 50-state agreement, but I would support a complete embargo on disclosing any early voting data in advance of election day.
14
"...I would support a complete embargo on disclosing any early voting data in advance of election day."
Absolutely spot on, FJP!
Absolutely spot on, FJP!
13
Early voting has improved voting and made it more available for many people. I'm also for re-opening those polling places where the GOP governors try to block voting.
44
I voted early last week. Left work a little early, stopped at the beachside park polling place on a nice sunny day and voted in less than 10 minutes total. There was only one Clinton|Kaine sign, and a couple of Trump|Pence signs. Otherwise, most signs were for local races.
It feels good to know my vote is already in the mix, especially in Florida, where it's an important electoral state.
It feels good to know my vote is already in the mix, especially in Florida, where it's an important electoral state.
32
There shouldn't be any signs within a certain distance of a voting place. So nice that WA State has all mail in, verified and re-countable paper ballots. And nice drop boxes without needing a stamp.
1