View Full Version : How (in what way) do you vote?
Here in Oregon it's mail in or drop off ballot. How do you vote where you are?
In person cause somehow when I moved and signed up for early voting by mail - it registered me but not by mail. So I went to the Catholic Church in the barrio a mile from my house and got a better feel for my neighborhood. It was sort of fun - except that I did this at 6 am because of a 12 hour work day in front of me.
I wish voting day was a national holiday.
I always vote absentee. When I registered I was traveling a lot for work so it made sense. Now that I don't travel so much I still get my ballot in the mail and fill it out while enjoying a beer. (see my post on polling place selfies). Since I'm usually home on election day I just walk it over the the polling place near my office at lunch. As always they gave me a nice sticker today. Apparently I voted sideways...
iris lilies
11-6-18, 11:21pm
I go to the voting place on election day and usually take a paper ballot.
Gardenarian
11-6-18, 11:27pm
Before I moved to Oregon, I went to the polls (rather than using an absentee ballot.)
My daughter was still young enough to enjoy coming along with me, and it seemed like a good lesson in civics. And there's something a little more exciting about voting in person, with your community.
Now that I'm in Oregon, I think all states should do vote by mail. They make it really easy.
Teacher Terry
11-6-18, 11:38pm
I do early voting and no lines during the week days. I saw that soldier died with 7 kids after making that statement which was really sad.
I go to the polls-my lifelong ritual I suppose. Hubby went to early vote a few weeks ago at City Hall. We can also apply for an early ballot if desired.
Lots's of options..
In Texas, we had to vote at polling places. Here in Colorado, we can either mail in a ballot or drop off. So much easier. Still wondering why there isn't an online option.
Before I moved to Oregon, I went to the polls (rather than using an absentee ballot.)
My daughter was still young enough to enjoy coming along with me, and it seemed like a good lesson in civics. And there's something a little more exciting about voting in person, with your community.
Now that I'm in Oregon, I think all states should do vote by mail. They make it really easy.
It is so easy. I actually had to get in line to drop off my daughters ballot because she waited till the last possible minute, but otherwise, it's super easy. So much better than going to a polling booth.
In person. I also wish there was an online option.
rosarugosa
11-7-18, 6:52am
We walked the rail trail yesterday morning and then continued to our voting location and then home. Our voting location is very close to our house. We could have done early voting at our town hall, which is even closer.
Voted at our town hall in person.
On voting day, at the polling place.
Actually surprised I only needed a driver license, as I came with my voters card too - rep looked at me like I had brought stone tablets and a chisel!
I've always voted in person at our local polling place. I always enjoyed the formality involved in the process, checking in at the designated table for my neighborhood, having a polling official open the big ledger and finding my name, complete with a copy of my signature, and having me sign next to it before giving me my ballot. Yesterday, they scanned my drivers license, printed out a receipt with my personal information on it and had me sign an electronic screen. It wasn't the same.
In person. I never understood why so many consider that to be too much to ask.
Mail-in ballot. It's easy to drop at the post office (no stamp required) or drop it at the polling place on Election Day. You have to sign up in advance for this, otherwise you are going to have to vote in person.
Like others, I used to take my son to the polling place when he was young so he could see the voting process in person. Then we'd go out to eat breakfast, so it reinforced that this was important and a special occasion.
In person. I never understood why so many consider that to be too much to ask.
I'm happy Washington followed Oregon's lead and instituted vote-by-mail. I trooped to my polling place for years; this is so much better, IMO. I don't understand the virtue in making it as hard as possible to vote--in some cases, impossible. Lines blocks long, polling places running out of ballots, non-working machines...all could be fixed with the stroke of a pen. Not everyone can get to a polling place. At this point, I'd have to request an absentee ballot.
ToomuchStuff
11-7-18, 11:23am
Scratch and sniff. Polling place a couple blocks from my house, busiest I have ever seen, but must have hit the right time, as no wait. (also more poll workers then I have ever seen there)
Scratch in the boxes solidly, and sniff out what comes out of it, while looking for air freshener.
In person. I never understood why so many consider that to be too much to ask.
Obviously you don't live in Dodge City.
Obviously you don't live in Dodge City.
Not yet, but the Democrats are working on it. Right now I live in a jurisdiction where voting is about as challenging as picking up my dry cleaning.
iris lilies
11-7-18, 12:27pm
I'm happy Washington followed Oregon's lead and instituted vote-by-mail. I trooped to my polling place for years; this is so much better, IMO. I don't understand the virtue in making it as hard as possible to vote--in some cases, impossible. Lines blocks long, polling places running out of ballots, non-working machines...all could be fixed with the stroke of a pen. Not everyone can get to a polling place. At this point, I'd have to request an absentee ballot.
My friend who has all kinds of princessy habits always votes absentee. She lies, of course, to get her absentee ballot. Here, absentee ballots are for those who are unable to get to a polling place.
She is perfectly able to walk to her car, drive herself the few blocks to the polling place, and vote.
In Washington State, we are entirely vote-by-mail, and I miss the old ways.
I'm all for completely overhauling our elections-from registering (motor voter!) to national voting by mail, to getting big money and lengthy campaigning out of the system. I can kind of see the nostalgia factor, but time marches on, and usually for the better.
iris lilies
11-7-18, 1:27pm
I think it is perfectly fine that ya’ll in WA do what you do.
i want retention of voting process by the State. States rights and all. If my state is considered “behind” —whatever. That keeps the riffraff outta here.
I'm all for completely overhauling our elections-from registering (motor voter!) to national voting by mail, to getting big money and lengthy campaigning out of the system. I can kind of see the nostalgia factor, but time marches on, and usually for the better.
From my vantage point, "keeping the riffraff out" means limiting or eliminating polling places in areas where poor people are likely to vote, limiting the hours polling places are open to keep poor working people from voting, employing dirty tricks like mailing misinformation to targeted voters, limiting ballot availability. changing voting rules midstream (N Dakota)...This is all clearly unconstitutional in a country where everyone eligible has the right to vote. Or do you think we should bring back poll taxes and literacy requirements? SCOTUS has already gutted the Voting Rights Act. What other states choose to do (e.g. cheat, disenfranchise) impacts all of us.
Not yet, but the Democrats are working on it. Right now I live in a jurisdiction where voting is about as challenging as picking up my dry cleaning.
Yeah--middle-class neighborhoods don't have the problems that regularly plague poorer ones. All my polling places have been readily accessible and nearly wait-free. I was appalled when I realized how difficult it is for so many to vote. Dodge City is one egregious example, as is North Dakota. That's why I support making the process universally vote-by-mail, a process that's difficult to game and easy to implement.
I usually vote on election day at my precinct, but this year I voted early at the election office. I used to use the computer ballots, but I've decided I don't feel comfortable with them anymore and have gone back to paper.
I remember when I first started voting, you'd go into the booth, pull a lever to close the curtain, flip the buttons next to the name you wanted and pull the lever again. It registered your vote and opened the curtain.
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