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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Thorn14 Gunpla is amazing! Since: Aug, 2010
Gunpla is amazing!
#151: Jul 14th 2011 at 8:21:22 PM

[up][up][up]

Of course, was just saying. Still, voting should be easier, or mandetory, or give you some sort of benefit, like maybe cookie dough.

People would vote like crazy if you got cookie dough.

edited 14th Jul '11 8:21:39 PM by Thorn14

blueharp Since: Dec, 1969
#152: Jul 14th 2011 at 8:21:53 PM

It would be quite possible to set things up to be verifiable by phone, at least as well as Diebold equipment.

But how about just voting by mail, like a certain state that gets excellent turnout does?

Inhopelessguy Since: Apr, 2011
#153: Jul 14th 2011 at 8:23:59 PM

[up]We do that. My parents can make the decision on who to vote while tweeting about it.

[up][up] It could be sponsored by Ben and Jerry's.

edited 14th Jul '11 8:24:58 PM by Inhopelessguy

Thorn14 Gunpla is amazing! Since: Aug, 2010
Gunpla is amazing!
#154: Jul 14th 2011 at 8:24:45 PM

Dont you have to go through alot of hoops though?

Linhasxoc Since: Jun, 2009
#155: Jul 14th 2011 at 8:25:34 PM

Buy now! Only 29 cents on the App Store and Marketplace!
Actually, if such a thing were real, and they charged for it, that would very possibly be a violation of the 24th Amendment, which prohibits poll taxes. Of course, since it's a private business collecting the money... but it would almost certainly be on a government contract...

Gah. I need to stop overanalyzing jokes.

Inhopelessguy Since: Apr, 2011
#156: Jul 14th 2011 at 8:25:57 PM

[up][up]What? we get a letter through the post. If we want to vote at the booth, we go to the booth. If we wanna postal vote, we fill in the vote.

Simple as.

[up]It would be free on the Android Marketplace. Do they do paid apps on the AM?

edited 14th Jul '11 8:26:47 PM by Inhopelessguy

Thorn14 Gunpla is amazing! Since: Aug, 2010
Gunpla is amazing!
#157: Jul 14th 2011 at 8:27:09 PM

I guess most people dont vote simply because they dont care.

MajorTom Since: Dec, 2009
#158: Jul 14th 2011 at 8:27:47 PM

As for me, I wasn't 18 on time for Obama's election, so this will be my first time voting. That way, I have a justifiable reason to bitch if Obama isn't elected.

Good because I vote every time, come hell or high water. I have done so without interruption since 2004.

blueharp Since: Dec, 1969
#159: Jul 14th 2011 at 8:27:53 PM

[up]154

To vote by mail? No, not necessarily, especially not in the state that does it all by mail. But many it's just call and say "Send me a ballot" and they will, no questions asked.

storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
More like giant cherries
#160: Jul 14th 2011 at 9:53:28 PM

it's impossible to discern a legitimate vote from fraud.

That's true of the Diebold machines as well.

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
EricDVH Since: Jan, 2001
#161: Jul 14th 2011 at 11:23:08 PM

Major Tom: Historically with the left, those who are unsatisfied typically stay home. That's how turnout is in the US. Democrats are notoriously unreliable in their turnout and the above is one of many reasons why.
Aside from this really being true for Republicans as well, you're right, voting an “anything but the opposition” ticket without any faith in your own candidates is historically murder on the turnout.

blueharp: But how about just voting by mail, like a certain state that gets excellent turnout does?
I'm pretty sure every state, county, and city has this, it's called absentee voting. When you get your driver's license or ID card, you just check a box, and *poof*, ballots and a generous bundle of informational literature each election. I'm amazed at how few people use it.

I also can't imagine how it's any more secure a typical eCommerce site, but I wonder about how much of an impact it would make, given the per capita penetration of computers and cellphones.

Eric,

blueharp Since: Dec, 1969
#162: Jul 15th 2011 at 9:34:05 AM

Nope, I don't mean absentee voting by some individuals. I mean conducting the ENTIRE process by mail. And no, there's no form here to get the absentee ballots automatically here, you have to call each time.

Inhopelessguy Since: Apr, 2011
#163: Jul 15th 2011 at 9:46:29 AM

If you were going to do a postal ballot, just send a letter to each household (addressed to individual residents, of course) and if they can, they'll vote in the letter. If they wanna go to the polls, then they'll go to the polls and disregard the letter.

It's like one of the password reset emails you get. If you don't want to - ignore it. If you wanted to, you click on the link.

That's how we do voting here in the 2010 General Election and Council Elections, the 2011 Council Elections and AV Referendum. And we'll do the same for 2012.

EricDVH Since: Jan, 2001
#164: Jul 15th 2011 at 10:55:44 AM

That's how it's always worked here, too. After you check that box in the form, they send every registered absentee voter in your household a ballot and stuff (including a return envelope) for every election from president to sheriff, without any need for you to ask, and you can still vote at any local polling station if you wish (though I never do.)

