POL - Were you asked for ID at your polling station?

[Jonathan Ezarik]

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

See: Chicago. For years (still?) they had people voting in place of people that were deceased.

Are you saying that the dead don't have a right to representation? If they died for this country or had their estates taxed after their deaths, then by God, they should still have the right to vote!

[cougarfreak]

That's shocking to me. Here in little ole Kentucky, I've always had to show ID.

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by cartman

There's a big difference. The electronic fraud has proven to be almost untraceable in many instances. So hard proof is pretty hard to get. With the other forms, there is a paper trail to be followed. There is a signature that is left behind that could be traced.

"could be traced" and are ever traced is a big difference...

And, I don't sign anything when I vote fwiw. So, if I wasn't ID'd, there'd be NO trail for me whatsoever.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by wade moore

but it seems that if they can't afford to go get a photo ID, they can't afford to go vote (I know, the [insert party here]'s bus them - so, have a big busing to go get ID's then).

That was proposed as part of the solution in Georgia, was rejected out of hand by the opponents of the measure. So was making the ID's free for those unable to pay. No dice.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by cougarfreak

That's shocking to me. Here in little ole Kentucky, I've always had to show ID.

You have fewer electoral votes

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

That was proposed as part of the solution in Georgia, was rejected out of hand by the opponents of the measure. So was making the ID's free for those unable to pay. No dice.

I'm sure I'm not saying anything you haven't thought yourself, but - that screams of attempts to maintain fraud imo...

*sigh*.. this seems like such a no-brainer to me.

[JPhillips]

Here's some info on Oregon's vote by mail. Any folks from Oregon want to give their thoughts?

Oregon's Vote by Mail system is simple and straightforward. Ballots are mailed 14 to 18 days before an election to the registered address of the voter; the voter has two weeks to return the ballot through the mail or by dropping it off at official drop-off sites. The voter must sign the outside of the envelope (the ballot is sealed in a separate envelope inside) and that signature is checked against the signature on file with the elections division.

Voter participation: It increases turnout -- 84 percent of registered Oregonians voted this year.

Convenience: People can vote according to their schedule.

Education: People have time to study issues and candidates before voting.

Fraud protection: It has built-in safeguards that increase the integrity of the elections process.

Built-in paper trail.

Voter eligibility: Built-in time to resolve disputes.

Actual results are released when polls close as opposed to unreliable "exit polls."

Financial: It saves money.

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by cartman

There's a big difference. The electronic fraud has proven to be almost untraceable in many instances. So hard proof is pretty hard to get. With the other forms, there is a paper trail to be followed. There is a signature that is left behind that could be traced.

You're now beyond my non-political-self's ability to participate in this argument. I find it unlikely that a signature is that verifiable. I presume you could check the previous year(s) of voting and compare. If it's not the same, throw it out. Outside of that, I don't see how having a trail of fraudulent ballots is any better than a non-trail of hacked electronic data. I really know nothing about the topic, though.

[wade moore]

The fraud protection is the thing I'm most curious about...

This seems pretty expoloitable on the surface to me, but I imagine they have to have some protection in place.

The whole the "signature is checked" thing... That's what I'm curious about.. how exactly is it checked? Is every single one checked? Are there experts checking them?

The other thing I wonder that you mention here JPhillips in general, is what about the groups of people (students, certain single working class, etc) that tend to move a lot - doesn't this take the process out of their hands a bit?

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Ezarik

Are you saying that the dead don't have a right to representation? If they died for this country or had their estates taxed after their deaths, then by God, they should still have the right to vote!

OK, you got me. Does anyone need my grandfather's name that lives near Falls Church?

[Coder]

I never understood why people have to register to vote in the US.. here everyone over the age of 18 automatically gets a "voter card" sent to them by mail about 2 months before the election.

You then take this card to the polling station, bring your ID and once there you're asked to show both when putting your votes in a box. One person checks your card and ID, says it out loud, then another person looks through a list saying "check".

[cartman]

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

I presume you could check the previous year(s) of voting and compare. If it's not the same, throw it out.

That's exactly how it works, at least in most parts of Texas. There's where you sign the register when you vote, there's the signature on your voter registration certificate, and the signature on your voter registration application. Not sure how it is handled in other states

[larrymcg421]

There are a few states (Minnesota and Maine among them) that allow voter registration on the day of the election. I really don't see why this isn't nationwide. This isn't the 19th century. We don't need that much time to get voter lists ready. And this way, if there is ever any discrepancy with someone not being on the voter rolls, they can just then re-register at that point.

As for Voter ID's, I don't have a problem with them under three conditions:

1) Voter ID's are absolutely cost free.

2) All centers where you can get a voter ID have to be within a reasonable distance of everyone in the state.

3) Those that are a certain distance away from their nearest voter ID center are exempt from the voter ID requirement.

[JPhillips]

Here's some more info that I found.

When are ballots mailed?

Ballots are mailed between 20-22 days before election day.

