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View Full Version : Relieved. Received my ballot yesterday.



gimmethesimplelife
10-11-20, 12:30pm
Was worried as I had not received it until yesterday. Now at least it's safe to vote! There have been as of yet unconfirmed rumors of armed militia intimidating people at local polling places to vote for Trump. While I realistically have a hard time seeing this, nothing in 2020 would surprise me snd I can see such happening in todays America.

Very glad that mail-in voting is an option. Will vote straight Democrat - I don't live in the 85006 for nothing. And the GOP has proven they have nothing but rapidly increasing toxicity to offer. Rob

Teacher Terry
10-11-20, 12:47pm
I read that if you encounter people at the polls trying to intimidate you take their picture and call a certain number to report. Legitimate poll watchers come from both parties and are authorized. I really hope that nutcases don’t show up to make trouble.

gimmethesimplelife
10-11-20, 12:55pm
And I contradicted myself above. What I meant to say is that due to how 2020 has unfolded, I CAN see armed.militia scattered across the US attempting to influence the vote - something that prior to 2020 I would have had a hard time seeing. Rob

gimmethesimplelife
10-11-20, 12:58pm
I read that if you encounter people at the polls trying to intimidate you take their picture and call a certain number to report. Legitimate poll watchers come from both parties and are authorized. I really hope that nutcases don’t show up to make trouble.I sure hope they don't. Imagine the worldwide visual and the truth if America laid bare for all to see - and the effects of this reality upon business investment, the stock msrket, and layoffs! Shudder. Cringe. Rob

gimmethesimplelife
10-11-20, 12:58pm
Should have been the truth of America above. Rob

iris lilies
10-11-20, 1:21pm
I sure hope they don't. Imagine the worldwide visual and the truth if America laid bare for all to see - and the effects of this reality upon business investment, the stock msrket, and layoffs! Shudder. Cringe. Rob
This is ridiculous.

Alan
10-11-20, 1:31pm
And I contradicted myself above. What I meant to say is that due to how 2020 has unfolded, I CAN see armed.militia scattered across the US attempting to influence the vote - something that prior to 2020 I would have had a hard time seeing. Rob


I sure hope they don't. Imagine the worldwide visual and the truth if America laid bare for all to see - and the effects of this reality upon business investment, the stock msrket, and layoffs! Shudder. Cringe. Rob Would it be fair to say that in the 85006 the "truth of America" is largely influenced by it's collective imagination?

ApatheticNoMore
10-11-20, 2:14pm
you sure those mail in votes will be counted in time?

Here in Cali I don't worry much about it because 1) presidential race is not in play here 2) we have a latter date than most states for counting the vote, it's not until sometime in Dec it all needs to legally be counted here, other states have much shorter cut offs. So I might worry elsewhere.

gimmethesimplelife
10-11-20, 4:39pm
This is ridiculous.The visual of armed militias intimidating voters impacting the US economy is ridiculous? Please illuminate - you are speaking a somewhat foreign language here. You are using English, but your meaning is foreign. Rob

gimmethesimplelife
10-11-20, 4:41pm
Would it be fair to say that in the 85006 the "truth of America" is largely influenced by it's collective imagination?No....it's influenced by cold blooded reality and no loyalty whatsoever. In other words, we dish to America what America dishes to us. Rob

Alan
10-11-20, 4:44pm
No....it's influenced by cold blooded reality and no loyalty whatsoever. In other words, we dish to America what America dishes to us. RobOh, I was confused by your latest "truth of America" statement being based upon something you "can see" happening. That seems like less of a "truth of America" and more like a "figment of Rob's imagination".

iris lilies
10-11-20, 4:47pm
The visual of armed militias intimidating voters impacting the US economy is ridiculous? Please illuminate - you are speaking a somewhat foreign language here. You are using English, but your meaning is foreign. Rob
yes,
I think you got it. Widespread “militia” intimidating voters is a ridiculous idea.

gimmethesimplelife
10-11-20, 5:06pm
Oh, I was confused by your latest "truth of America" statement being based upon something you "can see" happening. That seems like less of a "truth of America" and more like a "figment of Rob's imagination".If militias really do intimidate voters, prep yourself to be stunned by the level of class I'm capable of. Meaning I will refrain from rubbing I told you in your face. We"ll see.....perhaps it will happen, perhaps it won't. Rob

gimmethesimplelife
10-11-20, 5:09pm
yes,
I think you got it. Widespread “militia” intimidating voters is a ridiculous idea.I still don't follow you. In the 85006, such is not considered ridiculous but very much possible. As I've said many times, we don't live in the same America. Is that sinking in now? Here is a good example of this fact. Rob

Tradd
10-11-20, 5:24pm
Well, I guess it could always be worse. There could be a cop at your polling place. This has been standard practice in Chicago for years. Guess it’s due to the history of political/voting corruption here - and this is a Democratic city! I thought it was funny as hell when I moved to Chicago in 1996 from suburban Detroit.

