Do you like to vote early (if your state allows), or do you like to vote ON election day?

[Butterbean]

Just out of curiosity. I'm one of those people who loathes crowds with every fiber of my being, and would rather pluck my leg hairs out one by one with tweezers than voluntarily stand in a long line for hours crammed uncomfortably close to strangers. I vote early because I like to get in, get it done, and get out. Plus, I have 2 young children who are NOT good at waiting in line and who get very loud and rambunctious in crowds, and I would rather do anything than bring them to the polls with me.

However, some friends of mine love the energy of election day, love the crowds, love the people, love chatting up strangers in line, and bring their kids because their kids are curious about the election process and want to see. They purposely wait until election day to vote.

Where do you fall?

[sharp_stick]

1. I like election day

My polling site isn't that busy and I enjoy going on the day of the election. For me that kind of makes it "game day".

[Butterbean]

5. Ah, "game day," good analogy. n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. Same here. It's just a nice feeling to walk into that booth and pick up a pencil that my neighbors

probably just used.

[sad sally]

21. Living in a mail-in only state, we miss going to the local polling site and waiting to cast our vote

It used to be almost like a civics lesson for the family. Now, hubby and I sit at the table and mark our ballots for the Democrats and carry them to the Courthouse and drop them in a box - it's not the same.

[hfojvt]

39. I learned at a move on meet up

to vote early, so I could work on GOTV on election day. In 2004 and 2006 I did poll watching, in 2008 did door hangers and knocking (under the direction of the Obama field organizer) and in 2010 more poll watching. I did some calling too in most of those years as well as in 2000.

[NMDemDist2]

2. since I'm usually a poll worker, I vote early unless

I'm actually working in my precinct, then I vote first thing election day

[TBF]

3. Early - I hate the crowds as well. nt

[Warpy]

4. I hate crowds, so I'm an early voter

I was also an early Xmas shopper, same reason. I did enjoy walking around downtown Boston during the last few shopping days, but the crowds inside stores were just too much.

It's just a little weird seeing the occasional political ad after you've voted.

[Butterbean]

9. Oh my gosh, ME TOO. I refuse to set foot in a mall or shopping center after mid-november.

Christmas shopping for me that must be done in stores is either finished by then, or I have found a way to get the gift online. I am a huge online Christmas shopper. *shudder* I hate crowds. State Fairs and amusement parks make me so squirrelly.

[RKP5637]

6. I vote early by mail. Voting by mail is encouraged here and

it works really well.

[freshwest]

37. Same here and check all the people I know to see if they've voted, and provide postage if needed.

[Tarheel_Dem]

7. Early, because I usually drive others on election day. nt

[Butterbean]

16. When my kids are older I'd like to do that (drive people to the polls).

[gkhouston]

26. I've done it. You can have some really nice conversations that way.

Actually, I did it a couple of times while my kid was in preschool and that was nice because I had a booster seat in my car if there were any women with small kids.

[Tarheel_Dem]

34. It's so rewarding, because you meet people you would never otherwise meet. It's great!

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. I vote on election day. I know a lot of people in my state really regretted voting early in our

last gubernatorial race because what happened is we had a 3-way race with a Dem, a sort of left-leaning Indy, and a Teapublican. The race was so tight between the two left candidates that had they not voted early they possibly could have helped push the Indy over the finish line. Instead, we split the vote on the left and the Teapublican is now our Governor with a whopping 38% of the vote.

(Have I mentioned lately how much I hate plurality voting? We have the same situation all over again in replacing Senator Snowe, but so far it seems like the Indy is likely to take it.)

[mitchtv]

11. I usually vote absentee a week or two early

this year we will save the postage and deliver our ballots to the polling place directly

[fun n serious]

12. Early by mail.

Works excellent. No lines to wait in. Oregon.

[Ikonoklast]

13. I vote absentee.

Almost always away from home on election day.

[onecent]

14. My best friend and I usually vote absentee ballot

even though we have no intention of being out of town. Her husband has been
doing that for well over 35 hears....and he's a STAUNCH democrat.....lol

[CrispyQ]

15. I was an election judge in '04 & '08.

In '04 we had a few days where one could vote early, but no mail in votes. I voted early since I was a judge. The polling place on election day was electric! The enthusiasm was palpable. We had a huge rush in the morning & another one after 5PM, but all through the day there were voters & activity.

