I wish I could vote early. But in the state where I live, Connecticut, early voting isn’t available. My biggest reasons for voting early? I don’t want to wait in lines. I’d rather give up my spot in line to someone else who’s schedule might not be as flexible as mine. I just want to [...]
I wish I could vote early.
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But in the state where I live, Connecticut, early voting isn’t available.
My biggest reasons for voting early?
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For much more information on early voting, please visit the website of the National Conference of State Legislatures.
EARLY VOTING SUMMARY
In person:
• 34 states allow people to vote in person before Election Day. 31 don’t require an excuse; 3 states and the District of Columbia do.
• 16 states do not allow early or in-person absentee voting.
By mail:
• 28 states allow no-excuse absentee voting by mail.
• 22 states and the District of Columbia require an excuse to vote absentee by mail.
For much more information, please visit here.
Source: Early Voting Information Center at Reed College
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Hey Claude,
I am really paranoid about this election. We do not offer early voting in Connecticut, but if we did, I don’t think I would vote early, I will be too afraid that something will happen to my vote. I don’t trust those evil Republicans.
By the way, if any of your readers would like to join us tonight at Obama’s HQ in Greenwich we will be painting highway signs
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We have mail in early voting. I do not trust mail in voting. I will go to the polls early.
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We have early voting here in Cleveland but I’ve heard the lines are long and I am also paranoid about my vote being lost. I will walk 5 blocks, as always, on Election Day, to cast my vote with my neighbors. Once the weather gets cold, it’s one of the few times we get to see each other. I have a pact with one of my neighbors – regardless of weather or physical condition, we are going together to vote.
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We have early voting here and I voted early. I’m so glad! However, that didn’t keep me from waiting in long lines. It took me 3 hours to vote, but it was sooo exciting. People were upbeat, mostly democrats based on conversations and appearances. I voted yesterday because today is the last day of early voting, so the lines will probably be ridiculous. I couldn’t vote last week because I was out of town and the first few days of early voting was crazy, too. But I hear that lines were 3-5 hours all week long. In fact, on Saturday my husband and daughter voted and they waited 5 hours. Interesting enough people were not complaining, most got in line and stayed. In fact a friend of ours is the Registrar of Voters official and said people have been extremely pleasant. City hall tried their best to make people comfortable, including providing concessions and bringing them into City Council chambers when the weather got cool. It was a wonderful experience and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world!
So why did I vote early? For me it was to alleviate the lines for others on election day and to be available to support the process. I’m sure they’ll need people to help get the vote out. That would be me!
Geaux Obama!
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Hey claude,
minnesota does offer early voting, however i will not be voting early for a few reasons.
One reason is that i want to experience the voter turn out. I don’t want to miss this historic moment. I want to talk to the people and just take a deep breath and live in this moment. I will be taking video and try to capture what little i can for posterity sake.
Another reason is simply put by me reminding you of a public enemy song:
“don’t truss it” .
m j
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In NJ we cannot vote early. I am excited to be in line on election day and I hope the lines are long all day and filled with Obama supporters. Everyday I pray for this historic event. I only wish my parents were here to see it. My father and mother were very active in NYC politics. They were both from North Carolina and often spoke of the struggles they endured growing up in the south. In our house it was required that you register to vote the minute you turned 18. My husband and I have required the same of our children and my 13 year old grandson thinks he is the second coming of Obama. We can’t watch anything else but CNN.
He monitors the red and blue states on his computer and is convinced that history will truly be made on November 4. I urge all of us to vote and take someone to the polls. Organize car pools for senior citizens and the disabled. We are planning to provide hot coffee and cocoa outside of our polling place. I am so excited that it almost takes my breath away. I have many friends and relatives of varied backgrounds and cultures but we all agree that this election is about SMARTS not race. OBAMA 08
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I voted about a week ago at my local branch library. Every voting booth was full and there were 6 or 10 people in line all the time I was there. It takes awhile in Chicago because we have a lot of judge-retention votes on the ballot.
I am 62 and have never missed a presidential vote, but I’ve never felt the way I did as I marked “Obama/Biden.” I was so proud and happy to be part of this moment in history.
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I have voted early & sincerely hope that the US Mail delivers my ballot to the County Recorder. I can understand people’s reluctance to trust the postal service, however, I am focusing on the positive & want that energy brought into this election. I frequently visualize Barak Obama taking the Oath of Office- it’s a beautiful sight!!
