Early Ballot - wow

[Denver]

I just received my main-in ballot.

Besides McCain and Obama, there are FOURTEEN other presidential candidates!
So, a total of SIXTEEN candidates.

Has there ever been so many?

[geni]

I just received my main-in ballot.

Besides McCain and Obama, there are FOURTEEN other presidential candidates!
So, a total of SIXTEEN candidates.

Has there ever been so many?

The question is complicated due to issues of ballot acess.

The only candidates who appear on the ballot in enough states in order to win are the republicans, the democrats, Nader, the Libertarians, the Constitution party and the Greens.

In 2004 a total of 16 candidates appeared on the ballot in at least one state:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_candidates_in_the_United_States_presidenti al_election,_2004


This time around a total of 20 candidates appear on the ballot of at least one state:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_candidates_in_the_United_States_presidenti al_election,_2008

[Denver]

The question is complicated due to issues of ballot acess.

The only candidates who appear on the ballot in enough states in order to win are the republicans, the democrats, Nader, the Libertarians, the Constitution party and the Greens.

In 2004 a total of 16 candidates appeared on the ballot in at least one state:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_candidates_in_the_United_States_presidenti al_election,_2004


This time around a total of 20 candidates appear on the ballot of at least one state:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_candidates_in_the_United_States_presidenti al_election,_2008


Interesting -maybe it's just my state increase that surprised me.
(Colorado)

[XBoxWarrior]

I just received my main-in ballot.

Besides McCain and Obama, there are FOURTEEN other presidential candidates!
So, a total of SIXTEEN candidates.

Has there ever been so many?


What's a "main-in" ballot? I have received several McCain mail in things...but no ballots. I am in CO as well, (deeply red county) and I did receive a registered voter thing, but no ballot?

Did you request that?

I would love to vote NOW!

[Upchurch]

What's a "main-in" ballot?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absentee_ballot

[XBoxWarrior]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absentee_ballot

Is that not a "Mail-in Ballot"?

Is there a difference from the "Main-In" ballot?

Like the "Main" in winner?

All news to me.

[aerosolben]

Is that not a "Mail-in Ballot"?
Presumably it's a typo.

Note that CO (and 3 other states) allows permanent absentee voting without need for an excuse, which is presumably why Denver is absentee voting from Denver.

[Upchurch]

Is that not a "Mail-in Ballot"?

Is there a difference from the "Main-In" ballot?
main-in having the same greek root as, for example, "water main" meaning to carry water from one point to another. Likewise, in a modern sense, "main-in" is equivalent to "mail-in" in the sense that it channeled to or from a central location.

[Denver]

main-in having the same greek root as, for example, "water main" meaning to carry water from one point to another. Likewise, in a modern sense, "main-in" is equivalent to "mail-in" in the sense that it channeled to or from a central location.

Though I would like to go with this definition, it was, alas, a typo.
As noted above, mail-in. Absentee.

[Upchurch]

Though I would like to go with this definition, it was, alas, a typo.
Aw.... work with me

[Kestrel]

I just received my main-in ballot.

Besides McCain and Obama, there are FOURTEEN other presidential candidates!
So, a total of SIXTEEN candidates.

Has there ever been so many?

Not sure.

I have head that the ballot this year needs two postage stamps to mail. Is that true?

[MattusMaximus]

Ask your local post office.

[SezMe]

main-in having the same greek root as, for example, "water main" meaning to carry water from one point to another. Likewise, in a modern sense, "main-in" is equivalent to "mail-in" in the sense that it channeled to or from a central location.
I think you've got something, er, special stored in one of the valves in your tuba.

[UserGoogol]

Your question has already been answered, (there are tons of people ostensibly running each year and the number who can get on the ballot varies a lot from state to state as well as from year to year) but for my own part, Massachusetts seems to be limiting itself (http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele08/state_election_cand_08.htm) to the core of of third party candidates (Libertarian, Green, Nader, and Constitution) alongside the Democrats and Republicans.

[KoihimeNakamura]

I know Washington allows mail in ballots, and I'm so registered. Waiting for mine in the mail.

[Denver]

Not sure.

I have head that the ballot this year needs two postage stamps to mail. Is that true?

Good catch. I just weighed my ballot and envelope, and it came to 1.2 oz.

[Kestrel]

Good catch. I just weighed my ballot and envelope, and it came to 1.2 oz.

The fate of our nation could be decided by the Post Office attitude about postage for that extra .2 oz.

[Björn Toulouse]

Good catch. I just weighed my ballot and envelope, and it came to 1.2 oz.



I mailed mine yesterday. It was 42 cents only, 1st class. However the postmistress said that in the next county it cost 59 cents to mail. I do not understand the difference.

What I also do not understand is why more people who are allowed to vote by absentee ballot do not take advantage of it. I requested one for me and my wife and since I pass the local P.O. a couple of times a week, it was very convenient for me to mail it securely and with the proper postage. The request asks for a number of reasons why one is seeking to vote by absentee ballot, but then the last option indicates NR for "no reason" required. I checked that and got my ballot in the mail. So easy.

There are articles in the local newspaper about early voting in my state (Georgia) and people are standing in line as much as 2-4 hours to do so. What's so good about that? When I used to vote at the polls on election day, I never had to stand in line any where near that amount of time at the polling place.

[gtc]

What I also do not understand is why more people who are allowed to vote by absentee ballot do not take advantage of it.

You miss the fun of election day?

There are articles in the local newspaper about early voting in my state (Georgia) and people are standing in line as much as 2-4 hours to do so. What's so good about that? When I used to vote at the polls on election day, I never had to stand in line any where near that amount of time at the polling place.

Odd, I guess they mustn't be able to vote on the day.

[bozothedeathmachine]

I have head that the ballot this year needs two postage stamps to mail. Is that true?

I got my ballot from the Texas board of elections. The envelope I received said US postage was paid, so it shouldn't be a problem. Unfortunately, that didn't cover the Swiss postage. Cost me 5 Francs to send it. Ah, well. Thus is the price of democracy.

[KoihimeNakamura]

Mine was free to send anywhere in the US. Have also voted.

[Björn Toulouse]

You miss the fun of election day?


Going to the polls to vote is fun? Heck, you can't even drink.


Odd, I guess they mustn't be able to vote on the day.


I think that's the idea, but it seems far easier and less hassle to mail in a ballot. It rained the entire day in Georgia yesterday and interviews with people standing in line indicate they were not expecting such a long wait before they got there. When I first called my registrar's office to get an absentee ballot request, I was encouraged to "vote early" instead because it would allow me to avoid the long lines on election day. There have been several "vote early" days so far but the closer we are to the real day increased the length of the lines.