I’ve now been in the burbs in 2008 and no such thing here.

bae
10-11-20, 5:26pm
If militias really do intimidate voters,

Monsters under the bed in the 85006.

iris lilies
10-11-20, 6:06pm
If militias really do intimidate voters, prep yourself to be stunned by the level of class I'm capable of. Meaning I will refrain from rubbing I told you in your face. We"ll see.....perhaps it will happen, perhaps it won't. Rob

Rob, there will not be widespread “militia” intimidation on November 3, regardless of your breathless excitement at the mere thought of it. There might be a few axxholes playing mean guy like the photo below that bae likes to post. But that group isn’t militia. I guess they are anarchists? Kind of appear to be jerks.But who knows their intent.

There will certainly be police officers escorting election officials around, here anyway, because that is standard operating procedure so maybe that qualifies as “militia?”

What does the 85006 anticipate their reaction to be to militia at the voting booth since ya’ll are expecting it. Are any of you signing up as poll watchers? Or even workers, for that matter. Here they are having trouble getting poll workers. what will happen if you or a resident in the 85006 are intimidated by someone? What does intimidation mean? Can you walk past anyone hanging out at the legally required distance (here, 25 ft from building entrance) and vote anyway? What intimidation tactics would cause you to walk away from the polling place?

For me, rioting and burning stuff and breaking windows and screaming at me and making threatening gestures would be so unpleasant I would leave.

But that stuff happens during peaceful protests, so I think our definition of concepts like “intimidation” and “ peaceful protesting” matters here.

3454

Alan
10-11-20, 6:39pm
Rob, there will not be widespread “militia” intimidation on November 3, regardless of your breathless excitement at the mere thought of it. There might be a few axxholes playing mean guy like the photo below that bae likes to post. But that group isn’t militia. I guess they are anarchists? Kind of appear to be jerks.But who knows their intent.

During my long and illustrious history of showing up at my local polling place for each election the only people I've run into are the ever changing group of union members hawking the latest levy proposals and Democrats handing out their preferred voting guide. I always thank them for their interest in my vote and move on without taking any proffered guides. Now I'm wondering, were they the Militia?

iris lilies
10-11-20, 6:43pm
During my long and illustrious history of showing up at my local polling place for each election the only people I've run into are the ever changing group of union members hawking the latest levy proposals and Democrats handing out their preferred voting guide. I always thank them for their interest in my vote and move on without taking any proffered guides. Now I'm wondering, were they the Militia?
I do find the same actors here annoying although not intimidating. But what if they were Dressed in camo? What if, as in Hermann during hunting season where camO togs are pretty common, those hanging around the polling place but within legal distance are dressed in big boots and army gear? That for sure would be intimidation tactics according to the drive-by assessment of the 85006.

Jane v2.0
10-11-20, 7:37pm
I'm sure some of his faithful will show up as Trump has exhorted them to, and I hope they are photographed and subsequently ushered out by local authorities, as they likely won't be authorized poll watchers. I'd love to hear Trump explain himself on that issue, but there are so many of them.

In Tuesday night's debate, Trump also summoned his supporters to the polls by telling them to "watch" the polls.
"I'm urging my supporters to go into the polls and watch very carefully, because that's what has to happen. I am urging them to do it," Trump said. "As you know today, there was a big problem in Philadelphia they went in to watch ... they were thrown out. They weren't allowed to watch. You know why? Bad things happen in Philadelphia."The Trump supporters at that polling station were in fact removed because they weren't approved to be there, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported (https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/trump-poll-watchers-philadelphia-early-voting-20200929.html). Additionally, a legal ruling (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/pennsylvania-gop-lawmakers-ask-supreme-court-to-stop-voting-accommodations/2020/09/28/e9893594-01b6-11eb-a2db-417cddf4816a_story.html) in Pennsylvania says poll watchers are not allowed to watch polls from counties in which they don't reside. Trump supporters would be breaking the law if they flood Philadelphia from outside of the county. (American Independent)

iris lilies
10-11-20, 8:03pm
I'm sure some of his faithful will show up as Trump has exhorted them to, and I hope they are photographed and subsequently ushered out by local authorities, as they likely won't be authorized poll watchers. I'd love to hear Trump explain himself on that issue, but there are so many of them.

