How many Presidential elections did you vote in?

[soupandstew]

Aug 8, 2024 15:12:37 GMT -5 Opti said:

Aug 8, 2024 15:07:58 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Which red state do you live in?  

I believe TX and

SPOILER: Click to show

Houston or Houston area if I remember correctly

Yes, I live in Houston which is a blue city and county within a deep red state.  

[billisonboard]

Aug 8, 2024 16:51:28 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

Aug 8, 2024 15:16:34 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

So what is the more exact problem? If ballot is not received one can go as far as personally pick one up, mark it immediately, and place it in an on-site drop box. Concerned about the return, again drop boxes. Drop boxes are no more inconvenient than in-person voting with the added advantage of not time dependent.

The first problem is that Texas does not allow one to "personally pick one up, mark it immediately, and place it in an on-site drop box".  You can either request a mail-in ballot (should be done some weeks in advance to assure USPS delivery and return) or vote in-person.  The in-person option requires one to go to an electronic station, insert the provided paper, mark one's selection electronically, take the paper to another location in the room and insert it in a printer, and wait until it's accepted and processed.  Drop boxes in Texas are extremely limited in number and hours of operation.  During the last cycle, it was more of a "hand-off" box where you had to show ID and physically hand it to a person.  And most of the locations required freeway driving which I can't safely do.  I don't know where you live, but our Texas rules are obviously quite different.  At one time, we were allowed to do drive-by drop off, but that was banned shortly after.  

Noted the problems with your current voting system. You indicated problems with mail service that would interfere with 100% mail in elections. A whole system geared for that helps eliminate some of the difficulty with absentee ballots.

[tallguy]

Aug 8, 2024 16:51:28 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

Aug 8, 2024 15:16:34 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

So what is the more exact problem? If ballot is not received one can go as far as personally pick one up, mark it immediately, and place it in an on-site drop box. Concerned about the return, again drop boxes. Drop boxes are no more inconvenient than in-person voting with the added advantage of not time dependent.

The first problem is that Texas does not allow one to "personally pick one up, mark it immediately, and place it in an on-site drop box".  You can either request a mail-in ballot (should be done some weeks in advance to assure USPS delivery and return) or vote in-person.  The in-person option requires one to go to an electronic station, insert the provided paper, mark one's selection electronically, take the paper to another location in the room and insert it in a printer, and wait until it's accepted and processed.  Drop boxes in Texas are extremely limited in number and hours of operation.  During the last cycle, it was more of a "hand-off" box where you had to show ID and physically hand it to a person.  And most of the locations required freeway driving which I can't safely do.  I don't know where you live, but our Texas rules are obviously quite different.  At one time, we were allowed to do drive-by drop off, but that was banned shortly after.  

Bill and I are both in Washington, which is mail voting only for all elections.  We have many secure drop boxes for those who want to do it that way and either make sure their ballot gets in or save the tax money on postage.  It is easier, more convenient, and a LOT cheaper.  The state even pays the postage, because like most liberal states, we WANT everyone to vote.  NOBODY wants to make it more difficult for ANYONE to cast their ballot.  Well, except the Republican Party, but they're not in charge.

[soupandstew]

Aug 8, 2024 17:03:47 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Aug 8, 2024 16:51:28 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

The first problem is that Texas does not allow one to "personally pick one up, mark it immediately, and place it in an on-site drop box".  You can either request a mail-in ballot (should be done some weeks in advance to assure USPS delivery and return) or vote in-person.  The in-person option requires one to go to an electronic station, insert the provided paper, mark one's selection electronically, take the paper to another location in the room and insert it in a printer, and wait until it's accepted and processed.  Drop boxes in Texas are extremely limited in number and hours of operation.  During the last cycle, it was more of a "hand-off" box where you had to show ID and physically hand it to a person.  And most of the locations required freeway driving which I can't safely do.  I don't know where you live, but our Texas rules are obviously quite different.  At one time, we were allowed to do drive-by drop off, but that was banned shortly after.  

Noted the problems with your current voting system. You indicated problems with mail service that would interfere with 100% mail in elections. A whole system geared for that helps eliminate some of the difficulty with absentee ballots.

You are right but I don't feel our state leaders are actually trying to create a user friendly, participation-encouraging model for voting.  I see a fair amount of social media chatter calling for restriction of voting access for seniors after a certain age or some sort of competency requirement. Because, you know, old gals like me aren't capable of understanding issues and evaluating candidates.  

[Opti]

Aug 8, 2024 16:52:42 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

Aug 8, 2024 15:12:37 GMT -5 Opti said:

I believe TX and

SPOILER: Click to show

Houston or Houston area if I remember correctly

Yes, I live in Houston which is a blue city and county within a deep red state.  

Hope I did not overstep soupandstew which is why I put Houston in the spoiler.

[tallguy]

Aug 8, 2024 17:18:54 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

Aug 8, 2024 17:03:47 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Noted the problems with your current voting system. You indicated problems with mail service that would interfere with 100% mail in elections. A whole system geared for that helps eliminate some of the difficulty with absentee ballots.

You are right but I don't feel our state leaders are actually trying to create a user friendly, participation-encouraging model for voting.  I see a fair amount of social media chatter calling for restriction of voting access for seniors after a certain age or some sort of competency requirement. Because, you know, old gals like me aren't capable of understanding issues and evaluating candidates.  

