Opinion: Early Voting a Responsible Alternative

By A. Thomas Price

I must disagree with the Post and Courier editorial today (10-08-12) regarding early voting vs. absentee voting in South Carolina. The writers seem to be suffering from a Mayberry Polyanna ideal of Democracy. They seem to be stuck on the concept that voting MUST happen on the same day everywhere for us to be taking serious and fulfilling our patriotic duty of participating in this democracy. I hate to be the one to break it to you, but there are a few people out there — maybe 60 percent to 75 percent of the total voting-eligible population — who are hard-liners in their partisanship. 

The writers suggest that we should all wait until the very last day to cast a vote for Candidate A or B (or C) because there may be some "October Surprise." But alas, the partisans in this state and around the country will still vote for their party, no matter how flawed their party's candidate might be.

The writers suggest that "going to the polls serves as a common reaffirmation by the voters of what sustains our system of government." I'm sorry, but that's ridiculously narrow. Would you rather have 100 percent participation in the "Election Process," where all registered voters can submit their votes in a manner of their choosing (early, absentee, mail-in, or in-person), or 50 percent participation on "Election Day" by those willing to put up with the "joy" of waiting in line for sometimes several hours, just to push a button or pull a lever?

I never miss an opportunity to vote. I am not a partisan. I do like to wait as long as possible to ensure that I don’t get duped by an October Surprise. But I confess that in the last election, I voted using an absentee ballot. There are 11 listed qualifiers for Absentee Voting in S.C. I will not disclose which applied to me, but I will admit that it was technically accurate. The point is: I VOTED. I assume my vote counted as much as someone who stood in line for up to 3 hours (or more as I recall from news reports from our local precinct). I did have the additional burden of having to drive to Moncks Corner to pick-up and submit my ballot, but that took much less time than standing in line for several hours. 

Bottom line: I voted. I participated. I reaffirmed my belief in this crazy experiment we call Democracy. Why must we put unnecessary restrictions on participation? I yearn for the day that we have 100 percent voter turn-out, regardless of who is victorious. In my opinion, that is not a Polyanna-ish view as we have never had 100 percent participation … so I am not yearning for a glorious yesteryear when all neighbors went to the polls together and all voted on the same day. I am simply looking forward to a time when all votes counted, no matter what day they were cast.