# Absentee Ballots for Zombies

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absentee-ballots-for-zombies/550870>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 20, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absentee-ballots-for-zombies/550870 "2010-08-20T14:30:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absentee-ballots-for-zombies/550870/21 "2010-08-24T12:28:40Z")

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> [@JoelUpchurch](#):
>
> What state are you in? In Florida I have to apply for an absentee ballot for every election. Is there some place that lets you default to an absentee ballot.

Both Oregon & Washington State run elections entirely by mail.  
Before WA made the switch, you could sign up for permanent absentee ballots.

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**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absentee-ballots-for-zombies/550870/22 "2010-08-24T13:57:13Z")

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> [@JoelUpchurch](#):
>
> What state are you in? In Florida I have to apply for an absentee ballot for every election. Is there some place that lets you default to an absentee ballot.

I double checked what I said and in Florida you can apply for an absentee ballot for all elections in a given year. I guess I didn’t notice since I usually don’t apply until after the primaries.

[https://www.ocfelections.com/abonline/2010EngAbsenteeBallotRequestForm.htm](https://www.ocfelections.com/abonline/2010EngAbsenteeBallotRequestForm.htm)

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**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absentee-ballots-for-zombies/550870/23 "2010-08-24T18:18:07Z")

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> [@JoelUpchurch](#):
>
> What state are you in? In Florida I have to apply for an absentee ballot for every election. Is there some place that lets you default to an absentee ballot.

In Minnesota, you have to apply each year for Absentee ballots, But they do keep track, and the next election year will automatically mail you an absentee ballot application form. (And they are discussing using email notices in the future.)

Also, that information goes on the voter file, which is available to candidates & political parties. They can also send you an absentee ballot application form, which you fill out and return to your city elections clerk to get the ballot. So if a campaign can identify you as a likely supporter, and someone who has voted absentee, or might vote absentee (because of age, for instance), the campaign may spend the money to print and mail an absentee ballot application form to you.

This year, I got 2 of them, from a political party and from another candidate. One of them was even computer generated and personalized with all my information already filled out on the form – all I had to do was sign it and mail it in to the city clerk.

As computer systems & information sources become more complete, I expect this will become a common technique for campaigns. Our DFL Governor candidate Mark Dayton had strong support from elderly voters, and his campaign worked hard to get them absentee ballots. Overall, absentee ballots were about 7% of the total ballots cast – Dayton won by 1.5% of the votes.

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