Is it best to vote by absentee ballot -- or go to the polls?????

[Cats Against Frist]

My boyfriend and I just received our absentee ballots in the mail. They are from our state -- Iowa -- and we're voting in Iowa -- we just requested them.

So I have this absentee ballot. Maybe my paranoia is creeping in, but I really want to make sure that my VOTE GETS COUNTED. In my county, we have pencil-marked ballots, so there is DEFINITELY a paper trail.

Now, I also wanted to make a big deal out of going to the polls to vote for my 3-year-old son -- because my parents ALWAYS voted, and were interested in politics, and it made me interested in politics.

So this is a general question -- and maybe some other people are curious about whether to vote absentee or go to the polls. Does it REALLY make a difference? Does it only make a difference if you're in counties that use the touch screens? In places where we have paper ballots that we're actually writing on, in pencil, does it make a difference if we vote "absentee" or go to the polls? What about places that use "punch cards?"

[Eric J in MN]

1. I would vote in person if there are no paperless machines used (nt)

nt

[crispini]

2. General advice: If someone is concerned

I would say the best possible thing they could do would be to go down to their county elections office and chat with the registrar of voters. In a nice, nonthreatening way, ask them about the voting process. How does it work? Is there a central tabulating software system? whose is it? if there is touchscreen voting, who made it? ask to look at an early sample ballot.

In this way you will get a "read" on temperature of your county elections office and be able to get some idea about the specifics on the ground. I can't emphasize this enough.... elections are held by the county ... therefore, you as a resident of your county are the best person to get involved with the election process in your county.

I am a deputy voter registrar for my county and I know many deputy voter registrars for my county. My 'read' on my county is that, by and large, they're OK folk. Also, right now the election is set... it's too late for them to change their plans... so, NOW would be a good time for a fact-finding mission, then after the election would be a good time to encourage a citizen petition to encourage them to make changes.

In your specific case, I'd vote on election day, just to take your kids in to let them see you vote. That's a very powerful experience for a child. My mother did that for me and I credit that experience to my subsequent civic involvement. Little voters grow up to be big voters!

Edited to add: If you vote absentee on paper, it takes one bad apple in the office to toss your ballot. If you vote at the polls on paper there are much more likely to be more pollwatcher eyes watching people... therefore, vote on election day.

[goclark]

16. My mother is 85 years old

She is a life long democrat and loves to vote.

I am either going to explore the Early Vote option for her or vote Absentee .

I will be a poll watcher on the day of the election.

In the CA Recall election, I tried and tried to find a disability site for my mom to vote. It was a disaster. So I took her to the polls. I will NEVER do that again!!!

In my neighbor, there are few polling places. The one for the Recall was in a small church on a hill, parking lot for 100 cars. NO disability spaces! There was a long long line of people waiting to vote. There were inexperienced poll workers.

When we finally got in, I was allowed to help my mother to vote. The punch card voting took us about 10 minutes. My mother was thrilled to vote, I was thrilled to have her vote but I was completely exhausted and frustrated.

For this important election, I would be making 8/10 people wait in line, with no hope of getting back to work , for my mom to vote.

I would strongly advise SENIORS that have trouble walking and reading and punching and rushing to NOT go to the polls.

If I am wrong let me know a better way.

[LiberalFighter]

18. You should also check to see if the Election Board sends out...

a crew to disabled voters at their homes. In Indiana, a member of each party can visit the homes of disable voters so they can cast their votes.

[goclark]

23. Thanks, I'll check

Since I am retired, I can transport my mom. I will check for others because it is so important for them to vote.

[whistle]

3. Try to do both if you can, otherwise vote by absentee ballot

:crazy:

[Name removed]

46. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Florida_Geek]

4. Absentee is the ONLY way to go vs touchscreens

there is a paper vote that can be recounted.

