Deseret News | Do your homework and vote

Reader comments
Do your homework and vote — preferably early

Mark | 7:22 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008

"Do your homework and vote on Nov. 4. Better yet, vote early"

and often!

Mike RIchards | 7:54 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008

Although I totally agree with the admonition to vote (preferably after carefully studying the issues and the candidates), I disagree with early voting, except in the case of being out of the area on election day. In that case, casting an absentee ballot is a responsibility.

In most contests, whether it is an official chess match, a football game, or an election, the clock plays an important role. Letting a football game go on until there is no one left healthy enough to play the game would be foolish. Just as foolish would be to call the game when one side had just pulled ahead. Setting a time limit is fair to all concerned.

Just yesterday important information was finally released about one of the presidential candidates - potentially damaging information. That information had successfully been hidden since 2001. That information may become a big factor in the race - only time will tell.

By voting early, those who already voted cannot weigh the importance of that or any other late-breaking information. In a sense, it's like a jury deciding that the defendant is guilty before all of the evidence has been presented.

John | 9:14 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008

Everybody has a right to their own opinion. I believe in voting early. I'm and independent voter and I do my homework. I vote on the issues that concern me, and their voting record, not their religion or who they've worked with in the past. I usually find that neither candidate offers everything I want. I find that anything that happened years ago is usually garbage and has nothing to do with issues at hand.

Comments continue below

Charles | 10:34 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008

Actually, isn't the day we are supposed to cast our ballots stated in the Constitution?

Early voting should be discontinued. So the lines might be a little bit longer; no worries you'll still be able to vote if you wish to.

Voting early is a new tradition that should be discontinued.

The date to vote has been set for years. Shouldn't we start following the Constitution?

Newspapers could help! | 10:38 a.m. Oct. 28, 2008

It is hard for voters to be on top of every issue, even when they try. Many of us depend on the newspapers to help us sort through the campaign "noise." Newspapers could help more by getting their endorsements out early enough to help early voters--especially on ballot measures, judges, school board seats.

MY SLC | 12:14 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

Re: early voting

The only date set for voting that are in the constitution that I can remember is for the Electoral College:

"The electors ... shall meet and give their votes on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December..." This is found in the U.S. Code, 3 USC 7."

Mike Richards | 1:07 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

Charles,

I had the same impression when I read the opinion this morning. After reading through the Constitution for awhile and not finding what I was looking for, I turned to Google and found some information on Wikipedia.

Bottom line, early voting appears to be legal.

I don't like it because I believe too many people vote impulsively. Going to the polls on election day adds a quiet dignity to the process as we wait with our neighbors to fulfil our civic responsibility.

Follow Oregon's Example | 2:35 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

Mail-in Ballots would be a great idea for Utah. It would increase levels of participation and avoid congestion and long lines at the polls. Let's try it, it works well in the state of Oregon.

wrz | 2:47 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

Whatever you do, don't vote for B. Hussein Osama. Here's the latest from an article in the POLITICO:

"John McCain's campaign is demanding that the Los Angeles Times release a video of a party for a prominent Palestinian activist that Barack Obama attended in 2003."

PJ | 3:03 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

MY SLC | 12:14 p.m.: "The only date set for voting that are in the constitution that I can remember is for the Electoral College: 'The electors ... shall meet and give their votes on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December..." This is found in the U.S. Code, 3 USC 7.'"

There is no provision in the Constitution for a general election popular vote.

MY SLC | 3:44 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

To PJ:

That is what I said, there is no provision / date set for the popular vote! Just the electoral college vote.

vote early! | 3:46 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

then I won't have to wait in line on Nov 4!

MY SLC | 3:51 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

PJ,

I am sorry I thought @ first you were trying to refute that.

I fully support early / mail voting and have in fact already voted in SLC.

wrz | 4:21 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

Mark | 7:22 a.m.: "Do your homework and vote on Nov. 4. Better yet, vote early" and often!"

Democrats are requested to vote on Nov 5th. Your cooperation will assist in reducing crowds.

Goose | 8:06 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

To wrz.
Repubs please do not vote, it will assist in reducing crowds that are not to smart.

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