This is not a political post, just a simple question about early voting

I have just done it once. In 2020 for the US Presidential election. Because of the pandemic, all voting was to be done by absentee ballot...they mail us a paper ballot and we filled them out and sent them back. Our elections are in November, and we got our ballots, but could not send them in before mid October. Last date to mail them was to be post marked a day or two before election. They could be also dropped in a drop box outside the Board of elections. The only other times absentees are allowed is for medical reasons (like in hospital, or disabled and polling place not accessable. Or if you were going to be out of your area on election day. If memory serves, American astronauts who were "out on a mission" or in Space station could send in ballots prior to departure.
 
Marie5656 said:
I have just done it once. In 2020 for the US Presidential election. Because of the pandemic, all voting was to be done by absentee ballot...they mail us a paper ballot and we filled them out and sent them back. Our elections are in November, and we got our ballots, but could not send them in before mid October. Last date to mail them was to be post marked a day or two before election. They could be also dropped in a drop box outside the Board of elections. The only other times absentees are allowed is for medical reasons (like in hospital, or disabled and polling place not accessable. Or if you were going to be out of your area on election day. If memory serves, American astronauts who were "out on a mission" or in Space station could send in ballots prior to departure.
Click to expand...
In Australia we are allowed postal votes as well for any of these reasons.

- are outside the electorate where you are enrolled to vote
- are more than 8km from a polling place
- are travelling
- are unable to leave your workplace to vote
- are seriously ill, infirm or due to give birth shortly (or caring for someone who is)
- are a patient in hospital and can't vote at the hospital
- have religious beliefs that prevent you from attending a polling place
- are in prison serving a sentence of less than three years or otherwise detained
- are a silent elector
- have a reasonable fear for your safety or wellbeing.
 

@Bretrick in US, here are the voting protocols for prisoners:

In summary:

  • In the District of Columbia, Maine and Vermont, felons never lose their right to vote, even while they are incarcerated.
  • In 21 states, felons lose their voting rights only while incarcerated, and receive automatic restoration upon release.
  • In 16 states, felons lose their voting rights during incarceration, and for a period of time after, typically while on parole and/or probation. Voting rights are automatically restored after this time period. Former felons may also have to pay any outstanding fines, fees or restitution before their rights are restored as well.
  • In 11 states felons lose their voting rights indefinitely for some crimes, or require a governor’s pardon in order for voting rights to be restored, face an additional waiting period after completion of sentence (including parole and probation) or require additional action before voting rights can be restored. These states are listed in the fourth category on Table 1. Details on these states are found in Table 2 below.
 
The only mail in ballots I would even entertain are from disabled individuals or those posted outside the U.S. for various reasons.
I am not too lazy to go to a poll and cast my vote.
Further, it gives me a chance to get an idea as to how the vote is going.
 
I don't think it matters if you vote at a polling booth or at home. A vote is a vote.
I'm disabled. Ain't no way I can stand in line. The last time I voted at the polls, they let me go ahead of the line. I was thankful, but I felt bad about seeing the huge line of people still waiting to vote.
Voting bt mail solves all kinds of problems.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
I don't think it matters if you vote at a polling booth or at home. A vote is a vote.
I'm disabled. Ain't no way I can stand in line. The last time I voted at the polls, they let me go ahead of the line. I was thankful, but I felt bad about seeing the huge line of people still waiting to vote.
Voting bt mail solves all kinds of problems.
Click to expand...
Voting by mail has caused reams of problems, sadly.
 
I have a friend with Cerebral Palsy. When she lived at home with parents, she HAD to vote by mail as her local polling place was not accessable (she uses a wheel chair full time)
A few years back she moved in with two friends, also disabled. Each have their own staff.

Anyway, her NEW polling place IS accessable..and she was so excited..i her 40s to finally vote in person. Her first time she asked me to drive her. Also, she needed me to mark her paper ballot (here in New York) as she is unable to mark the paper. As her helper I had to stand with her and a worker and read aloud a "pledge that I was assisting her filling her ballot, but I promised to fill in HER choices and not my own. This was in 2016...I remembered when she was reading the Presidential candidates she rolled her eyes and said..You KNOW my answer.
 
"Also, Attorney General William Barr — who had broken with longstanding guidance in the Department of Justice by instructing prosecutors to investigate allegations of voter fraud before the election results were certified — said on Dec. 1 that his department has “not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election.”

Still, the falsehoods aimed at undermining the election continue to circulate on social media. We’ve debunked more than two dozen, so far.
https://www.factcheck.org/2020/12/nine-election-fraud-claims-none-credible/

And this must be my last post on this topic, for my own good. Sorry!
 
SeniorBen said:
Here's one instance where they found 9 ballots in the trash.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/tem...-ballots-trash-pennsylvania/story?id=73251533

Here's a case of lies about mail-in ballots found in the trash:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...envelopes-trash-spur-fraud-claims/3556198001/
Click to expand...
I am sure some of this happens, with millions of votes it is bound to. Seems to me the important questions are:
  1. Has it been enough to change the outcome of an election?
  2. How do problems like this from mail-in ballots compare to problems from conventional voting. Which is worse?
Without knowing the answers to those questions it is hard to know if there is anything wrong with the mail-in system. I hope mail-in is or can be made safe, it sure is easy.
 
Alligatorob said:
I am sure some of this happens, with millions of votes it is bound to. Seems to me the important questions are:
  1. Has it been enough to change the outcome of an election?
  2. How do problems like this from mail-in ballots compare to problems from conventional voting. Which is worse?
Without knowing the answers to those questions it is hard to know if there is anything wrong with the mail-in system. I hope mail-in is or can be made safe, it sure is easy.
Click to expand...
The fact that people against mail-in voting have to lie about the dangers of mail-in voting tells you all you need to know. If there were widespread problems, they wouldn't have to lie.
 
Maybe look into some states' attempts to decertify their election certifications.

Also, "West Palm Beach, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law Senate Bill 90, Florida’s new election integrity bill, strengthening voter identification, prohibiting the mass mailing of ballots, banning ballot harvesting and prohibiting private money from administering elections in our state."
https://www.flgov.com/2021/05/06/go...-safeguard-the-sanctity-of-florida-elections/

That said, I'm out of here. Anyone who wants to can look up whatever they wish. Or believe as they wish.
 
We are so lucky our elections here in Canada are so simple.They make voting so easy you wouldn't believe our ballots.Our ballots have 2 to 5 people running for the same office,you mark the name you are voting for, fold the ballot up and drop in the box. That's it. They also want qualified people to vote, I even voted once when I was in hospital, the woman came in let me mark the ballot and fold it for her to take back to the polling place! If you have ever seen a ballot in California you would be amazed at the difference. I also have never waited in a line to vote here, neither have I ever missed any election that I was qualified for.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top