What are your thoughts on early voting? (please do not reference political parties or candidates) (2 Viewers)

[Mr. Sparkle]

I think there is some slight risk of a reason to change voter sentiment between the early vote and election day but I think it's exceedingly rare. At least for major elections where people are likely to early vote, there haven't been any examples of a candidate having a major stroke or being outed as a child predator between mid-October and the first Tuesday of November (or similar). And for lesser revelations, they're probably not likely to result in the voter's change of heart. Any given voter who is still in-play in mid to late October and concerned about a change in events is well-encouraged to wait.

But the idea that "everyone gets to vote on the same day" makes it sound easier than it is. The push for modern broad-adoption of early voting started in 2004 when some voting lines were 12 hours long (in Ohio for example). People literally showed up to vote but didn't vote because they simply didn't have six or eight or twelve hours to vote. The adult population in the US has grown substantially over the past few decades and expecting everyone to vote on the same day just seems to be inviting major challenge . . . that very easily results in people choosing not to vote, which is just about the worst result we can have (people making the effort show up and vote but then not voting due to capacity or system failures).

If you have limited resources in solving this problem, early voting is far more sensible. You could either (1) attempt to expand the voting capacity system to handle all of the voters in a reasonable amount of time on a single election day - which requires expanding the places where people vote, the number of machines, the number of poll workers, and expanding internal system capacities, etc. . . . OR (2) you actually accommodate the same number of total voters by expanding the days in which those existing locations, systems, and workers will be used, and in-fact it may serve to reduce overall stress on the systems, including on election day, by spreading it out over those early voting days.

It seems like a pretty obvious choice.

I used a major stroke or charges of child molestation merely as examples of things that can come to light. There have been plenty of 'October surprises' over the years in all kinds of elections. It doesn't have to be limited to either candidate imploding or getting outed in the press by oppo research - a foreign conflict that bubbles up (or doesn't), natural disaster that tests the candidates, etc. I don't think its all that controversial to say that its better if we are all voting based on the same information set. And I think its definitely better if we all have to gather together to cast our votes.

I'm fine with absentee ballots and I have no doubt that election infrastructure could use a lot of help in certain places. But I vote in Orleans Parish which you would think would be a total clsuterfck but in fact works smoothly, even for huge turnout elections - I think I waited like 10 minutes for Obama's first election which was probably a record turnout in Orleans. So I feel like if Orleans Parish can make it work, so can Ohio.

But, anyway, like I said, I'm old fashioned, and obviously I'm in the small minority given the proliferation of early voting. We're not putting that genie back in the bottle and I'm sure its just a matter of time before its all done online. I just think its a shame.

 

[brandon8283]

Mississippi voter here. No option to early vote, so 3 hour long line tomorrow incoming.

 

[SystemShock]

Early voting is a good thing... I go as far as say we should have a voting period, not day (like 3 days in a row); and online would really be the most effective way to go...

But I have to say, making the line on Election Day gives it a bigger sense of civil duty and accomplishment ... like a ritual.

 

[superchuck500]

I used a major stroke or charges of child molestation merely as examples of things that can come to light. There have been plenty of 'October surprises' over the years in all kinds of elections. It doesn't have to be limited to either candidate imploding or getting outed in the press by oppo research - a foreign conflict that bubbles up (or doesn't), natural disaster that tests the candidates, etc. I don't think its all that controversial to say that its better if we are all voting based on the same information set. And I think its definitely better if we all have to gather together to cast our votes.

I'm fine with absentee ballots and I have no doubt that election infrastructure could use a lot of help in certain places. But I vote in Orleans Parish which you would think would be a total clsuterfck but in fact works smoothly, even for huge turnout elections - I think I waited like 10 minutes for Obama's first election which was probably a record turnout in Orleans. So I feel like if Orleans Parish can make it work, so can Ohio.

But, anyway, like I said, I'm old fashioned, and obviously I'm in the small minority given the proliferation of early voting. We're not putting that genie back in the bottle and I'm sure its just a matter of time before its all done online. I just think its a shame.