In Tuesday night's debate, Trump also summoned his supporters to the polls by telling them to "watch" the polls.
"I'm urging my supporters to go into the polls and watch very carefully, because that's what has to happen. I am urging them to do it," Trump said. "As you know today, there was a big problem in Philadelphia they went in to watch ... they were thrown out. They weren't allowed to watch. You know why? Bad things happen in Philadelphia."The Trump supporters at that polling station were in fact removed because they weren't approved to be there, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported (https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/trump-poll-watchers-philadelphia-early-voting-20200929.html). Additionally, a legal ruling (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/pennsylvania-gop-lawmakers-ask-supreme-court-to-stop-voting-accommodations/2020/09/28/e9893594-01b6-11eb-a2db-417cddf4816a_story.html) in Pennsylvania says poll watchers are not allowed to watch polls from counties in which they don't reside. Trump supporters would be breaking the law if they flood Philadelphia from outside of the county. (American Independent)
The only poll watchers I have had direct contact with are of the Democratic Party. There is nothing wrong with poll watching, just do it according to the rules.

It wouldn’t surprise me to know that 99% of the voting populace are not familiar with the concept of official poll watchers and how to be one. That some people are “thrown out “is not alarming to me because they probably just showed up thinking they could be poll watchers. That’s not how it works, they have to register and follow rules.

Alan
10-11-20, 8:15pm
I'm sure some of his faithful will show up as Trump has exhorted them to, and I hope they are photographed and subsequently ushered out by local authorities, as they likely won't be authorized poll watchers. I'd love to hear Trump explain himself on that issue, but there are so many of them.
Just out of curiosity, what would you expect the Trump faithful to do if they show up at the polls and hang out watching the process? Is there some concern they will follow folks into the ballot box and watch their selections over their shoulder, suggesting they change a choice if it's not the preferred one?

Personally, I don't see the threat to democracy of unauthorized poll watchers hanging out at the polls as long as they don't get in my way.

Jane v2.0
10-11-20, 8:33pm
Just out of curiosity, what would you expect the Trump faithful to do if they show up at the polls and hang out watching the process? Is there some concern they will follow folks into the ballot box and watch their selections over their shoulder, suggesting they change a choice if it's not the preferred one?

Personally, I don't see the threat to democracy of unauthorized poll watchers hanging out at the polls as long as they don't get in my way.

I would expect voter intimidation, personally. It's happened often enough before.
This time, though, I expect there will be people who will nip that kind of thing in the bud. At least I hope so.

Alan
10-11-20, 8:38pm
I would expect voter intimidation, personally. What type of intimidation? Looking surly? Wearing a red hat? I'm not sure I understand what type of intimidation you're concerned about.

Jane v2.0
10-12-20, 10:11am
What type of intimidation? Looking surly? Wearing a red hat? I'm not sure I understand what type of intimidation you're concerned about.

Showing up with weapons, asking voters for ID, etc. Voter intimidation has a history, especially in precincts where there are many black/POC voters. There was a case in New Jersey where Republicans were sued for deliberate interference at the polls in 1981. There's no end to their dirty tricks.
"Morales-Doyle said the president's comments were also concerning because they could lead others to fear showing up to the polls.

"He’s giving people reason to fear showing up to vote, and it's fear that’s going to be felt by certain people more than others," he said. "There’s a history in this country of people engaging in violence to prevent people of color, Black people in particular, from voting." "

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-s-call-supporters-watch-polls-very-carefully-raises-concerns-n1241613

LDAHL
10-12-20, 11:03am
1981? The trouble with so many of these voter intimidation memes is the subjectivity of “intimidation”. Much like the cancel culture tactic of claiming the right to silence someone because someone else “feels unsafe”. What is reasonable electioneering and what isn’t?

dado potato
10-12-20, 11:21am
Stewart Rhodes, representing a group called Oath Keepers, told the Los Angeles Times that group members would be "out Election Day to protect people who are voting"... some would be carrying concealed weapons.

