For a 44-cent Stamp, Goodbye, Polling Place

Have you noticed those rather large county advertisements in the Herald for applications for mail ballots? They are the wave of the future, in my estimation. I have already applied — and voted. Further, I expect to vote by mail, at least in all general elections, for a long, long time. I’m looking into mail ballots for school and fire district elections.
I think that the idea of mail ballots would hold great appeal to many of you. One of the things that mail ballots do is to remove that last excuse for not voting: I don’t have the time.
Now, even if you are too lazy to get dressed, you can vote naked, and no one will care. No one will ever know. Just use a black pen or pencil to fill in the circles by the candidates of your choice, put the ballot in the envelope enclosed in your mailing, and return it to the nearest mailbox, or, in person. If you decide you want your spouse, parents or the guy next door to personally carry the ballot to the county Board of Elections, that person will have to sign, too, but that’s a mere technicality.
I was chatting with County Clerk Rita Fulginiti recently about the latest innovation, and told her that many stockholders are so used to casting proxy votes by mail, it’s a wonder that it took Garden State legislators so long to smooth out the idea that ordinary folks may want to vote by mail for no other reason than it was convenient.
Of course, mail ballots are nothing new. Military ballots have been standard for many years, as have ballots for those who may have referred to them as “absentee” ballots. That meant, if you knew you would be in Brazil or Dusseldorf on Election Day, you could apply for one and not feel as if you were shirking your civic duty.
Since I have already voted, I wish there was a button that could be pressed, and my mailbox would immediately shred those darn daily ads from competing sides for the Assembly and governor’s race.
Take my name off the mailing lists. I’ve already cast my vote, so you may have all the dirt in the world against that opponent, but it will do no good to talk about it to me now.
Actually, I got an e-mail from a reader who wanted to know why the Herald was not covering politics earlier, since mail ballots are now in fashion.
Honestly, we didn’t think about it. The notion was so new, it went under our collective radar screens.
If the idea really catches on, and thousands of voters sign up for mail ballots, it could put a whole new face on elections.
For instance, campaigns would have to start immediately after the candidates were announced to win the ears of potential voters. Forget the old post-Labor Day stuff.
Gone are the days when political picnics, with chicken and beer, a couple weeks before election could win votes and swing an election. All that is past, and I say, “Good riddance!”
Mail ballots have the potential to save campaigns truckloads of money. Why send stuff out if it’s too late, and the slick name calling ads end up in the recycle bin?
Actually, Fulginiti said military voters in distant lands are allowed to cast votes via Internet, an idea I think is terrific.
To any naysayer, keep in mind that proxy votes have also been conveyed via the Internet for many years. You enter a control number, vote as you want, and that’s that. It even saves postage.
Could your votes be manipulated? I highly doubt it, but in this world of shenanigans, anything is possible. How would it be different from rigging voting machines? I won’t go there right now, but the idea still gets my vote. I will be the first to step up in line to put my name on the list of people who want to vote via Internet.
But, the whole realm of mail ballots does change election day.
No longer will this guy from District 15 trudge to the American Legion hall in Court House, saying “Hi” to many friends and neighbors as they walk to and from their cars to vote.
No longer will I get to smile at the challengers who ask your name, then duly record it in that big book with your signature in it.
No longer will I get to wait in line, and wonder how the election will turn out.
All that is a thing of the past, at least for this voter.
The vote has been cast, as has the dye.
Will my candidates win? That will only be known on Nov. 4.
It’s not too late to get an application and vote by mail. Then you, too, can be among those who sneer at candidates’ mud slinging. “Too late, mate, my vote’s already in.”
Now THAT is a sense of accomplishment that isn’t easy to achieve in this day and age.
Regardless of whether you vote by mail or in person. Remember, it’s your duty as an American to vote. To refuse is to slap the face of every military person who ever donned a uniform to defend this country, and the precious voting right, if you sit on your duff and not vote.