[phish420]

8. I disagree...vote EARLY, not ABSENTEE

You can also do an 'early vote' where you go down to the SOE office and place your vote and have it read then and there - that way you know that at least up to the SOE, it has been counted (from there to the Sec of State may be another story)... Greg Palast just did an excellent interview that someone posted in another thread (sorry, dont have the link) wher he points out that absentee voting is the WORST thing you can do...the envleopes are designated Rep/Dem/Ind on the OUTSIDE, allowing them to be 'pre-screened', and no one but the poll workers see them tabulated. People MUST be made aware of the difference between an 'absentee' vote and an 'early' vote. The difference is HUGE.

[Florida_Geek]

14. Wrong Wrong WRONG WRONG

You vote early on a paperless Touchscreen....

Absentee are on REAL PAPER...

[faithnotgreed]

24. NO> not always the case, according to bev harris. she says that

absentee ballots are not always "real paper". depending on the jurisdiction youre in, the absentee ballots are read by the same machines that you have when you vote in person.

so no matter if its in person on a touchscreen or by absentee, they can be fed into the same machine to tally the votes.
its not as if someone is in the back room properly counting the absentee ballots while the votes placed in person on a touchscreen are tallied on a potentially fraudulent machine.

again, you have to find out from your elections board how they count absentees

[Florida_Geek]

26. Do you have any CLUE what you are talking about

"absentee ballots are not always "real paper"."

That is the dumbest thing I have read on this matter.

DUHHHHHHH...... They do not mail you a touchscreen to vote.....

[faithnotgreed]

30. you may want to ease down a little on the tone and think

about this please.

clearly im not saying that absentee ballots arent paper.... of course if youre only talking about the material, they clearly are. i was responding to your post.
you in essence say that absentees and touchscreen votes are completely different. i am only (with emphasis) pointing out the situation in which they are not necessarily tabulated differently. certainly the materials of touchscreen and absentee would be different but not at all what i was talking about.
sorry that was not clearer

[ParanoidPat]

28. I believe that's a slight misinterpretation of what Bev said.......

.....While it's true that the optical scan ballots may be read by the same machine and tabulated using GEMS software, the existence of a paper ballot does make a difference! The paper ballot is evidence that would otherwise not exist if you were to vote on a DRE machine. The ballot may never be examined by a pair of human eyes but by it's very existence, presents a threat that a judge, under the right circumstances, could order them examined as evidence of fraud or machine malfunction. That in itself offers a deterrence to someone looking to commit fraud using the machines.

I've gotta side with the geek on this one. :evilgrin:

:kick:Paper Ballots are the currency of democracy, don't let anyone short change you!:kick:

[faithnotgreed]

31. as i say, im going according to what i saw andy say in a post here

in the last month, i think, and that is what he said. that it totally depends on how the votes are being tabulated in the first place. and that depends on what locale you are in. in some places certainly paper ballots are an advantage. im pointing out (according to bbv) that its not always the case and definitely depends on how the votes are tabulated. i think the example was somewhere in california (because that is one of the areas they have been working in).

ill go check around on this and his posts. im just trying to disseminate what the experts are saying. thats all.

but of course all of us want our votes to count and to vote the best way we can, according to the local goings on. but according to the findings andy has posted, he has said outright that certain places are not thinking about playing fair or according to the law, and that theres a false sense of security for those who automatically think if they vote with absentee that the problem is all taken care of.

he points out that it all depends on how votes are tabulated in each area. in other words, there are different rules all over the place and this is part of the insidiousness of the voting system in our country.

again, ill go check around. im no expert by any stretch, just hoping to pass along what ive read from the experts.

[ParanoidPat]

35. Well since I've been working with Bev and Andy for well over a year now

I can assure you that I know what I'm talking about. :evilgrin:

I live in California and was with them at their last meeting with members of the California Voting Systems Panel as well as representatives of the States Attorney's office when we were demonstrating the hack to them. I'm also quoted several times in her book. :)

While you are correct that the rules are different anywhere you go, and there's NO guarantee that the paper ballot will ever be looked at, the fact remains that it is always better to have some form of physical ballot as evidence of your intent than not to have one. The trick is in knowing the best way to make sure that your ballot is counted and preserved for possible use in a recount situation. YMMV depending on your local laws.