Devin Burghart, Executive Director of the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights expects "far-right groups would be standing by at polls in MI, PA, and WI".

My dear wife, who already voted on an absentee ballot in Wisconsin, was incredulous. "Protect people who are voting FROM WHAT?", she asked.

iris lilies
10-12-20, 11:40am
Even tho guns are not allowed at voting places here, I guarantee there will be guns carried into the polling places. They will be concealed. The holders will not have concealed carry licenses. The guns are not held legally. Oh, these are not far right Individuals, they are thugs And walking around every day with a concealed weapon is their life.

Jane v2.0
10-12-20, 11:46am
1981? The trouble with so many of these voter intimidation memes is the subjectivity of “intimidation”. Much like the cancel culture tactic of claiming the right to silence someone because someone else “feels unsafe”. What is reasonable electioneering and what isn’t?

A law suit was brought and won, in that case. Republicans were held in check until SCOTUS overturned the Voting Rights Act, so now they have free rein again to do whatever they can to suppress the vote.

LDAHL
10-12-20, 12:08pm
A law suit was brought and won, in that case. Republicans were held in check until SCOTUS overturned the Voting Rights Act, so now they have free rein again to do whatever they can to suppress the vote.

So you anticipate armed mobs outside polling places shouting threats? Sounds like another Tuesday in Seattle.

Jane v2.0
10-12-20, 12:37pm
This is an interesting development--the Republican party is installing fake collection boxes:

https://www.newsweek.com/california-gop-fake-official-ballot-boxes-1538221

frugal-one
10-12-20, 1:21pm
1981? The trouble with so many of these voter intimidation memes is the subjectivity of “intimidation”. Much like the cancel culture tactic of claiming the right to silence someone because someone else “feels unsafe”. What is reasonable electioneering and what isn’t?

People should only be there to vote and then be required to leave. There are people trained to be "watchers" at the election sites, as was previously mentioned.

LDAHL
10-12-20, 4:00pm
People should only be there to vote and then be required to leave.

If they’re at whatever the statutory distance from the polling place happens to be, I think the First Amendment applies. Even to people you don’t like.

frugal-one
10-12-20, 7:47pm
If they’re at whatever the statutory distance from the polling place happens to be, I think the First Amendment applies. Even to people you don’t like.

I don't care if it is someone I do like. Do your business and leave.

trump did call his people to watch the polls, remember?

jp1
10-12-20, 7:49pm
I don't care if it is someone I do like. Do your business and leave.

trump did call his people to watch the polls, remember?

And if they are as far away as is statutorily required how exactly are they ‘watching the polls’?

bae
10-12-20, 11:28pm
What does "watching the polls" consist of?

LDAHL
10-13-20, 10:02am
What does "watching the polls" consist of?

In Wisconsin, someone with valid ID can sign up to be an “election observer”, and must be 3 to 8 feet from the registration table. There are a number of rules for them; they can’t take pictures or examine identification documents. I think electioneering can’t take place within forty feet of the entrance.

Tybee
10-13-20, 10:12am
This might be helpful, re election observation:
https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/policies-for-election-observers.aspx

Tradd
10-13-20, 10:38am
In Wisconsin, someone with valid ID can sign up to be an “election observer”, and must be 3 to 8 feet from the registration table. There are a number of rules for them; they can’t take pictures or examine identification documents. I think electioneering can’t take place within forty feet of the entrance.

Here in IL, any electioneering must be something like 100ft from the entrance. I’ve called the election commission to make complaints before when I lived in Chicago.

gimmethesimplelife
10-14-20, 10:21pm
I took my ballot to UPS store and it's in their outgoing AM mail. Hopefully it will be counted. Rob

iris lilies
10-15-20, 12:25pm
I asked DH, a long time election judge, if he had registered poll watchers at his voting place. He said once in a while he did and they were there for the presidential elections. I asked him were they in the way, neutral, or helpful?

He said they were neutral heading towards helpful because when it got very busy, they helped direct traffic.

on another topic, I see reports on Reddit and Nextdoor of people who get an email response from the election board when their paper ballot is received. I Nextdoor one guy said he took it to the main post office and it took 19 days for him to receive the acknowledgment from the election board which is literally three blocks away.


