pandagon.net

Next entry: They work by releasing little demons that stab sperm to death Previous entry: Goddamn Liar

Vote early, peoples!

Marc and I trotted down to the early voting polling place on UT’s campus, and rest assured, once again I’m glad I didn’t vote on Election Day. There was a 5 minute wait, and when I passed by there later it looked like it was up to 20 minutes. It only gets worse from here on out. And I’ve heard from others that you’re already seeing 20 minutes lines at some polling places in Austin. Obviously, the fact that we’re seeing a much higher turnout this year is an overall good thing, because it improves Obama’s chances greatly (as well as the chances of all downticket Democrats), but that means lines. And lines suck. So get out early and avoid them.

My usual habit is straight party Democratic, and a vote for the libertarian in any race that doesn’t have a Democrat. But this year I just didn’t even bother to vote in those races. (There was only like one, thank goodness.) Ron Paul has permanently soured me on the idea that libertarians are usually marginally better than Republicans. You could roll the die and get a reasonable Republican, still, or you could help some right wing crank running as libertarian win. They can hash it out without my help.

------

Registration is now required! We're still in the process of getting it all squared away, so for the moment don't forget to Login or Register using the links in the upper left menu before starting to write your comment.

Posted by Amanda Marcotte on 06:24 PM • (28) Comments

Isn’t Ron Paul a Republican though?

I’m no fan of Libertarians, but I don’t really understand the train of thought.

Comment #1: Samwise on 10/24 at 06:38 PM

Sadly you can’t vote early in Virginia unless you can prove you will be unable to vote on Election Day.

Comment #2: Ben D. on 10/24 at 06:49 PM

Isn’t it nice to have it done?

Some jerk in the paper today wrote that it’s irresponsible to vote early b/c all the info isn’t in. It’s a rush judgment made with insufficient info. It’s not like Barry’s economic plan has been on his website for weeks or anything.

Sorry, dude. My hard choice was whether or not to hold my nose and vote for Hillary should she win the nomination. She didn’t; choice over.

Like I’m going to vote for man who hates my gender and his veep who charged women for rape kits and whose campaign has consisted of lying down in the mud with racists Nope. No questions in my mind.

Even though I pretty much walked in, sat for a little vetting and voted, I got the only open machine. I was told it was a down time and that the poling place was busy busy busy every day. Chicago has tons of early voting places, and if they are all busy, it’s a good sign.

I’m hoping the flip flop of Indiana from red to blue in the last poll was due to counting early voters. Man, if McCain loses Indiana…it’s been nearly 50 years since Indiana voted Democratic for President.

I let the baby push the touch screen for B. Hussein. Now I’m hoping for (somewhat) decent weather so I can take all 3 kids to Grant Park on Nov. 4. History, baby! Please no sleet or freezing rain!

Comment #3: Caren-Sun-blocking Creator of Animorphic Pancakes on 10/24 at 06:59 PM

hey Caren—what is going on in Grant Park? I wanna excuse to not be at work! (Also why I’m waiting til Election Day to vote.)

Comment #4: Well, what? on 10/24 at 07:04 PM

Voted days ago by absentee ballot here in California. Now I just want the election to be over with. The only thing I’m still looking forward to is the Republican melt down when Obama wins.

Comment #5: Natasha Yar-Routh on 10/24 at 07:47 PM

Seriously, Caren? They think that after a ridiculously long election cycle, all the information isn’t in? What do they think is going to happen!

I got my ballot on Monday, filled it out that night, and mailed it in the next day. Now I’m phone banking and canvassing to get out the vote. Anybody who lives in the Portland area, please consider volunteering with the Bus Project. Their main focus is encouraging young people to vote, but I was calling people of all different ages last night, and I’ll be there again Monday night. They’re a really great group to work with. They’re doing the local Trick or Vote, a nationwide, nonpartisan costume canvass on Halloween. Even if you don’t live in Portland, if you don’t have plans for Halloween, see if you can get involved with a Trick or Vote group! It’s the one night of the year people are expecting strangers at their doors, and it’s five days before the election.