In '08 our county had implemented mail in ballots & the polls were dreary! There was some excitement, but nothing like '04 when we had huge numbers of people in the place.

While I'm all in favor of making voting easier, I like the idea of voting at a polling place & the sense of community that it contributes to vs. sitting at home & filling out your ballot & sticking it in the mail box.

[ladym55]

17. like to vote absentee and early

Ever since our state permitted absentee balloting and early voting for all, that's what I've done. I like sitting down with the ballot and having time to read everything carefully. I feel so rushed at the polling place, and since in their infinite Rethuglican wisdom (can you say voter suppression?) my county has cut deeply into voting locations, it has made early voting by absentee critical for me.

[OutNow]

18. I vote early - here in Oregon we all vote by mail

The vote by mail procedure they have in Oregon is great. I think other states should adopt it.

[Blue Belle]

19. As soon as I get my ballot in the mail...

I vote. I love Oregon's vote by mail system.

[Butterbean]

20. I'm very jealous that y'all have that system. I'd love to have that. n/t

[Blue Belle]

23. It's a great system...

And it gives you time to go through the voters pamphlet and do the research on the issues and other candidates (like judges, city council, etc.) that may not get a lot of coverage.

[frazzled]

27. I vote in person, but I do all that research beforehand and take a cheat sheet with me

The Board of Elections posts the ballot (type in your precinct number and you'll get the one with the correct judges, ballot questions, etc.). I'm sure this is the case in most cities and states, with the Internet. I spend days and days doing research on each judicial nominee (sometimes we have more than 50) and even Water Reclamation District candidates.

Just to say, voting in person doesn't mean you can't be prepared with your research.

[Blue Belle]

44. I understand...

But voting by mail doesn't require 40 pounds of ID - at least not in Oregon. And we usually have a high (85% in 2008) voter turn out.

[gkhouston]

29. In my county, they usually publish the ballot online before the start of early voting,

which can really be a help for those downballot races.

[Butterbean]

55. Me and my husband always do research extensively based on our sample ballot

before we hit the polls. It's one of the things I hate about being a responsible voter, it feels like studying for a test again. LOL.

[tjdee]

22. I live in GOP heaven so I prefer to vote before.

A single black woman, they all know who I'm voting for and I don't want any drama.

[frazzled]

24. Election Day

I've voted in 4 different states in my adult life (New York State twice, in Manhattan and Buffalo); Illinois twice (in a suburb of Chicago and Chicago itself); Minnesota (Mpls.); and Massachusetts (town outside of Boston). I've never had to wait in more than a small line. Of course, I'm able to vote on off-peak hours if I want. Where do people live that have long lines? I live in a fairly dense large-city urban precinct. There are always plenty of voting stations and check-in people.

I love the feeling of being part of an event that day ... of it being Election Day. Plus, contrary to many here, I feel uncomfortable about scattering my vote around willy nilly, by mail or at some remote early voting site. I like to watch that ballot go in the reader on the day it will be counted, where there are always plenty of election judges and poll watchers around.

Plus, I get to vote at the IBEW Union Hall. I like it! And I go for an Italian coffee afterwards!

[Butterbean]

57. In 1996, hubs and I had to go after work (7pm), and we waited in line for about 2 hours.

That SUCKED. I was dead on my feet, so was he.

[ananda]

25. Early for sure!

It's so close, easy, and fast.

[NightWatcher]

28. Vote early and volunteer on Election Day to help others

[Gothmog]

30. I am working on the Voter Protection team and so vote early

Since 2004, I have been volunteering as a voter protection lawyer and so I vote early. The bad thing is that I have to be at the party headquarters by the time that the polls open

[abolugi]

31. Permenant Absentee

I love it. No muss, No fuss...
As others have said It gives me plenty of time to research the candidates and the Propositions.

[LeftofObama]

32. Early voter here.

I absolutely abhor crowds.

[Progressive dog]

33. Election day

No crowds at our polling place, but small shared parking lot. In NYS absentee voting is restricted to people who will really be absent. Don't know how they'd know, but I've always been here on election day.

[tavernier]

35. Election day

I have worked at the polls several times and once in a while I've audited for our local dem party, not to mention standing on the street with the signs . Small town, no huge lines. Even though marking the ballot is the most important thing, I like to stretch it out. It really is a huge privilege.