Eric,

edited 15th Jul '11 10:56:49 AM by EricDVH

truteal animation elitist from the great southern land Since: Sep, 2009
animation elitist
#165: Jul 25th 2011 at 10:20:20 PM

It's either going to be Romney or Bachmann for Pres and Rick Perry, Bachmann (heaven forbid) or Mitch Daniels for Veep.

http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/ http://sagan4.com/forum/index.php
Tsukubus I Care Not... from [REDACTED] Since: Aug, 2010
I Care Not...
#166: Jul 26th 2011 at 4:37:47 AM

Absentee voting actually tends to drop voter turnout for various social reasons. Mostly because people don't get a social reward (getting seen voting).

Anyways, I haven't been following closely lately because the outcome seems fairly obvious and unimportant. As an outsider, I think the Republicans will probably take it unless they nominate a super ideological candidate, although that is quite possible. Doesn't really matter in the end, doesn't make a huge difference whether America starts mending its problems in a year or five.

edited 26th Jul '11 4:38:24 AM by Tsukubus

"I didn't steal it; I'm borrowing it until I die."
Iaculus Pronounced YAK-you-luss from England Since: May, 2010
Pronounced YAK-you-luss
#167: Jul 26th 2011 at 5:18:16 AM

[up]You think a Republican victory is 'fairly obvious'? Given their fragmented base, their swing towards extremist policies, the lack of quality in their front-runners, and the fact that they're up against a charismatic incumbent president, that seems somewhat overly-optimistic.

What's precedent ever done for us?
Tsukubus I Care Not... from [REDACTED] Since: Aug, 2010
I Care Not...
#168: Jul 26th 2011 at 5:45:03 AM

American Republicans complain about their candidates a lot (and so do Democrats), but when push comes to shove, they always vote for their candidate. America is partisan (but kind of stable and predictable) like that. Unless they nominate someone who will make non-ideological people run for the hills, they'll be fine. Nor does charisma nor good intentions make up for general incompetence and economic mismanagement. Most of the people who can remember a time with more economic misery are old enough to reflexively vote Republican anyways.

"I didn't steal it; I'm borrowing it until I die."
storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
More like giant cherries
#169: Jul 26th 2011 at 6:59:54 AM

Unless something really surprising happens, the Republicans have a 50% shot at best of taking the presidency. And if they nominate Bachmann, Obama's got it in the bag.

edited 26th Jul '11 7:00:41 AM by storyyeller

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
Tsukubus I Care Not... from [REDACTED] Since: Aug, 2010
I Care Not...
#170: Jul 26th 2011 at 7:13:38 AM

Of course, a lot of this seems to be hinged on where the economy is. If the economy does much better than expected, that 50% drops a lot, and if it does a lot worse than expected, even an ideologically-charged candidate like Bachmann could win. I'm generally bearish on the short-term US economy, which probably is why I think the Republicans will probably an edge in 2012, but it's an assessment very dependent based on where you think economic indicators will be in a year and a half.

"I didn't steal it; I'm borrowing it until I die."
storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
More like giant cherries
#171: Jul 26th 2011 at 7:15:38 AM

It's not just the economy though. It's also all about how it gets spun.

For example, Truman managed to win reelection in a weak economy because the public blamed congress.

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
HiddenFacedMatt Avatars may be subject to change without notice. Since: Jul, 2011
Avatars may be subject to change without notice.
#172: Jul 26th 2011 at 7:28:11 AM

People would vote like crazy if you got cookie dough.
Or better yet, just make it easier to vote. The "if you don't vote you have no right to complain" attitude is a good incentive FOR voting. We should focus on getting rid of disincentives AGAINST it.

"The Daily Show has to be right 100% of the time; FOX News only has to be right once." - Jon Stewart
Karkadinn Karkadinn from New Orleans, Louisiana Since: Jul, 2009
Karkadinn
#173: Jul 26th 2011 at 7:29:46 AM

[up] Unfortunately, Republicans seem to be doing their darnedest to go in the exact opposite direction.

Furthermore, I think Guantanamo must be destroyed.
blueharp Since: Dec, 1969
#174: Jul 26th 2011 at 10:10:18 AM

Oregon, which has vote by mail, has very high turnout.

Go figure.

Zephid Since: Jan, 2001
#175: Jul 26th 2011 at 11:05:09 AM

I'm thinking Rick Perry's going to get the nomination. He's more recent a governor of a state than Romney, and has bona fides with the Tea Party like Bachmann. Unlike Romney, he can appeal to both factions of the base, and it's more likely than it was some months ago that he'll run.

I'm hoping Jon Huntsman gets the nomination, because I'd vote for him over Obama in a heartbeat.* Romney, I'm not comfortable with but it'd be a toss-up. Most anyone else, no chance in hell.

* One word: Libya.

edited 26th Jul '11 11:05:38 AM by Zephid

I wrote about a fish turning into the moon.

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