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Joe BidenCongratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
 

Judi Lynn

(160,218 posts)
Wed Mar 11, 2020, 10:32 PM Mar 2020

Millions of Democratic votes were lost in the primaries. Is this the fix?


Americans who vote early may ‘waste’ their vote on candidates who drop out of the race. There’s an easy way to remedy that

Mohit Nair and Colin Cole

Wed 11 Mar 2020 12.07 EDT Last modified on Wed 11 Mar 2020 13.43 EDT

Across the country, millions of voters turned in early ballots for the US presidential primary elections, often voting for candidates no longer in the race on election day.

In Colorado and Texas, early voters for candidates other than Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders might have made a statement, but they didn’t have the chance to influence the primary election. Some of the estimated 20% of Californians who voted early asked for a do-over. In Minnesota, 40,000 people had reportedly cast their ballots a week before Super Tuesday – and days before Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar dropped out.

Just yesterday, more than a million Washington voters finally had the chance to weigh in. Unlike other states, which saw long lines and voting machine errors, the state votes by mail and has a highly engaged electorate. As a result, a significant proportion of ballots were returned early, essentially throwing away their vote.

Early voting is generally viewed as a good thing by civil rights advocates – it helps avoid errors on election day, and curbs long lines at the precinct. But voting for soon-to-be unviable candidates is not only a frustrating reality for proactive voters, but intrinsically harmful to the democratic process.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/mar/11/ranked-choice-voting-us-primary-elections-washington
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Millions of Democratic votes were lost in the primaries. Is this the fix? (Original Post) Judi Lynn Mar 2020 OP
We're seeing all the flaws in all the voting systems. rickyhall Mar 2020 #1
It is a good thing. Beats standing in line. It is a choice if you don't like it Demsrule86 Mar 2020 #2
Early voting is a great option Codeine Mar 2020 #3
I voted early in WA caraher Mar 2020 #4
 

rickyhall

(4,889 posts)
1. We're seeing all the flaws in all the voting systems.
Wed Mar 11, 2020, 10:39 PM
Mar 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Demsrule86

(68,352 posts)
2. It is a good thing. Beats standing in line. It is a choice if you don't like it
Wed Mar 11, 2020, 10:45 PM
Mar 2020

than don't vote early. It gives folks more of a chance to vote.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Codeine

(25,586 posts)
3. Early voting is a great option
Wed Mar 11, 2020, 10:49 PM
Mar 2020

for lots of people. My wife votes early by mail, but I won’t go that route. I enjoy voting in person and I don’t get caught out if somebody ends their campaign unexpectedly.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

caraher

(6,276 posts)
4. I voted early in WA
Wed Mar 11, 2020, 11:20 PM
Mar 2020

And don't regret it. I could have waited but chose not to...

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
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