Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

maxsolomon

(35,240 posts)
Mon Nov 5, 2012, 09:03 PM Nov 2012

Washington State votes entirely by mail. We have 70% participation.

Why the rest of America isn't voting this way I cannot fathom.

You have 3 weeks to mail the ballot.
You can turn it in on election day if you don't mail it.
70% of registered voters return their ballots.
No lines at polling places.
No early voting limited hours shenanigans.


19 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
Go to vote-by-mail nationwide
18 (95%)
Leave the system in the hands of individual states.
1 (5%)
Love it or leave it, Soshlyst!
0 (0%)
Show usernames
Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll
19 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Washington State votes entirely by mail. We have 70% participation. (Original Post) maxsolomon Nov 2012 OP
Oregon as well Life Long Dem Nov 2012 #1
Might make a profit for the Post Office TOO! Tigress DEM Nov 2012 #2
Here in AZ ChazII Nov 2012 #4
Might make poor people not vote. LisaL Nov 2012 #8
There are official drop boxes in very convenient places: Evergreen Emerald Nov 2012 #14
I vote by mail ChazII Nov 2012 #3
why don't you have 100% participation? Liberal_in_LA Nov 2012 #5
Because we are drunk maxsolomon Nov 2012 #6
lol. Liberal_in_LA Nov 2012 #11
People are lazy, forgetful, don't care. Pick any or all per person. uppityperson Nov 2012 #9
What you have to realize is that both FL and OH already have vote by mail absentee system. LisaL Nov 2012 #7
Which states? Nye Bevan Nov 2012 #10
Both FL and OH have absentee by mail voting. LisaL Nov 2012 #12
If the USPS is now privatized, is mail tampering as a federal offense no longer applicable? ancianita Nov 2012 #13
Drop it in a mailbox in the most expensive neighborbood. TPaine7 Nov 2012 #16
I think it's great.. Upton Nov 2012 #15
I like to vote in person on Election Day bigwillq Nov 2012 #17
Rachel was showing long, long lines of people waiting to vote pscot Nov 2012 #18
I was listening about the stuff going down in Florida cmf Nov 2012 #19
 

Life Long Dem

(8,582 posts)
1. Oregon as well
Mon Nov 5, 2012, 09:07 PM
Nov 2012

If you look at Oregon polling, it's the closest match to the actual vote you can get. No machines to flip or hack the vote. No computer glitches.

Evergreen Emerald

(13,095 posts)
14. There are official drop boxes in very convenient places:
Mon Nov 5, 2012, 09:55 PM
Nov 2012

police stations, court houses, fire stations, apartment complexes, etc. I never mail mine, but rather drop it off at the main county drop. It is cheaper, and more secure.

But, the cost should not be prohibitive as there are plenty of official places to drop them off.

maxsolomon

(35,240 posts)
6. Because we are drunk
Mon Nov 5, 2012, 09:26 PM
Nov 2012

and high on medical marijuana.

I assume you are joking.

57% was the turnout nationwide in 2008.
It was a pitiful 37% in 2010, which allowed the tea party takeover of congress.

uppityperson

(115,880 posts)
9. People are lazy, forgetful, don't care. Pick any or all per person.
Mon Nov 5, 2012, 09:29 PM
Nov 2012

My county is currently at 66%, usually goes over 80

LisaL

(46,681 posts)
7. What you have to realize is that both FL and OH already have vote by mail absentee system.
Mon Nov 5, 2012, 09:28 PM
Nov 2012

People clearly prefer to vote in person.
Switching to mail in will be a disaster in some states.

Nye Bevan

(25,406 posts)
10. Which states?
Mon Nov 5, 2012, 09:36 PM
Nov 2012

No lines, fill out ballot at your leisure, what's not to love? I do it every election in CT (they mail you an absentee ballot if you say you plan to be out of town on election day. But plans can change).

LisaL

(46,681 posts)
12. Both FL and OH have absentee by mail voting.
Mon Nov 5, 2012, 09:51 PM
Nov 2012

In fact every registered voter in OH was send an application. Clearly people prefer to vote in person.

ancianita

(38,786 posts)
13. If the USPS is now privatized, is mail tampering as a federal offense no longer applicable?
Mon Nov 5, 2012, 09:52 PM
Nov 2012

That's an important consideration in 'cleaning up' the viability of vote counts, no?

 

TPaine7

(4,286 posts)
16. Drop it in a mailbox in the most expensive neighborbood.
Mon Nov 5, 2012, 10:19 PM
Nov 2012

It should be safe, provided there's no return address written.

Upton

(9,709 posts)
15. I think it's great..
Mon Nov 5, 2012, 09:59 PM
Nov 2012

We received our ballots around the 20th, sat around talked and voted at our leisure. I took the ballots to a drop box next time I went into town..

My particular county in Washington state has been voting by mail since the 90's..I see no downside to it at all..

 

bigwillq

(72,790 posts)
17. I like to vote in person on Election Day
Mon Nov 5, 2012, 10:21 PM
Nov 2012

but not against giving folks several voting options.

pscot

(21,037 posts)
18. Rachel was showing long, long lines of people waiting to vote
Mon Nov 5, 2012, 10:31 PM
Nov 2012

This is so wrong; so unnecessary. And it's by design. The Rich and their thinktanks don't like Democracy. It doesn't have to be this way. Washington and Oregon prove that. It's an experiment that works and should be adapted all over the country.

cmf

(1,834 posts)
19. I was listening about the stuff going down in Florida
Mon Nov 5, 2012, 10:40 PM
Nov 2012

And it reminded me how lucky we are to have vote by mail. I've lived here since late 2000 (after the election), and I've never cast my ballot in a polling place in WA. At first I missed the whole act of going to a polling place, but I really appreciate how nice it is to sit down with my ballot, a cup of tea, and vote on my own pace and mail it in on my own time. It's a much cleaner and fairer way to go. Unfortunately the reason more states don't do it is because they don't actually want to increase participation.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Washington State votes en...