I would not blame this on the US mail, I suspect it has more to do with boatloads of ballots showing up that they have to process. But I don’t really know that as a fact that’s just my speculation.


Are you all receiving email acknowledgment That your ballot was received?

Tradd
10-15-20, 12:33pm
Cook County drop boxes aren’t available until Monday, so I’m waiting until then.

I heard on the news a day or two ago that Cook County still had about 20K mail in ballot applications to process. They were working long hours and on weekends, but still way behind.

Teacher Terry
10-15-20, 12:49pm
We may just early vote in person at a location that isn’t usually busy. It seems easier than tracking my ballot and having to rectify it if they decide my signature doesn’t match.

Yppej
10-15-20, 1:06pm
I did not receive email notification, which I never signed up for, but saw on my state's website that my ballot was received and accepted.

JaneV2.0
10-15-20, 4:07pm
I should get my ballot in the next couple of days. I'll mail it on Monday.
Reported volume of mail-in and in-person voting in phenomenal this election.

IL, I would expect official poll watchers to be the utmost in neutrality and helpfulness. "Volunteers," not so much. At best, they'll just get in the way.

Tammy
10-15-20, 4:15pm
We voted by mail on Tuesday. On Wednesday we received text messages that it was received and signature verified.

Arizona has been doing this for years, so we have the process down.

iris lilies
10-15-20, 4:22pm
I should get my ballot in the next couple of days. I'll mail it on Monday.
Reported volume of mail-in and in-person voting in phenomenal this election.

IL, I would expect official poll watchers to be the utmost in neutrality and helpfulness. "Volunteers," not so much. At best, they'll just get in the way.

I don’t know what you mean by “volunteers. “. People may not hang around a polling place if they are not a registered poll watcher Or an election official.

By the way, our local city election place is having so much trouble getting workers that they increased the pay to $15 an hour.

JaneV2.0
10-15-20, 5:56pm
"Volunteers" as in people encouraged by Trump to show up en masse at their local precincts and skulk around. It sounds like the phenom isn't catching on anywhere, so that's a relief.

catherine
10-15-20, 6:06pm
We voted by mail on Tuesday. On Wednesday we received text messages that it was received and signature verified.

Arizona has been doing this for years, so we have the process down.

I checked online to be sure my ballot was received by the county clerk, and indeed it was.

bae
10-15-20, 6:11pm
"Volunteers" as in people encouraged by Trump to show up en masse at their local precincts and skulk around. It sounds like phenom isn't catching on anywhere, so that's a relief.

My ballot should arrive tomorrow. If any Trump supporters are skulking around my dining table as I vote, I won’t even fire a warning shot...

JaneV2.0
10-15-20, 6:32pm
:devil:
I did a little preparatory pamphlet reading today, just to test the waters.
A friend in Oregon teased me with their psilocybin initiative, which I understand is very popular there. Maybe mushrooms will be legal in my lifetime!

jp1
10-15-20, 9:26pm
There’s been at least one report
Of trump ‘Volunteers’ in Colorado a couple days ago standing guard at a ballot Dropbox. Apparently they asked a woman for her ID, she said no and they backed off. She called the authorities and cops or someone came by and the two guys were gone. If that’s all that happens things will be fine.

bae
10-15-20, 9:34pm
There’s been at least one report
Of trump ‘Volunteers’ in Colorado a couple days ago standing guard at a ballot Dropbox.

We have our ballot dropbox here outside our Senior Center. If some "guard" is there asking for ID, it won't go so well...

jp1
10-15-20, 11:00pm
We have our ballot dropbox here outside our Senior Center. If some "guard" is there asking for ID, it won't go so well...

I didn't run into any BS like that when I dropped my ballot off at the local library on monday. Just a steady stream of people like me doing their voting. The old guy in front of me gave me a big smile and thumbs up and said "vote the ****er out." I assumed he was talking about trump and returned the thumbs up but, who knows, perhaps he was referring to the accountant running for re-election to the community college board...

iris lilies
10-16-20, 12:18am
I should get my ballot in the next couple of days. I'll mail it on Monday.
Reported volume of mail-in and in-person voting in phenomenal this election.

IL, I would expect official poll watchers to be the utmost in neutrality and helpfulness. "Volunteers," not so much. At best, they'll just get in the way.