Sorry I didn’t mean to be dismissive of the idea that something monumental could happen between early voting and Election Day, only saying that I can’t recall anything quite like that.

I don’t disagree with your notion of the civic benefit that comes from exercising this essential right in some form of togetherness - I just think that practical considerations including making sure people can realistically vote prevail.

But there’s still this!

The Case for Gathering on Election Night

Americans may not be in a party mood right now. But the rituals of Election Night can serve a higher civic purpose.

www.theatlantic.com

 

[nolaspe]

I voted on Oct 25th at a local library here in da Metrys. It took me no longer than 20 min in and out, easy peasy...

 

[DaveXA]

I'd rather mail my vote if I could. If online voting were a thing, I'd totally do that. I'm just not a fan of voting in person. Long lines, being surrounded by strangers, often weird/loud people, and I'm slightly anti-social these days, lol. Not really, but I'd rather it just just be an easy, accessible thing.

 

[CoolBrees]

Here in Oregon we are 100% mail in and have been since the early 2000's. There have been like 350 total fraudulent ballots cast in all those elections since. And they were caught mind you.

we also have ranked choice for local and state offices.

We voted this time to make all of our elections - including federal - ranked choice. I will be interested if it passes.

I have said it before; it is a crime, the differences in voting access across the country.

 

[Goatman Saint]

I love mail in voting. Started during the 2020 election and have done it since. I’m all for a longer voting window and mail in voting. Allow anyone who desires to vote that chance to do so.

 

[BlackandGoldXLIV]

This was the first year I voted early. Loved it. No lines. Done in 10 minutes. Took me longer to drive and park.

I never had a problem with waiting in hour plus lines to cast my vote. Millions of soldiers died to give us the right to vote in a democratic society.

Honor their sacrifice and vote. No matter which party you choose.

If you have to stand in line and be uncomfortable for a couple of hours, so what? Vote!

 

[SaintRob]

Every effort should be made to get everyone to vote

This.

Expanding access to early voting and mail in voting, to be able to give the ability for easy access to voting for as many Americans as possible, is the way it should be.

 

[nolastyle]

I'll be sleeping during the day tomorrow and working all night. If not for early voting, I probably wouldn't have had the chance to stand in line for an hour or two without sacrificing my sleep.

There were 3 locations for early voting here in Ascension parish. I was in and out in less than ten minutes on Thursday afternoon. No line. First time early voting but I thought it was great.

 

[Consigliere]

Voting early is great. You can do it on your own schedule here in GA. Wait hours on election day, a Tuesday, when it's likely inconvenient, or vote on your schedule. It's a no brainer.

Here's a tip in Georgia: live in a precinct dominated by the same party as the currently sitting Secretary of State. It can make the difference between a 5-minute wait and a 5-hour wait.

 

[livefromDC]

I am very old-fashioned so I kinda hate early voting. If you need an absentee ballot because you travel a lot or you're posted overseas, that's one thing, but to open up voting into a 4 week rolling period destroys a lot of the social cohesion that is created when everyone goes to vote on the same day.

It also turns voting into more of a poll driven exercise than it already is and by design it means different votes are cast with different information. If you cast your vote in mid October and then your candidate has a massive stroke (or is outed as a child predator or whatever) 2 days later, that's not a good system.

So many people are casting votes today, Tuesday, November 5th with different information, you'd think there's 2 different candidates in the race. Besides, you can vote 3 weeks out or wait until 3 days out if you're concerned about new information coming out. Early voting gives working class people who may not be able to take off work the opportunity to still vote on a day that does work for them. They may not be off of election Tuesday but perhaps they are off on another day over the early voting period.

 

[slaym]

Mississippi voter here. No option to early vote, so 3 hour long line tomorrow incoming.

Alabama doesn't allow early voting either.

 

[0rion]

We make everything else a national holiday....why not voting? Give everyone the day off so they can vote. Personally I'm not a fan of mail in voting but as long as it's in person I don't have a problem with early voting.