Are you kidding me? Voting in Pa

[LuvOrlando]

I find it interesting because when I moved each time and get a new drivers license they have always cancelled my drivers license in the other state.

I'm not saying it should or shouldn't be, I however still find it interesting what is and isn't shared among each state.

Pretty simple really.

Exactly, when I moved to MA they took my PA drivers license and canceled it before giving me the new one. It was such a fuss to move the cars here, you only get 28 days to switch the car, total anxiety provoking nightmare ordeal.

At any rate, turns out that the same process that got me a license, apparently, automatically signed me up to vote (I had no idea) but did not reach back to cancel my vote (also zero idea).

So the ability is there, for driving AND to register me to vote but not to notify to cancel the vote along with canceling my drivers license in my prior state... this is strange to me, to leave out that one thing.

 

[starry_solo]

I'm kind of happy to hear that a state is taking the time to have real people verify their voting rolls, not letting AI handle it all. There is no perfect way, but many states like California you can register to vote ON election day. The system is bending over backwards to make it easy to vote. And yes, that certainly can raise the risk of fraud if there are no checks and balances. I could only imagine the lawsuits if states cracked down and made people register before a deadline.

You do realize that anyone that registers to vote on election day gets a provisional ballot, right? That ballot is not counted until all the checks and balances have been done? Same thing that happens when you want to vote in an election at a precinct (polling place) that you're not assigned to.

 

[tvguy]

You do realize that anyone that registers to vote on election day gets a provisional ballot, right? That ballot is not counted until all the checks and balances have been done? Same thing that happens when you want to vote in an election at a precinct (polling place) that you're not assigned to.

Yes. A reasonable requirement until they make sure you haven't voted anywhere else. But you CAN register and vote on election day. And given how long this years vote count is expected to take, your provisional ballot will like be accepted long before the final results are certified.

 

[georgina]

https://ericstates.org/about/

Until recently there were about 9 more states on there. Interesting...

 

[starry_solo]

Yes. A reasonable requirement until they make sure you haven't voted anywhere else. But you CAN register and vote on election day. And given how long this years vote count is expected to take, your provisional ballot will like be accepted long before the final results are certified.

Yup, plus, it's CA, so we know what the vote will be there.

 

[tvguy]

Yup, plus, it's CA, so we know what the vote will be there.

LOL. Well, I have a pretty good idea in a winner take all state who will get all the Presidential delegates. But lots of state propositions and local offices on the ballot where your vote WILL count.

 

[Chuck S]

I think it is nice of them to contact you before they remove you from the system. I was surprised my Mom was still in tte system after she passed away, they sent her a new voter card (Texas sends cards to voters with their precinct numbers for all the different things like state reps and senators and such) So I took it into or local election office and told them that she needed to be removed. Though most places I've lived. you were automatically removed if you missed a Presidential election.

 

[DeeBee3]

I think what may be confusing to some is in those states with "motor voter" laws, some do not realized they have been registered to vote. If they are there for their license it's probably not on their mind to listen about voting unless it's really obvious on the paperwork. Just a guess.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I think what may be confusing to some is in those states with "motor voter" laws, some do not realized they have been registered to vote. If they are there for their license it's probably not on their mind to listen about voting unless it's really obvious on the paperwork. Just a guess.

In my state you have put in a party affiliation (even if it's unaffiliated) when registering to vote and this is very much explained when you're doing it at the DMV. When I changed my name with my DL when I got married the DMV they verified verbally if I wanted to maintain what I had previously selected and you confirm it on screens that you want X affiliation. When you go to change your address online through the DMV (instead of the actual offices) there is a second step before you can complete the change reconfirming your affiliation. So while you still may not realize it's pretty in your face at the same time here. States that don't have this requirement may not be so direct in their explanation, I can see that happening.

 

[NC Belle]

First I had no idea.
Second, this is a ridiculous process. The envelope was handwritten so someone literally had to look my family up and send one by one.
Third, PA is one of the biggest states and they happen to know where I moved, how many move and leave no forwarding address in 8 years?

I got a mail in ballot not too long ago and figured it was a mistake. When I moved to MA I got registered here when I got a drivers license so the whole process has been out of my hands. Of course, I am aware a person can only vote in one place but it is odd to me that the door was opened in my new state without me doing anything and is left wide open behind me like this.

Make if this what you will but I think it is bananas.

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I changed from NC and NC still claimed me even when PA changed it online. I had no trouble with PA getting the mail in baloot and tracking it was great.

 

[tvguy]

I think it is nice of them to contact you before they remove you from the system. I was surprised my Mom was still in tte system after she passed away, they sent her a new voter card (Texas send card to voters with their precint numbers for all the different things like state reps and senators and such) So I took it into or local election office and told them that she needed to be removed. Though most places I've lived. you were automatically removed if you missed a Presidential election.

My mom voted absentee after suffering a stroke. Her signature was different due to the stroke, and the voter registrar caught that required her to verify her signature and re-register.

 

[obsesseddisneyfan]

I was caught in the list of duplicate voters. It was disenfranchising doing provisional ballets for 3 years in a row (Washington State). Lot's of people get put on those lists of being registered to vote in different states, died etc. A not insignificant percentage of those people are on there because someone else has their same name. I believe it's better to let people vote. The vast majority of people on those lists will only vote once and those that vote twice should be prosecuted. A few years ago a radio talk show host decided to register to vote in multiple areas and vote multiple times. They were trying to prove that anyone could vote and get away with it. The state (Virginia) found every fraudulent ballot. I believe the OP shows that Pennsylvania is nicely telling people that they know they are registered twice and if they vote in their state it better not be fraud.

 

[DeeBee3]

In my state you have put in a party affiliation (even if it's unaffiliated) when registering to vote and this is very much explained when you're doing it at the DMV. When I changed my name with my DL when I got married the DMV they verified verbally if I wanted to maintain what I had previously selected and you confirm it on screens that you want X affiliation. When you go to change your address online through the DMV (instead of the actual offices) there is a second step before you can complete the change reconfirming your affiliation. So while you still may not realize it's pretty in your face at the same time here. States that don't have this requirement may not be so direct in their explanation, I can see that happening.

Very interesting. Thanks for explaining. I am not in one of those states.

 

[lilaurora]

You do realize that anyone that registers to vote on election day gets a provisional ballot, right? That ballot is not counted until all the checks and balances have been done? Same thing that happens when you want to vote in an election at a precinct (polling place) that you're not assigned to.

This sounds like it also varies by state. In WI if you register on Election Day at the polls your ballot is counted the same as those who were already registered. Upon completing registration you are handed your ballot to fill out and you place it into the same machine as all other voters.