Daily Kos forwards along a press release written by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden that makes the case for vote by mail. It’s a system that has been used in Oregon for years with positive results. Registered voters receive their ballots at their home address weeks before the election and fill them out at their leisure. When completed, the ballots are put in secure drop boxes at libraries, county offices and other locations. The whole process is convenient and uncomplicated. Other arguments that Wyden puts forward:
Vote by Mail eliminates poll problems–there are no long lines, polls to open late or even confusion about where to vote.
Vote by Mail eliminates voter roll issues and the need for provisional ballots–ballots are mailed only to registered voters at their official address. Those who do not receive a ballot have ample time to resolve the issue with election officials.
Vote by Mail reduces the risk of voter intimidation–a 2003 study of Oregon voters showed that groups–like the elderly–who are most vulnerable to coercion prefer Vote by Mail.
Vote by Mail creates a paper trail.
You can learn more at the Vote by Mail Project.
