# Ya Vote Yet? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 16, 2008, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-vote-yet/468178 "2008-10-16T11:08:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-vote-yet/468178/61 "2008-10-21T04:08:07Z")
> [@HelloKitty](#): > > I have to work 10 hrs on Nov. 4th so I am doing an absentee ballot this year. I do feel a little uneasy about mailing it in…what if it gets lost in the mail, etc.? But I will at least have a clear conscience!! Perhaps I’ve been mistaken all these years, but I seem to recall there being a law requiring an employer to allow staff time to vote on election day. Otherwise, if the boss knows who you’re going to vote for and doesn’t like it, he can just schedule you for all day that day. I’ve always been under the impression that he at least has to spell you for an hour or so so you can go vote. Is that a federal law or just local? ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-vote-yet/468178/62 "2008-10-21T17:22:50Z")
No, nor am I going to. I’ll vote on November 4th. Despite the fact that my candidate has no chance of winning my state, nay the election at large, I still think Election Day has a ring of excitement to it. Voting early would be anticlimactic. ---
**Author:** ![N.Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f19dbf/32.png) [@N.Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N.Sane)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-vote-yet/468178/63 "2008-10-21T17:47:54Z")
I went and voted during my lunch break today. It was the longest line I’ve had to stand in to vote since 1984! :eek: I was in line for about 35 minutes. I usually vote on Election Day, and I’m usually able to just walk right in without having to wait in line. But I sort of just wanted to be done with it. This whole campaign’s been stressing me out a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-vote-yet/468178/64 "2008-10-21T18:09:09Z")
I voted Yesterday. Glad I got it out of the way, though I somehow feel cheated that I cannot do anymore to ensure my candidate wins. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-vote-yet/468178/65 "2008-10-21T18:58:28Z")
The Ms. and I voted today. Man, it felt good! Two votes against the status quo, two votes against the liars and criminals, two votes to end the goddamn war. Two votes against that miserable, lying fraud in the White House and his heir apparent. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-vote-yet/468178/66 "2008-10-21T19:13:02Z")
We voted yesterday, but I gotta say, the absentee ballot takes some of the fun out of it. Plus, no sticker.☹ Here’s to better days! (raises glass) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-vote-yet/468178/67 "2008-10-21T19:53:07Z")
I’ll drink to that! :: clinking glasses with **Kalhoun** :: ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-vote-yet/468178/68 "2008-10-21T21:43:46Z")
Early voting this Saturday, the first day for early voting for Orange County. It will probably be pretty crowded, although it wasn’t at all on 2006 (only around 1/5th at the most of the machines were in use.) But I figure it will make room for more people to vote on Election Day, possibly one of the highest turnouts we’ve seen in a very long time. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-vote-yet/468178/69 "2008-10-21T21:50:12Z")
I also will vote on election day and have never waited more than 15 min to vote. I guess a prefer the shared experience aspect. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-vote-yet/468178/70 "2008-10-21T22:12:10Z")
I vote by absentee ballot last week. Voting for Obama and against the gay marriage ban felt great, but my favorite part was voting for Dr. Archimedes Ramirez, Neurosurgeon. I forget what he was running for, I just love the name. Archimedes Ramirez! ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-vote-yet/468178/71 "2008-10-21T22:30:09Z")
I had no idea early voting was so prevalent. Is it an option here in NYC? 😕 Guess I’d better look that one up on the Interwebs. I’ve never seen a “I Voted Today” sticker in NYC. ☹ A friend of mine who just became a citizen last year was shocked - shocked! - when she went to cast her first vote and got no sticker! The elementary school which serves as my polling place always has a kick-ass bake sale on election day, though. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-vote-yet/468178/72 "2008-10-21T22:46:27Z")
My early vote-by-mail ballot went out today. Woohoo, go democracy! ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-vote-yet/468178/73 "2008-10-22T00:06:26Z")
> [@Rachael\_Rage](#): > > I had no idea early voting was so prevalent. Is it an option here in NYC? 😕 Guess I’d better look that one up on the Interwebs. My girlfriend lives there and reported to me yesterday that NY has no early voting available. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-vote-yet/468178/74 "2008-10-22T00:27:22Z")
New York has absentee voting, though. And, I voted absentee yesterday (although not in New York). ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-vote-yet/468178/75 "2008-10-22T00:34:46Z")
> [@Acid\_Lamp](#): > > I voted Yesterday. Glad I got it out of the way, though I somehow feel cheated that I cannot do anymore to ensure my candidate wins. Well, you could donate your time to the local Obama office for phone banking or neighborhood walks, some cash to the national campaign, or even some office supplies to the local Obama office. This thing ain’t won yet, and there’s still work to be done and things to be paid for. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-vote-yet/468178/76 "2008-10-22T02:05:09Z")
I dropped my ballot in the mail today. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-vote-yet/468178/77 "2008-10-22T03:47:35Z")
Is there a difference between “early voting” and “absentee voting”? I’m not familiar with the former term. Is this something new or the same thing? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-vote-yet/468178/78 "2008-10-22T03:55:21Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Is there a difference between “early voting” and “absentee voting”? I’m not familiar with the former term. Is this something new or the same thing? “Early voting” is _similar_ to absentee voting in that you don’t have to vote on the appointed day. It differs in that you don’t have to go through any different paperwork than you would to vote normally. You might, depending upon a few factors, have to vote in a polling place other than your usual, but you might not. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-vote-yet/468178/79 "2008-10-22T04:01:44Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Is there a difference between “early voting” and “absentee voting”? I’m not familiar with the former term. Is this something new or the same thing? Absentee voting is getting your ballot mailed to you at home, you fill it out and send it back in. No need to mingle with the common folk. Early voting, like here in Nevada, means they actually have polling booths open in various locations. You have to physically go there, enter a booth and vote - exactly the same as on Election Day, just earlier and over several days. Ours goes from Oct 18 - Oct 31. If you miss that “early voting” period, then you have to wait and vote on November 4th at your regular polling place. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-vote-yet/468178/80 "2008-10-22T04:08:53Z")
I see. This must be a recent development. Seems a little odd to me. Why not just do absentee balloting? But whatever works. It would be amusing if there was early voting everywhere and the vast majority of voters just happened to choose to vote that day, making it the effective Election Day(s). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-vote-yet/468178.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ya-vote-yet/468178.md?page=5)