Comments on: Texas Early Voting Makes Exit Polls Meaningless

By: AngryB

AngryB — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 16:59:23 +0000

I live in Oregon, where there is only mail-in voting state wide. This is an excellent voting method, everyone gets to vote (who’s registered), no challenges, and no waiting in line. Plus, you get to take all the time you need to review candidates, measures, etc.

I think we should push for something like this nation-wide.

By: yellowdog jim

yellowdog jim — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 16:01:33 +0000

i saw a hours (and hours) long line to vote on the last day of early voting at the Academic Center polling place on UT Austin campus: at least hundreds of UT students were going to wait hours to vote.

this was about 1:00 PM and as long as they were in line by 7 PM they would be able to cast their vote.

i and some fellow volunteer deputy voter registrars spent the evening of the last day to register to vote and be able to vote in the November 4 general election registering voters and updating voter registrations.
our team was outside City Market on Airport Blvd in predominately black and Mexican-American East Austin. These efforts went on state wide.

From 2 in the afternoon to 8PM 175 voters were registered at our location.
Dozens were being worked across austin.
all were open till midnight that night.

dollars to doughnuts there will be completely overwhelmed election poll workers on November 4th.

By: albertchampion

albertchampion — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 05:18:25 +0000

i hate to think what it would be like in metro houston without early voting.

based on what i encountered in montgomery county during early voting.

very long lines.

insufficient space to accommodate the electorate.

it has become clear to me that the state’s mission is to deter the electorate: to prevent the voting.

on many occasions, i have denounced the demtillians for being as interested in deterring the vote as the reptillians.

let us see, if obombya becomes elected, will he change that situation.

personally, i think not. afer all, he is a rockefeller courtier. a feature of his existence that goes undiscussed.

when will it happen? when will we establish a government not owned by the financiers, the gangsters?

By: SBtheYDD

SBtheYDD — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 04:54:27 +0000

“… Texas doesn’t have partisan voter registration.” - Ian

Ian, that’s literally true, but in Texas, voting in a party primary is the functional equivalent of registering with a party. A Texas Democrat can always use his or her county’s canvass for the Democratic primary, joining that with the voter registration list to get precincts and addresses. Those lists, both current and historical, are readily available from the county voter registrar and/or the county clerk. In some counties, you may find some energetic Democrat has already done the work for you, and may share if you can prove your bona fides as a Democrat.

Thanks for a great post! I’m hearing the same thing as you from the locals.

By: sanantone

sanantone — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 04:44:20 +0000

I’ve been wanting to comment on Texas early voting. We often (deservedly) get a bad rap, but early voting here is a breeze. We’ve had it for a long time. Many polling places. Open long hours and weekends.Even this year, with record turnout in Bexar County (San Antonio) I haven’t heard of anyone waiting more than 20 minutes in line. Now if they’ll only vote Democratic.
Anyway, I can’t understand why it is taking so long in other states. Is it too few locations?

By: bigbrother

bigbrother — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 04:31:20 +0000

Thanks for that link…how accurate might the phone survey sample be?

By: bystander

bystander — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 04:22:22 +0000

The NY Times seems to suggest that Edison/Mitofsky will be doing exit poll telephone surveys in 18 battleground states (IIRC). However, the Times reports that those surveys will be limited to land line users.

By: ratfood

ratfood — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 02:52:37 +0000

It is astounding that Republicans portray Obama and other Dems as un-American while doing everything in their power to suppress voter turnout.

By: katymine

katymine — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 02:47:03 +0000

Friday was the last day of early voting here in AZ….. Hey give us a few years….. first we have to get rid of our winger Secretary of State….. and a few other wingers….

By: perris

perris — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 02:46:24 +0000

the polls are very important in discovering if the votes have been flipped