You can find the laws for your state at your Secretary of State's web site or either of the links below.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/topics/state_statutes2.html (Scroll down to elections}

http://www.lawresearch.com/v2/statute/statstate.htm#elections

:kick:Paper ballots are the currency of democracy, don't let anyone short change you!:kick:

[Florida_Geek]

39. Geek Here

the only thing if I was in Duval county Florida or other vote stealing area I would be worried about is IF for a GENERAL election there is a mark on the envelope that could tell somebody that you were a Dem.

In Tampa (Hillsborough county) and other Florida cities the absentee envelopes are opened and counted in front of members of all parties. The parties are not told the results and for the most part the counting is done a couple days BEFORE the election.

Yes the optical scanners are normally made by the same people as the touchscreens but there is a phycial piece of paper that can be re-counted.

[ParanoidPat]

40. To drive home your point, Theresa "Madam Butterfly Ballot" LaPore.....

.....elections supervisor of Palm Beach County decided to break the law and count the absentee ballots for her own election all by herself in a locked room! The preliminary count on election night showed she had lost the election by some 6,500 votes but an audit the following day found a discrepancy in the number of absentee ballots reported.

Although Palm Beach County voters cast 31,138 absentee ballots, the totals showed 37,839 absentee votes, a difference of 6,701 votes. The recount, which entailed resending the ballots through optical scanning machines, started at 11 a.m. and finished late Wednesday. Determining the exact number of absentee ballots proved challenging: early Wednesday the total was 31,095. By day's end it was 31,138. In the end, she wound up losing by a total of 4,051 votes.

Even though the ballots were run through a machine, the fact that they even existed allowed a true recount to occur. If not for those ballots the best anyone could do would have been to spit out the flawed machine totals and wonder what the hell happened. :)

[Pirate Smile]

59. There is no mark on the envelope for the General Election showing your

party.

[faithnotgreed]

41. i wasnt challenging what youre saying. at least i hope not

my hope was to summarize what i had read, to give an overview because someone had posted that an absentee ballot was the answer to touchscreen, and i was thinking its not that simple, depending on where you live especially

i definitely understand your explanation. that although it is not a guarantee, it is better to have an absentee ballot because at least it offers a form of physical proof.
thank you. im in agreement on that. i was trying to poiny out that depending on where you live its not an automatic... it sounds like you agreed with that, or did i misunderstand?

heres the thread i started on this to which you responded. could you please tell me if what i say here is correct? thank you. i want to make sure that i have the proper information. i appreciate that. this is a complicated issue and it matters to have those of you who know the ins and outs.
as i hope i said from the beginning, i was not representing myself as any expert but i do hope to know the facts of this.
thank you


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=897966&mesg_id=897966

[ParanoidPat]

45. I fully understand where you're coming from.....

.....there has been quite a bit of confusion surrounding this issue. :crazy:

I don't want to represent myself as an 'expert' by any stretch of the imagination, however, I have spent thousands of hours, at this point, studying how elections are conducted in our country and reading the laws governing how they are conducted. I've also spent a lot of time educating myself about past methods of fraud, how they were attempted and by whom.

In virtually every case the officials in charge of the elections were either directly involved (as in the case of Theresa LaPore) or were culpable through sheer negligence therefore allowing others to affect the vote count.

In virtually every case it was the ballots themselves that provided the evidence (or lack thereof!) that proved that tampering had occurred. Without paper ballots all we get is a 'trust us' guarantee that the results are properly totaled. If something goes wrong, whether by accident or deliberately, the ballots themselves have an intrinsic evidential value as to the intent of the voter that the current machines, as designed, lack.