They are mailed bulk and ballots are not forwaded.

What is in the ballot envelope?

Your ballot envelope also contains two envelopes - a return envelope and a secrecy envelope. And of course your ballot.

What do you do with the ballot?

Well vote obviously. But HOW?

Ballots are filled out with a #2 pencil and are the optical scanner variety (like the SAT test - you fill in ovals next to your candidate).

You fill out your ballot and then place it in the secrecy envelope.

You place the secrecy envelope in the return envelope. You sign the back of your return envelope swearing you are who you are.

You then can either mail the ballot in or drop it off at county elections offices or the numerous official drop off sites around the county like libraries, public squares, supermarkets etc.

For those looking for a more traditional voting experience can head to their county elections office where actual ballot booths are still available. The mechanics of the voting system are the same.

You have to have RETURNED your ballot by 8:00 p.m. on election day. Postmarks do not count.

Great you voted, but what happens then?

When your ballot is received at the elections office they first check your signature. All voter registration cards in Oregon are scanned into a statewide voter file. The county elections staff call up each ballot received to check the signature versus the registration card.

How do they know who you are? Next to your signature on the back of the return envelope is your basic info and a barcode so that they can quickly pull up your registration card.

If the signature matches then you are marked as voted in the system and the secrecy envelope containing your ballot is removed and stored in a secure location. The secrecy envelopes are NOT opened until election day.

If the signature does not match then the county elections officials calls you and ask you to come down to the elections office to double check your signature and verify the ballot.

When are the ballots counted?

As I previously stated they are stored in a secure location until election day. On election day they begin counting ballots at 8:00 a.m. This means that many times by the times "polls" close at 8:00 p.m results are almost immediately available.

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by Coder

I never understood why people have to register to vote in the US.. here everyone over the age of 18 automatically gets a "voter card" sent to them by mail about 2 months before the election.

You then take this card to the polling station, bring your ID and once there you're asked to show both when putting your votes in a box. One person checks your card and ID, says it out loud, then another person looks through a list saying "check".

Obviously it's so that the incumbent officials can be sure that the districts are designed to maximize the number of seats held by their party.

Edit: And so that convicted felons can't vote for their elected officials.

[Subby]

Originally Posted by Coder

I never understood why people have to register to vote in the US.. here everyone over the age of 18 automatically gets a "voter card" sent to them by mail about 2 months before the election.

You then take this card to the polling station, bring your ID and once there you're asked to show both when putting your votes in a box. One person checks your card and ID, says it out loud, then another person looks through a list saying "check".

Registering is very easy in this country. And when I say "this country" I mean Virginia.

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by Subby

Registering is very easy in this country. And when I say "this country" I mean Virginia.

I had a government teacher in High School that advocated Virginia Seceding and becoming a monarchy.

I'm just sayin'...

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by Subby

Registering is very easy in this country. And when I say "this country" I mean Virginia.

I was able to register in DC online.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Okay, I'm off to go vote now.

I fully expect to be ID'ed, as I have been for the past several years consistently.

[Subby]

My post had more to do with my limited life experiences than anything else.

Not that Virginia doesn't kick ass...

[st.cronin]

I just went in and signed the roll, but considering that all the poll workers have been over to my house, it would have been weird if they had asked me for ID.

[ISiddiqui]

Yes, they asked for ID

[stevew]

There would have to be some sort of provision in place for the Amish who wish to vote. Since they do not have photo ID.

Which brings up an interesting work related conundrum as well. We're supposed to card anyone who appears to be under 27, and some of these Amish guys look hella young. I sell them their tobacco anyways.

[Joe]

I've never had to show ID to vote. Just tell them your name, and sign the sheet.

[TredWel]

I did not have to show ID, but I did notice that the sign-in book said "ID Required" next to some people's names. Not sure what you have to do to get flagged as ID required. My first guess it that you would have to show ID if you had recently moved into the ward, but I moved to a different ward a couple of years ago, and was not asked to show ID.

[Swaggs]

I voted in Durham, NC. My wife and I were each asked our name and addresses and then asked to sign our names. No ID required.

[Buccaneer]

Yes, we had to show the ID for them to check you off the voter's roll and then I got a paper ballot. I love that we keep things simple in our county.

[Tigercat]

In the suburbs here in Louisiana, we have always asked to show a picture ID or voting reg. card. I show both lately, because I still have an out of state license.

[pennywisesb]

Originally Posted by TredWel

I did not have to show ID, but I did notice that the sign-in book said "ID Required" next to some people's names. Not sure what you have to do to get flagged as ID required. My first guess it that you would have to show ID if you had recently moved into the ward, but I moved to a different ward a couple of years ago, and was not asked to show ID.

I wasn't ID'd here in California. Also, I think the answer to your question is that when its your first time voting (ie. 18 year olds) you have to show ID. After that, I don't think its required.

[JonInMiddleGA]

As usual, got ID'ed when I went to vote.