Obama Campaign circulating unfortunate info in CA re: absentee voting

[emlev]

I just received an email from the Obama campaign urging me to vote absentee, saying it's "safe, quick, and reliable. But most importantly, it allows you to vote early from the comfort of your own home, freeing you up to volunteer for the campaign on Election Day, November 4th."

The email contains a link to request an absentee ballot.

What's the problem?

Vote By Mail/absentee voting may be safer in that you're less likely to fall down your stairs or trip on the electrical cord of a voting machine while doing it, but it is not a way to protect your vote!

When you put the ballot in the mail, the "chain of custody" is broken. When it arrives at the elections office before election day, it is likely processed with significantly less oversight than what can be provided by political parties and community groups during the processing of ballots that come in on election day.

For More info, read The BRAD BLOG'S Why 'Vote-by-Mail' is Terrible for Democracy.

Election integrity advocates are recommending:

• Vote on paper if you possibly can.
  
• Vote at the polls on election day if you possibly can.
  
• If you *must* vote absentee, deliver your ballot in person if possible and on election day if possible.

If you're planning to help out on election day with Video The Vote, the Election Verification Project, Election Monitoring, Being a Pollworker/Trained Observer, or getting out the vote (GOTV), sure, fill out that absentee ballot so you won't have to wait in line. But deliver it in person to your elections office or your precinct. For details of how to do GOTV, contact the office of a campaign you support. For details on how to do any of the other projects listed, check out the Featured Projects at STEALING AMERICA: Vote By Vote's Action Site.

[Retrograde]

1. um, this isn't actually that much more accurate

I've talked with poll workers for Santa Clara county on how absentee ballots are counted. Once they're received by the county clerk's office the process is rather tightly controlled.

I vote absentee because I'm not always sure I'll be home on election days. Last year I was on the other side of the country. This year, assuming no 9/11-style disruption in transportation, I expect to be working a few counties away.

[Iggo]

2. I think the OP's concern...

...is also stated in your post.

"Once they're received..."

[krabigirl]

3. I have to vote absentee. I'm due with a baby right around election day.

And I'm not like Palin - I won't be taking risks if my water breaks. I'll be in the hospital.

I'm comfortable voting absentee.

[LeftyMom]

4. I have permanent absentee status because I'm a poll worker

I won't be this time, but I'll be at school and might not have time to make it to my polling place after class.

I worry about my ballot getting lost in the mail, so I always do it at home (which is nice, I get to look up the propositions and down-ticket candidates as I go, and my son gets to see what being an informed voter is all about) and then we go drop it off at the county elections office.

The other nice thing about voting permanent absentee or other vote-by-mail systems is that I never miss obscure special elections. Even if they totally slip my mind, the ballot shows up and I'm reminded. :)

[laugle]

5. I heard on talk radio that some of these links are not legitimate!

People complained that there ballots were being dumped if they voted for Obama. I'm not sure how they know that, but I would be careful!

I get my absentee ballot automatically from the Registrar of Votes, as I am a PAV, permanent absentee voter.

Just thought I should warn people who use these links!