Tip: Be Permanently Absent

TromboneAl · 11-03-2006, 04:58 PM

I decided to become a permanent absentee voter a few years ago, which means that instead of driving to the polls each election day and possibly waiting in line, my own personal ballot is delivered to my house. I fill it out when I feel like it, in the privacy of my own home, and drop it in the mailbox.

Highly recommended.

lets-retire · 11-03-2006, 05:04 PM

Except they don't count the absentee votes in some jurisdictions unless results from the people who showed up at the polls is very close.

wabmester · 11-03-2006, 06:28 PM

Here in WA, 70% of the voters vote by mail. Definitely the way to go.

Brat · 11-03-2006, 07:14 PM

Yes, and 100% in Oregon.

Really I miss the gossip with the poll workers who were the my parents peers. It was the only way I could keep up on the activities of some of my childhood friends. So, anyone know what Mickey Lolich (former Detroit pitcher) is up to these days?

brewer12345 · 11-03-2006, 08:12 PM

I kind of like going to the polling (hur hur hur) station. I live in a town of less than 10,000 people and I usually see someone I know or a neighbor.

samclem · 11-03-2006, 10:16 PM

I voted absentee al those years I was assigned somewhere outside my home, so voting in person is a special treat still. I dropped by our county board of electios to find out where my polling place was, and they told me I could vote today if I wanted--so I did. They had the machines all set up to accomodate folks who wouldn't be able to get to the polls on election day. Nice Diebold touch-screen machines. Very convenient how they already had the right candidates selected by default when the screen came up.

youbet · 11-03-2006, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samclem

Very convenient how they already had the right candidates selected by default when the screen came up.

We've been doing that in Chicago for decades. And those fancy electronic machines aren't needed! We can pre-punch, pre-fill-in-the-circle or even pre-write-in paper ballots quick and easy. Was your six pack waiting back at your car?

sgeeeee · 11-03-2006, 11:12 PM

I always vote early. We are either traveling (like this year when we will be in San Antonio for election day) or I work the polls and am automatically enrolled for an early ballot. In general elections, voting early lets you avoid crowds. Also, if there are lots of conflicting or confusing ballot propositions (like this year) you can research them and decide how to vote in the comfort of your own lounger.

We count all votes in AZ regardless of how close elections are.

califdreamer · 11-04-2006, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lets-retire

Except they don't count the absentee votes in some jurisdictions unless results from the people who showed up at the polls is very close.

Not arguing the point but just curious where this is the case.

Nords · 11-04-2006, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TromboneAl

I decided to become a permanent absentee voter a few years ago, which means that instead of driving to the polls each election day and possibly waiting in line, my own personal ballot is delivered to my house. I fill it out when I feel like it, in the privacy of my own home, and drop it in the mailbox.
Highly recommended.

Especially considering that it took me an hour to work through all the initiatives to amend the state constitution and the city charter. And then there's remembering all the personalities who want to joint the Board of Education and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

My spouse appreciates absentee balloting so that I can mark her ballot at the same time I'm marking mine. Heh-heh-heh-- she voted for a Republican this year!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brat

Yes, and 100% in Oregon.

I hear that 120% of Chicago's registered voters file absentee ballots...

astromeria · 11-04-2006, 10:33 AM

South Carolina (actually I think it's Charleston County) has a long list of reasons you can vote absentee, including being 65 or older. My reason is that I don't trust voting machines that don't give you feedback on how you voted. They told me that was not acceptable, and I'm not willing to lie and state that I'll be out of town when I won't be--so I'll be there with bells on this Tuesday. I like to go to the polling place in person for several reasons (democracy in action, see the neighbors, know what people are talking about when they complain about the voting machinery/lines), but these machines are disturbing so these days I'd prefer a paper ballot. Wish I could use one at the polling place.

sgeeeee · 11-04-2006, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nords

. . .
I hear that 120% of Chicago's registered voters file absentee ballots...

That's not quite true. 120% of the dead voters voted absentee ballots. Some of the live voters are rumored to have voted at the polls . . . . . twice.

**Khan** · 11-04-2006, 12:33 PM

Starting this year, in Ohio, anyone can vote absentee. I did.

sgeeeee · 11-04-2006, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khan

Starting this year, in Ohio, anyone can vote absentee. I did.

Do they have to live in Ohio? I'd be willing to cast a few votes there.

Oldbabe · 11-04-2006, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khan

Starting this year, in Ohio, anyone can vote absentee. I did.

In Colorado too. But I want to go to the poll and stand in line and do the deed in person.

youbet · 11-04-2006, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nords

I hear that 120% of Chicago's registered voters file absentee ballots...

And gosh........the registered Republican voters are still standing at their mailboxes waiting for their absentee ballots to arrive........

Gosh, I wonder what happened?

donheff · 11-04-2006, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khan

Starting this year, in Ohio, anyone can vote absentee. I did.

If you are a dem you almost have to. The minority polling places were short changed on machines last go around leading to horrendous waits. If the waits didn't get you republican goons would challenge you. If you didn't have a pocket full of ID fuggeddaboudit (sp?). Rumors have it that the challengers are heading out again this year. I am inquiring to find out if I can go to a VA minority polling place and challenge the challengers. It would be interesting to get names and photos and then tally up who they challenge. It is a violation of civil rights to target minority members for challenge. How about a few individual tort actions against challengers - that would put the fear of God into them.

youbet · 11-04-2006, 06:18 PM

What's the matter with those Ohio Dems anyway? Reublican goons? That would last about fifteen minutes here. Sure, we've had some ethnic groups disenfranchised here, but not for their ethnicity, but because of their political persuasion. And that's what it's all about, isn't it?

