So... What if Election Day can't happen?

[Palmpilot]

No one who had read it or knew what was in it

What makes you think he didn't know what was in it?

 

[Matthew]

****, they still close for election day too?

I still thought they had to stay closed until the polls close at 7pm. I have to stop by in the next day or two anyhow, I'll ask them.

But I've always wondered why, when we do have early voting, they can stay open those days but not on the actual election day.

 

[Everskyward]

Interesting. I agree. Further, we know this is coming. If you want to vote and your state permits it, vote early.

I thought this map was interesting. It seems that early and no-excuse absentee voting is somewhat regional. The west has the right idea!

 

[denverpilot]

Barbarians.

 

[bflynn]

We've tried that since 2008.

And all we really got was an empty chair.

Seriously, there's no Constitional crisis and it isn't within the president's authority to issue an order to delay the election. Elections are conducted and run by each individual state. The answer to the question then is a state issue.

I'm pretty sure those responsible for elections in NJ, PA and NY are scrambling over this too. But ultimately the election will happen whenever it happens. When it does, those who are dedicated to voting will make the effort to get out and vote no matter what the circumstances are and those who aren't as motivated will not vote. Whether it's 72 degrees and clear or 20 below with 3 ft of snow, that fact doesn't change.

 

[Palmpilot]

And all we really got was an empty chair.

That's not true.

Clint Eastwood, however, proved that the only way HE can win a debate is by debating an empty chair!

The election is over a week away though, so it seems unlikely that this storm would interfere with it.

 

[bflynn]

That's not true.

Clint Eastwood, however, proved that the only way HE can win a debate is by debating an empty chair!

It was a funny...don't be so serious...

 

[Palmpilot]

I thought this map was interesting. It seems that early and no-excuse absentee voting is somewhat regional. The west has the right idea!

I didn't even know that my state had early voting, so I grabbed my sample ballot, and what do you know, there it is right on the cover!

 

[Palmpilot]

It was a funny...don't be so serious...

I thought my comment was funny too!

 

[Everskyward]

I didn't even know that my state had early voting, so I grabbed my sample ballot, and what do you know, there it is right on the cover!

You can thank me for that public service announcement.

 

[fgcason]

Well that's certainly a very one-sided assessment.

And still doesn't make a distinction between rock and human. The experiment is not valid in any form until a rock replaces the human for 4 years. Until then it's just disney political babblemouth stuff.

The point is to prove that a president politician is just a sacrificial goat lightning rod with a mouth for everyone to blame, not someone who actually does anything useful or has the ability to do anything useful other than being a lightning rod to take the heat of things not working out.

Nevermind.

 

[Palmpilot]

And still doesn't make a distinction between rock and human. The experiment is not valid in any form until a rock replaces the human for 4 years. Until then it's just disney political babblemouth stuff.

The point is to prove that a president politician is just a sacrificial goat lightning rod with a mouth for everyone to blame, not someone who actually does anything useful or has the ability to do anything useful other than being a lightning rod to take the heat of things not working out.

Nevermind.

I agree that people like to blame presidents for things, but Article II of the Constitution doesn't seem like nothing to me.

 

[RJM62]

I thought this map was interesting. It seems that early and no-excuse absentee voting is somewhat regional. The west has the right idea!

Interestingly, Vermont and Maine are in a restrictive region, yet are quite flexible in their own election policies.

Of course, Vermont and Maine also let prisoners vote (presumably by absentee ballot, unless they either let the prisoners use their prisons as their addresses of record, or the states have a whole lot of buses).

-Rich

 

[Jim Logajan]

How many of those reading this would risk their life to vote?
What if some group promised to bomb polling places and that you had to go to one to vote; would you still do it?

 

[RJM62]

How many of those reading this would risk their life to vote?
What if some group promised to bomb polling places and that you had to go to one to vote; would you still do it?

1. I would. Like many others here, when I was a young man, I signed up to defend that right, among others, at the cost of my own life if need be. To not exercise it would be unthinkable.

2. Yes again. I value that right more than I value my physical safety.

-Rich

 

[Threefingeredjack]

1. I would. Like many others here, when I was a young man, I signed up to defend that right, among others, at the cost of my own life if need be. To not exercise it would be unthinkable.

2. Yes again. I value that right more than I value my physical safety.

-Rich

In the great Robert Heinlein's book Starship Troopers the right to vote was predicated on being a citizen, and citizenship was earned through public service. Both are good ideas IMHO.

