{"id":4222,"date":"2018-09-20T01:10:06","date_gmt":"2018-09-20T01:10:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.novonon.com\/blog\/?p=4222"},"modified":"2018-09-20T01:10:06","modified_gmt":"2018-09-20T01:10:06","slug":"opinion-voting-at-home-will-help-save-our-democracy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.novonon.com\/blog\/2018\/09\/20\/opinion-voting-at-home-will-help-save-our-democracy\/","title":{"rendered":"Opinion | Voting at Home Will Help Save Our Democracy"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The single best way to increase voter turnout?<\/p>\n

Abolish the polling place.<\/p>\n

A century ago, the direct election of senators sounded audacious, too. But in six states, it\u2019s already true that more than 12 million voters don\u2019t need to traipse to polling places on Election Day or apply for absentee ballots.<\/p>\n

The U.S. Postal Service delivers our ballots automatically, several weeks before each election. Voters can mail their marked ballots \u2014 sometimes even postage paid \u2014 or take them to one of hundreds of official ballot collection sites.<\/p>\n

Since most voters choose the latter option, vote-at-home is a more accurate label than vote-by-mail. At many locations, voters can also receive replacement ballots, update their voter registration and get language or other assistance. For those so inclined, some sites still have voting booths.<\/p>\n

Oregon rolled out its system in 1998 after voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure. Washington finished its county-by-county approach in 2012, while Colorado\u2019s first vote-at-home election took place in 2014. Voters today also enjoy this system in 27 of Utah\u2019s 29 counties and more than 40 counties in North Dakota, Nebraska and California.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n