I'll be staying home November 4

[MerryBlooms]

I mailed in my ballot on Monday.

[Dont call me Shirley]

1. Yay!

[HubertHeaver]

2. I was going to ask:

"Do you live in Oregon?" but you spilled the beans....

[MerryBlooms]

4. I am from Oregon, but moved to Illinois a few years ago.

I request mail ballots each election. Super easy-- takes less than 30 seconds and the ballots are generally here within 48 hrs. Not quite as convenient as Oregon, but close.

[jwirr]

3. LOL Thanks for voting. I got my application but decided that I would go in like always. The day may

come when I can't.

[MerryBlooms]

9. .

[randome]

5. And I was going to say, "Thank you for your cowardice."

Well-played!
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Birds are territorial creatures.
The lyrics to the songbird's melodious trill go something like this:
"Stay out of my territory or I'll PECK YOUR GODDAMNED EYES OUT!"[/center][/font][hr]

[MerryBlooms]

7. lol

[freshwest]

49. Anxiously awaiting my mail in ballot. Called a friend for reassurance. Will be here next week...

And oh, that thread title!

But I gave you the 50th Rec.

[Snotcicles]

6. You beat me by one day, Michigan here. nt

[MerryBlooms]

8. .

[upaloopa]

10. I will be getting my ballot in the mail soon. I hand carry

it since I work next to the board of elections

[MerryBlooms]

11. We enjoy voting by mail

It's nice to sit and have tea/coffee, discuss the measures and be able to look up info if need be.

[upaloopa]

12. Yep we look on line for the candidates and ballot measures

[Brother Buzz]

13. I only received my California Vote-By-Mail ballot yesterday

And I'd have mailed in in today until I looked at the damn ballet measures. It's gonna take some time to sort out and unspin the bullshit they bury in those things.

[tularetom]

84. Just look at who supports and/or opposes the measures

That's usually enough to guide me. If banks, credit card companies, doctors, the Chamber of Commerce are opposed to something, then there's about a 99.99% chance I'm gonna be for it.

[Brother Buzz]

87. Yes, and that's a reasonable starting point

The slate mailers, guised as progressive leaflets, from conservative groups tend to be good reverse barometers for me. I laser focus on the legally required asterisks; they shout at me.

I consider myself an informed voter and I need to view a few more positions before I pull the lever. Fact is, I have disagreed with some groups, like say, the teachers and nurses unions on a proposition or two in the past. The devil is in the details.

[frazzled]

14. I'll appear in person

I'm always curious as to why people don't go to vote. I understand if there's a physical problem or if you need to vote absentee because of a trip on that date ... but it's so exhilarating to cast your vote in person.

Besides, people are always grousing here about vote tampering and votes being counted. I like to put my ballot into the machine myself, and watch the number go up by one. If there ever were a way for ballots to go astray, I'd say putting them in the mail might be one of them. Who knows, the janitor in the room where the ballots are received could just dump a bunch out. Or a worker might decide to throw every ballot from a particular zip code out, knowing the general inclinations of that area. Or, who knows, maybe it never gets there anyway. You have no idea.

Anyway, I like to go in person. I've been doing it for too long, and it always feels cathartic.

[femmocrat]

15. Me too.... I love election day. You get free emery boards and note pads!

I especially love going in without an ID now that our state's voter ID law was struck down!

[yuiyoshida]

25. Votes by mailed are

taken by the U.S. Post office. If the mail were thrown out, there would be an investigation, by a federal Postal Inspector. Those caught would be punished severely by the Federal government. If you were a postal carrier, would you want to 1. lose your job and 2. end up in Federal Prison, with a fine thrown on top of that? Any Janitor who works at the post office is also a federal worker.. who would receive the same punishment. No one other than someone stupid would want to face those kinds of fines or charges that would lead to imprisonment.

[questionseverything]

55. happens all the time....

http://www.bradblog.com/?p=9411

How did the Cudahy officials tamper with the elections? Via absentee ballots, according to the explanation of the plea agreement offered by federal officials:

The Perales plea agreement also discusses election fraud during the 2007 municipal election when absentee ballot were diverted before reaching the City Clerk. Perales “and other city officials routinely and systematically opened the absentee ballots cast in the 2007 City Council election by mail,” according to the statement of facts in Perales’ plea agreement. “Ballots cast in favor of the incumbent candidates were resealed and returned to the mail to be counted. Ballots for non-incumbent candidates were discarded.” Perales and other city officials did the same thing during the 2009 Cudahy City Council election, according to the court document.

////////////////////////

From Nick Wing at Huffington Post...

