General Discussion

ctaylors6

(693 posts)

70. Michigan is one of the worst

Mon Nov 17, 2014, 12:46 PM

Nov 2014

in terms of making it easy to vote. Only a handful of states still have no form of early voting, and Michigan is one of them. As another poster said, it’s archaic. The other ones I know about: Alabama, Connecticut, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania

AND at least 3 of those have work-related absentee voting (e.g. Alabama, NH, Mississippi) - e.g. if your work shift is while the polls are open on election day.

Several others have early voting but only with an excuse (some allowed excuses are broader than others). Those include: New York, Delaware, Massachussetts, Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina

Fortunately about 34 states have no-excuse early voting or absentee voting or both. And of course 3 have vote by mail.

I'm sorry Michigan is so difficult.

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"A ton of people didn�t vote because they couldn�t get time off from work" [View all] applegrove Nov 2014 OP

This is why every state should have California's vote-by-mail system Wella Nov 2014 #1

I don't know about EVERY STATE, but here in Ga. they had early voting. napi21 Nov 2014 #2

Really? Because some people get off work and have kids they have to take care of. They may not applegrove Nov 2014 #3

Excuses. former9thward Nov 2014 #5

Sound like you're looking for excuses to trash on poor people. baldguy Nov 2014 #32

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2014 #95

And always uninformed judgments too. LanternWaste Nov 2014 #35

I agree. simak Nov 2014 #37

I think there was only 37% turnout in this election whereas presidential elections LeftInTX Nov 2014 #11

a co-worker told me that back in the 1990s hfojvt Nov 2014 #76

I think people try to position themselves 'above' the rat race chade Nov 2014 #105

I used to take my kids with me and they got the Skidmore Nov 2014 #24

Don't people take their kids with them anymore? napi21 Nov 2014 #99

They need to allow people to vote near their jobs. Warpy Nov 2014 #103

If the polls are open from 6am - 6am and you must catch the bus at 540 to get to your job on time TheKentuckian Nov 2014 #4

Excuses. former9thward Nov 2014 #6

I'm not making excuses, I voted. What I am saying is we don't make it easy or in some cases TheKentuckian Nov 2014 #8

+1 A Little Weird Nov 2014 #19

I agree and look at what happens with these changes -- it helps turnout JonLP24 Nov 2014 #26

People pick on Ohio, but I think they are above average Travis_0004 Nov 2014 #45

Picked on? JonLP24 Nov 2014 #47

There is some truth to that Dorian Gray Nov 2014 #27

In Texas can't vote by mail unless LeftInTX Nov 2014 #10

New York doesn't have either early voting or voting by mail. baldguy Nov 2014 #33

You are wrong gwheezie Nov 2014 #80

Well that settles it. former9thward Nov 2014 #82

Yes it does gwheezie Nov 2014 #83

What backward state do you live in? former9thward Nov 2014 #86

Virginia gwheezie Nov 2014 #87

My mom with limited mobilty has been voting early since '06 or '08 Blue_Tires Nov 2014 #90

Yes if you know in time to request a ballot gwheezie Nov 2014 #97

Too busy is a choice. oldandhappy Nov 2014 #7

Wagging your finger won't get a single additional vote. TheKentuckian Nov 2014 #9

Ok that MIGHT be 5 percent of those not voting yeoman6987 Nov 2014 #12

I don't get the disinterest in making it easier to vote. Seems to be more than a sliver to me. TheKentuckian Nov 2014 #14

I Am All For RobinA Nov 2014 #36

OK, now...come on... davidn3600 Nov 2014 #13

Baloney... SoapBox Nov 2014 #15

We moved but I called the city clerk LittleGirl Nov 2014 #16

SOLUTION: Make election day on Sunday. It always bugged me that elections were held 4lbs Nov 2014 #17

+1 DetlefK Nov 2014 #25

27 states +DC have no-excuse absentee voting ctaylors6 Nov 2014 #40

I agree. Do all of that. Make it as easy as possible to vote. 4lbs Nov 2014 #48

I'd recommend Saturday and Sunday. jeff47 Nov 2014 #49

Even better. I am all for giving voters every opportunity and ease to vote. 4lbs Nov 2014 #51

People work weekends gwheezie Nov 2014 #89

in my home state (Nevada) you have 2 weeks of early voting, including weekends rollin74 Nov 2014 #18

