posted on October 21, 2008 10:54:23 AM new
Since 1998, Oregonians have voted 100% by mail (or drop off). No waiting in line, no expensive voting machines that can go wrong, all ballots are handled identically at the county elections office (the public is invited to watch each step of the process) and there is an automatic paper trail. I remember many of the fears in 1998 of what evils this system would invite and they just have not happened - increased costs (costs decreased by 30%), more prone to fraud (hasn't happened), loss of privacy (hasn't happened), decreased voter turn-out (voter participation has increased). I miss the opportunity to chat with the same lovely ladies who turned out each election day to man the polling places- but I assume most of them are dead now anyway. I liked having my son watch me surf the web, researching the candidates and ballot measures beyond the "Voter's Guide" and then marking my vote on the ballot. By driving to the nearest drop-off site (adjacent to McDonald's drive-thru) I saved 42 cents (which I applied to a sausage McMuffin- I deserved the treat...) I don't know why more states don't have mail-in voting.
[ edited by pixiamom on Oct 21, 2008 10:56 AM ]
posted on October 21, 2008 11:32:37 PM new
pixiamom, in all seriousness, I think voting by mail is great. We are in California, and for many years, we voted by mail. Last year and this year we went to the polls to cast our ballots. Since the polling place is only around the corner, it is just as easy to go there.
I have always wanted to volunteer our garage as a polling place. My wife thinks I'm crazy to do so. No problem, as there is so much junk in the garage, I could never clean it up. And, I can't move anything into the house, as it is full of stamps!
I also spend hours with my stepson reviewing all the candidates and Propositions on the ballot. I used to take him to the polls with me, but he is too old now.
posted on October 22, 2008 04:32:45 AM new
We don't need to vote by mail here in Minnesota - folks are willing to battle the lines and often nasty November weather to exercise their right and responsibility to vote:
"Maine and Minnesota had the highest levels of voter registration in the country at about 80 percent. The states with the highest voter turnout rates were Minnesota and South Dakota, at around 67 percent each." (2004 census data) http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/002278.html
The statistics for 2008 are even better:
"Voter registrations in Minnesota have already surpassed the record set in 2004, and the state could have nine out of every 10 possible voters signed up in time for November's election.
According to the Secretary of State's office, 84 percent of eligible voters in Minnesota -- about 3,145,000 -- are registered. That's 12,000 more voters than the record set in 2004.
