Voting while away!!!! [Archive] - Cruise Critic Message Boards

Krazy Kruizers

October 5th, 2004, 06:41 PM

We are extremely upset.

We sent in our registration forms for absentee ballots the first week of August.

Called today to find out when the official forms will be sent out as we leave next Tuesday.

We were told that the absentee ballots in our state won't be sent out until the 15th of October.

WE ARE FURIOUS!!!!

We have never missed a presidential vote since we were able to vote - many, many years ago!!!

imsulin

October 5th, 2004, 06:53 PM

Just wondering why you need an absentee ballot if you are leaving next Tuesday? How long is your cruise?

Krazy Kruizers

October 5th, 2004, 07:07 PM

We will be in San Diego for several days before we board our 21 day cruise on October 15th on the Statendam.

Then we will be a couple of more days after the cruise in San Diego before we fly home. We don't get home until Nov 8.

We have never had a problem like this before around election time.

gliles

October 5th, 2004, 07:16 PM

No offense but who are you furious with? If you plan to be gone for a month around and including election day it should be expected, shouldn't it? That would upset me too to miss an election but I think I would have calculated that in when I booked it and our anniversary is 11/1 so we do factor that in every year.

I promise I am just asking, I am not trying to start a fight!

imsulin

October 5th, 2004, 07:36 PM

I voted on an absentee ballot in 2000, because I had planned a trip to Ireland the first week of November. I didn't have any problems with it (other than the fact that I'm not sure if it was counted!).

DFD1

October 5th, 2004, 08:00 PM

It seems unreasonable, to say the least, that the distribution date for absentee ballots would be so close to election day....any closer and they would be practically useless.

Lovebirds

October 5th, 2004, 08:48 PM

Did you ask if you can go to the county Board of elections office and cast your ballots before you leave? I did this in Ohio a couple of years ago. The rules may not be the same in all states, but it's worth checking into. I heard something on the news about some states being open for early voting now.

RuthC

October 5th, 2004, 09:22 PM

That's a shame, KK, especially as Penn. is a "swing" state and your vote could actually matter.
If service men/women can get their ballots in time there's no excuse for delaying sending ballots to other absent voters.

Orcrone

October 5th, 2004, 09:47 PM

Seems to me that Oct. 15 is pretty late for them to be sending out the absentee ballots. DW and I got ours last Thursday or Friday in Virginia.

iluvcruzin

October 5th, 2004, 09:52 PM

I haven't recieved my ballots yet but I sure have received the election junk mail already. I faxed my form in a couple weeks ago. I'm not leaving until the end of the month so I imagine I will have it in ample time.

cruzincurt

October 6th, 2004, 07:21 AM

I assume the delay is the same as in Florida. The Elections people have delayed sending out the ballots since the Democrats keeping suing to try to keep Nader off.

Krazy Kruizers

October 6th, 2004, 08:19 AM

Nadar is (was) a big issue here as well.

We have been out of the coutry before on election day and always had our absentee ballots a month before the elections.

We were told that we could go into Pittsburgh anytime after the 25th to vote. We explained that we would not be in this country - again - to them.

YUP - PA is a swing state.

Oh well - that's life.

Nasmas

October 6th, 2004, 08:23 AM

jollycruiser

October 6th, 2004, 08:25 AM

Now this is a real case of disenfranchment. I would demand the right to vote before you leave. If they will not let you, make a huge stink about it in your local community. There has to be some flexibility in this type of situation. And yes your votes in PA could possibly decide who the next president will be. I wouldn't sit quiet about this one Yawny.

Krazy Kruizers

October 6th, 2004, 08:30 AM

They just stopped taking new application forms this Monday.

And they haven't even begun to set up the machines yet. That's why we were told that we couldn't go into Pittsburgh in person until the 25th.

Time to call a congressman.

saltydog28

October 6th, 2004, 02:24 PM

krazy kruizers- I have to agree with Nasmas-I have gone to the courthouse and voted.
And it was like pulling teeth to get that information. Call the courthouse and ask again, if you don't like the answer, ask to speak to their boss. Sort of like trying to get a ship board credit.
Hang in there,
Pat.

jollycruiser

October 6th, 2004, 04:08 PM

I'm celebrating your persistance and a democracy that values each of us. May the candidate of your efforts win!

rkacruiser

October 6th, 2004, 04:29 PM

It is possible to have absentee ballots mailed to meet the ship wherever in the world you are. Using the port agent address information the Company sends out with the cruise documents, that address can be used for the ballots to be delivered to you aboard ship. One needs to plan time-wise for where the ballots should be sent and to allow for enough time for the ballots to be returned to the Board of Elections at your home so that they can be counted.

During the 2002 Asia Pacific Cruise of the Volendam, I had my absentee ballots sent to meet the ship in care of the Port Agent in Hong Kong. In the evening of our first day at dock, the ballots were delivered, I was able to vote, and mail them from the Post Office on Hong Kong Island the next morning.(I got to use the Star Ferry in going from Kowloon to the Island where there was a Post Office very close to the Star Ferry Terminal.)

