Vote-By-Mail Battle Intensifies: Protesters Gather at Home of Postmaster General After Dems Complain

[Abrosz]

I agree with some of what you posted but definitely - however not this … actually one-person-one-vote system is NOT the real bedrock of the Republic. That would be a pure Democracy which is a tyranny of the majority and not a stable form of governance …

If we want to go into the details - which is always a good practice - we have a hybrid system. The Constitution establishes the powers of the government, but the representation is decided via the “democratic” principles. (By the way: "we speak of true democracy, when two wolves and one sheep VOTE for what will be for dinner tonight). And the third part of the government - the judicial branch - is supposed to be the balancing factor.

In the Roman concept of “republic” there were the tribunes, two citizens of impeccable reputation, whose life was sacrosanct - and who only had ONE power, and we still use the ancient word for it: “VETO”! They could prevent the legislators and the “executive” branch from overreaching.

Our system is a pretty good approximation of this arrangement, except that the judicial branch does not have the simple “VETO” power. If only the judges were truly independent and without a party and religious affiliation - it would be much better.

The electoral college was established for ONE reason only - to allow the voting process to be simpler. Not everyone could have a day off (the second Tuesday) from work, so the electors were assumed to represent the will of those who voted for the party line. They were NOT supposed to be allowed to vote for whatever they wanted to - and this requirement is gaining acceptance these days.

The balancing you speak of, TWO senators and proportional representatives were established precisely to allow the minorities to be protected against the rule of the majority. And, of course it was a wonderful idea. The electoral college has nothing to do with it.

 

[YADA]

Small less populated states wanted representation - they did not want the highly populated states to rule over them … that played a role in our founding as the United States and in the electoral college … as even at our founding there were larger urban centers - and large [geographically - land area] states and small more rural and less populous states with smaller land areas . those smaller states wanted an equal representation in governance - they did not want only population and or land mass to provide overwhelming clout to their detriment …

and I guess you missed where I said we had a representative democratic republic …

 

[YADA]

I work for the federal government and my sister is a retired post master … anyone who thinks the decision to remove mail drop boxes and sorting machines was just made since the pandemic and discussions of mail in voting is delusional. The federal government does not move that fast and these decisions were probably made and scheduled for implementation over a year ago … also, with snail mail less and less used and electronic payments eliminating the need - they have been centralizing mail sorting for years and removing outdated sorting machines as they are no longer supported, parts are not available and better more efficient machines are brought online. Also, many locations have removed mail drop boxes and in some cities it is nearly impossible to find one except at a post office… Vallejo CA is one such City - it s partly due to lack of use and vandalism. When I moved there years ago I did not trust the outgoing mail drop in the apartment complex as the door was routinely pried open and outgoing mail stolen or ransacked … it was also impossible to find a drop box anyware except at actual post offices - in a 7 mile radius of searching I was only able to locate one that was not at the PO.

Post Office force reductions and consolidations of services has been in process since the early 2000s and ongoing … ALSO they have wanted to end Saturday home delivery for years … congress keeps blocking that effort - but it is costly and home delivery Monday through Friday is adequate IMHO and easily the PO could use the savings to promote better customer service M-F

 

[puer.dei]

Cathoholic, misrepresenting my post –

puer.dei (inventing a false dichotomy while pretending people at high risk cannot vote by mail right now with the system we have) . . .

As you know perfectly well, if you read my post in context, I was clearly responding to a post about expecting a lot of absentee votes in November, with a list of some of the reasons there will certainly be more this year.

 

[PaulinVA]

Pro tip, guys? When you are gathering in person to say why you can’t gather in person to vote, you tend to argue against your own point.

Yeah, that’s a cute little turn of the phrase, but isn’t the whole issue.

Yes, walking in for a few minutes to vote has, probably, acceptable risk.

However, the people sitting there for hours to check you in (poll workers) aren’t volunteering because of the risk to them. So, you’ll be seeing more mega-voting venues with incredibly long lines. That’s a higher risk for everyone, as well as discouraging people from voting.

 

[puer.dei]

Yes, walking in for a few minutes to vote has, probably, acceptable risk.

Not to mention that it could be a lot longer than a few minutes. Lines can be hours long when turnout is high.

 

[LeafByNiggle]

There are problems with universal voting by mail.

I have posted many of them here over the last several months.

Our country’s Republic is more essential than “leisure”.

Then why is Trump’s “leisure” more important than his showing up at the polls in Florida, so that he has to use mail-in voting? He could easily do it. He should stand in line just like everyone else. People keep saying it is not a problem.

 

[PaulinVA]

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[Ridgerunner]

However, the people sitting there for hours to check you in (poll workers) aren’t volunteering because of the risk to them .

Poll workers are paid. They don’t “volunteer” except in the sense that they go to their party leaders to let them know they are available to work at the polls.

 

[ThinkingSapien]

Not to mention that it could be a lot longer than a few minutes. Lines can be hours long when turnout is high.