In the midst of his 2012 GOP primary campaign for a Massachusetts state House seat, Jack Villamaino changed the party affiliation of nearly 300 people in his town of East Longmeadow. Days later, the same number of absentee ballot requests were dropped off at the town clerk’s office, a list that was almost a “name-for-name match” for those whose registration information Villamaino had altered.

Earlier this week, Villamaino pleaded guilty to felony charges of stealing ballots and changing the party affiliation of 280 Democrats during his campaign for state representative. A judge sentenced him to a year in jail, only four months of which he'll be forced to serve behind bars.

The remainder of that sentence will be suspended, and Villamaino will also be required to serve a year of probation.

http://www.bradblog.com/?p=10186

/////////////////

Paper Ballots, Not Mail Ballots
(Why all mail ballot elections are a bad idea)
•Lack of Transparency - Ballots are mailed in secret and counted in secret on secret software. Ballots are counted at a central location that makes fraud on a large scale easier to accomplish and harder to detect. Privacy Rights Clearinghouse data shows that approximately a third of computer security breaches are done by insiders either intentionally or accidentally.
•Lack of Security - Ballots in hundreds of thousands of locations with no security for two to three weeks. The chain of custody lacks security as the ballots are handled by many anonymous persons throughout the process. Any unmarked contest on a ballot can be marked by someone other than the voter when the ballots are opened for counting.
•Voter Intimidation - Voting can be done as a group at churches or union halls with people looking over the voter's shoulder to make sure they vote "the right way."
•Election Fraud - There is no way to be certain that the person who signed the envelope is the person to whom the ballot was sent. Ballots can be stolen from mail boxes while the voter is at work or away from home on an errand. Other tactics include vote harvesting by persons who show up at your door to "help" you vote. The elderly and those with disabilities are particularly vulnerable.
•Potential for Ballot Mishandling - Post office or contract mailing company illegally forwards ballots, more than one ballot sent to voters, postal workers putting ballots in the trash. (All of these thing have happened in Colorado, 1100 ballots illegally forwarded in Douglas County, 214 voters received two ballots in Boulder County, ballots found in dumpsters at post office in El Paso County.)

[Ineeda]

36. I can track

my mail-in ballot online -- from when they receive my request to when they sent it to when they receive it back. I agree though, that there's something satisfying about voting in person, including seeing and talking to neighbors. I have logistical problems, otherwise I'd be reporting in to my precinct to pull the lever, sorta speak. I can't understand why anybody eligible to vote doesn't. It seems almost traitorous.

[Jenoch]

41. I too prefer to go to the polls on election day.

I only voted absentee once while in college.

What happened with the recount in the Franken-Coleman election of 2008 only reinforced my reasoning. What happened to the 2002 election in Minnesota also reinforced desire to vote on election day. (Paul Wellstone's airplane crashed 11 days before the election.)

I am in favor of paper ballots as well.

[Lefta Dissenter]

45. I love voting in person on Election Day,

but I usually vote early so I can be available to do poll-watching. This election I'm volunteering for the League of Women Voters.

[frazzled]

50. Good on you

You're really contributing to your community and our society.

[riqster]

51. Long commute is one reason I vote absentee.

I leave for work before the polls open, and get home after they close.

Plus, there is an actual paper ballot, hand-marked by me, instead of a hackable electronic record.

[Louisiana1976]

16. I'll also be staying home November 4th. I mailed in my absentee ballot last week. I voted for Pat

Quinn for governor, Dick Durbin for senator, and Cheri Bustos for my congresscritter. In short, I voted Democratic all the way.

[MerryBlooms]

18. Same here

[Mr.Bill]

17. I always get a mail in ballot

but I hand carry it to the polls and turn it in. This way, if something happens before election day to make me change my mind about any of my choices, I can surrender that ballot and get a new one and re-vote. The registrar of voters will destroy my mail in ballot after recording it as surrendered and count the new one. This ensures I am not voting twice.

If I did not have the mail in one to surrender, I can vote a provisional ballot.

[Demit]

30. In Pennsylvania, you can show up & vote in person, and that automatically

will invalidate your absentee ballot. No biggie. The poll worker just makes a note that you came to vote in person, and your (sealed) absentee ballot is left unopened. No need for you to vote provisionally.

[Mr.Bill]

33. Same thing here if I have the mail in ballot with me.

I would only have to vote a provisional ballot if I did not have the mail in ballot to surrender. Either system prevents someone from voting twice.

[MerryBlooms]

65. It's great having options-- makes it so much more convenient.

[yuiyoshida]

19. As soon as mine comes in...

I will vote and mail it.

[whistler162]

20. Not me.... I always enjoy voting

on my birthday.

