Super-Everything must GO! Tuesday!

[Fleet Admiral JD]

I did indeed go vote after school and put one in for Barack Obama

[Einhander Sn0m4n]

I love the fact that they schedule these farcical political-theatre bullshit-fests on a goddamn WORK DAY, which guarantees effective voter-suppression with a preponderance toward working poor. Why not a Federal holiday on a Friday?

[DrMckay]

It would make sense?

[CmdrWilkens]

In primary news, they're calling West Virginia for Huckabee. Looks like he's not going quietly into that good night. We're not gonna know anything until the last vote is counted in California, Romney and McCain are that close.

Yeah, he got 62% of the Republi-tard votes here.

I hope next year the WV Democrats are allowed to do our Primary on SuperTuesday like the Republicans were.

You should have joined in with MD/DC/VA and gotten in with the mid-atlantic Primary next Tuesday. Given that, at this point, the Democratic rpimary is looking wide open the number of delegates up for grabs in such a small locale means that this will be the next battle ground as it provides the next chance to shift the narrative after Super Tuesday (at least until March 4th). Moreover I would much rather have a number of smaller multi-state primaries that a few one-state wonders and a huge 22 state boondogle. Make Iowa and New Hampshire the same day, put Nevada and South Carolina on two weeks later then go to some nice regional primaries, SW one weekend then SE the next then NE, then Midwest then Mid-Atlantic.

[Coyote]

One more thing I like about Obama-- he's the only candidate out there that doesn't have a chip on his shoulder about World War 2, Vietnam, the Civil Rights and Protest March era. He's a clean break with all the crap in the past (especially the Vietnam-era hysterics, both pro- and anti-) that everyone else uses to identify themselves with.

He remembers wars on TV like the Falkland Islands, the 1991 Gulf War... stuff from the Ford & Carter eras on. I'm tired of using "what did you do (or not do) in the 19-fucking-60's that qualifies you today" crap. He's a clean break with the old hysterics and identity politics from a time in America that was really atypical. All that stuff is behind him, and he's not paralyzed by the same ghosts and shadows.

[Dark Hellion]

I live in Illinois, I let the zombies vote for me. I'll cast my vote for Obama when the main election comes, although it won't matter, my dumb farming hickass country will vote some dumbass republican. I love being marginalized and yet still having my candidate win. Go American voting, giving me a voice, so I can squander it.

[MKSheppard]

I love the fact that they schedule these farcical political-theatre bullshit-fests on a goddamn WORK DAY, which guarantees effective voter-suppression with a preponderance toward working poor. Why not a Federal holiday on a Friday?

Shut the fuck up Einy, and stop smoking weed.

In Montgomery County, the polling places are in schools, which are you know, everywhere where people live; and they're open from early in the morning to 8 PM at night. Yeah, I'm sure that it's voter suppression of the working "poor"; since voting requires 2 hours to clear security...oh wait that's airports.

[Dark Hellion]

You know Shep, a lot of poorer individuals work from early in the morning, until later in the afternoon, after which they must finish the many daily errands like preparing food for their family, basic hygiene, etc. Had the primary been tomorrow, I would have been unable to attend, and I simply work part-time and have school, so maybe his point is valid.
Maybe you should try some of Ein's Weed?

[Kodiak]

You know Shep, a lot of poorer individuals work from early in the morning, until later in the afternoon, after which they must finish the many daily errands like preparing food for their family, basic hygiene, etc. Had the primary been tomorrow, I would have been unable to attend, and I simply work part-time and have school, so maybe his point is valid.
Maybe you should try some of Ein's Weed?

Is california the only place that allows absentee ballots? It simply requires that you pay attention to upcoming elections and vote in advance if you can't take 20 mins out of your day to vote.

[Dark Hellion]

Of course Kodiak, I mean the populace is supposed to have to work around the system, as that is what ensures democratic voting. I mean, having to go out of your way to participate in what is supposed to be an egalitarian process isn't self-contradictory at all.

