Life Changes; Permanent or Temporary?

[1Kflyerguy]

I have been permanent absentee for at least 10 years, possibly longer. It has worked very well for me, as I travel quite frequently, sometimes with little notice for business travel.

Never had any issues or concerns. Recently the county added secure drobox's at various locations, such as libraries, city hall. So you have choice of mailing or using the drop box. Think you can even drop the ballot at polling place, though i can't see why i would want to do that. I usually complete my ballot nice and early.

 

[easyrider]

You think you could have voted twice, but you couldn't. One of those ballots would have been invalidated. And in fact, both of them might have been.

We vote by mail for as long as I can remember. The two ballots I received had two different spellings of my first name. I wonder why I received both ballots. I have had my vote pulled once because they couldn't read my name. I had to sign an affidavit that that was my signature so my vote counted.

So for us, vote by mail seems permanent.

Bill

 

[Luanne]

We vote by mail for as long as I can remember. The two ballots I received had two different spellings of my first name. I wonder why I received both ballots. I have had my vote pulled once because they couldn't read my name. I had to sign an affidavit that that was my signature so my vote counted.

So for us, vote by mail seems permanent.

Bill

I heard about some ballots that went out with misspelled, or wrong, first names. In doing some quick checking it seems this is not an isolated incident.

 

[Luanne]

Presidential votes have been in person mostly in CO, as far as I know. I know they want to change that.

I thought this was interesting so I did some checking. It appears you can vote in all elections, including presidential, by mail.

"Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Colorado mails a ballot to every registered voter a few weeks before the election. Keep an eye on the mailbox, and be sure to mail it back or drop it in a drop-box before Election Day! You can also vote in person if you prefer to do so. Colorado offers early voting. "

 

[Rjbeach2003]

For all the recent whining about vote by mail by a certain incumbent politician, in person voting to some time to become reliable. Vote by mail, because of the absentee system, got there much sooner, like almost immediately.

Here is summary of how Landslide Lyndon became US Senator in 1948.

The Box 13 scandal occurred in Alice, Texas during the Senate election of 1948.[1] Lyndon B. Johnson was on the verge of losing the election and yet six days after polls had closed, 202 additional ballots were discovered in precinct 13, which swung the election in Johnson's favor. He had been in a tight race with Coke Stevenson and they were in the middle of a run-off. Stevenson was about 854 votes ahead of Johnson during the run-off. