Posted by Ronna, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Nov 6, 2012 at 11:29 am

Dave Price from the Daily Post has written numerous times over the years that voting early is not wise. Citizens may not have all information needed regarding every vote that is cast.

An example of it happened during the last primary election, when one candidate removed his name from the ballot in East Palo Alto. People that voted for him early were out of luck.

Dave Price gave excellent advice, by repeatedly calling for local voters to wait until Election Day to vote. Ballots could be received by mail in advance, filled out and dropped off to any polling place, on Election Day. It's easy and convenient.

The Daily Post's suggestion about NOT voting early (unless it is an emergency, or for some other important reason) is wise. I'm glad I heeded what he said, and encourage others to give this thought too, for future elections.

Posted by vf, a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on Nov 6, 2012 at 11:48 am

"Signatures are used to verify the voter's identity. If signatures do not match, the ballot will not be counted," the registrar stated in a press release.

And do you find out your vote has been rejected? Seems a bit hit'n'miss if you can send your vote in but don't know if it will be counted.

Posted by iVote, a resident of the Greenmeadow neighborhood, on Nov 6, 2012 at 12:38 pm

To find out if your ballot has been counted, you can go to the county's web site and click on "track vote by mail ballot." Here's the link: Web Link

Posted by mom scribbles, a member of the Walter Hays School community, on Nov 6, 2012 at 12:38 pm

Do they have handwriting experts nullifying votes?! I can't remember how I signed!

"Signatures are used to verify the voter's identity. If signatures do not match, the ballot will not be counted," the registrar stated in a press release. "

Has to be a better way to verify.

Posted by Ojoke, a resident of the Greenmeadow neighborhood, on Nov 6, 2012 at 12:48 pm

It depends on who you vote for..And you know who is counting..:-)

Posted by Ducatigirl, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Nov 7, 2012 at 3:51 pm
Ducatigirl is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online

I agree with Dave Price about not voting too early. But here is why I started voting (not too, too) early:

In 2003, I was diagnosed with a somewhat rare form of rheumatoid arthritis which affects my spine, pelvis, hands, and feet. It always affects joints in that pattern, that is its hallmark. During one local election in 2006 or 2007, and in the 2008 presidential election also, I had bad flare-ups of this disease which necessitated the use of a cane. Both times I tried to vote in the morning, before work, but the lines were too long and I would have been late. So, I went back in the evening after work, about 7pm, only to find the lines just as long.

Well, it was torture. There were no spare chairs I could use while I waited for my turn, so when the line I was in moved near a wall, I leaned on it. That seemed to offend people. In the 2008 election, someone actually went out to their car while I saved their place in line, and came back with a folding chair. I was immensely grateful, because by then the pain was intense and I guess it showed on my face. But no such luck in the previous local election; I had to just bite the bullet. When I got home I hit the vicodin and the ice packs for the next two days.

So now I do it all by mail. No pain if the election happens to coincide with a disease

flare. No giving up and leaving in pain because the line is too long. For me, and I would guess many other people, voting by mail is by far the lesser of twoevils.

Posted by get over it, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Nov 7, 2012 at 4:51 pm

Quite the story. People were offended that you leaned on a wall? Hard to believe that there are long lines in Palo alto given the high percentage that vote by mail.

Posted by Ducatigirl, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Nov 7, 2012 at 8:34 pm
Ducatigirl is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online

I leaned rather hard, it made a thump. I was basically on one leg at the time. Not nearly as many voted by mail then as now. Most people went before or after work.