Question about voting by mail vs early voting

[drmeow]

So, we requested vote by mail ballots cause we're not used to living somewhere that has early voting. We just got our ballots in the mail. We were going to drop them off at the local general registry office rather than mailing them. But now we're wondering if it would be better to return the vote by mail ballots unopened (which is what is says to do if you decide not to vote absentee) and vote early.

Which votes are more likely to be counted or is it 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other?

Thanks!

[Dream Girl]

1. I'm wondering about this too.Anxious to see responses.

[drray23]

2. so thats what my wife and I did.

we went to the registrar with our absentee ballots. We asked to vote in person . They voided our ballots, gave us new ones and we voted and put our paper ballots in the scanner right there and then.

[drmeow]

5. Ah - good to know

so you just took your absentee ballots to the early voting polling place rather than having to mail them or return them to the general registry. I was hoping that would be an option.

[drray23]

6. yeap. you specifically ask you want to vote absentee in person

and they have a process to void and dispose of those you got in the mail and issue you new ones to vote as usual.

[drmeow]

8. Awesome

Thanks so much for the info. I think SO and I will be going on Friday.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. We had early voting for the first time during the primary, and it worked just fine. Dropping...

off a ballot should be fine, too.

One thing about mailing/dropping off a ballot, though-- it you make a mistake, or your registration has a problem, they won't know it's you, so you don't get a second chance to fill out the ballot, or get a provisional ballot.

The way we did early voting, we had 10 days to get to a central polling place and cast a ballot. Plenty of time, and the hours were convenient. And we knew the ballot was cast.

[drmeow]

4. That's what I'm thinking nt

[mahatmakanejeeves]

7. This is a timely thread. I just got my absentee ballot in the mail.

I am in Alexandria.

I handed the ballot application to the letter carrier a week ago. I was worried that the mail would be slowed down, but it was not.

I suspect I'll end up going to vote in person, at the Office of Voter Registration and Elections. I will miss the fun of voting on election day, but I don't want to take any chances.