 

[TMetzinger]

In the great Robert Heinlein's book Starship Troopers the right to vote was predicated on being a citizen, and citizenship was earned through public service. Both are good ideas IMHO.

I agree. I don't have much hope for the concept in our current system, but if I ever found a nation, that theory is going in the constitution.

I'm sort of mixed on early and absentee voting. I usually have to vote absentee, as an election judge I'm often not in my home precinct, so I go to the county election office and punch in my vote early.

But it shouldn't be that hard to show up on election day.

I'm not in favor of voting by mail - I don't like the opportunities that arise for my vote to not be counted somehow.

I guess that early voting in-person is fine, as long as the burden (cost) is placed on the voter. Make the voter go to the election office (which is staffed anyway) and vote.

Voting by mail can be an option, but should not be required - I think a citizen has a right to vote a secret ballot in person.

 

[Threefingeredjack]

I agree. I don't have much hope for the concept in our current system, but if I ever found a nation, that theory is going in the constitution.

I'm sort of mixed on early and absentee voting. I usually have to vote absentee, as an election judge I'm often not in my home precinct, so I go to the county election office and punch in my vote early.

But it shouldn't be that hard to show up on election day.

I'm not in favor of voting by mail - I don't like the opportunities that arise for my vote to not be counted somehow.

I guess that early voting in-person is fine, as long as the burden (cost) is placed on the voter. Make the voter go to the election office (which is staffed anyway) and vote.

Voting by mail can be an option, but should not be required - I think a citizen has a right to vote a secret ballot in person.

The system here in Oregon is pretty secure IMHO. You complete your ballot and put it in a unmarked inner envelope, which goes into the mailing envelope which has a signature blank on the reverse side. It goes to the county office where the signature is compared by one worker and if it matches the envelope is opened and the blank inner one goes to another department for opening and counting. It saves a lot of driving in my neck of the woods.

 

[roncachamp]

Yeah, I think the Pres would have to delay the election nationwide by emergency order. It would be expensive bet not tragic.

But momentum is with Romney, delaying the election works against Obama.

 

[TMetzinger]

The system here in Oregon is pretty secure IMHO. You complete your ballot and put it in a unmarked inner envelope, which goes into the mailing envelope which has a signature blank on the reverse side. It goes to the county office where the signature is compared by one worker and if it matches the envelope is opened and the blank inner one goes to another department for opening and counting. It saves a lot of driving in my neck of the woods.

Interesting - didn't know exactly how it works. Still no protection against loss or destruction in transit though. What is your signature compared against? Is it just checked to see if there are signs of tampering?

But if you CHOOSE to vote through the mail, that's ok - your vote, your choice. Not having the option to say "no I want to go to the election board and vote in person" would bother me a little.

 

[Florida Cracker]

You're absolutely right, of course. Regardless of political affiliation, there is no doubt that the current president has made many important decisions and taken clear action over the past four years. Had he not, the economy would be fully recovered by now, unemployment and gas prices would be lower than when he took office, and we wouldn't have lost critical allies in the Middle East (not to mention the loss of a US Ambassador). Too bad we didn't have the literal rock instead.


JKG

+1000

 

[Palmpilot]

+1000

Only one vote per person!

 

[JB1842]

In the great Robert Heinlein's book Starship Troopers the right to vote was predicated on being a citizen, and citizenship was earned through public service. Both are good ideas IMHO.

We should add that requirement to run for public office.

 

[LandSickness]

You're absolutely right, of course. Regardless of political affiliation, there is no doubt that the current president has made many important decisions and taken clear action over the past four years. Had he not, the economy would be fully recovered by now, unemployment and gas prices would be lower than when he took office, and we wouldn't have lost critical allies in the Middle East (not to mention the loss of a US Ambassador). Too bad we didn't have the literal rock instead.


JKG

Yeah, sure, and if you really dig, you can probably find hidden video of the President creating this frankenstorm in a lab...

 

[denverpilot]

The system here in Oregon is pretty secure IMHO. You complete your ballot and put it in a unmarked inner envelope, which goes into the mailing envelope which has a signature blank on the reverse side. It goes to the county office where the signature is compared by one worker and if it matches the envelope is opened and the blank inner one goes to another department for opening and counting. It saves a lot of driving in my neck of the woods.

Interesting - didn't know exactly how it works. Still no protection against loss or destruction in transit though. What is your signature compared against? Is it just checked to see if there are signs of tampering?

But if you CHOOSE to vote through the mail, that's ok - your vote, your choice. Not having the option to say "no I want to go to the election board and vote in person" would bother me a little.

