DFW HOYA
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 5,740
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Post by DFW HOYA on Oct 24, 2004 19:29:28 GMT -5
With all the sturm und drang out there on lawyers claiming election irregularities before they even happen, I wondered why the rest of the nation doesn't follow Texas when it comes to voting... Not for who to vote for, but on how to vote. You see, the polls have been open in Texas for a week now and will be for another week in what is called early voting. Between the 18th and the 29th (including weekends), you can vote at the county courthouse and most public libraries, and save the hassle of standing in long lines on Election Day, and there's no excuse or reason required as absentee ballots have. The lines are shorter, and if you miss it one day because of work, well, you can go tomorrow. And because it ends before Nov. 2, the county elections committees still have a few days to tag voter registration numbers as "voted" before someone tries to double-dip on Election Day. They even post the voter lists (not the votes, of course) on county web sites. See www.dalcoelections.org/nov22004/earlyvotingreport/viewlist.asp?view=webIn some cities, half of all voters will vote early, and claims of "intimidation" are negligible. In Dallas County, over 150,000 votes have already been cast in the first six days, which for a city of approx. 1 million men, women, and children is a pretty strong turnout. The results will be ready literally 5 minutes after the polls close on Nov. 2. Any idea why this hasn't been adopted in "Blue America"?
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Post by jerseyhoya34 on Oct 24, 2004 19:35:07 GMT -5
I do not know. One plausible explanation may be resources. They may not have the state resources to pay pollworkers in traditionally Dem areas, much as they don't have resources to upgrade many of these areas to the Diebold machines and away from lever or chad-based voting devices.
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DFW HOYA
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 5,740
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Post by DFW HOYA on Oct 24, 2004 19:49:58 GMT -5
I didn't realize pollworkers were paid in some states! In our local precincts, there are volunteers manning the tables and both parties are represented.
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Nevada Hoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
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Post by Nevada Hoya on Oct 24, 2004 20:35:26 GMT -5
There is early voting in Nevada, at least in Las Vegas. It will end on this Friday, Oct. 29.
On the topic of voting irregularities, in this case registration irregularities, some Republicans threw out some valid Democratic registrations. The judge, who was asked to rule on the case, ruled that the results stand, because she could not rule on every frivolous case of registration fraud (even in this most egregious case). The judge happens to be a GULC grad. It is also interesting that her boyfriend has been a mucky muck in the Republican committee in Las Vegas, but retains no such position now.
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Joe Hoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
You're watching Sports Night on CSC, so stick around.
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Post by Joe Hoya on Oct 24, 2004 21:37:22 GMT -5
There is early voting in all of Nevada, and New Mexico as well. I know this only because I volunteered to make phone calls on behalf of a candidate, and last week's efforts were aimed at getting out the early vote and encouraging voters to take advantage of the early voting procedure.
And in my home precinct, the people serving at the polling place are elected, I believe. I do not know if they are compensated, but I'm fairly certain their names appear on a ballot.
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Post by showcase on Oct 24, 2004 22:18:16 GMT -5
Early voting has been going on in North Carolina since Oct. 22, I believe.
Come to think of it, I think most states are doing early voting now. Or maybe it was provisional voting. Or both.
There's definitely early voting in North Carolina.
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FLHoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Proud Member of Generation Burton
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Post by FLHoya on Oct 24, 2004 23:31:51 GMT -5
You can also can vote early in various parts of South Florida. Palm Beach County has had early voting open since last Monday and offices around the county are open essentially regular work hours every day until the election. Martin and St. Lucie counties (the two to the north) have similar things going on. They're doing okay in PBC so far, a few problems but thankfully nothing catastrophic yet. I'm told my home region was rather important in the previous election cycle and continues to be so this time around.
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