Posted on 10/19/2010 7:54:00 AM PDT by anymouse
If there ever was any proof needed that there’s a lot of interest in this year’s election, an initial count of the number of voters who cast their ballots on the first day of early voting might be a solid indicator. County election officials said an unofficial count showed 4,200 voters cast ballots on the first day of early voting across Galveston County on Monday.
That compares to about 1,800 who voted on the first day of early voting four years ago, which at the time was considered a high early voter turnout.
Of the county’s 15 early voting locations, the League City county annex building was the busiest with 800 voters, assistant elections coordinator Susan Williams said. The Joe Faggard Community center on the Bolivar Peninsula was the slowest with a few more than 20 votes cast.
Williams did not provide figures from the other polling locations because the numbers were not “official,” she said.
Early voting differs from Election Day in that voters can cast ballots at any of the locations no matter what precinct he or she lives in. For example, a Galveston resident who works in League City can vote at a polling location closer to work than having to drive back home first. The same, too, for mainland residents who work in Galveston at the University of Texas Medical Branch.
Early voting continues through Oct. 29. Election Day is Nov. 2.
The turnout for the first day of early voting wasn’t the only election increase. Cheryl Johnson, the county’s tax assessor-collector who also is the voter registrar, said voter registrations for this election jumped 2,900 voters.
There are 182,314 registered voters in Galveston County for the 2010 election, she said.
There were few reports of problems at polling locations Monday despite the heavy turnout. Most voters reported short or no waits, and it appeared each polling location opened on time Monday, which is against the norm.
The only reported problem came at the polling location at the Environmental Health building in La Marque, where police were called. Turns out the cops weren’t really needed.
An enthusiastic volunteer for one of the campaigns violated election laws by walking with voters to the door and lobbying voters, Williams said. Campaign workers have to stay 100 feet away from the entrance to the polling location.
Out of precaution, police were called, but by the time officers arrived the election judge at the location had gotten things straightened out, La Marque Police Chief Randall Aragon said. La Marque is having a recall election of three of its council members that had, at times, been a testy debate between those for and against the recall.
Galveston County ping.
I heard on the radio this morning that here in Eastern NC the early turnout was about double that in 2006. The comment that was most enlightening was that in 2008 most early voters were black women, this year it is white men.
While i was born in Galveston, I didn’t vote there. I did vote in my north Texas county. so, count me is as an early voter here in Texas.
I voted yesterday, and was done in less than 30 minutes. I’m not a fan of absentee and mail voting, but early voting is a lifesaver for me.
It appears to be secure, at least in Texas. It’s the same procedure as Election Day. I just wish we could pass a voter ID law.
I don’t understand the widespread need for early voting. Why is it that so many people “just can’t make it” to the polls on Election Day?
I’ve never had a problem getting to the polls. Your employer will allow you to time to vote if need be.
Early voting is just asking to have elections stolen by Democrats. That is why democrats actively promote this non-sense.
What I am really looking foward to is the massive turnouts in Ohio.Both Early and On November 2nd. And much of it coming from outside Cincinnati and Columbus. Obama will have a cow if his buddies will lose that state with a 65/35 Margin.
I voted in far North Dallas yesterday. Steady flow of folks just after lunch time, all very happy.
I love early voting. I find it odd that they never check my ID and just take my registration card. Lots of room for fraud in that situation.
Over the past decade, I have frequently not been at home on Election Day. And I didn't always know that sufficiently far in advance to request an absentee ballot.
I’ve never had a problem getting to the polls. Your employer will allow you to time to vote if need be.
I'm basically self-employed. My employer will give me all the time I want, but it's at the expense of billable hours. When I can vote during lunch (and not extend my lunch hour) or on the weekends, it's money in my pocket.
Early voting is just asking to have elections stolen by Democrats. That is why democrats actively promote this non-sense.
In my state, early voting is nearly indistinguishable from regular voting. The only difference is that you can go to any polling station in your county -- they'll give you the correct ballot for your precinct. Otherwise, the procedures are the same.
How is early voting in this manner "just asking to have elections stolen"? I've heard this over and over, but no one is willing to explain exactly how.
Early voting closes 5 days before Election Day. Your voter registration is marked as voted, so you won't be able to vote again at your precinct on Election Day.
I agree that absentee voting and mail voting is open to fraud, but that not what this is (at least in my state). In fact, it actually REDUCES absentee voting by mail, because you can't get an absentee ballot unless you can justify being unable to vote throughout the entire early voting period.
