Absentee Ballot procedure

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I put this on the Constitution & Law board b/c it seemed to fit there best, but since it can be discussed here too and didn't receive much attention there, I'll put it here.

I don't know how much publicity it got, but the reason I ask this, is that a Judge ordered the city of Detroit not to send out automatically after the '05 fraud with the City Clerk, Jackie Curry (http://www.detnews.com/2005/metro/0510/30/A01-365796.htm).  Some local cities are saying that ruling (made a week ago) applies to them, while others say it doesn't.  So I wanted some input.  Personally, I think they should have to re-apply each year (but the city can send out reminders).

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Option 1. Anyone get can permanent absentee ballots in California. If you miss more than 1 election, you have to re-request it.

[NewFederalist]

As I said on the other thread I believe the voter should have to request an absentee ballot every election cycle. I don't mind the election department sending out reminders weeks in advance to those persons who requested an absentee ballot for reasons of age or disability to make it as easy as possible for them to vote but I cannot fathom why ballots would be automatically mailed. If the voter had died since the last election the potential for fraud is just too great.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

As I said on the other thread I believe the voter should have to request an absentee ballot every election cycle. I don't mind the election department sending out reminders weeks in advance to those persons who requested an absentee ballot for reasons of age or disability to make it as easy as possible for them to vote but I cannot fathom why ballots would be automatically mailed. If the voter had died since the last election the potential for fraud is just too great.

You do have to sign it and either mail it or return it yourself, or give special permission for someone to return it for you. As for voters dying, they could always check the SS death index before mailing out the blank ballot.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

BTW, I've now voted 3 elections in a row permanent absentee ballot.

[Nym90]

Option 1, so long as safeguards are in place to prevent fraud.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Option 1. Anyone get can permanent absentee ballots in California. If you miss more than 1 election, you have to re-request it.

What happens if you die--opens up for fraud--that's what happened in Detroit.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

As I said on the other thread I believe the voter should have to request an absentee ballot every election cycle. I don't mind the election department sending out reminders weeks in advance to those persons who requested an absentee ballot for reasons of age or disability to make it as easy as possible for them to vote but I cannot fathom why ballots would be automatically mailed. If the voter had died since the last election the potential for fraud is just too great.

You do have to sign it and either mail it or return it yourself, or give special permission for someone to return it for you. As for voters dying, they could always check the SS death index before mailing out the blank ballot.

But why would a CORRUPT City clerk do that?  They're the ones cheating--so why try to not cheat as much?

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Option 1, so long as safeguards are in place to prevent fraud.

Like what though?

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

BTW, I've now voted 3 elections in a row permanent absentee ballot.

OK, but you're actually voting--somebody's not voting FOR you b/c you're in a comma/dead.

[Frodo]

Option 2 -it is better than wasting paper sending absentee ballots to someone who has become a corpse, or has moved out. 

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Option 2 -it is better than wasting paper sending absentee ballots to someone who has become a corpse, or has moved out. 

Another valid point--why waste tax-payer $$$.

[Nym90]

Option 1. Anyone get can permanent absentee ballots in California. If you miss more than 1 election, you have to re-request it.

What happens if you die--opens up for fraud--that's what happened in Detroit.

There definitely should be some way to automatically remove those who are deceased from the voting rolls. As jfern suggested, some sort of a check on their SSN.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Option 2 -it is better than wasting paper sending absentee ballots to someone who has become a corpse, or has moved out. 

Another valid point--why waste tax-payer $$$.

Gosh, that 50 cents a year per person we save will pay down the national debt in no time and pay for the $100 billion a year that the Paris Hilton tax cut will cost.

[Nym90]

Option 2 -it is better than wasting paper sending absentee ballots to someone who has become a corpse, or has moved out. 

Another valid point--why waste tax-payer $$$.

Gosh, that 50 cents a year per person we save will pay down the national debt in no time and pay for the $100 billion a year that the Paris Hilton tax cut will cost.

Don't forget about the 500 billion dollar war in Iraq.

[J. J.]

As I said on the other thread I believe the voter should have to request an absentee ballot every election cycle. I don't mind the election department sending out reminders weeks in advance to those persons who requested an absentee ballot for reasons of age or disability to make it as easy as possible for them to vote but I cannot fathom why ballots would be automatically mailed. If the voter had died since the last election the potential for fraud is just too great.

You do have to sign it and either mail it or return it yourself, or give special permission for someone to return it for you. As for voters dying, they could always check the SS death index before mailing out the blank ballot.

There is a real problem.  Those records don't catch a recent death and are unlikely to catch someone that didn't pay into SS.  From what I've seen, it's a 3-6 month process. 

I don't have fiscal problem with sending out the ballots, but fraud can too easily occur.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Option 1. Anyone get can permanent absentee ballots in California. If you miss more than 1 election, you have to re-request it.

What happens if you die--opens up for fraud--that's what happened in Detroit.

There definitely should be some way to automatically remove those who are deceased from the voting rolls. As jfern suggested, some sort of a check on their SSN.

There is an automatic way--make them request it!

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Option 2 -it is better than wasting paper sending absentee ballots to someone who has become a corpse, or has moved out. 

Another valid point--why waste tax-payer $$$.

Gosh, that 50 cents a year per person we save will pay down the national debt in no time and pay for the $100 billion a year that the Paris Hilton tax cut will cost.

But we're saving state tax $$--which we really need--although it isn't saving that much.

[MODU]

I say make the person request it each year.

a)  Saves money by sending less forms
b)  Reduces chances for fraud
c)  If the elderly person cannot remember to request a ballot, then maybe they are not mentally capable of making a sound decision
d)  Reduces time when trying to do a handcount/verifying votes

etc

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I say make the person request it each year.

d)  Reduces time when trying to do a handcount/verifying votes

I don't follow your last point.

[MODU]

I say make the person request it each year.

d)  Reduces time when trying to do a handcount/verifying votes

I don't follow your last point.

When there are less absentee ballots handed out, the process to verify the information on all the returned ballots take less time.