With all due respect, bullshit! branford Nov 2014 #20

An anecdote... spinbaby Nov 2014 #29

Florida has no-excuse absentee voting nt ctaylors6 Nov 2014 #75

If you work 2 jobs from 6AM to 8PM then voting is IMPOSSIBLE. Odin2005 Nov 2014 #21

In Minnesota ctaylors6 Nov 2014 #42

except for early voting and absentee voting. Travis_0004 Nov 2014 #44

Where I live, people often leave for work at 4AM (or earlier) SoCalDem Nov 2014 #22

To those calling bullshit JonLP24 Nov 2014 #23

The rich have always been more interested in the political process than the poor davidn3600 Nov 2014 #63

I guess they need to educate themselves on early voting? B Calm Nov 2014 #28

In my county, the early voting location was far from all bus service. jeff47 Nov 2014 #50

Not all states are the same gwheezie Nov 2014 #30

Virginia is one ctaylors6 Nov 2014 #43

Exactly what the rich want. JaneyVee Nov 2014 #31

I can't believe the people here belittleing the hardships some poor people go through. baldguy Nov 2014 #34

Choo-choo! Here comes the Excuse Train! FSogol Nov 2014 #38

In some places, voting was harder than it was last time. Other places it wasn't Orangepeel Nov 2014 #39

Excuses. You can vote before or after working hours badtoworse Nov 2014 #41

Yeah, that works great when your workday starts at 6am and ends at 7pm. jeff47 Nov 2014 #52

If those are your hours, you get an absentee ballot badtoworse Nov 2014 #53

Which isn't available since I'm in the county on election day. jeff47 Nov 2014 #59

Voting is a pain in the ass for some people badtoworse Nov 2014 #61

Yes, it's clearly worth losing your two jobs to vote. jeff47 Nov 2014 #62

Frame it however you want. I don't believe there are that many who could not make some arrangement. badtoworse Nov 2014 #64

Of course. Your reality is the only one that counts. (nt) jeff47 Nov 2014 #65

Whatever. badtoworse Nov 2014 #67

+1. Sad. nt laundry_queen Nov 2014 #100

Just curious ctaylors6 Nov 2014 #77

With all due respect Alittleliberal Nov 2014 #55

See Post 53 badtoworse Nov 2014 #57

19 states have no Absentee voting Alittleliberal Nov 2014 #58

That should be corrected, but the rules are the same for everyone in states without absentee ballots badtoworse Nov 2014 #60

Just make voting day a national holiday sakabatou Nov 2014 #46

That won't help much either. Liberal Veteran Nov 2014 #93

This happened to me in 2012 (NT) Denis 11 Nov 2014 #54

Yup. I know someone who works 12-hour shifts that conflict with voting hours gollygee Nov 2014 #56

Michigan is one of the worst ctaylors6 Nov 2014 #70

Same here in Virginia gwheezie Nov 2014 #88

Absentee ballots? Early voting? we can do it Nov 2014 #66

There is a law in Minnesota Jenoch Nov 2014 #68

Employers should be required... Rye Bread Pizza Nov 2014 #69

Most states do have laws about time off for voting ctaylors6 Nov 2014 #72

My job does allow an hour to vote gwheezie Nov 2014 #81

Virginia is still ctaylors6 Nov 2014 #85

How do they get to work from 50+ Jenoch Nov 2014 #104

I think it should be easier to vote gwheezie Nov 2014 #107

The system is created that way, along with gerrymandering Rex Nov 2014 #71

I have a similar objection to the Iowa Caucuses. MADem Nov 2014 #73

The law in little poor ass Jamaica states that every citizen of voting rights age malaise Nov 2014 #74

Between early voting and polls open from 6:30am to 7:30pm liberal N proud Nov 2014 #78

No early voting here gwheezie Nov 2014 #84

What are your polling hours? liberal N proud Nov 2014 #92

0600 to 1900 gwheezie Nov 2014 #98

vote by mail MFM008 Nov 2014 #79

I used early voting, it took a grand total of 5 minutes krawhitham Nov 2014 #91

African American precincts have longer wait times to vote. applegrove Nov 2014 #96

People make time for what is important to them One_Life_To_Give Nov 2014 #94

Maybe the boss doesn't want his employees to vote, either AndyTiedye Nov 2014 #101

A ton of people need to take advantage of early voting, absentee ballots, etc. Hoyt Nov 2014 #102

I can imagine.. it's damn hard to squeeze extra time in sometimes.. even for something as important Cha Nov 2014 #106