The machine manufacturers readily admit there are problems that could allow someone to subvert the count but claim that elections officials are part of the overall system that will prevent it from happening.

Historically, we all know how well that's worked out! :(

The best way to make people understand the importance of a paper ballot is by example. No one in their right mind would ever place their hard earned cash into an automated teller machine without expecting proof in the form of a paper receipt that they had done so. No receipt, no proof!

If our government officials claim the right to audit our earnings and tax us accordingly trusting only paper receipts as proof during the audit, then we as citizens must demand the right to audit their authority to do so, as their authority is derived from our elections. It's only fair. Just try submitting a spread sheet during an IRS audit as proof of your income and expenses and see how far you get. Why should we accept anything less?

I've said it before and I'll say it again,

:kick:Paper ballots are the currency of democracy, don't let anyone short change you!:kick:

[faithnotgreed]

47. well said. and yes - theresa was a beaut of an example, wasnt she?

of course she is just one of a long line. it just so happens that this was reported, but we know thats not usually the case

its absolutely the most important aspect were facing in our voting this year. and, in a democracy, the one that was most avoidable if not for the sheer layers of corruption and habit and attitude. and in some cases, ignorance, i would imagine

thank you for your time. today, explaining this to me and all of us, and for your thousands of hours learning about this issue.

[LiberalFighter]

19. They should only be marked with the political party if it is a primary

The general election shouldn't have any political party identification. If it does then there should be a public stink made about it.

[ISUGRADIA]

27. This is not in all states

In Iowa party designation is on envelopes but is only to be filled in during primary elections. Otherwise party affiliation is not known.

[IowaGuy]

5. Absentee voting can be considered "aiding" your candidate....

beyond just tha act of voting. These things are being tracked by the candidates organizations. If they have a high turnout of people that have turned in their ballots in a particular precinct, they can devote less resources to turnout in that precinct and concentrate their resources on others. In Iowa, where the Dems have a fantastic program to promote using absentee ballots, it gives a distinct advantage to the Dems. In all states, the differences in the party organizations and the states rules can change this calculation to some extent.

From a security standpoint - I feel it is more secure because of the reality of that paper ballot and the audit trail attached to the chain of custody - that being said, in Iowa, we have a very clean system, no matter which process you choose to vote with (something some of our states to the south may wish to learn from, if they really are truly interested in "democracy").

I do appreciate the sense of people wanting to go to the polls on Nov 2nd, and having that shared experience of participating in the American Democratic process, however I have chosen to do my ballot absentee this year, specifically so that I can do everything possible to help Kerry to target his capaign dollars better. I'm not rich, so in a way it is something I can do for the campaign, beyond donating dollars, that helps the campaign.

I'm also spending several hours volunteering with the campaign today to go out and help collect these ballots and turn them in. Hitting the neighborhoods in about an hour.....Go Kerry!!!

[enough]

6. Greg Palast strongly warns against absentee voting,

in an interview posted here:
http://www.liberaloasis.com/palast3.htm

snip>

...Let me tell you something else to look for in this election.
The number of absentee ballots is increasing by 500%.
There's going to be something like 15 million absentee ballots in America.
It's going to be wholesale theft...
LO: What can they do with absentee ballots that they can't do with regular ballots?
GP: One, throw them away.
You get a receipt when you register to vote, but not when you actually vote by absentee ballot.

snip>

(One) thing I recommend people do is don't vote absentee for God sakes. That's just really taking a chance with your vote.
The safest vote you can cast would be an early vote.
Go right into your elections supervisor's office and cast a vote right there, because if there's any challenge to your vote you'll have a chance to correct it.

snip>


I asked the same question on DU yesterday:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=893711

I'd really like to get some advice on this from some of our resident DU vote-fraud experts.

[SoCalDemocrat]

7. Diebold vs absentee? Go Absentee

If your alternative is a Diebold machine, go with the absentee ballot.