[1StrongBlackMan]

21. I was about to begin cursing up a storm ...

then, I read the body of the post.

Can I make a suggestion? If you are able ... hook up with your local Democratic Organization and spend the day (or part of the day ... or a single trip), volunteering to give folks a ride to the polls.

I, typically, vote on election day ... my game with myself is seeing if I can be the 1st person casting a vote at my designated poll place. Then, I spend the rest of the day (however much I can afford) providing rides.

[Bryce Butler]

22. I always stay home on Election Day...

I live in Oregon.

[Peacetrain]

23. WTG!!!!

I went down to the courthouse.. it is still a mail in ballot,but we can put it in the sealed envelope there .. feels great doesn't it

[lastlib]

24. Don't stay home, help other people get out to vote!!

[WillyT]

26. Me Too !!! - As Soon As I Get My Ballot !!!

& Rec !!!

[The Green Manalishi]

27. I enjoy going to our local polling place

Even if you already voted- maybe ask around if anyone needs a ride to the polls? I've dragged, rer encouraged a person or two several elections.

[Thor_MN]

28. I'm not going to vote on November 4th

because I will have already voted in order to be an election judge.

[classof56]

29. This proud Oregonian will drop my mailed ballot off at the local library's drop box.

Probably do that Monday the third, then stay home Tuesday and watch the results on the local TeeVee. That part can be pretty nervewracking, but the voting process itself couldn't be easier and safer, IMHO. I love vote by mail and highly recommend it nationwide.

Congrats on your early vote from afar. Way to go!

[MerryBlooms]

66. .

[JimDandy]

31. Wow. Our county doesn't even start mailing them out

until the 17th.

[rury]

32. I'll be staying home, too. I'm voting early!

[Gothmog]

34. I will be taking the day off on election day

-To work in my county's voter protection war room

[Dr Hobbitstein]

35. I mailed mine yesterday! n/t

[Bobbie Jo]

37. Woot!

[marble falls]

38. Woo hoo, lets give the President a Congress!

[flamingdem]

39. Nuk Nuk

[cally]

40. I will send mine in in the next day or two

and then make GOTV phone calls on election day. Sometimes I drop it off at the county building so I can get the feeling of election day. A couple of times I've had family emergencies on election day and I wouldn't have voted except I had already sent in my ballot.

[2naSalit]

42. Just got mine in the mail today

will send it in after some careful reflection on some down-ticket candidates.

[greatauntoftriplets]

43. I'll be home November 4 doing the laundry.

Just got notification from Cook County that my ballot is in the mail. So easy to apply online!

[MerryBlooms]

67. IL is definitely voter friendly.

[greatauntoftriplets]

69. It certainly is.

My ballot just arrived, too!

[MerryBlooms]

71. 30 seconds for the request and then zip-bang! at the door within 48hrs. Woot!

[greatauntoftriplets]

72. Mine took longer than that...

but I sent in the application in August. I plan to vote this weekend.

[MrMickeysMom]

44. I so wish we had that in Pennsylvania...

We are so behind in voting options.

[csziggy]

46. So will I

I'll go in between Oct. 20 and Nov. 1 for early voting! Fewer lines and more choices of polling places makes it easier than voting on election day.

[Travelman]

47. Heh!

Well-played. Early voting doesn't start here for another week. I'll probably go next Saturday, but I'm not sure yet.

The whole point of early voting is to be convenient, so I'll figure out a time that's convenient for me. For the primary, I actually went on election day. I still like to make time to do that sometimes. It's just kinda fun. I like the atmosphere, the anticipation, the excitement of voting actually on election day.

[calimary]

48. Gulped hard when I saw the top part...

And then - WHEW!!!!

Thanks for doing your duty! Our absentee ballots came today, too. Starting my studies.

[Gemini Cat]

52. Ha! I was sitting here thinking of all the reasons why you should vote (and a few

rude comments as well) and you burst my bubble. I'm glad you did!

[MerryBlooms]

53. I love the passion in this thread!

[brooklynite]

54. I would love to have Republicnas limit my early voting opportunities...

...we don't have any in NY. It's Election Day or nothing; we can't even do an absentee ballot unless we're out of town.

[davidpdx]

56. I'm also from Oregon, but living overseas

Going to get my ballot in next week.

[Enthusiast]

57. I hope they count your vote.

[DrBulldog]

58. Same here in Oregon.

No lines. No waiting. No id needed. No bad weather. No traffic. No bullshit. And we get a full voter's guide to tell us the qualifications and positions of all the candidates. We vote on everything leisurely in peace and quiet by mail. And we've done it this way for over 20 years ...

[MerryBlooms]

68. .

ayup, I love Oregon and miss it terribly.