[CaptainChewbacca]

Of course Kodiak, I mean the populace is supposed to have to work around the system, as that is what ensures democratic voting. I mean, having to go out of your way to participate in what is supposed to be an egalitarian process isn't self-contradictory at all.

You have to go out of your way to vote in-person, you're just changing the time you go out of your way when you vote absentee.

[Dark Hellion]

Yes, obvious practical concerns such as that do exist. However, this does not change the fact that there are many amongst the poor who will be/would be working all day today, and thus unable to attend a voting place, but to whom an absentee ballet would not have been considered at the time (they may have a variable schedule, etc.). If one cannot see how this could create a disenfranchisement of a certain portion of the populace, then one probably wouldn't be able to see a problem if we had polling places in non-handicap accessible buildings. I mean, people in wheelchairs can just place absentee ballets, there is no reason we should make attempt to make voting convenient for them.

This is not a major problem, but the pretense that the poor and wealthy have equivalent ease of access to voting is a convenient myth to tell ourselves so we don't have to admit we may have deep flaws in the egalitarianism of our voting schemes.

[Fire Fly]

The political tension is killing me. I've checking for poll updates like crazy in the last few days and keeping watch on the political stock markets every few minutes. This must be what watching the Superbowl feels like.

[Gandalf]

I love the fact that they schedule these farcical political-theatre bullshit-fests on a goddamn WORK DAY, which guarantees effective voter-suppression with a preponderance toward working poor. Why not a Federal holiday on a Friday?

Or you could just do it on a Saturday like we do.

[Fire Fly]

The political tension is killing me. I've checking for poll updates like crazy in the last few days and keeping watch on the political stock markets every few minutes. This must be what watching the Superbowl feels like.

Wow...how did the words in my head not translate to my fingers?

[Guardsman Bass]

I went in and cast my vote for Obama in the Utah Democratic Primary. It's the only one that's actually competitive, considering that the Utah Republican Primary is probably going to consist of an "Amen! Hallelujah Brother Mitt!" Mitt Romney victory, considering both his accomplishments with the 2002 Olympics and the fact that so much of the state is Mormon (down to about 60%, but still high).

They make voting obscenely easy for students here at my university. The sort of Union/Cafeteria style building is essentially next door to all of the student housing, and they put it in the Union surrounded by enough signs that you'd have to be a total retard or completely blind not to find your way to the polling station.

Voting itself took probably less than a minute. We used electronic voting machines (Diebold strikes again!).

[Soontir C'boath]

Alphabetical by last name?

Kucinich was listed after Obama. I don't know how the hell they organized them.I voted for Obama, but I'm getting seriously fed up with the Democratic organization in my state; they lost my fucking registration. I wasn't in the book, had to sit on the phone with them for twenty minutes to get any kind of straight answer out of them, and in the end I had to use a paper ballot.

I recall reading that some states list the names in random order on each ballot*, so as to remove the perceived advantages of being listed first. Maybe NYS is one of them. *For example, one ballot in the pile may list Clinton first, the next ballot may list Obama first, and so on through the entire list of candidates.

Looking up the NYS BoE, the names are randomized and it's the same order throughout the state considering Moly's paper ballot. PDF: List of Presidential Primary Candidates

While browsing the website, I looked at the voter enrollment for the district I'm in and there are much more Republicans than Democrats here but at the polling site on my university, there were two booths for Democrats and only one for Republicans.

[TC Pilot]

I live in Illinois, I let the zombies vote for me. I'll cast my vote for Obama when the main election comes, although it won't matter, my dumb farming hickass country will vote some dumbass republican. I love being marginalized and yet still having my candidate win. Go American voting, giving me a voice, so I can squander it.

Just be happy that until Chicago sinks into the lake, Daley's political machine is going to keep Illinois Democrat, no matter what the rest of the state votes.

[CaptainChewbacca]

So there's a huge tornado in Memphis and I can't find a word about it on CNN.

[Big Phil]

Here's another group that's badly disenfranchised... because America hates doctors and nurses.

