Vote By Mail

[Bobbieo]

For the last five years all of Oregon's elections have been conducted entirely by mail. In the 2004 general election, Oregon had the nation's third highest turn out - 70% - trailing only Minnesota and Wisconsin, both of which have Election Day registration.

In addition to increasing turnout, Vote by Mail has enthusiastic support from elections officials and voters alike and has reduced the cost of elections in Oregon to 30% of what it costs to run elections at the polling place. The trend is growing. Counties in California and Colorado are considering adopting Vote by Mail programs and Arizona may have the issue on the ballot in the 2006 general election.

This was just e-mailed to me for my blog - http://nativeunity.blogspot.com

[proud patriot]

1. sounds good to me

:thumbsup:

[helderheid]

2. someone from the Salt Lake County Clerk's office approached me to do a

ballot initiative to move Utah to a vote by mail state.

[skipos]

3. I didn't know that. That sounds GREAT. nt

[Caoimhe]

4. I live in Oregon and love the Vote By Mail

I have to admit I wasn't too keen on it when it first started, as a new voter I felt a real civic pride in going to the voting booth. But after several years now I appreciate the lead time of about 2 weeks to study the voter's guide and fill out the ballot! It's cheaper, and since so many folks were voting absentee anyway, it makes more sense!

[SeattleGirl]

5. My family lives in Oregon, and they love the vote by mail system

I have voted absentee for the past few years, and also love it, because I have more time to study the issues, and the candidates. I think King County is going to go to all mail-in voting.

[Bobbieo]

6. Dog Gone It!

The new blog hasn't set yet for Native Unity. Sometimes it takes hours before it to shows up.

[flamingyouth]

7. My county is going to all-mail voting soon

Next year, I think. I've been voting absentee for a few years now.

[FightingIrish]

8. I live in Oregon and I believe it leads to smarter voting.

You can take the time to look at every candidate and every issue. We sit around and discuss our votes as a family. I have a lot more confidence in a sealed envelope that I can choose to mail or drop in a ballot box than I do in machines that could be doing anything with my vote.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

10. I agree. I'm definitely a smarter voter now

I have no excuse not to sit down at the computer with my ballot and look at every issue before making a decision.

:)

AND it's an actual paper ballot that can be hand counted if necessary.

[DELUSIONAL]

9. Many WA state Counties have vote by mail only

We've voted by mail for years.

Washington State often has complex ballots with several Initiatives -- some of which take research to vote correctly on. It is easier to research individuals for "non partisan" offices and ballot initiatives at home, mark the ballot and just drop it in the mailbox.

Also, it is a paper ballot. The ballots are machine counted -- but are hand counted in close disputed races.