It was up to 7 hours in Atlanta. They have decided to repurpose the State Farm Arena as a voting location. Perhaps with such a spacious venue the voters won’t have to be out in the alternating hot sun and rain next time around.

 

[PaulinVA]

It was up to 7 hours in Atlanta. They have decided to repurpose the State Farm Arena as a voting location. Perhaps with such a spacious venue the voters won’t have to be out in the alternating hot sun and rain next time around.

This. is. crazy.

Also, if you call “mail-in voting” “Absentee voting” apparently Trump likes it, although he still won’t fund the Post Office to deliver the ballots.

 

[Cathoholic]

PaulinVA . . .

So, you’ll be seeing more mega-voting venues with incredibly long lines.

How do you think you know that?

Are you a precinct captain PLANNING this?

Why won’t they just have healthier voting officers?
Or more social distance?

Why do YOU think you know MORE than Dr. Fauci on this?

 

[MikeInVA]

Examples like the recent election in NY where 25% of the ballots were rejected show why the mail-in voting effort is the most blatant voter suppression attempt in history.

 

[Cathoholic]

PaulinVA . . .

Also, if you call “mail-in voting” “Absentee voting” apparently Trump likes it . . .

If you (wrongly) think they are the same thing Paul, what is your concern? Just have your guys do “mail-in voting” and tell 'em how equivalent they are to “vote-by-mail”.

I know the difference and I am surprised you do not know this difference.

 

[Cathoholic]

LeafByNiggle . . .

Then why is Trump’s “leisure” more important than his showing up at the polls in Florida . . .

It is none of our business that’s why.

The same as every other citizen.

This action of yours (criticizing the way a citizen classically votes) suggests to me anyway, you are attempting to stifle the vote.

 

[PaulinVA]

How do you think you know that?

Are you a precinct captain PLANNING this?

Have you not been paying attention?

What we know so far about why Milwaukee only had 5 voting sites for Tuesday's election while Madison had 66

Voters experienced long lines and hours-long waits in Milwaukee, which normally has 180 polling sites.

www.jsonline.com

The City of Milwaukee had just five in-person voting sites open for Tuesday’s election while Madison, a city with a smaller population, had 66 sites where voters could cast their ballots.

That left many wondering why Milwaukee had so few in comparison.

It’s a difficult question to answer, Milwaukee Election Commission Executive Director Neil Albrecht said during a virtual press conference this week.

“I think first and foremost they’re two very, very different cities,” he said. “The demographics are very different. But I think the answer is really rooted in the COVID-19 pandemic and Milwaukee being at the epicenter of that pandemic.”

https://www.wsj.com/articles/long-voting-lines-are-latest-hurdles-for-officials-prepping-for-november-polls-11592472600

The long lines at some voting sites point to a key bottleneck: finding enough people, often volunteers, to help administer the election during a pandemic. States and counties are having to shift personnel to handle a flood of mail ballots and must also find people to staff voting stations despite the health concerns.

D.C. voters see long lines at the polls in election complicated by 7 p.m. curfew, pandemic

Today is primary election day in D. C. , and voters were waiting in a long line at at least one polling place late Tuesday afternoon. ABC7 spotted the line at the Columbia Heights Community Center, one of 20 in-person voting sites that have been open since May 22. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic...

wjla.com

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the District’s usual 144 precincts did not open today, but any city resident was allowed to vote at any of the 20 centers. The D.C. Board of Elections had been encouraging residents to vote by mail.

Only 10 voters are allowed in each center at a time, and social distancing measures are in effect in the lines outside the centers.

Why won’t they just have healthier voting officers?
Or more social distance?

Why do YOU think you know MORE than Dr. Fauci on this?

Healthier election officers! How obvious.

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If you (wrongly) think they are the same thing Paul, what is your concern? Just have your guys do “mail-in voting” and tell 'em how equivalent they are to “vote-by-mail”.

I know the difference and I am surprised you do not know this difference.

It was a joke.

 

[FrankFletcher]

Pro tip, guys? When you are gathering in person to say why you can’t gather in person to vote, you tend to argue against your own point.​

Pro tip? Here’s one: when you decry mail-in ballots and then send mailers with your pic on them encouraging voters to get mail-in ballots, you tend to argue against your own point.

 

[puer.dei]

Why won’t they just have healthier voting officers?
Or more social distance?

In many places, a lot of the poll workers are older, retired people. In the real world, not everyone can take time off work to do this.

 

[Thorolfr]

Why do YOU think you know MORE than Dr. Fauci on this?

I can’t believe all the people quoting Dr. Fauci on this voting issue who not long ago were dismissive of his medical advice on other issues and were pointing out all the mistakes he had supposedly made.

 

[puer.dei]

I can’t believe all the people quoting Dr. Fauci on this voting issue who not long ago were dismissive of his medical advice on other issues and were pointing out all the mistakes he had supposedly made.

Yeah, but now he’s saying what they want him to, so that must mean he’s right.