Why isn't early voting promoted/advertised more in Arizona? (Phoenix: live, cost) - (AZ) - City-Data Forum

HX_Guy · 10-29-2008, 04:40 PM

How many people here knew you can go and vote early, at 10 different locations in the Phoenix area, between Oct. 2nd and Oct. 31st?

I found this out by accident the other day and was pretty amazed that I havn't seen one commercial or flyer or anything letting people know this option is available.

What gives?

azjack · 10-29-2008, 04:48 PM

I have always voted by mail. There is some information on the county websites. When you request your ballot early in the year, it is sent out about 30 days before the election.

Going to an official Early Voting location always seemed like a cumbersome extra step to me, but to each his own.

Ponderosa · 10-29-2008, 04:57 PM

It's vote by mail for most. I voted a couple weeks ago. Apparently you are in a small group who does not know about this stuff. I saw that 40+ % are expected to vote early - by mail or at the locations. While there may not be ads (which cost the taxpayer money) every TV channel has had a story or more on the early voting options. Maybe you should spend more time on the couch!

garisonthebull · 10-29-2008, 04:59 PM

(Hypothetical scenario)

On the tenth John Doe cast an early vote for his Candidate for Office.

On the eleventh Candidate for Office was placed under investigation for both misappropriation of funds and cheating on his wife with a hooker and smoking crack in an urban motel.

HX_Guy · 10-29-2008, 05:06 PM

I also do the mail-in ballot, which is great...but you have to register for it, and the date has already expired to be able to do that.

So now people that want to vote have two options...one is going on Nov. 4th, and the other is going by Oct. 31st and voting early. The advantage I see to voting early is that you will wait much less in line (if there's even a line) then you would on Nov. 4th.

HX_Guy · 10-29-2008, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

It's vote by mail for most. I voted a couple weeks ago. Apparently you are in a small group who does not know about this stuff. I saw that 40+ % are expected to vote early - by mail or at the locations. While there may not be ads (which cost the taxpayer money) every TV channel has had a story or more on the early voting options. Maybe you should spend more time on the couch!

Don't get me wrong, I've seen it all over the news that people are early voting in recorder numbers...but they are always talking about some other state, never Arizona.

I think many people know about the mail-in ballots...but I don't think that many know you can go to a few locations around town and vote in person already.

Ponderosa · 10-29-2008, 05:17 PM

Even if you wait till election day, it will likely be quick. I've never had to wait in line here for long in any of the precincts in which I've lived in AZ. We used to have those "chad" things and now we have the arrow mark scanners and both seem to move along. I see the news reports with 4-5 hour waits in the heat and the cold and the rain. I don't understand why some states seem to have such a hard time with this stuff. One thing we DO have trouble with is counting them. Last time it was days before they had results of some initiatives and I heard the elections boss say that it could be days and days until AZ results are complete. So that is a mess.

nmnita · 10-30-2008, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

How many people here knew you can go and vote early, at 10 different locations in the Phoenix area, between Oct. 2nd and Oct. 31st?

I found this out by accident the other day and was pretty amazed that I havn't seen one commercial or flyer or anything letting people know this option is available.

What gives?

don't know why, but it has to be one of the dumbest things ever invented unless one is going to be out of town or something. To add to this, I have to admit we do vote early, but I still like the "olden days" when you voted on election day. If for no other reason, less chance to cheat or vote in more than one location....Sorry, I think it sucks.....

the same as being able to register and vote on the same day or within days. It used to be, you had be registered 60 days before the election. Again, less cheating....

azjack · 10-30-2008, 09:19 AM

Quote:

"I also do the mail-in ballot, which is great...but you have to register for it, and the date has already expired to be able to do that."

For future elections, sign up for the permanent early voter list. You will receive all future ballots in the mail until you move, at which point you can just re-register.

https://recorder.maricopa.gov/earlyv...entevlist.aspx

sablebaby · 10-30-2008, 11:45 AM

I knew about it a couple of weeks ago, but didn't think much about it. I registered to start doing mail in and that worked out great.

About waiting in line. There are numerous precincts that do have hour(s) wait time in line. I did mail in so I wouldn't have to wait in those lines. The last time I voted it took over an hour.