Farewell, Election Day

This article ignores a huge factor in many early voters' decisions: fundamental mistrust of election-day voting systems (especially computer voting machines). Their mistrust may be well-founded, as we have seen that voting machines are hackable in mere seconds, and races in Arizona show that officials may have rigged machines to fix elections. Is it standard practice to insult people who want their votes to be counted by calling them "slothful?"

This article ignores a huge factor in many early voters' decisions: fundamental mistrust of election-day voting systems (especially computer voting machines). Their mistrust may be well-founded, as we have seen that voting machines are hackable in mere seconds, and races in Arizona show that officials may have rigged machines to fix elections. Is it standard practice to insult people who want their votes to be counted by calling them "slothful?"

"But surely the quality of the electoral turnout declines when the quantity is increased by 'convenience voting.'"

This article and particularly this quote is absolutely disgraceful. I am sorry Mr. Will that more Americans of lower quality will get the chance to vote this year. Voting in America is a RIGHT, not something people have to pass a test to do (though perhaps you would want to reinstate "reading tests" to ensure voter quality?) Voters only have to satisfy themselves they are ready to cast their ballots and not anyone else.

I am sure you stroll into your perfectly prepared polling place and cast your vote very easily on election day but not all Americans are so lucky. Some stand in line for hours only to be cut off when the polls close because apparently your right to vote expires by 8 pm at night sometimes. To them having the chance to cast their vote early is not laziness it may be their only chance. I think you owe every one of those Americans a heartfelt apology.

"But surely the quality of the electoral turnout declines when the quantity is increased by 'convenience voting.'"

This article and particularly this quote is absolutely disgraceful. I am sorry Mr. Will that more Americans of lower quality will get the chance to vote this year. Voting in America is a RIGHT, not something people have to pass a test to do (though perhaps you would want to reinstate "reading tests" to ensure voter quality?) Voters only have to satisfy themselves they are ready to cast their ballots and not anyone else.

I am sure you stroll into your perfectly prepared polling place and cast your vote very easily on election day but not all Americans are so lucky. Some stand in line for hours only to be cut off when the polls close because apparently your right to vote expires by 8 pm at night sometimes. To them having the chance to cast their vote early is not laziness it may be their only chance. I think you owe every one of those Americans a heartfelt apology.

The Democratic Party does not have a monopoly on elitists. George will is an elitist.

This a good reason why election day should be a national day off. That way everyone has a chance to vote. Voter mobilization efforts can accommodate people who can't, for various reasons, get there themselves. In addition, if election day is considered a national observance day (or whatever you want to call it), more people may think it's important to participate. Then again, maybe I'm naive...

This a good reason why election day should be a national day off. That way everyone has a chance to vote. Voter mobilization efforts can accommodate people who can't, for various reasons, get there themselves. In addition, if election day is considered a national observance day (or whatever you want to call it), more people may think it's important to participate. Then again, maybe I'm naive...

George, you've made a persuasive argument in FAVOR of voting by mail, which was not at all your intent.

I say that anything that tends to increase voter participation is good; anything that decreases it is bad. Is voter turnout an obsolete value in a democracy? I've never missed an election, but many voters do, simply because it's sometimes difficult to get to the polls in person.

As to "truncating" the electoral season, I fail to see the harm. The presidential contest starts two years or more before the election as it is - cutting off a month at the end only serves to force candidates to be more forthright up-front, and helps eliminate manipulated "October surprises." Or in McCain's case, manipulated "September surprises" like his pathetic and demeaning actions this past week.

But then, I'm an Oregonian, and I'm used to examining the candidates and their platforms early. By the time my ballot arrives, I'm ready to make my choice known. And just to make it clear, George: I feel every bit as patriotic and connected with our national tradition of voting when I mail my ballot back as I did when standing in line at my polling place.

So, effectively, you think all college students (like myself) should be disenfranchised. Go to hell.

It is sad to witness this level of arrogance and ignorance from one who , up to now, I have respected. Early voting is not voting by mail. The process in opur town is exactly the same as casting a ballot on ecection day MINUS the long line. Those of us who will not have the luxury of time off from work and cannot afford to lose pay, must of necessity take advantage of early voting. We are not"slothful", but highly energetic and concerned enough to make plans to exercise our right to vote despite the challenges. Shame on you George!

Methinks thou doth protest too much, George. Both parties have equal opportunity to get 'sloths' to vote, and the Republicans have been extremely proficient at doing so for decades. Could it be that the Democrats making huge inroads into a previously Republican field worries you?

While I agree that early voting should be limited, I don't agree that those that vote early are necessarily disinterested or uniformed. In fact I'd argue that the vast majority of folks that do show up at the polls are uninformed or to be more precise, misinformed. A general lack of interest, understanding and propensity to vote based on prejudices (my grandmother used to vote for anyone whose last name ended in a vowel on the assumption that they might be Italian and therefore trustworthy) and sound bites is, unfortunately, the American way. Too many people pay too little attention to what politicians are doing until there's a crisis or it's election day. Campaigns ads, are for the most part non-factual and designed to smear rather than inform.

AND THEN WE HAVE THE POST-ELECTION DAY MONTHS!

It may be a several months AFTER Election Day before we have the final answer as to who is President. First, we have the litigation questioning McAmnesty's and Obama's fulfillment of the Constitutional requirement that persons running for President must have been born in the United States. Those appeals would need to be addressed by the Supreme Court. Next, we have the possibility of a tie in the Electoral College, which means the matter would go to Congress for decision pursuant to several provisions of the Constitution. We also have 5,000 McAmnesty lawyers, and 9,000 Obama lawyers spread out across the country ready to challenge irregularities in court. Then we have United States citizens who will litigate the question of voter fraud by the Democrat and Republican parties, who are trying to get illegal aliens to vote illegally in our elections. There are probably more possible delays-- we shall see!

Very High Church, Mr. Will

should be entrusted with a column in a local weekly newspaper, much less a national magazine. (Sorry about the weird messaging; the "Discuss" box is only accepting a few lines at a time.

I don't buy Will's argument. Early voting truncates the process? Sure, but it also minimizes the effect of a dishonest October surprise, a smear that comes out too late for its victim to respond. Early voting is bad because it's easy? It is easy, but it also minimizes the effect of election-day problems like broken voting machines, bad weather, and dirty tricks at the polling places. Most of Will's arguments sounds like misplaced nostalgia.

pushing to make Tuesday a national holiday, so that all people, the poor as well as the rich, could take the time to vote without facing financial risks. No one this disconnected from the reality of the lives of the majority of the American people should be entrusted with

a missed lunch at a fancy restaurant, as opposed to losing their jobs. Will's absolute ignorance of the real difficulties that confront people wishing to vote is disgusting. If he's so keen to have everyone vote on a single day, why is he not pushin