Election Starts Next Week

I just received an e-mail reminding me that we only have two months until the election.

That's wrong.

Once upon a time in America, voting took place on election day - the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Absentee voting was rare, obstructed by many hurdles.

No longer.

In North Carolina, it is easy to request an absentee ballot. Ballots will be mailed out next Friday (or as soon thereafter as final approved ballots are printed).

Once a voter receives the ballot, that voter can complete and mail the ballot any time. That's the last chance for parties and candidates to persuade that voter.

Registration for voters to cast ballots on election day (November 6) ends October 12.

Early voting runs from October 18 to November 3.

Election is no longer a day - it is a process.

It begins next week.