re: #119 Anymouse 🌹🎃

When we get a little closer to the election here I’ll participate in the programme.

All rural ballots in Nebraska are by mail (there are no polling places; they were closed in 2000 to save money). In the three largest cities mail balloting is optional but you do not need a reason to request one.

My concern about VBM is that there is no guarantee that the votes are legitimate. During the 2008 election, we reflected our mother’s intention when she voted but, given her dementia and vision limitations, she was unable to verify that we reflected her actual wishes (We did make every legitimate effort to persuade her to vote for Obama rather than McCain). My cousin who voted on behalf of his mother with Alzheimer’s voted his wishes, not hers.

But it’s not just elderly whose votes can be stolen — VBM eliminates privacy at least among family members. A domineering husband can vote on behalf of his spouse; parents can vote on behalf of their children; a third party can intercept a ballot and vote on behalf of a stranger. There is no voter id required.