Voting early? (Reston: bill, ticket, pregnancy)

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by pcity

If you're voting absentee in person, you apply to vote absentee just before you vote. Deadline for that is Nov. 3rd.

The deadline to apply for absentee voting by mail has passed though- it was Oct. 30th.

Yes. I mis-read the rules on that but went back and see that you are correct. I have someone in my family who qualifies for it so have a keen interest. Here are the voting locations in Fairfax County:

FAIRFAX COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER EXTENDED VOTING HOURS:
Wednesday Oct. 31st, Thursday Nov. 1st and Friday Nov. 2nd: 8am to 8pm
Saturday, Nov. 3rd: 8am to 5pm
12000 Government Center Pkwy. Suite 323
Fairfax, VA 22035
SATELLITE VOTING LOCATIONS EXTENDED VOTING HOURS:
Wednesday Oct. 31st, Thursday Nov. 1st and Friday Nov. 2nd: 12pm to 8pm
Saturday, Nov. 3rd: 8am to 5pm
Franconia Governmental Center, 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria
Mason Governmental Center, 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale
Dolley Madison Library, 1244 Oak Ridge Avenue, McLean
Mount Vernon Governmental Center, 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria
North County Human Services Building, 1850 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston
Sully Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Boulevard, Chantilly
West Springfield Governmental Center, 6140 Rolling Road, Springfield

[Cardiff Kook]

So outside the metro stops people have been handing out early voting flyers that say things like "Work in DC? Work in Fairfax? Vote Early!"

So my fiance and I went to vote early yesterday since it was more convenient for us. As we are filling out the paperwork we see that we have to have some valid excuse to vote early and provide supporting documentation.

I tell the lady there's a good chance I'll be working past 7pm on election night but its not guaranteed. She says its a felony if I don't actually work past 7pm and I sign the document. Then I tell her I work in DC and she says that is a completely acceptable excuse to vote early and to fill in a specific code.

My fiance on the other hand, works in Fairfax and has a deadline due next week so she said she would be working past 7pm as her excuse to vote early. They also make you write the name of your employer. Her paperwork was screened and she was able to vote and everything, but now I'm worried that there may be some sort of follow up to make sure she actually worked an 11 hour day and past the poll closing time. Is this a valid concern or am I being paranoid?

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by GMUAlum08

So outside the metro stops people have been handing out early voting flyers that say things like "Work in DC? Work in Fairfax? Vote Early!"

So my fiance and I went to vote early yesterday since it was more convenient for us. As we are filling out the paperwork we see that we have to have some valid excuse to vote early and provide supporting documentation.

I tell the lady there's a good chance I'll be working past 7pm on election night but its not guaranteed. She says its a felony if I don't actually work past 7pm and I sign the document. Then I tell her I work in DC and she says that its a completely acceptable excuse to vote early and to fill in a specific code.

My fiance on the other hand, works in Fairfax and has a deadline due next week so she said she would be working past 7pm as her excuse to vote early. They also make you write the name of your employer. Her paperwork was screened and she was able to vote and everything, but now I'm worried that there may be some sort of follow up to make sure she actually worked an 11 hour day and past the poll closing time. Is this a valid concern or am I being paranoid?

I'm sure that there will only be a concern if the state later feels like there has been some fraud. In that case, I would assume some investigation would be opened. I think the poll workers are just doing due diligence in stating the requirements and those requirements are meant to give you pause and keep you from being totally dishonest.

[Cardiff Kook]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

I'm sure that there will only be a concern if the state later feels like there has been some fraud. In that case, I would assume some investigation would be opened. I think the poll workers are just doing due diligence in stating the requirements and those requirements are meant to give you pause and keep you from being totally dishonest.

I mean, on the flyer it said "Running errands outside of Arlington?"

If running errands outside of Arlington is a good enough reason to vote early I would think working 20 miles from your polling center in this area would be a good enough reason to vote early.

Also, I'm not sure how any of this would constitute fraud. If she winds up getting out early that day, so be it. There was no way for her to guarantee that would be the case. But its not like she is going to go vote a second time

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by GMUAlum08

I mean, on the flyer it said "Running errands outside of Arlington?"

If running errands outside of Arlington is a good enough reason to vote early I would think working 20 miles from your polling center in this area would be a good enough reason to vote early.

Also, I'm not sure how any of this would constitute fraud. If she winds up getting out early that day, so be it. There was no way for her to guarantee that would be the case. But its not like she is going to go vote a second time

No, I didn't mean that YOU were committing fraud. I meant that if the state of Virginia feels that something was amiss in early voting, in general, they may open an investigation up. As part of that investigation, your wife might be questioned about her reasons for voting early.

I think her reasons are totally valid. However, I personally think that if you work in DC and live in VA (as I do) you still have plenty of time to get the polls if you are working a regular 8.5 hour day. Certainly not with an 11 hour day.

[Carlingtonian]

Not voting early, but we are going to see President Obama and President Clinton at Jiffy Lube Live tomorrow! Alas, we'll have to sit through Dave Matthews first. Zzzzz......

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

Not voting early, but we are going to see President Obama and President Clinton at Jiffy Lube Live tomorrow! Alas, we'll have to sit through Dave Matthews first. Zzzzz......

I just heard about this today? Do you have to have tickets are do you just show up. It is a shame you have to endure DMB before you can get to the real fun!

[elacklen]

I think the rules aren't lenient enough. Why CAN'T someone vote early? Won't it decrease lines and tallying the day of?
I do qualify-I'm pregnant- but not THAT pregnant yet so I don't know what documentation they might require-do they want me to pee on a stick for them? LOL. For me, voting on an election day is much harder. My kids, like all others, will not be in school on election day. So they will have to stand in line with me for who knows how long. It's much easier for me to vote early while they're in school. Why isn't "parent with school age kids" an option?

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

I just heard about this today? Do you have to have tickets are do you just show up. It is a shame you have to endure DMB before you can get to the real fun!

Sorry--just realized (after PM-ing you the link) that it's now waiting-list only.

I can just hear Bill croaking, "I sure hope Dave does that one song where he tells the girl to hike up her skirt a little more! Shucks! I sure love that one."

[GreenGene]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

I just heard about this today? Do you have to have tickets are do you just show up. It is a shame you have to endure DMB before you can get to the real fun!

My understanding is that there won't be any B - just DM. :-)

Tickets ... I got an email yesterday morning about it ... one of those "click here" and put your name in for a ticket to see Obama (and Clinton). I just checked, and it says "waiting list" at this point. I'm on their mailing list since I made some contributions to the campaign, as I did 4 years ago.