So this morning, as I'm looking up my voting station online, I see my former voting history. Back in '04 I voted in Raleigh, with the touch-screen computers, on election day. Under my voting history, it showed that I voted by absentee ballot. I was under the impression that absentee ballots aren't really counted unless there's a significant tie, so does that mean my vote wasn't counted? WTF if so. If not, why would it say absentee ballot?

11/4/2008 2:19:27 PM

It doesn't matter either way

Your vote, or all the votes on TWW combined, wouldn't change the results of any election save for maybe Cumberland County Commissioner

The sooner you stop giving a fuck, the sooner you'll feel better about the whole ordeal

11/4/2008 2:20:53 PM

Are you sure you voted on election day?

I know all Early Voting votes show up listed as absentee ballots

and as far as I know, absentee ballots count exactly the same as actual votes (and are processed on Election Day, same as all other votes): who told you they'd only count in case of a tie?

[Edited on November 4, 2008 at 2:26 PM. Reason : .]

11/4/2008 2:25:48 PM

^^There's a reason why I posted this in the lounge. Anyone else have constructive advice?

[Edited on November 4, 2008 at 2:26 PM. Reason : ]

11/4/2008 2:25:50 PM

you're thinking of "provisional ballots"

Absentee ballots are supposed to be counted no matter what. But "provisional ballots" are cast if there is something wrong with your registration - for example, you show up at your polling place and your name isn't on the roll, or your address is wrong or something. Then you cast a provisional ballot. And as far as I know, those ballots are held to the side, but not counted unless they could make a significant difference in the outcome. If so, they have to be investigated one at a time, which is time consuming and expensive

11/4/2008 2:25:59 PM

Awesome, apparently I had the two confused. As long as my vote counts, I'm cool. Appreciate it!

11/4/2008 2:27:11 PM

ABSENTEE BALLOTS COUNT THE SAME


PEOPLE, IF YOU CAN POST ON THE INTERNET YOU CAN LOOK UP THIS INFORMATION ON THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WEBSITE






(NOT NECESSARILY DIRECTED TO THE OP)

11/4/2008 2:29:30 PM

Quote :

"But "provisional ballots" are cast if there is something wrong with your registration - for example, you show up at your polling place and your name isn't on the roll, or your address is wrong or something. Then you cast a provisional ballot."

Yea, I didn't vote in 2004 because at first I was told I didn't need to be registered, but then told my vote wouldn't be counted at all.

11/4/2008 3:42:53 PM

Why did you think everyone else was registering if you didn't need to be registered?

11/4/2008 3:54:00 PM

Quote :

"I was under the impression that absentee ballots aren't really counted unless there's a significant tie"

your first mistake was believing this.

11/4/2008 4:55:50 PM

unless you are voting in your registered precinct it will be absentee

11/4/2008 5:29:03 PM

Quote :

"I was under the impression that absentee ballots aren't really counted unless there's a significant tie"

Fucking moron.

11/4/2008 6:23:05 PM

Quote :

"unless you are voting in your registered precinct it will be absentee"

No, you have to request an absentee ballot, and then you mail it in. You can vote at any polling location within the county you are registered in, on the day of the election, by requesting a provisional ballot.

To answer the original question. It is because they have been "updating" the Wake County voting website, and they keep making it worse. I noticed the same thing on mine a while ago, showing that I voted by absentee, and I voted in person as well.

11/5/2008 1:14:46 AM

This thread is full of stupid.

11/5/2008 2:57:41 AM

^

11/5/2008 3:42:12 AM

I read that people have actually been duped by signs reading "Republicans vote today, Democrats vote tomorrow" or "Voting postponed until tomorrow due to rain."

11/5/2008 11:46:53 AM

if one or two signs can fool you into not knowing the date of the election when, every tvstation, newspaper, man, woman and child are repeating the date constantly then you should not vote

11/5/2008 12:09:17 PM

http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/3903854/

Quote :

"State Board of Elections director Gary Bartlett estimated there are about 40,000 provisional ballots left to count, cast by voters whose eligibility to vote must be confirmed."

I'm amused that this is actually happening in NC

11/6/2008 6:57:24 AM