I voted in person

[F312]

Nevada mailed ballots to all registered voters. We just dropped them off two weeks ago. Full time security (armed) at all polling places!! We ain't messin' around!!

They always put on a good show in LV.

Ralph

 

[GAD]

My daughter is in Boston. All the stores are boarded up.

 

[hearth_man]

Whatever the outcome I am praying for peace over our nation.

You're a good man Dread. I'm with you for that prayer.

 

[adorshki]

I went and voted at 1130 am, there was no lineup in my precinct at that time.

I was in a lineup at the precinct once.

 

[Brucebubs]

Unusually good turnout this year, possibly historic. Only 136 mil voted last time around, this could come in at triple that? What if it was law you had to vote? I hear it does exist somewhere. Civic duty I suppose. No man is an island onto himself as we like to think that we are.

It's law here in Australia you have to vote.
Compulsory voting started in 1 state in 1926, 2 more followed in 1928, then another in 1936 and finally the last one joined the others in 1942.

In 1902, Australia became the second country to grant women the vote and the first to permit women to stand for parliament.

 

[GAD]

It's law here in Australia you have to vote.
Compulsory voting started in 1 state in 1926, 2 more followed in 1928, then another in 1936 and finally the last one joined the others in 1942.

In 1902, Australia became the second country to grant women the vote and the first to permit women to stand for parliament.

How do they enforce that?

 

[davismanLV]

Forcing a vote sounds good to me, but it also doesn't sound like freedom. So while I think everyone should vote forcing them seems like something that I'd be against in a way and also FOR because GOD DAMN IT JIM, I'M A DOCTOR!! You know??

 

[Brucebubs]

How do they enforce that?

When you turn 18 it is compulsory by law that you register on the Federal Electoral Roll - when you vote the officers* cross your name off a list dedicated to your area and hand you the ballot papers.
The number of votes at the end of the day must match the number of names crossed off the list - I've seen a woman throw her ballot papers straight in the trash - officers had to retrieve them and cast them uncompleted - strangely, that is interpreted as a 'plus' vote to the party governing at the time!

If your name is not crossed off the Electoral Roll you may receive a 'please explain' notification in the mail, if you can't supply a reasonable explanation you may be fined $20 (US$14.21) and $50 (US$35.52) if you've been fined previously for the same offense.

Electoral Rolls have proved handy over the years for locating lost relatives and 'missing' persons.

* My wife did it once, a long day but it paid well!

 

[Nuuska]

Bruce

What happens if you vote by leaving an empty coupon? Over here in all elections we get emty votes plus a bunch of "joking votes" - like all-time-favourite Donald Duck . . . Those get just put aside and the amount is announced. But nobody gets any advantage of them.

 

[West R Lee]

1st morning of the 1st day of early voting in Texas, It was busy. Probably 45 minutes in line, but it's done!

West

 

[Brucebubs]

Bruce

What happens if you vote by leaving an empty coupon? Over here in all elections we get emty votes plus a bunch of "joking votes" - like all-time-favourite Donald Duck . . . Those get just put aside and the amount is announced. But nobody gets any advantage of them.

As I said above, a blank form is counted as a vote for the party currently in power - I know that sounds dumb but I think it leads to disgruntled voters taking a minimal interest in alternative candidates like ... if you don't like the major parties and don't want to vote for them then scan down to one of the ridiculous independents, like the 'Marijuana Party' set up by a bunch of stoners who don't have a snowballs chance of ever being elected .. and vote for them.

 

[fronobulax]

I am simultaneously nervous about having to moderate this thread and fascinated to hear first hand stories of how other countries manage elections.

 

[F312]

I am simultaneously nervous about having to moderate this thread and fascinated to hear first hand stories of how other countries manage elections.

You need to join the 'Marijuana Party' and welax.

Ralph

 

[dreadnut]

You need to join the 'Marijuana Party' and welax.

Ralph

Only medical use is legal in VA currently...

 

[Opsimath]

My husband and I tried to vote early on the first day, I think it was. The line was out the door and down the sidewalk. We left. He later talked to someone who said they had to wait on the sidewalk in the heat for 2 hours to vote early. I drove by the same place a few days later. People still out the door and down the sidewalk, and I kept going.

We went to vote yesterday morning just before lunchtime and walked right in and went straight to a voting booth.

They were taking extra precautions with sanitation. Pens were one-use and then sanitized. We left a "used" coupon in the voting booth and they sanitized it before the next voter. They weren't handing out "I Voted" stickers, but they had them laid out and voters could pick one up if they wanted it.

So many people are voting by mail and voting early that it seems to be way easier just to wait until election day. Jiffy in and jiffy out. It has been that way on election day in our precinct for years.

 

[walrus]

Only medical use is legal in VA currently...

I've been told I'm pretty sick, does that count?

walrus

 

[dreadnut]

It counts here in Michigan!

 

[Guildedagain]

Have faith in people.

 

[dreadnut]

Look around the world...what a wonderful opportunity we have in the USA to be able to vote! Hats off to all the election workers too!

My first vote was the 1972 Nixon - McGovern race. I had just turned 18 a few days before the vote; I in the Navy, joined when I was 17. (My folks signed the papers so I could join at 17 "Not only yes, but hell yeah!")

 

[Default]

Since I had time that day, I stopped off and got a case of Guinness extra Stout. Good stuff!