We do the same here for the "permanent mail-in" voters, such as myself. You can still go to the polls on polling day and they'll invalidate your mail-in ballot here, and there's online tracking to see if your mail-in ballot arrived. Signature is checked against your voter registration documentation, which you also signed.

 

[bflynn]

Yeah, sure, and if you really dig, you can probably find hidden video of the President creating this frankenstorm in a lab...

It will never happen.

It was Bush's fault.

 

[JHW]

We should add that requirement to run for public office.

one of my daughters was born with a hole in her heart. And I have a niece missing her right hand. I that makes them ineligible to vote in your book.

 

[roncachamp]

one of my daughters was born with a hole in her heart. And I have a niece missing her right hand. I that makes them ineligible to vote in your book.

Why would those conditions make them ineligible for public service?

 

[JHW]

Why would those conditions make them ineligible for public service?

define public service. I took it to mean military service. if you want to expand that to say "government employees" then I have a real problem with the concept in general.

 

[roncachamp]

define public service. I took it to mean military service. if you want to expand that to say "government employees" then I have a real problem with the concept in general.

I believe Heinlein defined it as voluntary Federal service, not necessarily military service.

 

[JHW]

I believe Heinlein defined it as voluntary Federal service, not necessarily military service.

so basically, some here are advocating that federal employees are to be the only ones allowed to vote while common people working in the private sector do not vote and exist to serve the government employees ?

 

[Rose2012]

But it shouldn't be that hard to show up on election day.

For me, it would require taking several days off work to drive 1000 miles to my polling place. I won't go into anymore details because I know most, especially in the military, disagree with me having the right to vote in a different location. But be that as it may, I can legally do it, and voting absentee is the only option for me. That goes doubly for Americans living overseas.

ETA: Also, I travel for a living, sometimes on short notice. It's hard to make it to the polling place when your evil capitalist employer makes you travel on election days with one days notice. There are just so many reasons a person would have difficulty voting in person.

 

[Jim Logajan]

so basically, some here are advocating that federal employees are to be the only ones allowed to vote while common people working in the private sector do not vote and exist to serve the government employees ?

The vets in Heinlein's story were volunteers, not really employees. I think the first few paragraph's of this person's essay on Heinlein's concept may clear things up (or not): http://www.nitrosyncretic.com/rah/ftp/fedrlsvc.pdf

Heinlein was a fiction writer. As that essay points out, Heinlein did suggest alternative ideas in his book "Expanded Universe."

I think everyone should be able to vote - but not everyone should be able to be a public servant (or public master, as the case appears to be today.) On the other hand, I believe Chinese and Egyptian history may suggest that sometimes a mechanism that is designed to insure a minimum level of technocratic competence can result in hundreds or even thousands of years of state statism.

 

[JB1842]

one of my daughters was born with a hole in her heart. And I have a niece missing her right hand. I that makes them ineligible to vote in your book.

As long as they do some type of service for the greater good of society then that should suffice. To be in a position to order Americans to fight and lose their lives in war, then those who issue those orders should have served in the military.

 

[Florida Cracker]

How many of those reading this would risk their life to vote?
What if some group promised to bomb polling places and that you had to go to one to vote; would you still do it?

I'd go vote AND stand guard while others voted. I didn't volunteer for military service to see human garbage like the New Black Panthers, or some whack-o muslims, threaten the voting rights of an entire country.

 

[Rose2012]

As long as they do some type of service for the greater good of society then that should suffice. To be in a position to order Americans to fight and lose their lives in war, then those who issue those orders should have served in the military.

You do realize that people working in the public sector many times work for the greater good of society, right? In fact, I'd even suggest that many times they work for the greater good more than public servants do.

 

[JB1842]

I'd go vote AND stand guard while others voted. I didn't volunteer for military service to see human garbage like the New Black Panthers, or some whack-o muslims, threaten the voting rights of an entire country.

 

[JB1842]

You do realize that people working in the public sector many times work for the greater good of society, right? In fact, I'd even suggest that many times they work for the greater good more than public servants do.

I'm a veteran and a cop, I think we are just going to disagree about this.

 

[Rose2012]

I'm a veteran and a cop, I think we are just going to disagree about this.

That's too bad, since this disagreement usually results in an entire group of people looking down on another entire group of people. But what do I know...I do know I'm going to bail out of this before I end up giving up on people completely.

 

[alaskaflyer]

You do realize that people working in the public sector many times work for the greater good of society, right? In fact, I'd even suggest that many times they work for the greater good more than public servants do.

? Are you arguing with yourself here?