[Mbrow]

59. You know whats funny about all this?

I live in Idaho which is about as red as it gets, all the laws people complain about their Re-pugs trying to pass have come to be here some time ago. Except for voting. We do require ID to vote but i can vote any time from now till the election. I can go to the election office, call or email request a mail in ballot. Everything else is F@@ked-up but the voting is easy if you have an ID. Of course if you don't , your Sh1t out of luck.....

[SheilaT]

60. I'll be voting early also.

Right now in New Mexico there are a couple of places already open. I could go to whatever office it is downtown, but in another week or so a bunch of places will open. I generally go to the one at the country fair grounds. There's always just enough of a crowd to give you the standing in line experience, without really long lines. I like to vote early on the "you never know what might happen" theory. If I fell and broke a leg, or had the misfortune to be in the hospital on election, or any other thing that might possibly come up won't matter.

Back in the day, when there was no early voting anywhere, and absentee ballots were difficult to get because (at least in the states I'd lived in up to that point) you had to prove you'd be out of town or otherwise unable to vote on election, airline traffic was down noticeably on election day, and the pattern of travel was altered because people wanted to be able to vote. I know. I was an airline ticket agent at DCA from 1969 to 1979.

[VA_Jill]

61. Well, I have to

go vote in person in one of the reddest districts in VA. It's kind of a pain to vote early, even if you have a valid reason to, although I did once. When I do go to vote, I have to run a gauntlet of Repugnican campaign signs that goes from the main road almost up to the door of the polling place, which is in a grade school gym. That just annoys the hell out of me. I think I might be one of about 10 Democrats in my whole precinct. I remember when I was a kid and school went on as usual on election day. It meant we didn't go to PE that day, but we always had a sense that something special was going on. Now kids are out of school and unless their parents take them along when they go to vote (we always took ours when they were little) they don't have a clue what's happening.

[Major Hogwash]

62. Well, I will admit that I am jealous.

I have to wait another week to even receive my ballot!!

Arggghhhh!!!!!

When is the day we talk like pirates day come this year, anyway?

[Iliyah]

63. K & R

[CTyankee]

64. I'll be in France on Election Day.

I voted by absentee ballot at the city clerk's office at City Hall yesterday!

But I really love voting at my local polling place. I like the feel of Election Day. I like seeing all the voters and my husband works at the polls each Election Day because he loves the interaction with all our friends and neighbors. It's just a good experience.

Since CT gov. race is so close I'll be eager to get word about the results. I'll be on a ship on the Rhone River but hopefully, there will be an Internet connection on board and I can check the result.

Keeping my fingers crossed for Dan Malloy...

[MerryBlooms]

70. Ooo, sounds wonderful-- have a fabulous time.

[CTyankee]

74. thanks. I'm interested in several of the other races too.

I'm really nervous about our chances of holding on to the Senate majority. It's a worrisome year for us Dems...

[MerryBlooms]

81. Yes, I'm also very concerned about Senate races.

[Piedras]

73. My California ballot arrived a couple of days ago

I need to study the propositions better and decide on down ballot issues and candidates. Mailing in the ballot makes GOTV easier because once an absentee ballot is received by the county its known. Then GOTV efforts can concentrate on people who have not yet voted.

[ohnoyoudidnt]

75. Awesome!

I was expecting to make a very different response to this OP.

[left-of-center2012]

76. I always vote by mail

It's signed, sealed, and ready to go out in tomorrow's mail.

[tiredtoo]

77. Been voting absentee for 12 years now

Kinda miss seeing some of the neighbors that we only see on election day but spend the day providing rides to others to the polls. Meet a lot of good people doing this.

[OnlinePoker]

78. Do you get confirmation that your ballot has been received?

That is the only way I would feel comfortable mailing in my vote rather than taking it to a polling place. Also, what happens if you screw up when you're marking your choices, are you able to get a replacement?

[MerryBlooms]

80. If you make a mistake,

just take that ballot with you to your polling place and they will void it for you. Then, you are allowed to vote in person.

I've been voting by mail for about 20 years now, I don't worry about it. Plus, you can now track your ballot online.

[eggplant]

79. That's no reason to stay home!

Go drive people to the polls!

[humbled_opinion]

82. but did you vote for Democrats?

Hard to tell on here anymore....

[MerryBlooms]

83. Absolutely!

[humbled_opinion]

85. Three cheers for sanity...

:cheers

[MerryBlooms]

86. I voted one time for a moderate republican. I think it was... in '84,

It was a family obligation sort of thing. Of course now days, their family wouldn't be considered republicans. Too liberal on social issues and way too pro environment.