Republicans tried to pass a bill in the 2009 Texas Legislative Session to require a photo ID to vote. It passed the Senate, but Democrats literally shut down the House of Representatives to prevent a vote on the measure. A lot of other legislation was left pending as a result.
It will most likely be back next year:
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/06/14/2264586/voter-id-bill-to-re-emerge-as.html
The House was split 76-74 last session. Hopefully, the revulsion to Obama and the national Democrats will sweep more Republicans into the Texas House this session.
You are really that busy that one day out of a year you can’t set aside time to vote?
I understand once in a while something could come up and cause a conflict but election day is pretty much known well in advance.
Whatever day you stopped working for moment to early vote just make that day November 2nd. How much more could it really cost you to vote on election day the way our system was designed.
I voted at the same location I did 2 years ago. What a stark difference I saw!
Last time, the people in line were very diverse, which matches the demographics of this area of Houston. I'd say about half were obvious Obama voters. (ie. blacks, latinos, young skulls full of mush, etc.)
This time, I could count the number of obvious Obama voters on one hand. The people in line were overwhelming white seasoned citizens. But what really struck me was what I overheard! In the short 10-15 minutes I was there I heard at least 3 different people murmuring "straight Republican" as they were casting their votes. In all my years of voting I have never observed behavior like this before.
I'm really looking forward to the night of Nov. 2!
Yes, I am. Especially if I happen to be in another part of the country or the world. I've watched most of the recent elections from my hotel room.
I understand once in a while something could come up and cause a conflict but election day is pretty much known well in advance.
Newsflash: my clients don't shut down their businesses on Election Day (or Election Week, as I'm usually gone all week and home only on the weekends).
And yes, I do travel at the last minute. There have been a number of occasions where I find out on Friday that I need to be at a client's office on Monday AM -- which means I have to leave on Sunday night. I don't like it, because it's expensive. But, the client pays for it.
My clients are required to give their employees time off for voting, but I'm not their employee. I'm a vendor. My boss is "me". And like other small-business owners, my boss is very demanding.
Whatever day you stopped working for moment to early vote just make that day November 2nd.
Go back and read what I wrote in my earlier postings. When I'm traveling, the weekends are usually my only opportunity to vote. If I happen to be in town, I can vote during a lunch break in 30 minutes or less.
If I vote on Election Day, I'll be standing in line for hours, waiting for my turn. It's basic queuing theory: service times are much lower when the arrivals are spread out over a much longer period (2 weeks instead of 1 day).
Setting aside all your platitudes that show you don't understand the world of people that really have to work for a living -- you haven't answered my question:
How does early voting (as implemented in my state, and I've already described) contribute to potential fraud?
For those of us who work the long lines and unpredictable workloads can be an issue. I go to work before the polls open and there are days I’m not free until after they close. I work in a hospital and we can’t dictate that patients delay their emergencies for a more convenient time. Not jumping on you, but there are people out there who have difficult schedules and can’t plan ahead. I’ll be voting this Friday when I know I have half the day free.
I’m not saying that exceptions don’t exist. What I am saying is that out of the people that early vote (the real ones that is) my guess is that the better part of 90% could have actually voted on Election Day.
I have worked the entire time I’ve been voting including being a business owner and private contractor. I still managed to prioritize things in such a way that it allowed me to vote on Election Day.
My honest opinion on this subject is that there should be no early voting at all, only absentee voting with proof that there is no way you can be present on Election Day. This would include military personnel that are on deployment, Hospital patients, etc. But “I have to work” is no excuse. What do you busy working people do when you get that notice for jury duty?
All I can say is that if you are ever in the hospital, need a policeman, fireman or ambulance or have any other kind of emergency on Election Day you will be glad we "busy working people" are on the job instead of standing for hours in a line at the polling place because it's now or never to cast our votes. You definitely aren't into inclusion are you?
Like I said, I did not say there are no exceptions but even the people that you mention have time off. I know lots of police officers, and my guess is they can make it to the polls just fine. Same goes for the three doctors in my family. I also think the employers of the professions you name have provisions in place for their personnel to vote.
The fact is if something is important enough you will make time. For those very few exceptions we have absentee ballots.
Into inclusion? Yes I am but early voting and other such “include everyone” type programs provide a huge opportunity for election fraud. Early voting also diminishes the importance of Election Day as the day the voice of the people is heard.
I will be working on November 2nd AND I will still make it to the polls.
I'll ask again, and maybe you won't dodge the question again:
How?
I agree that absentee voting is ripe for fraud. But early voting is not absentee voting, and in my state early voting actually reduces absentee voting.
Once more:
How?
You keep making this proclamation, but never back it up.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.