Reasons for Early Voting and Absentee Voting

Now that we are clearly into early voting season, it's now a good time to bring up a controversial topic. Why is early voting truly even a thing for the most part?

I will start by saying that as a Republican I do believe that Donald Trump lost the 2020 Election, so let's just get that out of the way. I also do believe that Early Voting, no matter how many safeguards you take, by its nature makes it easier to manipulate an election.

I know a lot of you here have probably already voted early in Florida since we are now on Day 4 of early voting. Honestly, to me it comes off as a little lazy. That you can't sacrifice a little and vote on Election Day and are worried more about convenience than your civic duty to vote.

I still think voting should be on Election Day only. Now before some of you scream about convenience and working, I have always thought Election Day should be a Federal/National Holiday. The fact that we have Federal/National Holidays for days like President's Day, June 19th (Juneteenth) and Labor Day, but not for Election Day, has always dumbfounded me.

My proposal would be simple. Make Election Day a National Holiday. All non-essential businesses are forced to close (with pay just like other National Holidays) with the only exceptions being essential businesses, including hospitals, urgent care locations, grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations. Besides those essential businesses, obviously government services including police, fire, EMS and the Supervisor of Elections offices would have to still work that day. All other businesses and government services would be closed.

For those essential businesses and government services, provide them a 2 week period prior to the election where they can vote early at the Supervisor of Elections office. Proof would need to be shown (which would be established well in advance) of what would need to be brought to establish they work in an essential field and need to vote early. Require these essential businesses and services to give the employee 2 hours on the clock to vote.

Going on to absentee ballots, the only individuals who would be eligible for absentee ballots would be those in the military, senior citizens 65 and up, any citizen who is physically unable to go to a polling location (would need to submit proof online to the Supervisor of Elections in advance in their county), college students unable to return to their home county/state (would need to show proof of residence out of the county and class schedule to Supervisor of Elections office) and any citizen who is on required travel on behalf of their Company and the travel can not be reschedule (would also need to submit proof of the travel and a note from your Company advising the travel can not be rescheduled to the Supervisor of Elections office). No exception for personal travel, plan your leisure travel accordingly. I don't think it's much to ask that citizens be in their home voting locations on Election Day.

I would remove any polling locations from college campus, including UF. And before you cry foul remember this, as university students they are not full time residents of that area and therefore should not have any say on the local issues in that area. Unless they establish permanent residency in that county (and are not living in dorms, frat/sorority housing or any other university provided/sponsored housing), they are still residents of the county of their parents. So either vote absentee or return to their home county on Election Day. Take UF for example. If a UF student is from Ft. Lauderdale, then they have the right to vote in Broward County elections, not Alachua County elections. They can vote absentee or return to Broward County on Election Day to vote.

I would also institute mandatory signature verifications for absentee ballots and require the absentee ballots to include their ID number from their Voter ID, State Driver's License or State ID Card. The signature and ID number would have to be matched to the Voter ID, State Driver's License or State ID Card before it is officially counted. All absentee ballots would have to be mailed out officially by the Friday before Election Day to allow for absentee ballots to mostly be counted on Election Day and prevent Election Day results.

For early voting, a Voter ID, State Driver's License or State ID Card would be required. For early voting, documentation from your employee or the local/county government stating you are in an essential position and can not vote on Election Day would be required.

All of these are reasonable accommodations, but most voting needs to go back to being done on Election Day. I think it allows for more civic pride and it reduces any chance of election interference or meddling on either side.

 

And before any of you all say I'm not caring or don't understand, I work Monday through Friday. I originally had a tripped planned where I would have come back on Election Day. I am cutting that trip short a day to come back on Monday. And yes while it's a sacrifice, I'll get up early before work to vote on Election Day. It's really not that hard.

 

I do think it makes your vote a little more authentic and makes it mean a little bit more to you as a person. But that's just me. Obviously the vote counts the same whether it's early or on Election Day.

You make it sound like voting on Election Day is somehow difficult. Somehow inconvenient? Why is voting on Election Day difficult and inconvenient? Why are you so against voting on Election Day?

I don't find voting on Election Day difficult or inconvenient at all. What's ironic is that, in many areas, up to 60% or 70% of people will vote early this election.

The people who vote early, who vote early out of convenience, are probably going to experience more lines than those who vote on Election Day. That's the irony. I'll get in and out of my precinct on Election Day far quicker than in some of these early voting locations.

 

Well don't just talk in platitudes. Provide some of these reasons that make Election Day voting just so poison to so many, especially on the left. Give me specific reasons.

 

Hence why I said make Election Day a paid National Holiday with most businesses other than absolute essential businesses closed. Take the work equation out of it.

My parents lived in a not so small city and never once had to wait 3+ hours on Election Day. Your complaint is valid but has more to do with not allocating enough voting booth and voting machines and not having enough polling locations to handle the demand.

But again, if we were able to do it up until about 20 years ago, why not now? My parents are both in their upper 70s and have never voted any day besides Election Day except for the one election cycle that my dad was in the Air Force due to Vietnam. They had the same responsibilities that anyone here has had. If they can make it work then you can as well.

I'm not saying people should have to wait 3+ hours in line to vote. But that is a logistical challenge that can be solved.

 

I didn't ask for justification. I'm just interested in knowing the various reasons on here for people to vote early and not on Election Day. What is it for you that makes voting on Election Day inconvenient enough that you feel you need to vote early?