Grasshopper Green

I'm not posting this in Politics because it's not exactly political, but I suppose I could be wrong!

How do you vote? I just heard a commercial on the radio talking about the benefits of voting early; I suppose that there are benefits, but I like voting in person. I love the entire process; signing in, getting my booth, marking my ballot, and putting it in the box. I always feel a sense of ...I dont know, patriotism, satisfaction, and perhaps a small bit of accomplishment after I vote, and I wouldn't want to give that up by voting by mail or going in early. Perhaps I'm silly. I'm just curious about others...how do YOU vote?

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"They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king"

Formerly Medusa

hunnychile

This is going to tick off a lot of people here, but I usually vote for the Democrat, woman and/or hopefully both....esp. when I know less than I feel strongly compelled to vote for those of the other parties and genders.

Deal with it. Good thing I moved from CA. back to Ohio. They needed 2 more liberal educated Democrats here.

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Elphaba

I have been voting by mail for a number of years. Washington is now primarily mail in voting, and there is discussion of making it the only choice.

Pip

These days I'm usually doing something else on the election day, so I vote earlier. It feels good to have it done and stroll around in the campaign mayhem. It's like having bought all your Christmas gifts already and going to the mall on December 23 just to laugh at everyone else.

The early voting procedure is quite similar to the regular on-the-day one in Sweden, so you get the ritualistic satisfaction of the licking of envelopes behind the green screen and stuff.

I'm waiting eagerly for online voting. I think they've tried it in Denmark? I would totally vote online if I could.

Willravel

In person, each and every elecction day.

absorbentishe

I am able to use my voice by pulling a lever (or touching a screen as it is now).

NCB

In person. I also make sure that my children are with me when I vote to help instill some civic duty kinda thing.

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cj2112

By mail, Oregon is a by mail only state....I hate the mail

stevie667

In person, its only a 5 minute walk to my polling station, but still gives me a bit of excitment for the day, and something to bitch about when the wrong party gets voted in.

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snowy

By mail. As cj said, voting is only done by mail in Oregon.

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mixedmedia

Live and in person on voting day. I love the ritual...much like Medusa described.

And I love bringing my daughters, too, NCB. My twenty year old first voted with me in the 2004 election. My seventeen year old will miss November 7th by 2 days. But watch out 2008!! I'll have two foxy liberal ladies in tow to vote for our new CIC, lol. Hotcha!

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JumpinJesus

Wait a minute, am I to understand that there are no polling places in Oregon for one to vote? The only method of voting is by mail?

I prefer voting in person, it gives me a greater feeling of taking part in this sham. I think to make it complete, they should hand out little bags of cat shit and tell you it's weed.

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Infinite_Loser

I don't. Yes, it's horrible I know.

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fresnelly

I always get a kick out of voting day. It's great for people watching, and even if my vote doesn't "make a difference", I rest easy knowing I've said my piece.

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ScottKuma

For the past six years I've been traveling most election days... so I vote early, at the county board of elections.

My wife does her civic duty by standing in line in the Ohio November. With our daughter by her side.

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raeanna74

I've voted by Absentee ballot before. But that was when I was away at college. It was a bit of a hassle because I had to get someone to be there when I 'voted' and sign that it was actually ME doing the voting.

I didn't vote the last time I had a chance cause I had kids here all day and was sick too. Just didn't want to leave the house the way I was feeling. Which was pretty bad. Usually though I have no excuse since my location is only 3 blocks away.

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maleficent

you mean you live in chicago and don't vote early and often?


absentee ballot here - i hate having to deal with people in public who are trusted to vote but yet can't figure out a simple ballot... it's easier for me to deal with to not see that happening

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warrrreagl

I can't wait to get to the polls and see who Grancey thinks she is this time.....

And just to make some of you cringe...I plan on HOLDING THE DOOR FOR HER!!!!! Mwahahahahahahah!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Toaster126

I vote in person because I'm too lazy to do it the easy way. HAHAHA.

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snowy

Yep.

Most counties use a Scantron system or a little card you have to punch chads out of. I think because we do it by hand it makes us a little more careful about how it's done--no hanging chads here.

I actually really like it--it makes more people more willing to vote, since the ballot comes to them, and there are free ballot drop boxes if people are too lazy to stick on a stamp. Plus, it doesn't matter if you're busy on election day. You don't have to carve out time to vote. Usually my ballot is sent in a week before the election.

