Maximum legitimate voter participation is the goal in every election. To that every effort must be made to make it “easy to vote, but hard to cheat.” The latter half of this dual-pronged goal remains much in dispute, but there can be no denial that it has never been easier to vote than it is today.
Traditionally, conservatives have heavily favored voting in person on election day. However, recent elections have revealed that elections are often won/lost during the early voting period, which now lasts for 45 days, giving rise to the term “election season” rather than “election day.” Recent experience has also highlighted a disturbing trend of “anomalies” that can challenge or even derail efforts to vote on Election Day itself (everything from malfunctioning ballot scanners to electrical and plumbing emergencies that cause disruptions at the polls).
Less sinister issues are also a possibility. Those who are disabled or suffering from long-term illnesses are not always able to physically go to the polls. Many young healthy people, despite of the best intentions, can fail to vote on Election Day due to work schedules, conflicting responsibilities, or life emergencies.
Some people may not even be aware that certain elections are taking place. This is especially true at the county/local level during non-presidential election years. Voters who sign up as “permanent absentee voters” do not have this problem since they will receive a notice and a ballot in the mail for EVERY primary, general, and special election. Increased awareness combined with convenience increases the likelihood of participation by many voters who choose this option.
Voters who sign up for and receive absentee/mail-in ballots still have the option of taking that ballot to one of the early voting locations or to their assigned precinct on Election Day and voting in person if they prefer…but being notified by mail and receiving their ballots early gives them flexibility and options.
So, while we may wish that certain alternatives were not an option or at least came with more oversight, every voter must be willing to use whatever form of voting will best ensure that his/her ballot is cast and counted during the election. Explore those options below.
This is what most people have traditionally thought of when they think of voting in an election. Many Americans still prefer to cast their vote in this manner. This is always the last day of voting in any election season, so you if intend to vote on Election Day you must plan properly so that you do not miss your final opportunity.
- Be sure you know the location of your polling place in advance. You can verify that by checking Virginia’s Department of Elections website.
- Check the hours for poll opening and closing.
- Make arrangements with your employer and/or childcare provider so that you can go to the polls at some point during the day while they are open.
- Vote as early in the day as possible, giving yourself plenty of time for any unforeseen complications at the polls.
Benefits of Early Voting. Once your vote has been cast, there is no longer any reason for candidates and campaigns to continue vying for you vote.
- You will be removed from mailing lists
- You will be removed from call lists
- You will be removed door knocking lists
- In short, candidates and campaigns will leave you alone
In the state of Virginia, early voting now begins 45 days prior to Election Day, affording ample opportunity to get to the polls to cast their vote. While such a prolonged voting period does present certain vulnerabilities and place a strain on election workers and volunteers, it is what the law requires. Therefore, we can and should take maximum advantage of it.
Some things to keep in mind if you intend to vote early in person:
- Early voting takes place in only a few strategically designated locations within the county.
- There will be an early voting polling place near your residence, but it may not be the precinct location you are accustomed to when voting on Election Day.
- Visit the County’s website for the list of early voting polling places
- Time your vote. Your view of one or more candidates can change drastically in the space of 4-6 weeks.
There are many reasons one might wish to vote absentee by mail, but you are not required to have a reason for requesting an absentee ballot.
If you already know you will be out of town during election season, or you are perhaps physically unable/unwilling to vote in person, requesting an absentee ballot is the way to go.
- If you have requested an absentee ballot, you can still vote in person if you so choose by:
- Placing your absentee/mail-in ballot in the dropbox located at any precinct.
- Surrendering your absentee ballot to the Chief Election Officer at your precinct, at which point he/she will give you a ballot that you can fill out and place in the ballot scanner.
- If you lose your absentee/mail-in ballot, the only way you can vote is to go to your precinct in person (either during early voting or on Election Day) and cast a “provisional ballot.”
Benefits of Absentee Voting: As a permanent absentee ballot voter, you will never be caught off guard by an election again, since a notification and a ballot will be delivered to your mailbox for EVERY election (local/state/federal, primary and general). In addition to the convenience, once your vote has been cast, there is no longer any reason for candidates to and campaigns to continue vying for you vote.
- You will be removed from mailing lists
- You will be removed from call lists
- You will be removed door knocking lists
- In short, candidates and campaigns will leave you alone
Additional information about the various methods of voting available to Virginians can be found on the Prince William County Office of Election web site.