Interestingly, when I presented the address to be used to the clerk at my Board of Election office, she said that the address was too long to be used(it was a very lengthy address, several lines long). "It won't fit on the mailing labels we use. Is it really necessary to have all of that information in the address?" When I reminded her that this was a mailing going to communist China and that it would be unlikely that Holland America would include information that was not really needed, she relented. She said, "Well, I guess I could use a larger mailing label." (And that exactly is what they did.)

It was kind of fun knowing that I was still able to vote, even when I was in Hong Kong.:)

Tatka

October 6th, 2004, 04:58 PM

This is the first time we'll be able to vote...and how said I don't have slightest idea who should we vote for!!! I strongly dislike both candidates.:(

Oh well, in our state it wouldn't matter anyway.;)

RuthC

October 6th, 2004, 05:44 PM

Congratulations, KK, that all your persistence paid off. The right to vote should never be taken lightly.

Tatka, I know exactly what you mean when you say your presidential vote won't make any difference. Both candidates consider Rhode Island's vote a forgone conclusion, and four electoral votes not worth worrying about anyway!

HeatherInFlorida

October 6th, 2004, 05:58 PM

Superstein, guess what!!! You're off my "ignore" list!!!! And I'm not going to tell you why, but you can guess:D if you want to.

KK, I was about to offer some ideas when I read your post saying you were successful. I'm so glad because I couldn't believe there wasn't a way around this.

Krazy Kruizers

October 6th, 2004, 06:07 PM

Now I know how some of you feel whenever you call HAL's ship services and get different answers for the same question.

Because that happened to us each time we called office of voter registration.

We never dreamed that they wouldn't be sending out the absentee ballots until just a couple of weeks before the election since we got them last year nearly 6 weeks before the elections. Otherwise when we sent in our request for absentee ballots we would have had them sent to the ship at one of the ports.

Krazy Kruizers

October 6th, 2004, 06:09 PM

HMMM!!!

That depends on whom you think the good guy is and who the scoundrel is.

;) ;)

Slinkiecat

October 6th, 2004, 07:47 PM

I'm so glad to see you got your chance to vote. I hope all other cruising voters have made their arrangements as well.

One thought, though - Only those who have taken the time and made the effort to understand the issues and know the voting history of the candidates should bother to cast a ballot. Our future is too important to put into the hands of those who don't do more than "roll the dice" to decide where to make their mark.

Slinkie

imsulin

October 6th, 2004, 07:59 PM

gliles

October 6th, 2004, 08:14 PM

Only those who have taken the time and made the effort to understand the issues and know the voting history of the candidates should bother to cast a ballot. Our future is too important to put into the hands of those who don't do more than "roll the dice" to decide where to make their mark.
Thank you so much for saying that. I have said that for years and someone always says "everyone should vote, it's your right" but I am a true believer that if you don't know the issues, you shouldn't. And I have been there when younger, not really knowing the issues and decided not to vote feeling like I might be canceling out a vote from someone who knew better than I did. Boy did I hear about it being unamerican and all but I believed that I didn't have a right to vote if I didn't know all the issues. Now I make sure I am making an informed decision.

Host Walt

October 6th, 2004, 08:49 PM

A discussion of absentee voting is fine, but please resist the temptation to tout your candidate or to otherwise engage in a political discussion.

Thanks.

pollux

October 6th, 2004, 10:14 PM

KK, got my absentee in the mail Monday and allready returned with my vote. Hope everyone will vote.

iluvcruzin

October 7th, 2004, 12:50 AM

I recieved my absentee ballot today.

sopa

October 7th, 2004, 07:48 AM

Superstein, guess what!!! You're off my "ignore" list!!!! And I'm not going to tell you why, but you can guess:D if you want to.
Why did you have to bring this up? It has no place here: it's irrelevant to the topic.

Himself

October 7th, 2004, 09:44 AM

Friends:
I was at Sea during the 1996, 2000 and 2002 elections and I voted absentee in all of them. I will never forget being on the Mexican Rivera during the 2000 Presidental election and not knowing who the winner was all the time I was gone. I vote here in Illiniois and I live about a mile from the County Clerk's office so I just go down and vote. In 1996, I lived in Hastert's district and went to that County Clerk's office and voted with no problem.
Himself

Tatka

October 7th, 2004, 11:27 AM

Good point, slinkiecat. That's why we encourage our clients to read newspapers and watch political broadcasts on TV if they want to. I think that many of our clients are more informed than many other people. They're not unobservant or "dice rollers" by any means!
Believe me I watch political broadcasts and read newspapers...and more I do less I know who to vote for...

If I don't vote it won't be because of lack of information for me.

