Today is an election day in California and it looks like turnout will be low. With three elections in a single calendar year, that is to be expected.
Several years ago I signed up to be a permanent absentee voter (called Vote-By-Mail here in San Francisco). At the time it was because I was frequently traveling and unsure if I would be in town on election day. Since then I've discovered another benefit from voting by mail.
By voting early I put myself above the influence of all of the campaign material that is distributed in the run-up to election day. For the past two weeks there hasn't been a day (other than Sundays) when I haven't received at least one piece of campaign material in the mail. All of it is wasted because I voted almost a month ago. Sure, I have to spend a few hours pouring through the voter information booklet to find out who and what I really want to vote for but isn't that what it's all about?
If you have the opportunity to vote by mail, I encourage you to do so. You will find it more convenient but more importantly we the people may be able to reduce the influence of the media and campaigning.
Don't forget to vote!
Several years ago I signed up to be a permanent absentee voter (called Vote-By-Mail here in San Francisco). At the time it was because I was frequently traveling and unsure if I would be in town on election day. Since then I've discovered another benefit from voting by mail.
By voting early I put myself above the influence of all of the campaign material that is distributed in the run-up to election day. For the past two weeks there hasn't been a day (other than Sundays) when I haven't received at least one piece of campaign material in the mail. All of it is wasted because I voted almost a month ago. Sure, I have to spend a few hours pouring through the voter information booklet to find out who and what I really want to vote for but isn't that what it's all about?
If you have the opportunity to vote by mail, I encourage you to do so. You will find it more convenient but more importantly we the people may be able to reduce the influence of the media and campaigning.
Don't forget to vote!
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