Johnnie Said:

How far in advance of the general election can US citizens vote? I think I'm learning...?

We Answered:

The State of Arizona stopped requiring special circumstances for mail-in ballots several years ago. Now anyone can vote by mail. There are also several places in the State that have polling places open for several weeks before the election. No matter what precinct you are registered in, you can stop in and vote. Early voting starts here October 2. Hey! That’s today!

It is becoming a very popular process here. This quote is from the Deputy Secretary of State for Arizona: "I have every reason to believe that at least 50 percent of the Arizona voters, given recent elections, are likely to be voting early," Deputy Secretary of State Kevin Tyne said.


We also have a permanent early voting list. If you want you can sign up and automatically get an early ballot for every election without having to request one each time. Otherwise, anyone can request an early ballot for individual elections. One of the advantages of doing this is that you avoid long lines and waits at the polling place on election day. This coming election especially is supposed to have a record voter turnout. And if you don’t want to vote several weeks ahead, and risk regretting the way you voted because of some new information on a candidate coming forth, you can wait until election day to fill out the ballot, and take it to any polling place and turn it in. You just don’t have to stand in line.

Not all states do this, in most of them you have to have special circumstances to apply for an absentee ballot. (Out of town, homebound, etc.) But more and more states are starting this program because the feeling is that more people will vote if they don’t have to go to a polling place and wait in line. Also, a lot of people who would vote don’t do it if the weather is bad. This takes that excuse away.

Another innovation for Arizona is that voters registered in Arizona who are living outside the country can vote via the internet. I believe this will be the first election to use this method. It is primarily for the benefit of our military overseas.

I personally have been a longtime proponent of the Australian method. Make it illegal not to vote without good cause. Vote or pay a fine. That way, if you don’t like the new administration, you at least can’t blame a bunch of stay-at-homes who each side feels would surely have voted for their candidate if they had voted at all.

Nora Said:

Theoretically, what would happen if in the general election there was a tie in the popular and electoral vote?

We Answered:

Popular vote is irrelevant. Tie in electoral vote, I believe would be decided by House of Representatives.

Holly Said:

As a citizen of Northern Ireland, how can I vote in the upcoming uk general election?

We Answered:

Nobody votes for prime minister. You vote for your local MP. The leader of the party with a majority of MP's forms the government. In the event that no political party has enough MP's for an outright majority, there is a "hung" Parliament. In that case, the largest party may try to get support from 1 or more of the smaller parties to create a coalition to form the government. If the largest party is just shy of having a majority, then it may try to carry on as a minority government. In all likelihood, there will be a hung Parliament after the next general election on May 6. In that case, the SDLP is supposed to have an agreement to support Labour. I would think it's a safe bet that the DUP is more likely to support the Tories in a coalition than Labour. I hope that helps.

Sonia Said:

How many supporters does Ron Paul have? He only got about 20,000 votes in the general election?

We Answered:

Many voted for other candidates. Some (1,200 in Oklahoma) voted but not for the office of President or VP.