“volunteers” as you use the term are not at our polls beCause they are made to leave.There is no hanging around.

nswef
10-16-20, 10:54am
We put our ballots in the drop box yesterday. No ne was around except a young guy with a backpack playing with his phone and 3 construction workers. Quick and easy unlike those poor souls in GA and soon to be TX.

iris lilies
10-16-20, 12:28pm
I don’t understand why separate dropbox is needed anyway. Do you all not trust the US mail? I just don’t get it.


Yesterday I put mine in the mailbox. Am I naïve for thinking that it will actually get to the election office within two weeks.?

Rogar
10-16-20, 12:56pm
I don’t understand why separate dropbox is needed anyway. Do you all not trust the US mail? I just don’t get it.

Yesterday I put mine in the mailbox. Am I naïve for thinking that it will actually get to the election office within two weeks.?

I have four or five voting drop boxes within about five miles of my home, outside libraries, parks, city building, etc. But just one post office. At least here it's as much a matter of convenience as anything (and saving a stamp). I suspect there is no difference between them as long as the ballot is dropped of in time.

Tybee
10-16-20, 1:10pm
I didn't want to chance any problems--and I didn't want to pay for a stamp, so I used the drop box. The drop box is also right outside of town hall where I usually vote so it felt a lot more direct.

bae
10-16-20, 1:41pm
I don’t understand why separate dropbox is needed anyway. Do you all not trust the US mail? I just don’t get it.


For me, a couple of reasons:

- It seems more like a voting ritual to take it into the town and put it into the box at what passes for a civic location on this island. Voting in person here used to be so much more fun, as there were little old ladies working the polls, and coffee and cookies there after you voted.

- The box is escorted by multiple county employees quite often to the next island over, where our county seat is, where they are placed into the counting/sorting apparatus, with full chain-of-custody the entire way.

- USPS mail here, by contrast, gets packed up, sent all the way over to the mainland to be sorted, then brought back and delivered. It doesn't even get postmarked here if you drop it into any of the USPS offices - the only way to get a postmark same-day here is to go to the counter of the USPS office and send the mail some other class/service, which I did yesterday to hit my Oct 15 IRS date.

- USPS mail deliveries the past few months have had unexpected delays and errors, causing mail delays of days-to-weeks. This has not happened in my previous 20+ years of living here. Not sure what's going on.

So, my ballot is going into my jacket pocket, right next to my gun, and off to the drop-box I go this afternoon.

JaneV2.0
10-16-20, 2:49pm
I'll be putting mine in my outgoing mail and hoping for the best, but I'll track it online just in case. Stamps aren't required for ballots here.

jp1
10-16-20, 3:09pm
Since I was going to be passing the library anyway it was just as easy as
mailing it. Plus I saved the county the cost of postage since ours are postage paid.

Yppej
10-16-20, 3:25pm
I got a second ballot today due to a printing error on the first. I called the city clerk and the first ballot will be accepted. If I vote again the second ballot will supersede the first one. I don't think I will vote by mail again. This is a mess.

bae
10-16-20, 3:31pm
Straight Outta Moscow!

Yppej
10-16-20, 4:35pm
I called again and was told the only difference between the two ballots is the order in which the candidates are listed. What a waste of time and taxpayer money!

befree
10-16-20, 7:16pm
I took my mail-in ballot to the election office today and exchanged it to vote in person..stood in line for about an hour. No "poll-watchers", no voters in illegal electioneering hats, Tshirts, or masks. The process was smooth and easy. I voted in person because I wanted to be sure the vote was reported on Election Day, not later with the other mail ballots...I want the number of votes for Biden to be as high as possible on Election Day, so that there won't be any reasonable reason to doubt Trump's defeat (which is what I hope happens). I'm signed up to be a pollworker on Election Day.

Tradd
10-21-20, 2:49pm
I've been unable to get to the PO and the drop box in my town is at temporary town hall with no parking close (my knees don't like walking) and tons of people in line for early voting. So I gave it to the mail carrier yesterday as she was delivering mail in my complex.

Teacher Terry
10-21-20, 3:56pm
I don’t know anyone trusting the mail this election. Too much is at stake. We voted in person last week. My friends are doing that of using the drop boxes.

Alan
10-21-20, 4:00pm
I don’t know anyone trusting the mail this election. You know me (sorta). I think the only valid concern with mail in voting is the delay in counting results that will ensue due to so many people using that method, as well as the 3 day or so period for counting those votes in various states.

