Anyone Know If This is Common?

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Big fracas in West Virginia where Sunday was an "early voting" day and an Obama rally was near an open polling place and those attending were told to go to that poll and vote.

I know mail-in voting is early - but poll voting?

West Virginia officials say this voting day was planned months in advance and so charges that they accommodated one party don't seem true to me. More likely is that one party planned a rally nearby on that day after learning it was an "early voting" day.

This is new to me - what is the point of allowing such early voting? I know there is increasing pressure to have weekend voting and it makes sense to do so. It may also make a lot of sense to have voting on more than one day.

I've thought for a long time it would make more sense to have two election days - a Friday/Saturday combination - to accommodate those who can't leave work to vote and to help eliminate long lines by providing more time.
That might require a media blackout until the polls close on the second day - and should include the "exit polls" so widely broadcast to avoid "slanting" the results in advance.

Has this early voting been done before? Has it been as widespread? Or has my mind finally blown a memory gasket?

kay
  • Profile picture of the author ThomM
    I don't know if it's been done before Kay, but I seen on the news today that a few different states are doing it.
    Also the results won't be counted till election day. Somehow they have it tied in with absentee balloting.
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  • Profile picture of the author Nicola Lane
    I'm sorry, I'm confused - what does voting have to do with "Extra Income Work at Home Jobs"??
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    • Profile picture of the author myob
      ACORN is hiring - $8/ hour. Work in the privacy of your home by filling out the voter registration forms yourself from the phone books in your area.
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      • Profile picture of the author clint48
        Originally Posted by myob View Post

        ACORN is hiring - $8/ hour. Work in the privacy of your home by filling out the voter registration forms yourself from the phone books in your area.
        Yes an exciting company to work for, you never know what name will be on the check when you get paid.
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  • Profile picture of the author Emailrevealer
    They just had early voting right across the street from the Palin ralley here in NV today.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      Have no idea how that title got there! Just changed it back to the original.

      I may have overwritten it when I looked up something in response to an email and had the thread window open.

      It has NOTHING to do with the question!

      kay
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        What I found rather appalling is that news media are reporting the number of Dems and Repubs that have voted early. I'm surprised that is allowed.

        Then again, I'm surprised anything about this year surprises me:rolleyes:
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        • Profile picture of the author TimPhelan
          Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

          What I found rather appalling is that news media are reporting the number of Dems and Repubs that have voted early. I'm surprised that is allowed.
          I don't understand why you are appalled Kay. The idea is to make it easier for people to vote and get more of a turnout. Looks like both sides are taking advantage of it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Don Schenk
    I often vote early by going to the Cincinnati Board of Elections. You can probably do that anywhere in the US.

    My wife voted last week. Maybe I'll go tomorrow.

    It sure beats standing in the crowd on voting day.

    Don
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  • Profile picture of the author Thomas Wilkinson
    I voted today. The line was about 45 minutes. There
    is massive voter suppression going on in Florida again
    this year, ala Kathryn Harris/ JEB Bush so I thought I
    would vote while I still could. Thousands are being wiped
    off the voter rolls because their names "sound like" a
    name that "may have" been convicted of a crime at one
    time or another.
    T.W.
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  • Profile picture of the author NetVenturer
    Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

    Big fracas in West Virginia where Sunday was an "early voting" day and an Obama rally was near an open polling place and those attending were told to go to that poll and vote.

    I know mail-in voting is early - but poll voting?

    West Virginia officials say this voting day was planned months in advance and so charges that they accommodated one party don't seem true to me. More likely is that one party planned a rally nearby on that day after learning it was an "early voting" day.

    This is new to me - what is the point of allowing such early voting? I know there is increasing pressure to have weekend voting and it makes sense to do so. It may also make a lot of sense to have voting on more than one day.

    I've thought for a long time it would make more sense to have two election days - a Friday/Saturday combination - to accommodate those who can't leave work to vote and to help eliminate long lines by providing more time.
    That might require a media blackout until the polls close on the second day - and should include the "exit polls" so widely broadcast to avoid "slanting" the results in advance.

    Has this early voting been done before? Has it been as widespread? Or has my mind finally blown a memory gasket?

    kay
    Early voting has been going on for years for the very reasons you have as questions and statements. The point is accommodation. Here in Arkansas we have 12 early voting poll days to reduce lines and confusion on Election Day. Those 12 days include 2 Saturdays.

    This was our first year for electronic voting and it took about twice as long as the old paper ballots. While waiting to vote I watched one person stand at the machine for nearly 15 minutes with no election workers offering assistance. Well, until I called out to one of them and pointed to the person needing help who had been unsuccessfully trying to get their attention.
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