Comment #6: oregonienne on 10/24 at 07:58 PM

When I was in Indiana, there was a local crank who ran on the Libertarian line for a State House seat. His other claim to fame was trying to stop a Hooters from opening on “how will we explain this to the CHILdren?” morality grounds.

Comment #7: Dr. Squid on 10/24 at 08:03 PM

Well, what? Barry O. is throwing a big shindig in Grant Park on election day hoping that it’ll turn into a big victory party!

For those non-Chicagoans out there, on the rare occasion that a Chicago sports team wins a championship, we throw a party in Grant Park instead of a tickertape parade.

Daley’s folks suggested the United Center might be better, but Obama’s folks replied that they’d already checked that out and Celine Dion is playing a concert there that night. Obama’s ante-ing up for security et. al. since Chicago is broke and doesn’t want to pay for the $2 million in security and clean up. Barry said not to worry; he’s got it.

So, I’m hoping for no snow or sleet or 50 mph icy winds or subzero windchills, all of which are possible for an early Nov. day in Chicago. I want a sunny 50+° day followed by a cloudy night that will keep the warmth in but won’t rain. Yeah, I’m getting specific, but why not? Doesn’t hurt to dream.

Comment #8: Caren-Sun-blocking Creator of Animorphic Pancakes on 10/24 at 08:13 PM

Just voted this afternoon! No line at all, quick and easy. I like our voting machines. Once you’ve made all your selections, you see a screen recap of your vote AND there’s a printout that you see as well. Once you press the “cast ballot” button, the print-out scrolls up to provide a nice paper trail in case there’s any funny business.

I am such a geek about voting. The simple act makes me extra happy, and I love walking around with an “I voted” sticker the rest of the day.

Comment #9: Phoebe Fay on 10/24 at 08:14 PM

You know, I’m going to miss this election cycle. Barack & Michelle Obama email me. Sure, they ask for money, but I’m gonna miss the “Dear Caren” and “Barack” sig line. I like pretending we’re really on a first name basis.

Comment #10: Caren-Sun-blocking Creator of Animorphic Pancakes on 10/24 at 08:14 PM

Voted absentee. Mailed off the ballot (to GA) yesterday. Don’t know if there’s really a chance but if I can in some small way help swing Georgia blue, so be it! Next election in Oregon!

Comment #11: Keith on 10/24 at 08:14 PM

Some jerk in the paper today wrote that it’s irresponsible to vote early b/c all the info isn’t in.

Well, I do think it was irresponsible for some early voting to start before the debates were over.

Comment #12: keshmeshi on 10/24 at 08:18 PM

Early voting starting before the debates were over isn’t irresponsible. Early voting ENDING before the debates were over would be irresponsible.

Like I said elsewhere, I was not voting for McCain and that was a given long before the debates. There are plenty of folks out there who would never vote for a black man even if Jesus told them to.

Better for us to get out of the way early and free up the machines for those who need more time.

Comment #13: Caren-Sun-blocking Creator of Animorphic Pancakes on 10/24 at 08:24 PM

Voting early in Chicago could not have been easier. It took me about 8 minutes from beginning to end and that included all the judgeships.

Get off the Blue Line at Washington, turn left into the walkway underneath the Daley Center and turn to your right. You’ll see the “Early Voting” signs. The people who worked at the polling place were really nice, too.

And everybody really seemed happy about something…

Comment #14: PopeRatzo on 10/24 at 08:50 PM

Have you considered looking into the Texas (and maybe just the Austin-area) green party?

I know back in Arkansas their down-ticket candidates were pretty reasonable liberals in my area.

Comment #15: Ferox on 10/24 at 08:51 PM

According to the AP. J. Sidney III is skipping his election night party:

Instead of appearing before a throng of supporters at the Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix on the evening of Nov. 4, the Republican presidential nominee plans to deliver post-election remarks to a small group of reporters and guests on the hotel’s lawn.

There’ll be room in Grant Park, J. Sid! If you get there early!

Hey PopeRatzo. Is the early voting at the Daley Center for everyone? Cause I just went to Budlong Woods library, which was my CD early voting spot. At any rate, I agree that the election judges were better than usual.