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I feel it’s very important to fulfill one important facet of voting…two words…”DUE DILIGENCE”. A individuals history is a long or short trail of activity. Open all doors, evaluate what’s in the closets, check all info out carefully…and then, pull the lever.
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I live in atlanta Ga and I voted 2 weeks ago the wait was about an hour. My husband voted yesterday and the wait was 5 hours but he stayed with it. I was simply elated after I cast my vote, I felt like i was not just voting for me but for my dad an afro american history professor and my grand ma Evelyn Harris. if I vote early I make room for those who vote on the 4th!
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So here’s the thing…It hadn’t even crossed my mind to vote early until I got the notion from you Claude. I did a little research and decided, yah, why not? If I can get something done that I know I need/want to do and can get it done earlier than the time that is is due, why not? Also, I really don’t like crowds or waiting in line, although I always have a good read handy so time is never wasted. A part of me was thinking I kind of want to be in the mix of it all happening that day, but then I will be running the NY Marathon 2 days before and maybe I won’t want to get out of bed :-) I think I’ll go vote tomorrow!!! Thanks for the idea.
Christina
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Hey Claude,
Like you I wish I could vote earlier here in CT but that is not an option. My purpose would have been to get it done so I would be available on election day to assist at the polls. I guess I’ll just have to get up as early as possible and then volunteer to get others to the polls especially if the weather is anything like it is today. Every vote is needed and counts! Be well!
Mike C.
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In Georgia early voting is not only allowed, but encouraged. Not only did I vote, but all of my family that is of age has voted. I had worked on the historic election of Harold Washington in Chicago in 1982, so when the opportunity to work a local polling site presented itself I could not resist the urge. I found it interesting however, that the media is making such a big deal about the wait time. How long have we waited for this once in a lifetime event. This is an opportunity that is too valuable on which to place a price. I exhort all who are able to get out and vote today, for tomorrow is not promised!
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Thanks
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My wife and I already proudly voted for Barack Obama!
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Hey Claude,
I am a permanent absentee voter, so I did mine over the weekend. Dropping it in the mail today! (I took a picture of it and everything!!!)
Going to miss the excitment of the crowds, though….
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In New Jersey, we don’t have early voting in the sense that one can go to the polls before November 4, 2008 and cast their vote. What we do have is folks can go and do an “Absentee Ballot” that is your early vote before the polls open. I DON’T LIKE ABSENTEE BALLOTS BECAUSE THOSE VOTES ARE THE LAST ONES COUNTED IN AN ELECTION AND ONLY “IF” THE FINAL DECISION IS IN QUESTION. YOU SEE, IF ONE CANDIDATE, BASED ON ACTUAL VOTES AND EXITS POLLS, HOLDS A COMMANDING LEAD, THEN YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOTS ARE NOT COUNTED. THAT’S RIGHT, IN THE CASE OF THE AN INSURMOUNTABLE LEAD, THE ELECTION BOARDS CAME UP WITH A DECISION TO NOT COUNT THE ABSENTEE VOTES, EXCEPT IN A VERY CLOSE ELECTION.
On the other hand, I’m going to vote early by showing up at the polls at 5:30 a.m. for the 6:00 a.m. opening of the polls. Voting as soon as the polls open will be more of a guarantee that my vote will count and be counted. I’ve never trusted absentee votes and I only prescribe them if a situation is so serious that nothing else can be done. I suggest that those of you voting should take the same approach. Get up early in the morning and go do “YOUR” Early Voting! This is it for Progressive People of all Colors and now we must vote in large numbers until the decision for Barack Obama is one of the greatest mandates in American Political History. Voting by all of us will do that. So, let’s get all of our friends out to the polls and make history. Let’s make history! Voting is our tool and making history is our goal. “We” are the agents of CHANGE we have been looking for!
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Right on Brother Zach! I like that: “YOUR Early Voting”! Means, redefine it and take it into your own hands. Never mind if your state offers it or not. Just show your a– up at dawn!! At “dark thirty” as they say in the military! :-)
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Right on Charles. This has been a long time coming, hundreds of years really. So what’s a few hours. Still, I wish I could vote early to let those who really might not be able to stand there for that long get more of a chance. Maybe one day they’ll move the elections to Saturdays.
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Hi Audrey! Thanks for your comment! I want to bring my camera also! It’s a historic moment. How come you’re a permanent absentee?
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