[phish420]

9. Ahh...this was the article I spoke of....thanks...nt

[IowaGuy]

11. I'd take post # 5's advice first....

best to check things out yourself...different states run their voting programs differently, with different outcomes re: reliability of the process. Making a wide-ranging endightment of absentee ballots in the context that Palast does in this interview makes for good copy, but does not necessarily reflect the facts on the ground.

In Iowa, where the original poster is from, absentee voting has proven to be very reliable and has been taken advantage of by the DEM party to their benefit.

[Florida_Geek]

15. I will say it again..... Where there is Touchscreen used.

early voting is on TOUCHSCREENS WITHOUT A PAPER TRAIL.

Absentee is a paper ballot.

who do you trust more.

[faithnotgreed]

25. please see my post to you (#24). you may have wrong information

depending on where you live

you need to check first.

[lefthandedskyhook]

10. Here is a good way to help

The answer to your question will depend on your particular location. Greg Palast makes a good case for early voting, though no method is going to be bullet-proof. We can all help to keep this election honest by volunteering and being vigilant for suspicious activities before, during and after Nov. 2. (A landslide for Kerry will make it easier)

Volunteer to be a poll watcher here: http://www.electionprotectionvolunteer.org/electionprotection/index.cfm?mktcode=EI001

[faithnotgreed]

33. thank you. this is what i thought as well reading the experts.

- your voting location makes a difference (rules of voting and tabulation
)
- be vigilant, be a poll watcher or somehow see how you can get involved to ensure authenticity if possible

- nothing seems to be sure fire unfortunately but we can get involved.

[RedEarth]

12. Work a phone bank, drive people to polling locations if you vote early

or by absentee ballot. If you have reservations about having your absentee ballot counted, by all means don't do it. Otherwise, vote early or by absentee ballot and then help get people to the polls.

[readmylips]

13. Good read, I wasn't too sure myself....

My Mom taught us that on election day, get up early, dress in your Sunday clothes, walk proudly to the polls and Vote. That's what I have always done, but now with the republicans causing so much fraud and damage to the elections, I didn't know which way to go. I will follow my Mom's advise.

My Mom was not a highly educated woman, she never even got rid of her accent. She felt that voting is as serious and saving money, and not voting is the same as leaving your bank book out for anyone to steal your money. Smart cookie my Mom. She's in Heaven now.

[goclark]

17. Los Angeles Information

I sent an email to the Voter Registration Office to see if I could find out about the "Early Voting " Option.

When I did a quick review of the site, I didn't find it.

This topic is extremely important.

http://www.lavote.net

[Nashyra]

20. If you have recieved absentee ballot check to see

IF YOU CAN VOTE ANY OTHER WAY. Some places will not let you vote any other way if you have requested an ABSENTEE BALLOT

[goclark]

22. Txs Nashyra

I'll check when I get my info.

[Cats Against Frist]

21. THANK YOU, EVERYONE

Since we have paper and pencil, I will probably go to the polls. The last point made, however, about not getting to vote any other way, if you've requested an absentee is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. The person who registered me ASSURED me that I could still go to the polling place, if I didn't fill out the absentee -- but with all the absentee registering going on -- this seems like a thing to be extraordinarily clear on.

[Pirate Smile]

32. I am in Iowa also and have been struggling with the same issue. I was

called by the State Dem Party and asked if I wanted an absentee ballot. I said no, I planned to vote on election day.

I got a voice recording from the Dem. Governor asking me to vote absentee.

I received an absentee ballot application form from the K/E campaign and two applications from ACT.

I finally decided to send in my application from the K/E campaign and received my ballot the very next day which was yesterday.

One critical thing (that I think was mentioned above) is that if you go to vote on election day you MUST take all the absentee ballot documents or you will NOT be allowed to vote. You also can not take an absentee ballot to the polls on election day and have it counted.

The party information on the outside of the envelope is ONLY for a primary election and that envelope is put inside another envelope to mail.