It has always bothered me that oftentimes the votes of military members who must vote by mail when stationed outside their home state, are not counted because mail ballots must be counted within a narrow time frame and as a percentage of total votes they're statistically irrelevant. I expect the narrow time frame to be a real issue when so many people who could vote in person don't. But that's an issue with state requirements, not the postal service.

iris lilies
10-21-20, 5:15pm
I don’t know anyone trusting the mail this election. Too much is at stake. We voted in person last week. My friends are doing that of using the drop boxes.
Since I’m hearing from my Trump supporting friends that I shouldn’t trust the mail, I wonder what is the point of having a US mail system that seems to be distrusted by all sides. What is the bloody point.


I put my ballot into the corner mailbox a few days ago. I’m done. I’m not gonna obsess about it.

LDAHL
10-21-20, 5:30pm
I don’t know anyone trusting the mail this election.

I did. Not suffering from the widespread paranoia, I mailed my ballot in last month. In Wisconsin, there’s a website that lets you track it to the point your municipal clerk receives it. Don’t see what all the panic mongering is about.

JaneV2.0
10-21-20, 5:33pm
Not only did I mail my ballot, I left it in the mailbox with the flag up. I live on the edge. :confused:

bae
10-21-20, 6:38pm
Not only did I mail my ballot, I left it in the mailbox with the flag up. I live on the edge. :confused:

In my community, we have had reports of ballots being stolen out of the incoming mail from mailboxes. This is A New Thing around here, after years and years of all-vote-by-mail. Luckily it's easy enough to fix with the procedures our county auditor has put in place.

Three clicks on a website, and I've verified my ballot has already been received properly.

JaneV2.0
10-21-20, 6:44pm
I'll be tracking mine.
But I've seen no reports of ballot boosting locally.

Teacher Terry
10-22-20, 1:29am
We can track our mail in ballots also.

LDAHL
10-22-20, 5:43pm
We can track our mail in ballots also.

Then why does no one you know trust the mail?

Teacher Terry
10-22-20, 5:55pm
Because my son’s letter took 18 days to travel 30 miles. Plus the Republicans are going to try and exclude as many mail in ballots as they can because more democrats vote that way. It’s no secret since they have been upfront about it.

LDAHL
10-22-20, 6:02pm
Plus the Republicans are going to try and exclude as many mail in ballots as they can because more democrats vote that way. It’s no secret since they have been upfront about it.

But in that case, your problem isn’t with the mail so much as those dastardly Republicans challenging mail-in ballots for various reasons. A practice unknown to Democrats.

jp1
10-22-20, 6:18pm
But in that case, your problem isn’t with the mail so much as those dastardly Republicans challenging mail-in ballots for various reasons. A practice unknown to Democrats.

They aren’t necessarily trying to challenge every ballot, just get them not counted such as Pennsylvania where they recently were ruled against in their efforts to not count anything received past Election Day even if postmarked before.

Alan
10-22-20, 6:41pm
They aren’t necessarily trying to challenge every ballot, just get them not counted such as Pennsylvania where they recently were ruled against in their efforts to not count anything received past Election Day even if postmarked before.
I remember when you had to vote on Election Day unless you had some bullet proof excuse to justify an Absentee Ballot. These days we start early voting in virtually all states well before Election Day, we've been early voting in Ohio since Oct 6th, so it seems to me people are being granted lots and lots of time to vote. I wonder how long past Election Day we should allow?

frugal-one
10-22-20, 7:23pm
These are extreme times.... remember? pandemic... I planned on voting in person but with the exponentially rabid positive COVID19 cases most likely brought on by numerous rallies consisting of over 10,000 people in various parts of the state by the orange one, I thought it was wiser to drop an absentee ballot off at the village office.

Yppej
10-22-20, 7:25pm
We probably have more time to vote than the time in a parliamentary system between when an election is called and ballots are cast. And our years long campaigns have given us ... Trump and Biden.

Yppej
11-4-20, 6:10am
I got a second ballot today due to a printing error on the first. I called the city clerk and the first ballot will be accepted. If I vote again the second ballot will supersede the first one. I don't think I will vote by mail again. This is a mess.

I found out today my vote will not be counted until at least Friday. The machines are programmed to read candidates in a certain order so the printing error ballots have to be hand counted.