Are you ready? Early voting…

[lightbulbsun]

I got my mail-in ballot last week and it's already filled out! I'm going to drop it off in the drop box this weekend.

[underwaterrhymes]

Early voting in my county is open, but it’s only at one location until October 21, when it opens up at a variety of places around the county. I’m definitely going before November 5th, but trying to weigh waiting until it’s at a more convenient location and getting it done sooner.

[heygrey]

One vote cast for Harris/Walz in PA! My absentee ballot will go in the mail tomorrow.

[kellady]

I was getting nervous because our absentee ballots hadn’t arrived so I stopped in at the township office. They said the ballots went out a little late, and of course ours were waiting in the mailbox when I got home. I’m so excited to send in my vote for Harris/Walz!

[fernweh]

H and I got our absentee ballots this weekend and I put them in the city hall drop box this morning. 2 votes for Kamala in Michigan!

[noodleoo]

We got our mail in ballots last week! I cannot wait to drop them off at the ballot box! Unfortunately we have some state questions that I need to research to decide how to vote before I can fill it out. This is actually why I love doing mail in voting. I can look at the ballot and research the candidates/questions at home and take my time filling it out. In the past I mostly just voted for the big positions and left all the minor ones that I didn't know anything about blank.

[fernweh]

Our ballots have an option to do straight ticket voting - even though I voted for all democrats, I didn’t check the straight ticket option because I wanted to be able to color in the box for Harris. Is that weird? Maybe, but it felt important.

[Pom]

I’m in Michigan and have not received my absentee ballot yet. I called the township and they said the SOS was late mailing them, this was Friday 10/4. We are still waiting not so patiently.

[fernweh]

Oct 8, 2024 9:42:43 GMT -5 Pom said:

I’m in Michigan and have not received my absentee ballot yet. I called the township and they said the SOS was late mailing them, this was Friday 10/4. We are still waiting not so patiently.

We got ours this past Saturday but if I remember correctly you are in Northern Michigan so it’ll probably take a few extra days. Hopefully you get your in the next day or two.

When I was getting antsy for mine I looked online it it said they had been mailed on October 1.

[stuffandthings]

Oct 8, 2024 9:34:11 GMT -5 fernweh said:

Our ballots have an option to do straight ticket voting - even though I voted for all democrats, I didn’t check the straight ticket option because I wanted to be able to color in the box for Harris. Is that weird? Maybe, but it felt important.

@@@@@

I 100% understand. I made my kid come and watch me fill mine out, lol.

*jazz hands* HISTORY!!

[prettyinpearls]

Mailed in my ballot yesterday, with blue all the way down (where it was an option). I live in a very red area so all the local-ish positions were republicans (left those circles blank), but I did write in a less offensive republican option for Sheriff. She lost to the incumbent in the primaries, but there's been a campaign to have her as a write-in option. Our current Sheriff is awful; an election denying, MAGA-loving, Proud Boys supporting piece of human garbage.

[prettyinpearls]

Oct 8, 2024 9:42:43 GMT -5 Pom said:

I’m in Michigan and have not received my absentee ballot yet. I called the township and they said the SOS was late mailing them, this was Friday 10/4. We are still waiting not so patiently.

 I'm in SW Michigan and received mine on Friday (or maybe Saturday?) The township clerk said they received them on Monday and were mailing them out by Wednesday. 

[stuffandthings]

I'm a poll worker in Wisconsin and I just heard from the city clerk that they're making us wear gloves and masks when we process absentee ballots this year because THEY RECEIVED AN ANTHRAX THREAT.

So that'll be fun!

[picksthemusic]

Oct 8, 2024 11:01:19 GMT -5 prettyinpearls said:

Mailed in my ballot yesterday, with blue all the way down (where it was an option). I live in a very red area so all the local-ish positions were republicans (left those circles blank), but I did write in a less offensive republican option for Sheriff. She lost to the incumbent in the primaries, but there's been a campaign to have her as a write-in option. Our current Sheriff is awful; an election denying, MAGA-loving, Proud Boys supporting piece of human garbage.

Sounds like you got the Sheriff we voted out! I'm so sorry, I know how that is.

[underwaterrhymes]

I highly recommend people vote early. I’m increasingly anxious about what harm the GOP will try to cause on Election Day.

[Michelle]

BABY LET THE GAMES BEGIN, LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

[eb777888]

Oct 10, 2024 12:56:15 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

I highly recommend people vote early. I’m increasingly anxious about what harm the GOP will try to cause on Election Day.

I always vote on Election Day, but not this year. I'm also checking my and H's status constantly to make sure we're still registered. So fucking ridiculous. 