I graduated from college, law school and have passed the bar on the first try in three different states yet I find voting to be anxiety inducing now. I feel like the slightest thing could cause my ballot to be thrown out. It should not feel like such a battle to be sure your vote will be counted!

[Strelnikov_]

57. One Option Is To Drop Off The Ballot At The County Election (Auditors)

office during office hours. If there is any confusion, the County auditors staff will probably help you out.

I voted Thursday in Story County (Iowa). I had to fill out an absentee ballot request. Was given a ballot that by it's appearance was for the optical scan machines. They had 3 of the little portable voting 'booths' set up for use.

After completing the ballot, and double checking 100x that I did not vote for Boosh/Grassley/Latham, I sealed it in the envelope provided, with the absentee ballot request loosely taped to the outside by auditors staff. I then deposited the ballot envelope into a locked ballot box as instructed.

I am fairly confident my ballot will be counted.

[Yuffi]

29. Vote in the polls

Here is how I see it - If on the off chance the electronic vote conspiracy theorists are correct (which IMO they are not) you are screwed anyway. Not enough people will be voting absentee to off set whatever results come in from the polls. (if indeed a conspiracy was going on this would be one of the first things planned for) As an IT specialist for over 10 years it is in my opinion all unfounded BS from those who are not well educated spreading hysteria. (similar to Y2K)

If you vote absentee in some states you will NOT get counted PERIOD unless the vote is close enough for those absentee votes to matter.

So you can either

1. Go to the polls and have your vote counted. (and if it's not it won't matter anyway - because it will either be discovered or they will get away with it)

or

2. Vote absentee and risk not being counted at all.

I would only vote absentee if perhaps there was some large movement in your state to do so.

[Pirate Smile]

34. There does seem to be some large movement to get us to vote

absentee.

I keep seeing these articles and statements about how the Rethugs are trying to get all their people to vote absentee and it just makes me laugh because like I posted above, it seems pretty clear the Dem party in Iowa really want us to vote this way.

What you said about absentee votes not being counted unless the numbers make it close enough that the number of absentee ballots could actually change the result is something I heard after the 2000 election also. It was a reason I resisted voting absentee. However, don't they eventually count all the ballots? Remember in the weeks after the 2000 election when the states (not Florida) kept turning in their numbers and Gore went up in the popular vote by over 500,000 votes.

I would really like to know whether or not they count the absentee ballots no matter what.

[ParanoidPat]

36. Short answer is YES all absentee ballots are supposed to be counted

unless they are contested on a voter by voter basis. If the signature does not match then the ballot can be contested and may not be counted.
The confusion arises from people mixing up provisional ballots which must be checked individually to see if the voter was eligible to vote in the first place.

In some states, if the total quantity of provisional ballots is too small to make a difference to the outcome of any of the races on the ballot, the law allows those ballots to be thrown out on the assumption that it would not make any difference to the outcome if they were counted.

As an example, if the smallest difference between vote totals between any two candidates is 1000 votes and the number of provisional ballots cast is 100, even if all 100 votes went to the losing candidate he would still lose. In those cases some state laws allow those ballots to be ignored.

Absentee ballots OTOH, must always be counted as if they were cast at the polling place. I hope this clears things up. :)

[Pirate Smile]

38. That clears it up. Thank you.

[patricia92243]

37. NC is letting us vote early, but I'm afraid my vote wont get counted

[looking glass]

42. Vote locally

Neither state is in play for the Presidency. So vote locally, for people on down-ticket offices that will have an impact on your life.

[Cats Against Frist]

50. What the f*ck are you talking about?

That dumb bastard and his cadre of idiot fearmongers & delusional evangelical loonies will NOT take Iowa. Spread your psy-op somewhere else, sinner.

[MaggieSwanson]

43. I live in Iowa too, and I took mine to our DemHQ in Cedar Rapids

I'm also a registered ballot courier in Linn and Johnson counties. I know that my fellow volunteers at the DemHQ have a vested interest in making our votes count, and that the ballots will reach the auditor's office safely.