HeatherInFlorida

October 7th, 2004, 12:09 PM

Why did you have to bring this up? It has no place here: it's irrelevant to the topic.
Sopa, yes it was relevant. The fact you didn't understand the relevance doesn't mean it isn't. Many people make comments on threads meant for just one person and nobody finds fault with it. This was an amusing note to Superstein and I have no idea why you're annoyed by it. However, your post does not have relevance to the topic.

HeatherInFlorida

October 7th, 2004, 12:13 PM

Believe me I watch political broadcasts and read newspapers...and more I do less I know who to vote for...

If I don't vote it won't be because of lack of information for me.
Tatka, awhile back (I think it was on AOL) they provided a questionnaire that you could fill out. It did not indicate which candidate supported which issue. At the end it told you which candidate most agreed with your positions. It was excellent. If you could find something like that, it might be helpful to you.

I liked it because although I believed I knew who I wanted to vote for, I was happy to see that the result of the test proved I was supporting the candidate who agreed with me on most issues.

ekerr19

October 7th, 2004, 02:07 PM

We have not received our absentee ballots yet and I'm getting nervous. There is no way DH will get on that plane to Rome without casting his vote in the presidential election! Colorado is going to be pivitol this election - tempers are flying HIGH on both sides.

We also have a hot Senate race too.

We leave 11/1/04 - I hope the ballots get here soon!

KK - I am glad you are going to be able to vote. I would be very upset if I weren't able to.

DFD1

October 7th, 2004, 02:47 PM

ekerr19; Hurray for you and thanks for your attitude. The idea that some bureaucrat or some special interest group can control my ability to vote simply by delaying the distribution of absentee ballots until they are virtually useless is hard to take.

ekerr19

October 7th, 2004, 03:01 PM

Thanks DFD1... I don't understand the delay either!

I always thought absentee ballots went out 30 days prior to the election... :confused:

I just hope they get here soon. :(

dakrewser

October 7th, 2004, 06:12 PM

Thanks DFD1... I don't understand the delay either!

I always thought absentee ballots went out 30 days prior to the election... :confused: Here in California we can still apply for an absentee ballot until Oct. 26. Evidently all the back-and-forth about Nader (as well as some purely California issues with ballot propositions) means they can't go out until the last possible moment.

http://www.unt.edu/benchmarks/archives/2000/november00/vote.gif

gliles

October 7th, 2004, 07:19 PM

Sopa, yes it was relevant. The fact you didn't understand the relevance doesn't mean it isn't. Many people make comments on threads meant for just one person and nobody finds fault with it. This was an amusing note to Superstein and I have no idea why you're annoyed by it. However, your post does not have relevance to the topic.
I understood it. What I don't understand is why people get upset about what someone posts that has nothing to do with them...oops, I guess my post is irrelevent...let me see..oh yea, I will return from my cruise in time to vote.

superstein61

October 7th, 2004, 11:28 PM

Superstein, guess what!!! You're off my "ignore" list!!!! And I'm not going to tell you why, but you can guess:D if you want to.

.
Hmmmmm - not sure what I missed here

HeatherInFlorida

October 8th, 2004, 08:52 AM

Hmmmmm - not sure what I missed here
Several very amusing (IMHO) political posts were removed that Walt felt didn't fit the topic. As a result, sopa felt my post was irrelevant. My post directed to SS related to something he had said earlier which is now removed.

However, his post led me to decide to remove him from my "ignore" list and I just wanted to let him know that. End of story;) .

And, Gretchen, thanks:) . I couldn't agree more.

Lovebirds

October 8th, 2004, 10:18 AM

Well.... since we will be home through the election season, you could just have all of your absentee ballots sent to me along with your signature so I can trace it and fill out your ballots. You KNOW you can trust me to vote according to your wishes, don't you?:D

Slinkiecat

October 8th, 2004, 12:48 PM

Tatka, awhile back (I think it was on AOL) they provided a questionnaire that you could fill out. It did not indicate which candidate supported which issue. At the end it told you which candidate most agreed with your positions. It was excellent. If you could find something like that, it might be helpful to you.

I liked it because although I believed I knew who I wanted to vote for, I was happy to see that the result of the test proved I was supporting the candidate who agreed with me on most issues.
I don't know if this is the one you saw on AOL, Heather, but the test on this site: http://www.politicalcompass.org/ will also give one a chance to see where their beliefs and opinions place them on both the liberal/conservative scale and the libertarian/authoritarian one.

Slinkie

HeatherInFlorida

October 8th, 2004, 02:28 PM

Slinkiecat, that wasn't the test I took ... the one I saw focused more on actual issues of the day. However, I did take that test and it was very interesting! Thanks for the link:)

anngie

October 8th, 2004, 05:11 PM

My dh and I will be in Key West on election day so we have already voted by absentee ballot. I guess we are not so far behind in everything in Georgia. Every Wednesday you can vote at our courthouse if you are going to be out of town on this election day.
I feel politics have no place on the Cruise Critic board. On the roll call HAL board for Dec 5 Westerdam there are some people who have taken it over with politics and being extremely critical of certain candidates. It has nothing to do with the upcoming cruise.