Friday, July 3, 2020

Voting By Mail

The post for my finish this week got pushed out to next week, so today I am sharing the newest block I made for my Vote quilt.




I really didn't have a firm plan for this block.  I started by cutting some 1" strips and I made the letters.  Then I just added enough fabric around it to trim it into the diamond shape I needed.  The rest of the block was just a matter of sewing on pieces and trimming them up to the look I wanted.

I live in the state of Oregon in the US.  Here, everyone votes-by-mail.  We have no voting precints, so we never have long lines.  No need to take time off from work to vote and you can even do it in your PJs.  Voting is super easy and convenient with lots of time to complete your ballot.  It has huge support here in the state and voter turnout is about 60-80% depending on what's on the ballot.

Oregon has been voting this way since 1998.  A citizen's initiative (ballot measure 60) made Oregon the first state in the US to conduct it elections exclusively by mail.  The way it is set up, it is really difficult to create fraud.  It is a LOT of work (and a felony) to steal ONE vote.

Since I started this quilt project, I have been asking a number of long time Oregon residents if they think there is a lot of voter fraud with mail-in-voting.  No one I talked to has ever had an issue or even heard of an issue.  And they all feel the election security is safe.

Personally I feel far better filling out a paper ballot than casting my vote on some electronic device.
Mail in voting works for our military and most politicians vote that way.

(Note - Vote by mail does not mean that you have to put your ballot in the mail - there are lots of secure ballot receptacles around the city where they can be dropped off.  Always in convenient locations.  Here in Oregon, we WANT people to vote!)

If this is something you want to see in your state, you should start pressing your politicians now.
Don't be afraid to use your voice - the citizens of Oregon made the change decades ago.




Here are all of the blocks that I have finished to date.  This has been a fun project to not only plan the blocks but to also learn more about the aspects of voting.

I know there are still some states with primary elections soon - please get out and vote!





19 comments:

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

sounds great to me - our governor just said yesterday that absentee voting can be done by everyone who considers going to the voting places a danger to their health because of the virus this year - so at least we can do that this fall- the chairs of the democratic and republican party for the state stood with him on this yesterday at the virus update -- would rather have it your way all the time but at least it is going to be ok to do it that way this year.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

I love voting by mail! We've been doing that in Colorado for a long time, too. The great part is being able to go read through your ballot at the dining room table, look things up if you need to, and take your time with it. Your block is great, too! I like how you started with a diamond shape where the word is and turned the bottom section into an envelope! Have a great 4th of July, Cyndy!

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

I agree that I feel better voting by mail as well, and I love the steps that Oregon has done to help increase voter turnout for elections. I always vote by mail and hope more people will consider it. Great block, by the way!

Rebecca said...

Fellow Oregonian here...
I love that I can vote by mail and wonder about the agenda of those who call fraud.
Hard copy, no electronics to hack, no lines, no excuse not to vote...
Love the blocks your making.

Linda Brewer said...

I live in California. I have voted by mail for at least 10 years and I love it. I remember when I was working and had to go and wait in line. This system works better for many reasons. Looking forward to seeing your finished quilt.

KMSC said...

I loved voting by mail when I lived in Oregon and continue to do so now that I live in Washington State. I always feel that my vote is safe and, apparently, easier than voting through electronic machines that break down or no one knows how to use. I love your VOTE blocks so far. This will be a great quilt!

Anonymous said...

I agree that voting by mail is just fine especially now with risks going in indoor buildings to vote. We did it for the first time here in NY with our primary ballots and felt so much better so I am hoping we can also do the same for the very important presidential election in November. The idea of waiting outside in long lines is not humane when there is an alternative that works well. Just another change we need to adapt to.

Louise said...

The mail-in vote block is great! As permanent full-time travelers living on a boat, we vote by mail in every election. In fact, we just got our sample ballots via email for an August primary election. So convenient!

JanineMarie said...

We love voting by mail. And yes, by mail, we really mean “mail.” Our township box is nearby, and when we voted in our primary a few days ago, we combined our drop-off with a nice bicycle ride. Thanks for using your quilt to remind everyone of their freedom (and responsibility) to exercise their right to vote.

Cathy said...

Here in Utah we’ve been voting by mail since 2013, and we love it. There has never been a known instance of fraud. I believe we are the only RED state (not me, but the State) that votes this way, and it is heavily favored. Just goes to show you what the national republicans will resort to in order to sow divisiveness in the election process. Nevertheless, your VOTE blocks are great, every single one!! And good on you for the public service announcement and personal endorsement for voting by mail!

Susie H said...

Love your blocks and appreciate you getting the message to vote out there. I live in IL and I think we are the fraud capital for voting. I don't know if mail-in ballots are the answer or if providing ID would work. I DO KNOW that people in cemeteries should NOT be allowed to cast a ballot! Lol! But, hey, this IL where we encourage people to vote and vote often! Hahahaha! *Blech!*

Lynn Dykstra said...

I am working on a VOTE quilt too--love how yours is coming together.

Angela said...

We have all requested mail in ballots for the the next election. As much as I enjoy going to vote on election day, it is much safer right now to be able to send it in. I'm puzzled as to why vote by mail has become such an issue. Seems like the right plan given our circumstances right now. More people voting is better than fewer people voting.

Sally Trude said...

I’ve been here three years and voting by mail was an unexpected bit of joy. Before it was all about the 30 minute drive to the poll, finding parking, and the hour wait in line. Now I find voting is more about reading and thinking than physical logistics...and okay, that’s scary.

Andree G. Faubert said...

Hi Cynthia, thanks for sharing Oregon's vote by mail. What a wonderful idea. I think that your vote quilt is also a wonderful idea. Take care.

Jayne said...

It seems totally reasonable that we should all be able to vote by mail, especially in these times. Tennessee has allowed vote by mail for the primary to people who meet a certain criteria. It didn't come about without a court battle and is a perfect example of trying to limit voter turnout. Fraud by mail is rare, fraud by our politicians to suppress voting is rampant. Regardless, I'll wear a hazmat suit and stand in line this November if I have to!!

Emily said...

Love your mail-in vote block! My brother & dad both live in Oregon and sing the praises of voting by mail. I wish it would be adopted all over the US.

Robby said...

We also have state-wide voting by mail, although you may go in person to a few select polling places to vote on election day if that is your jam, or you need to register or you spoiled your ballot. Options! In addition to mail, we have several secure ballot drop boxes around our city. The Sunday evening before our primary date in February we saw several people in our neighborhood walking to the drop location with their ballots in hand (we drove and then went on to a restaurant, back in the time when people did such wild and crazy things). I'm liking this "VOTE" quilt and pondering if there might be some small related project spring up at my house on this subject.

Bonnie said...

Virginia is being reluctantly drawn into the 21st century... my dad said that for years although it was 20th century then. I love hearing about Oregon's voting style. Very obvious it can be done safely. I'm hoping VA will consider expanding voting by mail. We have voted by mail this past June because it became apparent that it was too dangerous to vote in person. It's been really interesting to read what your commenters have to say about mail in voting. I really like your vote quilt... I really don't want to start a new project now... but I really like the idea....

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