Additionally, by voting absentee and letting the DemHQ courier your ballot, your name is tagged in the VAN (the voter list that we are using to target area voters)as having voted. That way, we can focus our efforts on undecideds and swing voters, knowing your vote has been safely cast.

[Pirate Smile]

49. I think that is what I will do.

[Cats Against Frist]

51. But let's say I still want to go to the polls

Now that I HAVE this absentee ballot -- do I need to bring it with me? Can I just show up? Do I HAVE to vote absentee, now? The person that registered me said that if I don't vote absentee, that I can just show up at the polls -- no problem. I wanted to make sure this is right. What do you say?

[MaggieSwanson]

53. You will need to bring your absentee ballot

with you to the polls if you choose to vote there, as it is your official ballot. Poll workers will dispose of it and your vote at the polls will be counted instead.

On edit: As an aside, even if you send in your absentee ballot you may still vote at the polls (at least in Iowa) by requesting something called a "Provisional Ballot" at your polling place. The provisional ballot will be held until it can be matched with your absentee ballot; your absentee ballot will be destroyed and the provisional ballot will be officially counted.

[Cats Against Frist]

56. Now see -- this pisses me off, and it's what I was afraid of

I asked the person who registered me THREE SEPARATE TIMES: "If I decide not to use this absentee ballot, I can just go to the polls anyway, right?"

She said "yes."

I said, "I don't have to do anything, right? I can just go to the polls?"

She said, "yes."

She didn't tell me to bring my absentee ballot or anything. Now, I know that I'm not the shiniest marble in the bunch, but I AM in grad school, which I think makes me a shade smarter than your average dim bulb -- many of which I'm sure the Democrats are registering -- (no offense -- I believe the GOP is registering even more and more "dimmer" bulbs) -- but if I hadn't taken the time to ask this question here, I might have strolled into my polling place at 5:30 without my absentee ballot, big smile on my face, ready to cast the MOST IMPORTANT VOTE OF MY LIFETIME, only to be told that I needed to go home and get the absentee ballot that I THREW AWAY OR SOMETHING, because the person who registered me can't take 30 seconds to appropriately explain the procedure to me.

If you have contacts with voting in Iowa, maybe you should look into this. If you need any info from me as to my exact location -- I can PM it.

[MaggieSwanson]

58. Thanks for the info

Did the person who took your absentee ballot request leave a reciept? If so, the volunteer's name and the phone number for the Iowa Democratic Party HQ in your area should be on it. I would strongly encourage you to call it and ask for the Campaign Office Manager. S/He can answer your questions more thoroughly, and will want to know about any misleading/incomplete information you were given

PS...check your PM

[ParanoidPat]

54. Your best bet is to call their toll free number and ask!

The number is 1-888-SOS-Vote (1-888-767-8683). :evilgrin:

My guess would be that once you request the absentee ballot and your signature is verified, your name is removed from the precinct poll book.

You may be able to fill in a provisional ballot at the polls but depending on your local laws they might not bother to count it unless their are a sufficient number of them to affect the outcome of a race. :)

Here's a link to the election code for Iowa.

http://www2.legis.state.ia.us/IACODE/1999/II.html

And one for the rules covering absentee voting.

http://www.legis.state.ia.us/IACODE/1999/53/

Thanks for voting! :cheers:

[Pirate Smile]

44. kick

[sofa king]

48. Any advice for my mom in Palm Beach County?

God bless her, she's one of the accidental Buchanan voters from 2000. Had two shots at getting it right, and still fucked it up.

But now is not the time for bitterness. Ahem.

She's all Kerry, all the way. Now I just have to help make sure her vote is counted.

I've yet to confirm it, but rumors are flying that the PBC ballots come with a return envelope which requests--or requires--that party affiliation be marked on the envelope itself, the better to toss out the Democratic votes before they are counted, I guess.

