According to the Early Voting Information Center at Reed College, 28 states allow no-excuse absentee voting by mail, including Oregon, where everybody votes by mail. Well, some of the folks that will be dropping their ballots in the mailbox this year (or already have) are abuzz on Twitter about their unique way, and lack of specific day, to vote. I’ve been following and tweeting about it all morning. Check it out.

Voting by mail isn’t universally lauded as a solution to America’s low voter participation, however. As I explored when I visited the main postal sorting facility in Los Angeles, vote-by-mail may cut out one part of the American voting system that many people have come to rely on: the secret ballot.

* 9/23 UPDATE: Other cool Twitter voting searches I’ve been doing are early voting, voting early, and absentee ballot.

Posted in Early voting, Election 2008, Election Reform, Oregon, Vote-by-mail | 2 Comments »

Rhode Island Secretary of State Ralph A. Mollis, at right in the above photo, yesterday introduced a package of state-level election reform bills that would bring weekend voting to Rhode Islanders, change the way the state’s voter rolls are handled, and change Election Day canvassing rules.

In August, we highlighted the fact that Secretary Mollis was considering weekend voting, and publicized his public hearing to discuss that and other issues.

The complete press release from Secretary Mollis’ office follows. (more…)

Posted in Early voting, Election Reform, Rhode Island, Why do we vote on Tuesday? | Comments Off

Barack Obama has been declared the winner of the Wisconsin primary, but he’s giving his speech tonight from a packed house in Houston, Texas. The first order of business? Not announcing the Wisconsin results. Obama asked the crowd of what he called 20,000 to pick up a pamphlet on the way out the door to learn how to vote early. In Texas, although the votes are tallied in the primary election and a caucus takes place on March 4th, folks can be casting ballots from today until Election Day. So in Texas, it’s not Tuesday or bust. (more…)

Posted in Early voting, Election 2008, Election Reform, Texas, Why do we vote on Tuesday?, Wisconsin | Comments Off

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – I hopped off the campaign trail last week. I thought I needed some space, but I soon found myself yearning for the ebb-and-flow of election energy. Drama among the Democrats, rifts in the Republican base, increasing turnout, and polling percentages… for a political junkie it is all too addicting. Today’s candidate contests are being held in Wisconsin, Hawaii (for the Dems), and Washington (again). (more…)

Posted in Absentee ballots, Campaign finance, Early voting, Election 2008, Election administration, Election Day registration, Election Reform, Hawaii, Legislation, Mail-in voting, Polling, Primary schedule, Washington, Wisconsin | 1 Comment »

PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA — With the onset of Super Tuesday, the Press has started reporting on Barack Obama’s ability to mobilize new, youth and Independent voters, the other candidates’ advantages among established, older voters, and Hillary Clinton’s advantage among Hispanic and female voters. This week’s issue of TIME Magazine reports that Obama’s campaign tactics are more effective in states with forward-thinking election law. Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada have Same-Day Registration. Florida has early voting, but the DNC has stripped the Sunshine State’s democrats of their delegates, Republicans were able to keep half of theirs. (more…)

Posted in Absentee ballots, California, Colorado, Early voting, Election 2008, Election administration, Election Day registration, Election Reform, Florida, General, Iowa, Legislation, National Holiday, Nevada, New Hampshire, Opinions, Primary schedule, What is Super Tuesday? | Comments Off