It seems deliberately confusing to me since there is no fundamental difference between voting now and voting on the day of the deadline, but the way it’s discussed and referred to seems to imply that the correct day to vote would be waiting until the last minute instead of voting just getting it out of the way weeks ahead of time.
Same reason morning is earlier in the day than night. This is just how linear time works.
AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world 1 week ago
Historically, all regular voting was done in-person on election day and mail-in ballots were a special exception (e.g., for people with disabilities). It’s only in the last few election cycles that voting by mail became the norm, and most people still use the pre-existing terminology.
Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 1 week ago
Upvoted for correct, accurate, and complete information. I really don’t have much to add, other than to say good work!
protist@mander.xyz 1 week ago
The question was about early voting though? Voting by mail is only a small piece of the early voting total in most states
Takumidesh@lemmy.world 1 week ago
I’ve voted 'early, in every election I’ve participated in. For as long as I’ve known, which is about to be 4 presidential and all of the elections in between, the polls have always been open for weeks.
That’s approaching 20 years, I don’t think it’s a new concept really at this point.
L0rdMathias@sh.itjust.works 1 week ago
That’s less than 10% of the country’s life. Just because you didn’t exist before you were born does not mean that others did not.
Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 1 week ago
…20 years…4 presidential elections?
Did you miss a few? Or am I worse at math than I thought?
AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world 1 week ago
It’s a state-level policy, and there have been a few states that were ahead of the curve.
BaldManGoomba@lemmy.world 1 week ago
Not every state allows it and if they do it has to be a special reason in most states. So you must live in a lucky state or had an excuse every year