Yes, obvious practical concerns such as that do exist. However, this does not change the fact that there are many amongst the emergency room personnel working a 24 hour shift who will be/would be working all day today, and thus unable to attend a voting place, but to whom an absentee ballet would not have been considered at the time (they may have a variable schedule, etc.). If one cannot see how this could create a disenfranchisement of a certain portion of the populace, then one probably wouldn't be able to see a problem if we had polling places in non-handicap accessible buildings. I mean, people in wheelchairs can just place absentee ballets, there is no reason we should make attempt to make voting convenient for them.

This is not a major problem, but the pretense that the emergency room personnel working a 24 hour shift and those who don't work 24 hour shifts have equivalent ease of access to voting is a convenient myth to tell ourselves so we don't have to admit we may have deep flaws in the egalitarianism of our voting schemes.

[Lusankya]

Here's another group that's badly disenfranchised... because America hates doctors and nurses.

Yes, obvious practical concerns such as that do exist. However, this does not change the fact that there are many amongst the emergency room personnel working a 24 hour shift who will be/would be working all day today, and thus unable to attend a voting place, but to whom an absentee ballet would not have been considered at the time (they may have a variable schedule, etc.). If one cannot see how this could create a disenfranchisement of a certain portion of the populace, then one probably wouldn't be able to see a problem if we had polling places in non-handicap accessible buildings. I mean, people in wheelchairs can just place absentee ballets, there is no reason we should make attempt to make voting convenient for them.

This is not a major problem, but the pretense that the emergency room personnel working a 24 hour shift and those who don't work 24 hour shifts have equivalent ease of access to voting is a convenient myth to tell ourselves so we don't have to admit we may have deep flaws in the egalitarianism of our voting schemes.

I hardly see how this invalidates his point.

[Darth Fanboy]

Any West Virginia residents or those familiar with their unique process care to explain the nature of your voting rules from a voter's perspective? I'm a little bit confused as to why you are allowed to vote twice.

It's how Mike "Redneckiest and hillbilliest last name in political history" Huckabee won I guess.

Arizona Senator John McCain, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney have all won states as the polls in the eastern half of the country close.

Projections based on exit polls show Senator McCain won the east coast states of Connecticut, New Jersey, and Delaware as well as Illinois, home to America's third biggest city Chicago.

Both Mr Romney and Mr Huckabee won their home states, while Huckabee also chalked up Alabama and an early victory in the small state of West Virginia earlier in the evening.
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A number of states are still too close to call or have yet to conclude voting.

Mr Huckabee's West Virginia victory came after John McCain supporters switched sides in a second round of voting in order to avoid handing Mitt Romney the state's 18 delegates.

Senator McCain holds a commanding poll lead in the Republican race.

Despite Huckabee's victory, polls indicate the Republican race could be decided today with Senator McCain enjoying a clear lead. His closest rival Mitt Romney is polling well in California, the biggest state on the electoral map in terms of delegates.

A total of 24 states are voting today for Republican and Democratic presidential candidates.

[Soontir C'boath]

So MSNBC says Clinton is projecting to win with 62% compared to Obama's 36% in New York but the precints reporting in is at 0%.

For fuck's sake, wait a little fucking while!

[Big Phil]

I hardly see how this invalidates his point.

Einy's original point was that holding elections on non-holiday weekdays disenfranchises the working poor. The problem is, unless the government makes all work illegal on an election day (this includes police, fire, emergency workers, doctors, etc.), somebody is always going to have a tough time voting. Even on Christmas there are still people working, even if it's (typically) limited to cops, firefighters, medical personnel, and other "emergency" workers.

Using the working poor as an example is just another variation of "won't somebody please think of the children!" My old boss never voted, and he was hardly working poor - he owned the company. He just insisted on working 16 hour days and therefore never made it to the polling booth.

[Scottish Ninja]

Any West Virginia residents or those familiar with their unique process care to explain the nature of your voting rules from a voter's perspective? I'm a little bit confused as to why you are allowed to vote twice.

It's how Mike "Redneckiest and hillbilliest last name in political history" Huckabee won I guess.

The West Virginia Republican party holds a state convention, I believe - that vote switching would be in later rounds of voting as in a presidential convention where the early rounds aren't conclusive.