It's long past time for USA uniform poll closings

[dukehjsteve]

I won't waste my time or the reasons why it is needed.... we all know those. But what is so darn hard about a uniform 9 pm EST poll closing ? ( 4 in Hawaii and Alaska, 6 in PST, 7 in MST, and 8 in CST ).

Why has this not gotten done ??!!

Yes this creates some problems in the west, but open polls earlier early if you must.... people in California and Hawaii can vote before work if need be, for example. Or in PST, let people go home early in order to vote before 6. These are not insurmountable problems.

So I repeat, why is there little energy behind this ?

[tandfman]

Let's get rid of the Electoral College while we're at it. For many Americans, because of the state in which they live, their vote in a Presidential election is meaningless.

[Marlow]

I won't waste my time or the reasons why it is needed.... we all know those. But what is so darn hard about a uniform 9 pm EST poll closing ? ( 4 in Hawaii and Alaska, 6 in PST, 7 in MST, and 8 in CST ).

A. It would have to be midnight EST to be 'fair' (don't kid yourself, Hawaiians would squawk (and be heard) big-time that they didn't have till 7pm).
B. As for the Electoral College, whichever party thought the EC gave it an advantage would block it.

[dukehjsteve]

I won't waste my time or the reasons why it is needed.... we all know those. But what is so darn hard about a uniform 9 pm EST poll closing ? ( 4 in Hawaii and Alaska, 6 in PST, 7 in MST, and 8 in CST ).

A. It would have to be midnight EST to be 'fair' (don't kid yourself, Hawaiians would squawk (and be heard) big-time that they didn't have till 7pm).


All right already, let's not get hung up on my suggested 9 pm in the east... make it later !

But in today's era of instantaneous communications, and sophisticated "exit polls," how many potential millions of west coast voters won't /don't bother to vote once they perceive a nationwide move to the left or right ? Bad enough if it skews the national Presidential results, but how about all the local and state-wide election contests ?

Our elections are a farce already due to excess money, media over-saturation, already poor voter turnout, etc. Add in the totally unneeded issue being discussed here.

I really hate the whole deal and wish the 2012 elections were over !

[lonewolf]

How about a 24 hour voting window, where ever you are? ..and no release of polling data till last poll closes.

[Marlow]

Our elections are a farce already due to excess money, media over-saturation, already poor voter turnout, etc. Add in the totally unneeded issue being discussed here.

Indeed. My peeve is - if you follow the polls (hard to avoid) - the numbers are constantly changing. If the elections were held a week earlier or a week later, the results would be significantly different. The widely swinging Rep polls are case in point. How many front-runners have come and gone just in the last 4 months?

[lonewolf]

I think the polls, except in the extremes, are meaningless. The questions are shaded and only a teeny percentage of voters are polled.

[Marlow]

I think the polls, except in the extremes, are meaningless.

Of course they are, but they do demonstrate the extreme fickleness of the electorate at large.

[kuha]

I think the polls, except in the extremes, are meaningless. The questions are shaded and only a teeny percentage of voters are polled.

The point of polling is that you CAN get a relatively accurate projection from a small, but statically meaningful sample. The sheer size of the polling business suggests that there's a good deal of validity there.

[dukehjsteve]

When it comes to Exit Polls, if every single person approached would simply respond, " Who I voted for is none of your f***ing business," then there would be no Exit Polls, and the world would be a better place.

[lonewolf]

When it comes to Exit Polls, if every single person approached would simply respond, " Who I voted for is none of your f***ing business," then there would be no Exit Polls, and the world would be a better place.

Amen! ..and they are not under oath.

[Halfmiler2]

Our elections are a farce already due to excess money, media over-saturation, already poor voter turnout, etc. Add in the totally unneeded issue being discussed here.

I really hate the whole deal and wish the 2012 elections were over !

To paraphrase Churchill, democracy is the worst form of governemnt - except for all the others.