Should I mail my vote or show up in person?

[idziak4ever1234]

Michigan allows for every citizen to cast a mail in vote. Every registered voter should have received a request for an absentee ballot. I am inclined to do so for ease and convenience. Also, I am guessing lines will be enormously long.

My understanding is that Michigan law will not allow for the mail in ballots to be counted until after in-person voting has concluded. I anticipate it could take days for Michigan to post "official" results. (Thank God our SOS and Attorney General are Democrats.)

I definitely anticipate Trump filing suit against the state for whatever dubious reason he and Barr can dream up.

Should I show up? I need to decide soon.

[Laurian]

1. I'm struggling with this as well.

I’m inclined to vote in person. I would like for a very strong lead for Biden to be apparent on election night.

But I request a mail in ballot. I’m in a high risk age group and sole caretaker for my husband. I can’t be sure what my circumstances will be in November.

[idziak4ever1234]

3. What a dilemma. Voting has become a life threatening life choice.

All to feed Trump's narcissistic supply. I wish you my best.

[Thekaspervote]

2. If opinion matters HRC said in her speech last night to show up and as early as you can

[Laura PourMeADrink]

4. Wish everyone had this set up. Although Nov will be cold

I would say, if you live in a blue state..vote by mail if you can. If red state, hazmat suit up and brave going to poll.

[Ms. Toad]

5. If those are your only 2 choices, mail in.

I would not want to risk being ill on election day and having to choose between voting and staying home to protect others from COVID 19.

You may have other options - such as in person early voting or dropping off your ballot. Whatever you do, vote early, at a time of your choosing, so you don't risk being unable to can at your ballot.

[frazzled]

6. Maybe you don't need to decide soon

Does Michigan (or better yet local) law allow you to cede your mail-in ballot to an election official at a polling place to be spoiled and exchanged for an in-person ballot if you decide to vote in person?

My state (Illinois) apparently does. I will be receiving a mail-in/drop off ballot, but may possibly decide to instead cast an in-person vote at an early voting site, beginning October 14. It all depends on the situation closer to the time.

I too want to have my vote show up in the tabulation on election night itself. I think it’s important.

Even if you mail or drop off your ballot very early, it may not be counted by Election Day. Each state has different rules for when they start to count the mail ballots. Check it out, folks.

[idziak4ever1234]

8. I was wondering about that. I don't think so but will look into it.

[LisaL]

14. In Michigan, you should be able to return your ballot to the clerk's office.

"After receiving your absent voter ballot, you have until 8 p.m. on Election Day to complete the ballot and return it to the clerk's office. Your ballot will not be counted unless your signature is on the return envelope and matches your signature on file. If you received assistance voting the ballot, then the signature of the person who helped you must also be on the return envelope. Only you, a family member or person residing in your household, a mail carrier, or election official is authorized to deliver your signed absent voter ballot to your clerk's office."

https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_8716_8728-21037--,00.html

[Cuthbert Allgood]

7. I don't know what Michigan does, but here in WI, we have a drop off at City Hall.

I have put my ballot there so that I'm sure it gets to them.

[frazzled]

9. It will get to them, but when will it be tabulated?

That is the OP’s concern.

[idziak4ever1234]

16. Yes... That is correct.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

19. That's why I implied to see if their City Hall has a drop off.

For us, that's where they count the votes. I drop it off at City Hall the day before election day. They start tabulating after the in-person votes are counted. I assumed the concern was if it were mailed in, when would it be counted because of possible delays.

[frazzled]

20. That's definitely not true for all states

Here's a chart of when states can start processing mail-in ballots (some are not until Election Day, and that's just for processing, which can take a long, long time: each signature has to be checked) and when they can start counting them (many not until the polls close on Election Day, and again, that could take some time).

Check your state here:

https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/vopp-table-16-when-absentee-mail-ballot-processing-and-counting-can-begin.aspx

You may live in a relatively small locality. For cities like mine (population 2.6 million; metro area 8.9 million), if you drop off your ballot the day before and counting begins after polls close ... it could take a month to verify and compute all results).

[Cuthbert Allgood]

22. Which is also why I started with "I don't know about Michigan."

Just trying to offer some thoughts on the issue from my situation.