That's what you get when the Republican Party IS in charge.  Anyone who is not like them gets targeted.

[soupandstew]

Aug 8, 2024 17:22:30 GMT -5 Opti said:

Aug 8, 2024 16:52:42 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

Hope I did not overstep soupandstew which is why I put Houston in the spoiler.

No problem, I am a very proud Houstonian since 1991.  We are a crazy place for sure, but there's nothing else like it.  It's the first place I've ever felt at home because everyone who can survive is welcome.  We pride ourselves on facing and overcoming adversity including that experienced by many of the immigrants we welcome.  Houston is not for the faint of heart, but it richly rewards those who tough it out.  

[djAdvocate]

10. registered Democrat for first handful, registered Republican until November of 2016, unaffiliated since then, but i will vote straight Democrat until the GOP gets TRULY rid of Trump and Trumpism. after that i will CONSIDER Republicans again. but not before.

[Cookies Galore]

I've voted in six presidential elections since I turned 18 in 1999. I initially registered as an independent and reregistered as a Democrat by 2001 so I could vote in primaries. I've been in SEPA my whole life and my county was Republican until the 2011 election when the county commissioners election flipped to blue (thanks, Josh Shapiro!). Now we're hella navy blue here. I'm a committee person and work outside my polling place every primary and general election day. I'm also an elected member of my town council. The local Republicans pretty much gave up after they were swept in the 2017 municipal elections and I've never faced an opponent in my elections, which is sad.

The Pennsylvania legislature passed no excuse mail voting in 2019 (Republican House and Senate at the time). They got rid of the straight party option as a compromise to allow voting by mail. Of course in 2020 Republicans were up in arms about the law their own party passed. 🙄

[Opti]

Since I have lived in multiple counties in NJ, once I did haul myself to the county judge to get approved to vote. The processing of my change in address and voter registration was not going to go through in time. There were a bunch of us, and expect for feeding the meter downtown, it wasn't that bad.

I was funded then and did not live in or next to that county seat. Hmmm, another thing to think about when I put in more affordable housing applications.

[NastyWoman]

Zero, but come November I will put my head on a swivel to ensure I don't end up on one of those buses where they take "illegals" to vote to ensure Fopa does not win in CA.  I live in the midnight/navy blue Bay Area 

[phil5185]

16, first one in 1960, JFK.
All others since then, all repubs.

[kadee79]

As near as I can figure, I've voted in 13 elections...that would include 3 elections where the incumbent won..Reagan, Bush II & Obama.
I've voted in Ca., Ill., Fl. and now in Ga.!
We are not required to register by party in Ga. now...thank goodness...or we would likely have had some property damage by now.  Since I request the GOP ballot for primary elections...so I have a choice in who might be elected locally...no Democrats run for local positions in recent years.  All the folks around here ASS U ME we are GOPers due to that...WRONG!

[djAdvocate]

GA has been the most politically interesting state for decades now, KD. how long have you been there?

[kadee79]

Aug 14, 2024 0:35:06 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

GA has been the most politically interesting state for decades now, KD. how long have you been there?

We arrived here in March of 1985!  It was a major culture shock too.  
Thank goodness one of the biggest black boys in school took a liking to my son and stood up for him against several others.  They all wanted to pick on the 'Yankee' boy.
We were definitely shocked the day he was sent home from school when the temps dropped into the lower 30's.  The school had no heat!

[billisonboard]

From CNN commentary on the convention speakers:

9:23 PM EDT

Zachary B. Wolf

On TV, Scott Jennings made the point that Bill Clinton may not be the figure he once was in Democratic politics. People voting for the first -- or even the second -- time this year were not alive during his presidency.

Makes me feel a little old.

[Tennesseer]

Aug 21, 2024 22:13:01 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

From CNN commentary on the convention speakers:

9:23 PM EDT

Zachary B. Wolf

On TV, Scott Jennings made the point that Bill Clinton may not be the figure he once was in Democratic politics. People voting for the first -- or even the second -- time this year were not alive during his presidency.

Makes me feel a little old.

I wonder what Jennings would have said if Jimmy Carter was to make an appearance at the convention. That those voting for the first time's parents were not born yet?

[thyme4change]

Aug 21, 2024 22:13:01 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

From CNN commentary on the convention speakers:

9:23 PM EDT

Zachary B. Wolf

On TV, Scott Jennings made the point that Bill Clinton may not be the figure he once was in Democratic politics. People voting for the first -- or even the second -- time this year were not alive during his presidency.

Makes me feel a little old.

There were oodles of speakers - and they appealed to a variety of people. So what if one group didn’t get excited about one guy. We all know that Bill is an old man now. Obama is our rock star, and so is her husband.

[NastyWoman]

Aug 23, 2024 15:16:23 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Aug 21, 2024 22:13:01 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

From CNN commentary on the convention speakers:

9:23 PM EDT

Zachary B. Wolf

On TV, Scott Jennings made the point that Bill Clinton may not be the figure he once was in Democratic politics. People voting for the first -- or even the second -- time this year were not alive during his presidency.

Makes me feel a little old.

There were oodles of speakers - and they appealed to a variety of people. So what if one group didn’t get excited about one guy. We all know that Bill is an old man now. Obama is our rock star, and so is her husband.

Even Bill knows and acknowledge this fact. But he made sure everyone knows that he is still not as old as FOPA