Now that the margin in Oregon is only 6 points, I’m no longer ashamed to admit I live here. We have a few smart things that other states might do well to imitate.
One is we have no polling booths, no polling places, no lines, no crowds. It’s all vote by mail. It’s exactly like what many states have as an “absentee” ballot, but applied to the entire electorate. There is a secret sealed envelope that goes in another with your signature outside to verify. The registrar mails ONE ballot to each registered voter a month or so in advance. You can mail in or just use a convenient drive-by drop box. This saves lots of money and also there are no hanging chads or electronic glitches to cause confusion.
The second great thing we have is full service gas stations. It’s illegal for people to exit their car at the pump. An attendant pumps the gas, and I’ve never had a rude one. This is much safer and cleaner, especially for ladies (I hate that last drip from the nozzle and it reminds you of you-know-what). 20,000 jobs per year are generated, yet our gas prices remain in line with this part of the country. Only 2 states have this law, I believe.
Because it is stupid. If I couldn’t gas my go-cart in the 70’s I would have been pissed.
I know that New Jersey also does not allow self-service gas stations - never heard anything about not exiting the car, I often get out and talk with the attendants. Gas in New Jersey, without self-service, is cheaper than self-service gas in New York, and is in fact some of the least expensive in the nation. Such is the result of differences in tax policy...
The second great thing we have is full service gas stations. It’s illegal for people to exit their car at the pump.
I lived in OR for years, and hated having to WAIT for the geek to pump my gas. I love being able to drive up- pay, pump, and drive away. And to pay less.