[SheltieLover]

10. I am voting early, in person.

I was going to do mail in, but do not feel comfortable risking it with DeJoy's attack on our postal service.

As a previous poster stated, I want a HUGE in person landslide by Dems on election night -- too big for chumputin to question or refute.

If you are in a swing state, you might consider early, in person voting if you are able. If not, please be meticulous with mail in ballot requirements & mail it back as early as is allowed & track online to ensure your ballot is received.

Please also check the laws in your state. Laws vary greatly. For example, TN does not allow mail-in ballots to be hand delivered to any location. They must be mailed in.

Let us know what you decide.

[cwydro]

11. I'm going to go to my early voting place the second it opens.

Not taking any chances.

[Native]

12. Not worth the risk to your health! Just be sure to find a drop box, don't mail it in.

My friend in Michigan researched his options and decided this was the best & safest way to cast his vote. There is a drop box at his poling place. There may be one at yours.

[LisaL]

13. Looks like your state gives you options.

If you receive your ballot by mail, you can fill it out and hand deliver it to your clerk's office. So that would be an option if you decide to go absentee. Sounds like you can also change your mind if for whatever reason you decide not to vote absentee, but that would require you to submit a written request to the clerk or spoil your ballot in the clerk's office.


"If a voter has already voted absentee and wishes to change their vote (because the candidate has dropped out of the race, or for any other reason), a voter can spoil their ballot by submitting a written request to their city or township clerk. The voter must sign the request and state if they would like a new absentee ballot mailed to them or if they will vote at the polls. This request must be received by 2 p.m. the Saturday before the election if received by mail. An absentee ballot may be spoiled in person at the clerk’s office until 4 p.m. the Monday prior to the election. The voter can obtain a new absentee ballot there or vote at the polls. There is no option on Election Day to spoil an absentee ballot that has been received by the clerk."
https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_8716_8728-21037--,00.html

[idziak4ever1234]

15. Wow! Thanks for your research.

[Tanuki]

17. I am still on the fence. I was planning to vote by mail, but with the

ongoing GOP sabotage of the USPS I am reconsidering. Here in Tennessee, we are not allowed to drop off absentee/mail-in ballots in person. On the other hand, the memory is fresh for me of having had a severe tornado rip through my county in the wee hours of the morning of Super Tuesday (March 3) this year, with numerous polling places suddenly shut down due to building damage, power failure, blockage of access roads by fallen trees, etc. I was mighty glad I had voted early! I am leaning toward voting in person at the
earliest opportunity, which locally will be October 14. I went online and ordered a clear plastic face shield to add to my mask and gloves ensemble and will bring my own ballpoint pen for signing in and my own hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. But even so, I keep thinking about the possibility that I could be sick, or that my area could be in the midst of a surge at that time, and those thoughts make me lean back towards mail-in. I hate this ambivalence about something I have always looked forward to. And I mean ambivalence only about the logistics. Wild horses, tornados, and pandemics will not keep me from helping Biden-Harris to rescue our country. One way or another I will put my shoulder to the wheel

[Wayoff]

18. I am planning to vote in person...

I think of all the men and women, who have sacrificed so much, serving in the military to preserve our way of life. I never had to make that sacrifice. However, this election is a battle to preserve our way of life and I am ready to fight. I will wash my hands, put on my mask, grab some disinfecting wipes and stand on line all day if I have to. I will cast that vote and will rest assured that it will be counted.

P.S. My state allows for advanced voting. I will vote as soon as I can!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

21. Apparently, clerks can begin counting absentee ballots at 7am on election day.

I don't think they can report the results until after the polls have closed, to allow for more absentee ballots to arrive.

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/VIII_Absent_Voter_County_Boards_265998_7.pdf

The clerks, of course, would like to start counting before election day. At the least, they want to be able to pull the ballots from the envelopes and privacy sleeves and stack them in preparation for counting.

[DeminPennswoods]

23. I'm voting in person

here in PA. This year's primary was our first with "no excuse" absentee voting. It went well overall, no real glitches afaik.

Prior to this year, if you wanted to vote using an absentee ballot, you had to have a reason such as being unavailable during poll operations to vote because you are working, out of town, traveling, etc or a medical condition that keeps you from going to the poll.