[surrealAmerican]

36. Election day.

It's actually more convenient: I can walk to my polling place, and there isn't usually much of a line. To vote early there's only one location, and it would require taking the train or a bus.

It also gives me more time to figure out all the down-ballot candidates and initiatives.

[Indpndnt]

38. We're split in my family.

But that's by necessity. I vote in person on Election Day, but my kids off in college need to vote absentee. They would LOVE to vote in person, but that's just not an option.

[Heather MC]

40. if I could I would vote early and vote often

fortunately my voting precinct is a block away from my house. the mid day hours are in the slowest hours so that is when I will vote

[mick063]

41. All states should be like Washington State

Hassle free vote by mail. No obstacles, no lines.....simple and easy.

[lonestarnot]

42. I do not object to either.

[lunatica]

43. Absentee voters in my house

The last time I voted on election day it was on a computer and at the end of it I didn't get any receipt or printout or anything. That was the last time I trusted my vote down a black hole. I don't know if absentee ballots are better but I think they are. You can feel solid paper and you can fill in the spaces you want with a real pen.

[Curtland1015]

45. I always vote on election day, I love it!

It's being part of a shared experience!

[LWolf]

46. I like to vote early enough to mail my ballot in,

rather than drive to a drop-off box.

Since my state is vote by mail, there are no polls on election day, and no lines for the drop-off boxes, but it's a 15 mile round-trip to the nearest box.

[WCGreen]

47. i use to love going to the polls, talking to people....

I spent a lot of time over the years standing at polling places doing last minute campaigning for myself or other candidates. I loved doing that, talking to people who you know are voting.

But now that I am compromised, the absentee ballot is my friend.

[cynatnite]

48. I prefer election day, but it will probably early voting here...

The husband and I try to do our voting together and he's usually out on the road election day.

[lovemydog]

49. early

- then tell friends I've voted, and offer to drive them

[justabob]

50. election day

My polling station is great, and even though we usually have good turnout relative to other districts, I have never had to wait in a long line... 4-5 people tops.

[SheilaT]

51. I prefer to vote early, and have done so now for years.

I'm in Santa Fe, NM, and getting to the early vote locations is very easy. In 2008 there was a HUGE crowd the first day of early voting, so the vibe was a bit like regular election day.

In Bernalillo County, which contains Albuquerque, they've gone to a system of "Vote Centers". You can go to any one of them, early or on regular election day, and vote. THAT'S a great system.

Now, what's needed is for all states to allow new voters to register on election day, rather than having to do it some time before. Although it used to be worse. It used to be that registration closed several months before election day, and there were states that required you to have been a resident for a year, if I'm recalling correctly, to register.

[ChazII]

52. An early voter here

for medical reasons.

[we can do it]

53. i like to vote early so I can devote my day to the last minute GOTV

[Walk away]

54. In 2008 I voted early by mail because I was laid up after an accident. It meant so much to me...

to be counted. I do love voting on election day and I will this year.

[carlotta]

56. Always on Election Day

I like to scope out the atmosphere at the polls and try to guess which voters are Dems vs. Republicans and which group looks bigger. And the sticker they give you afterwards that says "I Voted"!!! How good is that?

[AsahinaKimi]

58. Absentee ballot

so, I can take my time, and mail it in.

[unapatriciated]

59. early, leaves election day free to get others to the polls.

[TNLib]

60. I like to vote early but at the polls.

I feel fortunate to live in an area that offers that.

But unfortunately I also live in a very conservative, state and county so that's probably why the repukes encourage early voting around here.

[rurallib]

61. we go to the county auditor day 1 and vote.

[emilyg]

62. Election day.

[dimbear]

63. It's just a short walk. Drop in and joke around with the neighbors.

Worth doing.

[AnnieBW]

64. Early Voter here

We have a whole bunch of new apartments and condos in our area, and they haven't redrawn our voting district. I waited 2 hours to vote for Kerry in 2004, and 2 1/2 hours to vote in the 2008 primary for Obama. When they put in early voting for the general election in 2008, it took driving down to College Park, finding the community center, and about 10 minutes of waiting on a Saturday. Oh, and we hit a restaurant that we really liked, too.

Unfortunately, we didn't make early voting in the primary, but it was kind of a moot point. Obama and Cardin were unchallenged.