While many vote absentee, there is a risk to consider, especially in this wide open presidential primary election.
My sense is that thousands of California Republicans have already mailed their absentee Ballots with former TN. Sen Fred Thompson checked as their choice for president.
Hello readers. Fred just dropped out. As such, in effect, you have wasted your vote. What’s the hurry? As long as your Ballot is received by February 5th it will be included in the final count.
FYI. My absentee Ballot is still sitting on my desk.
On the Republican ballot you will find other presidential candidates such as SD Congressman Duncan Hunter, Congressman Tom Tancredo and Sam Brownback who have also pulled out of the race. Please don’t waste your vote.
Sadly president Bush’s (and the GOP) failure to select a Vice President willing to step up after his second term ends has created a major void where our party was in the drivers seat.
So, while absentee voting continues to grow, there is no advantage for voting the day you receive your Ballot.
Folks. There are no “do overs” as it relates to voting.
Hilarious! Do you really think that an incumbancy could have made it through again? Fool me once…
Larry –
Good post. My absentee ballot is sitting on my desk as well. I will complete the ballot the weekend prior to Feb. 5 and deposit my ballot, on election day, to my designated precint.
I prefer paper ballots and I enjoy going to the polls on election day.
As long as the candidate is on the ballot or write in list. You should vote for your choice.
The only wasted votes are the one never used.
Don’t wait too long if the ballot is not received by the Registrar on Election Day it doesn’t count.
FYI – California no longer has “absentee” voting. It’s now called “vote by mail.”
anon 1:55 p.m.
For the moment take partisan politics out of the equation.
George Bush 41 was Ronald Reagan’s VP. Al Gore was Bill Clinton’s VP and lost a very close election.
Sitting in all the upper level staff meetings gives you exposure on domestic and foreign affairs that outsiders will never be able to match as you compete for the highest office in the country. Regardless of party affiliation, that experience in any presidential race is priceless.
Cook.
I commend you for encouraging readers to vote their choice. You are correct. We have the right to privately vote for any name that appears on the ballot. However anyone voting for (R) Sam Brownback or (D) Chris Dodd should understand that they have cut off their second, or possibly third choice. I spoke to a close friend tonight who plans to vote for a candidate whom he acknowledges will not win. His vote will be solely out of his own convictions. The key is to encourage voters to be part of the electoral process.
It is sad when less than 50 percent of those eligible to vote stay home either because they are completely turned off on politics or their first choice is no longer on the playing field.
anon 4:26 p.m.
Your point is well taken. Don’t miss the boat by expecting overnight delivery of your ballot by mail. You can however bring your ballot to your polling location and simply turn it in on the spot. If youplan to mail your ballot I would suggest getting it in the mail on the 31st to be safe. Feb 1 should be OK but you might be cutting it close.
It all depends on what you mean by a “wasted vote”. Clearly, not voting is a wasted vote. Voting for somebody not on the ballot is also wasted, in that it won’t be counted. So what’s the difference between a vote not counted because it wasn’t cast, or not counted because it was for somebody not on the list? (If a writein candidate ever got more than 100 votes, it would be a miracle.)
But I cannot undersatnd not voting at all. There are other things besides President. Measure D, for one. The “bring more gambling to California” props, for another.
PS: I would not have known about Measyre D but for this website. Thanks.
Larry,
Rather, isn’t it true that incumbents have an edge because they have the most exposure/money?
This corrupt administration knows it can’t win. As does most of America. The Bush administration has been getting away with lying cheating and screwing the world. True Republicans want government out of their lives. I’m surprised some of you are still Fox-News-spinning-junkies.
Mary.
Let me begin by saying that I am not a FOX-News spinning junkie.
I do not care to much for Sean Hannity and his hammering of Hillary while we are still trying to select our standard bearer. There will be plenty of time to expose her record after she wins the primary in a tough fight with Obama.
I would agree that incumbents do have an advantage of exposure and stated same above. As to money. As Bill and Hillary have never had a significant private sector job can you please inform Juice readers where they continue to raise multi millions of dollars for the campaign, other than a book deal?
Oh, that gentleman from China comes to mind!
ZZ Mike
Thanks for acknowledging your finding out about Measure D from the Juice eidtor. We do our best to inform the public on these policy issues. While I do not live in Santa Ana I support Art’s position. Elected officials are to be public servants for a brief period of time and move on. Some states, such as Oregon, only have their Legislature meet on alternate years unless they have an emergency. Wouldn’t that be a novel approach for our state.
For that reason I oppose Prop 93
Larry:
I don’t care–I am still voting for:
Thomas Gerard Tancredo for President of the United
States of America–get what I mean ??
Jolten Joe
Jolten Joe.
My intent was not to push you into any candidates camp. This is the first presidential primary election in which I have waited until the last minute to decide whom I will be voting for.
Go ahead and vote for Tom. You surely will not be alone. The good news is that you will join the 50 percent who take the time to vote. Not like it requires brain surgery.
Any guesses on “tickets”?
In all the elections I can remember there has always been a Yankee and a Rebel on the ticket for the democrats and republicans.
So for us here in almighty California we should not be looking at the popularity contest of top dog, but ticket building votes. If the top runners are Yankees then the best use of votes would be for the balancing rebel candidates.
I think the this could be the year that the vice-president candidate picks the running mate (president).
Catbird seat: John Edwards
Clinton (yankee)
Obama (yankee)
Edwards (rebel)
Catbird seat: Mike Huckabee
Mccain (rebel/yankee) ?
Huckabee (rebel)
Romney (yankee)
Giuliani (yankee)
Cook.
Good idea.
Art and I spoke yesterday about creating a contest where Juice readers could comment on various scenario’s.
Off the wall.
Hillary and Alan Keyes. Wouldn’t that shake up the establishement
You are correct. If the Republican standard bearer is from a major northern state such as NY or MASS than they should pick a southerner to help capture the heartland vote.
Bear in mind that it might be someone that has kept out of the fray whose name has not surfaced as yet. This will surely be an entertaining season.
I will not propose a Republican package until sometime after Super Tuesday as none of our candidates will have a lock on delgates after Feb 5th.