[Michelle]

Oct 10, 2024 12:56:15 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

I highly recommend people vote early. I’m increasingly anxious about what harm the GOP will try to cause on Election Day.

and vote in person if you are in a red state.

[basilosaurus]

I cannot believe it. My ballot actually arrived! Hell yes, I'll pay to ensure delivery on time. Now, how to get it back in time... (I have a few options)

ETA I still have a few options but different options than I thought. I can rush pay to get it to the embassy to get it taken by diplomatic pouch, but they may not even accept it this close. That's the only way to mail since it has to have a us stamped postmark.

But, and this is one of the many reasons I love states that actually encourage voter participation, on the back of the letter that came with the ballot, there's a waiver form for secrecy and a bunch of other details.

I scan that, my ballot, and the signed return envelope which also has a label with my voter information. Then email it or fax (lol to fax!). There were clear instructions on the included letter, but I skimmed it in my excitement to fill in my bubbles. Sure, I only get to vote for pres and my house rep, but it felt oh so good to bubble in.

Also, OR has 7 candidates for pres. including RFK Jr. LOL for days.

[Pom]

Our Michigan mail-in ballots finally arrived yesterday.

Last evening was kinda crazy democracy cool:

Mr. Pom brought our ballots inside and then President Obama did that fire campaign speech for Harris/Walz.
Right after, we drove outside of town along Lake Huron for the most amazing northern lights display. The colors were dancing and it was really vibrant to the night eye and the most glorious 360 Aurora I’ve ever seen. On the way home, I noticed a bunch of Harris signage in what is traditionally a mess of orange shitler signage. I was just on cloud 9. 💙💙💙

[aurora]

I got the notice this morning that my ballot is on its way! Looking forward to it.

[mrsukyankee]

Today's the day for early voting in Georgia, so apparently Jimmy Carter has made it to the day and voted for Kamala Harris. Haven't heard anything to the contrary and hope that it has or will happen!

[Pom]

Georgia breaking records on day one…

georgiarecorder.com/2024/10/15/georgias-early-voting-first-day-turnout-on-already-breaks-record/

[starlily]

Our mail-in ballots arrived last week. I still need to get up to speed on the state propositions, but will hopefully return my ballot no later than next week!

[picksthemusic]

Just checked and our ballots will be mailed out on 10/17.

[underwaterrhymes]

Oct 15, 2024 16:17:08 GMT -5 Pom said:

Georgia breaking records on day one…

georgiarecorder.com/2024/10/15/georgias-early-voting-first-day-turnout-on-already-breaks-record/

A whopping 252,000 people voted in GA today, shattering the record of 136,000 people in 2020.

www.cnn.com/2024/10/15/politics/early-voting-record-georgia/index.html

[4speedy]

I’m a little disappointed in MI early in-person voting. The Secretary of State/Governor/Attirney General are such a powerhouse team and have done so so much to make voting accessible and elections fair. But then this. This is the schedule when early voting polling places are open. Notice the one and only week day with hours later than 4:30 is Halloween?! Seems like they are catering to retirees with this schedule. And the one late day is a day when most young-ish people will be busy in the evening anyway. Are they kidding me with the 8:30-4:30 schedule every day?

Open:
Saturday 10/26:
8:30AM to 4:30PM

Sunday 10/27:
8:30AM to 4:30PM

Monday 10/28:
8:30AM to 4:30PM

Tuesday 10/29:
8:30AM to 4:30PM

Wednesday 10/30:
8:30AM to 4:30PM

Thursday 10/31:
12:00PM to 8:00PM

Friday 11/01:
8:30AM to 4:30PM

Saturday 11/02:
8:30AM to 4:30PM

Sunday 11/03:
8:30AM to 4:30PM

[heygrey]

4speedy , They have it open 4 weekend days, that seems reasonable to reach a broad spectrum of people. I want voting to be as accessible to everyone as possible, but they still have to staff all of these days and that is probably a challenge in its own right.

I just got back from early voting in our local provincial election in Canada and ours were open for 5 days with similar hours, but a couple longer evenings until 8pm. We didn't have as many weekend days. The turnout has been much higher than typical and our actual voting day is still to come on Saturday, October 19. 

[lust2hart]

Oct 15, 2024 16:17:08 GMT -5 Pom said:

Georgia breaking records on day one…

georgiarecorder.com/2024/10/15/georgias-early-voting-first-day-turnout-on-already-breaks-record/

I just read Heather Cox Richardson’s post from last night that Jimmy Carter was one of those. 💙

[Jalapeñomel]

I voted early by mail!