Comment #16: Caren-Sun-blocking Creator of Animorphic Pancakes on 10/24 at 09:03 PM

So: Obama victory party, or Celine Dion. Such a difficult choice.

Here in TN, there are only three or four early voting locations in town, so the one at the mall has had a 30min line every time I’ve been by. Yesterday, we finally figured, hey, why not? and waited it out.

The line was entirely white people, and my girlfriend and I were the youngest people there by a good 20 years.

So yeah. Tuke for Senate! (yeah, he’s like, this guy, who has a website…)

Comment #17: Indy on 10/24 at 09:33 PM

Seriously, Caren? They think that after a ridiculously long election cycle, all the information isn’t in? What do they think is going to happen!...
oregonienne on 10/24 at 06:58 PM

Well as far as the Presidential race goes, the suggestion we “need more time” is indeed either silly or ominous.

But in 24 years of voting, I have never felt that all the information is in on election day; this is why even though I had permanent absentee ballot status in California ever since 1994, I never turned in my ballot until election day. The downticket stuff matters too after all.

I never had any trouble deciding on partisan offices; the Republicans have unambiguously established themselves as worse than any Democrat in my lifetime anyway. The tricky bit is “nonpartisan” offices and propositions.

The latter at least are texts and if all else fails one can attempt to read them. In California I got a pamphlet some weeks before the election containing the propositions, summaries, fiscal analyses, and most valuable of all, arguments pro and con and rebuttals to same. By reading these I could generally decide whether the props were good or bad—this is tricky because there have been quite a few stealth/dirty trick props, often enacted to compete with a good one when such gets on the ballot. If still confused, I could at least read the pro/con arguments and determine who supported or opposed a piece, and vote for the side I favored.

And of course I would devour any media or other campaign information I felt I could trust; this boiled down to the free weekly independent papers and word-of-mouth at partisan HQs. But my point is, one can’t always get that information.

Where I have always felt at sea is in judicial elections, because I just about never hear anything about the merits of judges. When I’ve asked point-blank at Democratic HQs they say “hey, we can’t give advice about that!” Yet I know that the Republicans have been running a ruthlessly partisan campaign to pack the courts with their ideolouges since before I could even vote, so it is very frustrating.

Here Nevada I am new in town (since March) and in territory (Washoe County, the Reno area) infamously Republican, so I have little idea who to trust. We got our sample ballots in the mail one day before early voting began. I read the props (known as “Questions” for some reason or other here) and discovered that whereas the pro/con arguments in California are pretty free-form and followed by names of the groups who write and endorse these documents, which gave me good clues, the Nevada version is much more stilted and boiler plate; I pretty much had to rely on my sense of the “questions” themselves. I hope I didn’t screw up.

But vote early I did, much earlier than I am comfortable with, because on the offices I have some clue on, there is no point in procrastinating. But it meant I left all the judicial and other nonpartisan offices blank, not knowing who was who and figuring that it was better to withhold the mandate than take a 50/50 shot at endorsing an agent of the wingnut machine.

I wish there were some way to cast a partial ballot as soon as possible on the clear races, and have until the last minute to get as much info as possible on the tricky and obscure ones.

At any rate it feels good that my vote, such as it is, is in the bag. For what that’s worth in a Republican-controlled state with Sequoyah machines allegedly recording them.

Comment #18: Mark Foxwell on 10/24 at 09:41 PM

Oh, Mark, the thing I miss most about California is voting. I started voting there, and just assumed that the small phonebook-sized document that arrived in the mail telling me what all the Propositions were, who was running for office, etc. was the norm.

In California, the person who doesn’t get their info in on time and doesn’t have a picture by her/his name gets the fewest votes.

In Chicago, the person who is listed last on the ballot gets the fewest votes. Having an Irish last name is *very* helpful—to the point that some candidates change their names legally and others campaign with a ‘nickname’ that belies their true identity.