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getwonk'd

I vote in person for every election, primary, referendum, school board, you name it, I'm there. I believe it is my duty to vote and if I don't, I have no right to complain. I do daycare during the day so that is one of our outings. I pack up the kids and we head to the polls. When we are done, they each get a sticker that says I voted.

kutulu

I vote early and often!!!

Actually I try to do it by absentee ballot. Going to the polls on election day is an inconvenience I'd rather not deal with. Doing it from home allows me to look up each candidate while I'm voting and check out things like judicial report cards, etc.

I just moved. I changed my registration but forgot to do the vote by mail thing. I'll probably have to go to the polls on election day.

kurty[B]

I vote through absentee ballot. I've moved too much to try and make it to a certain district to vote. Even once I've settled in a place I think I may still do absentee ballot.

cj2112

I HATE the vote by mail only....Considering that the letter carrier who has my route, can't decide whether or not I live there, it's hit and miss whether or not I even get my ballot. She has been my letter carrier for the entire 6 or 7 years I've lived there, I have politely spoken to her about it several times, and yet it still doesn't change.

Grasshopper Green

For the people who've mentioned bringing their children...

I actually really like the idea of bringing my son with me to vote; I think he'll be coming with me this year.

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"They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king"

Formerly Medusa

hunnychile

Bravo for you & your family. I was going to say I vote early and often but that's no longer funny since we got stuck with that good 'ol butt hole buddy W. Bush.

Seriously, I'm in Ohio, too and wondering who will be a good choice for Gov. Any ideas? I'm new here from northern California. Yeah, Arnold was/is/always will be a huge JOKE!! Govn't there in CA. is pretty sucky these days...the schools are hurting Big Time and is so sad...

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Charlatan

I love polling day. I go in person, usually in the morning, and mark my big X.

I have never missed an election since I was eligible to vote.

I won't be eligible to vote in the upcomming municple election in Toronto but will be for the Federal on that is likely to happen in the Spring. I will have to look into how I vote from abroad. Most likely I will have to go to the Consulate.

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ShaniFaye

I vote in person at my polling polling place....I havent missed an election since I was 18.

I did the vote early thing for the last presidential election and it was just a pain in the ass (LONG ass lines in a place not close to my house at all)...I wont do it again.

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spectre

I'm from Chicago, we're not allowed to vote until we're dead.

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maleficent

not true.. I've already voted for you...

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spindles

I am most likely to vote in person. Here in Oz, voting is compulsory (you get fined if you are a no show). They set up a polling station in my local school (all of 5 minutes walk from home) and always have the local school committee cake stall, so you vote and get something home made and yummy to bring home. A win on both counts really.

I would only vote early if I was going to be out of the country (in Oz you can vote in any polling station across the country and you are voting for your local candidate, not directly for a leader).

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oberon

What do you think catnip is?

I have never voted, despite being 24, but this year I definitely will. In person.

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Intense1

I have chosen to vote on election day by necessity - I am my mom's caregiver (she is suffering with dementia) and I'm going to sneak away next Tuesday to vote without her. When we went to vote in the primaries, she was so confused by the machines that she pretty much needed someone to do everything for her, and therefore, I don't think she could handle voting again. I want her vote to count, but she doesn't really know what she'd be voting for, and who she'd be voting for....

Aaahh, so sad.

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xepherys

This year was the first time I voted by mail, but it was a good process. I even voted YES on the Arizona proposal to make it the only option for voting. Woohoo!

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Kaliena

In person, but absentee when I was at college.

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laconic1

I vote by mail now. In the past I have gone to polling places, and I just don't care to get up early so I can get it done before going to work. It is nice since I can my time to fill out my ballot as I research issues and candidates and not have to wait in line.

analog

snowy:

So wait a sec... how the hell do they know it's you doing the voting? It goes to your house- how do they check ID to be sure you're the one putting in your vote?

cj2112

They don't check ID....you have to sign the ballot saying that you are actually who you say you are, and there is some crap on there about understanding it's a felony to if you aren't who you say you are. I've already sent my ballot off so i don't remember exactly what the warning says.

Gilda

I vote in person. It's always been convenient because the last seven years, my polling place was the library of the school where I worked.

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