So what does she do? Risk having her absentee ballot "sifted"? Try to play the apparent game and mark the envelope "Independent" and then hope someone actually opens it? Have her deal with a touch-screen booth when her VCR has flashed "12:00" since 1985?

I'm thinking of telling her to go down to City Hall and fill out an advanced vote paper ballot, assuming such a thing exists.

Advice is very, very welcome.

[ParanoidPat]

52. Absentee ballot info for Palm Beach County residents.......

.....from, http://www.pbcelections.org/v_proc.htm

ABSENTEE BALLOTS

In Florida, you no longer need a reason to vote by Absentee Ballot. You can request an Absentee Ballot by filling out our on-line application anytime prior to election day. You can also request that an Absentee Ballot be mailed to you by visiting one of our offices, calling or writing the Supervisor of Elections Office, at:

Supervisor of Elections
240 South Military Trail
West Palm Beach, FL 33415
[phone]

Only the voter, or a member of the voter's immediate family (spouse, child, parent, grandparent, sibling, or legal guardian) may make the request. A voter may designate someone to pick up their ballot for them within four (4) days of the election. The designee must provide us with written authorization by the elector and present photo identification when picking up the elector's ballot. You may also vote in person at one of our offices within two weeks of an election. To vote in person, you must present a photo ID with a signature, or complete an affidavit.

All voters requesting Absentee Ballots must provide the following information:

- Name
- Residence address
- Address where the ballot is to be mailed
- Date of birth
- Voter's signature (if Absentee Ballot requested by mail)

- Requestor's name (if other than the voter)
- Requestor's relationship to the voter (a member of the voter's immediate family)
- Requestor's address
- Requestor's driver's license number (if available)
- Requestor's signature (if by mail)

If picking up an Absentee Ballot in one of the SOE's offices one must follow these rules:

Any person may designate, in writing, a person to pick-up their Absentee Ballot.

1) The designee can pick-up an Absentee Ballot only four (4) calendar days prior to any Election for someone else. A person may pick-up and take out their own Absentee Ballot as soon as the Absentee Ballots are ready (usually 2-3 weeks prior to the Election).

2) The designee can pick-up only two (2) Ballots per Election for someone else. The only exception is that the designee may pick-up their own Absentee Ballot and additional Ballots for members of their immediate family. "Immediate Family" is defined as the spouse or the parent, child, grandparent, or sibling of the designee or of the designee's spouse.

3) The designee must have a letter of authorization from the voter. The letter must include:

* The Voter's Name
* The Voters Signature
* Name of person designated to pick-up their Absentee Ballot.

4) The designee must show a photo ID of themselves at time of pick-up.

5) The designee must complete the Affidavit to obtain an Absentee Ballot at the time the Absentee Ballot is picked-up.

If you do vote by Absentee Ballot, please be sure to follow the included instructions very carefully! The voter must personally vote the Ballot (unless assistance is required due to blindness, disability, or the inability to read and write). In order for your Ballot to be counted, it must contain your signature.

Please note that the County Canvassing Board may reject any Absentee Ballots that do not contain all of the above information.

Your voted Ballot must be in the Supervisor of Elections Main Office by 7:00 pm on Election Day in order to be counted. Voted Absentee Ballots cannot be turned in at the polls!

I believe that requirement is only for the primary elections. :evilgrin:

You can hand deliver the ballot to the SOE main office if you so desire just to be sure it gets there. They should log it in once they receive it. :)

[John_H]

55. Vote now and pick up three dems to vote in about the time you'd spend

waiting in line on election day.

[Pirate Smile]

60. I just got a call from the K/E campaign to see if I wanted to volunteer to

go around and pick up people's absentee ballots.

I said "sure" and I will bring my own too. I have to go to a 45 minute volunteer training program but that is it.

So, you will probably have someone contacting you to pick up your ballot for you and to see if you want to volunteer.

[autorank]

61. If you'r e in Northern Virginia...absentee! Tscreens screwed up last elec