Early voting question

[nialla42]

I've been getting a ton of calls about early voting, which can only be done at set locations during set times. Of course there's not any on our side of the county, so it's pretty much going to the County Courthouse if you want to do early voting. Though it doesn't apply to me since I have to vote in another county.

What was interesting to me is a

Comments

[wolfshark]

Maryland has early voting, but the lines this weekend were outrageous - as an example, we got to the polling place on Sunday twenty minutes after it opened and they already had a 2.5 hour line. We went back last night, and the wait was much better - only about twenty minutes.

[nialla42]

They're only doing weekday early voting here, or at least not in the counties I'm familiar with. I'm sure weekend hours would really boost the vote and I wish they'd do it.

[superbadgirl]

I'm so used to mail-only voting (WA might have had in-person voting, but I really don't think many used it if so) that I don't even know where to go here! Eee, better look into it. And I swear I registered to vote when I got my license, but I need to check that too.

[nialla42]

They did the "motor voter" thing here a few years ago. Supposedly to make it easier to register to vote, but realistically, it also put more people into the jury pool.

[vamysteryfan]

Up to a few years ago, many states only allowed absentee ballots and you had to have a good reason for not voting in person. I kind of like early in-person voting. It spreads things out. DC instituted early voting a few years ago. The lines have been quite long and steady at our local library, which is the designated site for my ward. The library was closed for two days due to the hurricane so that may be contributing.

In 2008 Virginia had early in-person voting. I remember going down to the courthouse and the wait was over 4 hours. I'll have to see what it's like over there this year.

[or_mabinogi]

You want me to comment on when/how we can vote here in Ohio? I'm not even sure anymore. They keep going back and forth on that suppression issue.

As far as I understand it, yes we have early in-person voting. It could only be done at the elections office downtown and there was a schedule of hours it was open that was mailed out a couple months ago. Who knows if those hours are accurate anymore. Generally I've just gone to my local polling site right after work on election day. I'm thinking this year of going over in the morning, even if it makes me late for work. I'd rather be late for work because I was voting than be late to the polls and not be able to vote. After this I may start doing absentee ballots. Just 'cuz.

[tx_cronopio]

I love it! You just never know what might happen on Election Day -- I could be sick, my car could break down, I could just be busy -- I love having the option to early vote and then I don't have to worry about it.

Here in Austin it's going really well -- both the Engineer and I had to stand in line for a good bit, even though we were at different sites.

I still think Election Day should be a national holiday, but I doubt that will ever happen.