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> but what's wrong with early voting? In France and most European countries, the electoral campaign is highly regulated and designed in principle so that citiz

> but what's wrong with early voting? In France and most European countries, the electoral campaign is highly regulated and designed in principle so that citizens can make a rational decision, and no candidate can unduly influence the vote. All (major, which is based on the latest parliamentary election) candidates must by law be given equal air time, election funds are limited and checked by the state, the campaign must start at a particular date and end the day before the vote, etc. Early voting flies in the face of most of this: maybe on day X of the campaign some candidate makes a claim that convinces people to cast their votes then and there. On day X+2, some other candidate claims that the first one was lying. Now, even people who are convinced by the second candidate are unlikely to go and rectify their votes (if this is even allowed). So, early voting favors emotional campaigns and dirty tricks over a reasoned decision. Of course, this is all in theory - but measuring the results in practice is probably much more difficult.

specialist 5y ago
Yes and, it's generally much easier to vote in France. Better transportation, easy to take time off work, etc. Throughout the USA, in many jurisdictions, voting is onerous for far too many people. Too few poll sites, not enough gear, hard to take time off work, hard to make trip, etc. So progressives have been pushing early voting, as already allowed for overseas, military, and disabled voters, to mitigate these failings. The French strategy is better overall. But the USA isn't committed to such practicalities.
- ghaff 5y ago
  While there hasn't been a big deal made of it until recently, absentee ballots have been a readily available thing in the US in at least most jurisdictions for decades. I have very rarely voted on election day either because I was traveling or because I said I would be and it was easier that way.

specialist 5y ago

Yes and, it's generally much easier to vote in France. Better transportation, easy to take time off work, etc. Throughout the USA, in many jurisdictions, voting is onerous for far too many people. Too few poll sites, not enough gear, hard to take time off work, hard to make trip, etc. So progressives have been pushing early voting, as already allowed for overseas, military, and disabled voters, to mitigate these failings. The French strategy is better overall. But the USA isn't committed to such practicalities.

ghaff 5y ago
While there hasn't been a big deal made of it until recently, absentee ballots have been a readily available thing in the US in at least most jurisdictions for decades. I have very rarely voted on election day either because I was traveling or because I said I would be and it was easier that way.