Comments on: Column: A Pitch for Absentee Voting

By: Alice Ralph

Alice Ralph — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:04:42 +0000

Voting at the polls in an “open” primary provides “second-chance” voting for those who do not realize that a “split ticket” invalidates their votes. Absentee voters who vote for individuals in both parties do not get a second chance and their votes are not counted. If a voter makes the same mistake at the polls, the ballot is rejected and the voter gets a second chance to have a valid vote counted. Likely, an informed voter would not make that mistake, but with more voters there might be some whose inexperience might make for disappointing results. We ought to try anyway, to increase voter participation. Our elections need some voting vitamins.

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:46:54 +0000

Like ABC, I like voting in public, and, in fact, believe it’s one of the few things that connects us as physical communities any more. I have neighbors I ONLY see on election days.

That said, no excuse absentee ballots seem a lot better idea than mail in voting. Sometimes legitimate issues emerge in the closing days of a campaign that might seriously influence your vote if you hadn’t already cast it.

By: Dave Cahill

Dave Cahill — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:14:37 +0000

Dave, how does the number of absentee ballot applications this year compare with the number of ballot applications at exactly the same point in 2008 (mid-June)? I’m sure Jackie can give you the figure.

This is the figure that would tell us whether or not the interest in the August primaries is higher this year than 2008, lower, or about the same.

By: abc

abc — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:59:09 +0000

I like voting in public. I like seeing others vote in public. It is satisfying to watch my ballot disappear knowing that it will be counted with all the others.

That said, if absentee ballots would increase the number of people who vote then I am all for it. Decisions are made by those who show up; I wish more people showed up.

By: Judith Foy

Judith Foy — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:24:34 +0000

THIS is a fantastic column, Dave!

By: Leah Gunn

Leah Gunn — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:15:18 +0000

We ought to have all mail-in voting as Oregon does. Then no one has to go to the polls, and we don’t have to spend thousands of dollars staffing them.

By: cosmonıcan

cosmonıcan — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:48:37 +0000

Oddly, I have been “out of town” on election days for quite a few years. What a strange coincidence that my travels should happen then.