Don, if you have the time, you really should go. It would be the right thing to do!

Nords · 11-04-2006, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astromeria

I'm not willing to lie and state that I'll be out of town when I won't be

Hawaii, with one of the nation's lowest voter-participation rates, mails out postcards that you can return to request an absentee ballot for whatever reason.

I'm 46 years old, I've never missed an election, and I've never voted in a polling place.

Alex · 11-05-2006, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brat

Yes, and 100% in Oregon.

Really I miss the gossip with the poll workers who were the my parents peers. It was the only way I could keep up on the activities of some of my childhood friends. So, anyone know what Mickey Lolich (former Detroit pitcher) is up to these days?

He coaches at spring training for the Tigers in Lakeland Fla.
PS- He still talks to Bill Freehan.

11-03-2006, 04:58 PM	#1
TromboneAl Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 4,168	Tip: Be Permanently Absent I decided to become a permanent absentee voter a few years ago, which means that instead of driving to the polls each election day and possibly waiting in line, my own personal ballot is delivered to my house. I fill it out when I feel like it, in the privacy of my own home, and drop it in the mailbox. Highly recommended. __________________ - Al -- Always serious, never joking. No, wait. Never serious... Always... I forget.

11-03-2006, 05:04 PM	#2
lets-retire Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,304	Re: Tip: Be Permanently Absent Except they don't count the absentee votes in some jurisdictions unless results from the people who showed up at the polls is very close. __________________ You don't want to work. You want to live like a king, but the big bad world don't owe you a thing. Get over it--The Eagles

11-03-2006, 06:28 PM	#3
wabmester Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4,461	Re: Tip: Be Permanently Absent Here in WA, 70% of the voters vote by mail. Definitely the way to go.

11-03-2006, 07:14 PM	#4
Brat Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 2,834	Re: Tip: Be Permanently Absent Yes, and 100% in Oregon. Really I miss the gossip with the poll workers who were the my parents peers. It was the only way I could keep up on the activities of some of my childhood friends. So, anyone know what Mickey Lolich (former Detroit pitcher) is up to these days? __________________ Duck bjorn.

11-03-2006, 08:12 PM	#5
brewer12345 Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ... Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 9,251	Re: Tip: Be Permanently Absent I kind of like going to the polling (hur hur hur) station. I live in a town of less than 10,000 people and I usually see someone I know or a neighbor. __________________ “When you realize that you are one of the rare few who observe moral principles in their relationships with others, there is a temptation to sink into amorality, not out of conviction or pleasure but simply to avoid further pain, because there is no greater suffering than being an angel in hell, whereas a devil feels at home wherever he goes.” – Martin Page, How I Became Stupid

11-03-2006, 10:16 PM	#6
samclem Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 3,021	Re: Tip: Be Permanently Absent I voted absentee al those years I was assigned somewhere outside my home, so voting in person is a special treat still. I dropped by our county board of electios to find out where my polling place was, and they told me I could vote today if I wanted--so I did. They had the machines all set up to accomodate folks who wouldn't be able to get to the polls on election day. Nice Diebold touch-screen machines. Very convenient how they already had the right candidates selected by default when the screen came up. __________________ "Freedom begins when you tell Mrs. Grundy to go fly a kite." - R. Heinlein

11-03-2006, 11:12 PM	#8
sgeeeee Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Mesa Posts: 3,588	Re: Tip: Be Permanently Absent I always vote early. We are either traveling (like this year when we will be in San Antonio for election day) or I work the polls and am automatically enrolled for an early ballot. In general elections, voting early lets you avoid crowds. Also, if there are lots of conflicting or confusing ballot propositions (like this year) you can research them and decide how to vote in the comfort of your own lounger. We count all votes in AZ regardless of how close elections are.

11-04-2006, 10:33 AM	#11
astromeria Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,375	Re: Tip: Be Permanently Absent South Carolina (actually I think it's Charleston County) has a long list of reasons you can vote absentee, including being 65 or older. My reason is that I don't trust voting machines that don't give you feedback on how you voted. They told me that was not acceptable, and I'm not willing to lie and state that I'll be out of town when I won't be--so I'll be there with bells on this Tuesday. I like to go to the polling place in person for several reasons (democracy in action, see the neighbors, know what people are talking about when they complain about the voting machinery/lines), but these machines are disturbing so these days I'd prefer a paper ballot. Wish I could use one at the polling place. __________________ You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find you get what you need.

11-04-2006, 12:33 PM	#13
Khan Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Greater Dayton area Posts: 3,170	Re: Tip: Be Permanently Absent Starting this year, in Ohio, anyone can vote absentee. I did. __________________ "Candle wax and red wine can do interesting things to a keyboard."

11-04-2006, 06:18 PM	#18
youbet Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 4,388	Re: Tip: Be Permanently Absent What's the matter with those Ohio Dems anyway? Reublican goons? That would last about fifteen minutes here. Sure, we've had some ethnic groups disenfranchised here, but not for their ethnicity, but because of their political persuasion. And that's what it's all about, isn't it? Don, if you have the time, you really should go. It would be the right thing to do! __________________ Over all was the silence of the wilderness - Sigurd Olsen