Vote Early! Vote Often!

So…here we are 23 days before the election. Except that here in Ohio the election has been on for over a week now. Early voting has been the hot button issue in our state this year. In addition to absentee ballot requests mailed out by our Secretary of State, you can go to the Board of Elections and vote just because. Early voting is supposed to end in Ohio on Friday, November 2nd, except if you are in the military in which case you can vote anytime as required by Federal mandate.

The Democratic Party sued Ohio in federal court claiming that the early shutdown to early voting violates the Equal Protection clause of the Constitution. The Democrats cherry picked a local Democrat appointed federal judge to pursue their endeavors and prevailed. Ohio is taking the case to the United States Supreme Court claiming that Ohio has some of the most liberal voting access laws in the Union, allowing folks to vote a full month before the election either by absentee or at the local Board of Elections. My money is Ohio will win, but who knows in this crazy world.

Early voting on its face sounds like a good idea. Who doesn’t want citizens to vote? But things aren’t always what they seem, and there are unintended consequences. Election day, by federal mandate, is the first Tuesday in November. Heretofore, campaigns were geared towards that particular day in which a collective snapshot of public opinion could be had, and our officials elected. You had to apply for absentee ballots, and needed a good reason NOT to be able to vote on Election Day.

With voting expanded out in excess of a month in certain states, including Ohio, it has complicated the process. I am familiar with both ends of the stick. For those running for office, it has expanded the need  for even larger sums of money to cover campaigns that have to be ready for voting at the beginning of October. It means lots and lots of more money. The cost of get out the vote efforts alone has jumped dramatically, particularly with the Democrats who literally hire buses to bring people to vote from their churches. The cost then expands to Republicans who intensify their efforts at nursing homes. It goes on and on.

But the bigger danger is to the country. With early voting out of control, there is no collective consensus. Those who voted on October 2nd in Ohio voted before the debates. How can these folks make an informed decision? In this election specifically, the whole problem with the Libyan raids was not even in the news in a meaningful manner on October 2nd. What if something happens and you want to change your mind? You are out of luck.

And let’s not even talk about voter fraud. In the northwest part of the country, they don’t even have Election Day voting. It is all done my mail in ballots. On its face, that is an invitation to fraud.

If for no other reason than the size of the population, I am not opposed to early voting, but not like it is being done now. For example, they could expand Election Day to two days. I would feel more comfortable if voting was not allowed at least until after the 2nd Presidential debate so folks can see what the candidates have to say. Absentee votes should be exactly what they are supposed to be. If you are sick or out of the area on election day, then by all means vote absentee…but not as a simple matter of convenience.

People can go pay their water bill and electric bill in person. People can go get their drivers license renewed. People can go out to eat. Why am I the only one that thinks people should be able to take a few minutes out of their lives over a seven day period to go vote?

Early voting is becoming a red hot button issue. Parameters need to be established at the Federal level for early voting nationwide…just so thing stay fair. Vote early and vote often is being raised to an art form.  It's time to step back just a tad.