We have several organizations that will tell you whether or not they feel a judge is qualified, but I did kinda just decide to vote randomly, so I wasn’t prepared. I just voted “no” to all of them. They’ll all be retained, they always are, but I felt the rebel fighting the system. You should check and see if the ABA or any other legal organization does recommendations for you.

I also voted for the Green candidate for Representative. I hate Rahm Emmanuel. He sucks. Big time. Even if he does give out decent Halloween candy to my kids.

And he didn’t support my boy, B-Rock, unlike every other politician in the state.

I know he’ll be re-elected, too, but next time I’m going to work hard during the primary next time to get a real progressive in there to represent me.

Comment #19: Caren-Sun-blocking Creator of Animorphic Pancakes on 10/24 at 10:11 PM

2 early Nevada votes for Obama / Biden today.

Comment #20: teac on 10/24 at 11:09 PM

I also voted for the Green candidate for Representative. I hate Rahm Emmanuel. He sucks. Big time. Even if he does give out decent Halloween candy to my kids.

I’m voting for the Green too. He hasn’t got a chance but what the hell. I’m not against Emanuel, but I want to help the Greens, maybe get them to that magic 5%.

Comment #21: atheist on 10/24 at 11:13 PM

California voter here. I pour over the sample ballot tome, and then I hit the pro and con websites listed under the short summaries. If they don’t have a website, No Vote For Them! This *is* the 21st century after all. If they aren’t savvy enough to have a website, why should I vote for them?

For those whose contests have a pro and con site, it’s usually easy to tell who the real progressives and conservatives are by their rhetoric or who’s the sponsor. I lean pretty heavily on the League of Women Voters recommendations as my main progressive advice, but other than that, I go by what I take to be the most progressive/liberal/populist position.

My hubby and I are both progressives, but we split our registration during the second Reagan term, I think, and he’s registered Republican and I’m Democrat (I have this weathered registration card in my pocketbook dated 1984… we haven’t moved since then).

But here’s the rub… where our races are the same I decide who I’m voting for and he just cribs off me…. he hates doing the research. In a partisan election, I’m still doing the research, but I just pick for him the least offensive (ie, most moderate/centrist/sane?) Republican and he votes that. You get these guys who tell their wives how to vote, well, my guy asks me how he should vote, lol.

Comment #22: KMac on 10/25 at 12:09 AM

Amy and I did the early voting thing here in Florida on the first day for it—I’ve been waiting four years to cast that vote, so waiting four hours in line wasn’t a big deal for me. I did it in part because I felt that if there was a problem, I wanted to have as much time as possible to get it worked out before election day. Fortunately, there wasn’t any problem.

Comment #23: Incertus, Nacho Daddy on 10/25 at 12:47 AM

I also voted for the Green candidate for Representative.

I did likewise, over my own unindicted coconspirator Jerry Costello.

Oddly enough, the Green guy had a little name recognition as a result of Ye Olde Yarde Sign. I didn’t even know who was on the GOP line until I got into the booth.

Gee, I wonder who’s gonna win.

Comment #24: Dr. Squid on 10/25 at 01:11 AM

I also early voted in Chicago and it was effortless! I second the comment about there being a very positive feeling among the crowd. I tried voting last Saturday but the line was all through the library. Then I learned you could go to any site in the city so long as you were registered and had your ID. Went down the street from work and was back in the office in a snap.

After this election (and the 2000 & 2004 debacles) I hope we turn more energy into franchising voters and creating good voting mechanisms such as mail in voting and voting over the weekend.

Comment #25: John on 10/25 at 12:33 PM

Ferox, if a Democrat isn’t running, there sure as hell isn’t a Green candidate running.

Comment #26: Amanda Marcotte on 10/25 at 03:43 PM

I live in south Harris County, TX (Houston) and I have gone by the library 3 times now to try to vote but the lines are huge. I absolutely have to vote early. I am going to be out of state on the 4th. I wold love to vote Green in some of the down races, but I did not see a single one on my sample ballot.

And in exciting news, the Houston Chronicle front page today was that Obama was leading in the polls in Harris County, If Harris goes blue, it will be the first time since LBJ. Of course that will do nothing to keep the rest of the state from going to McCain.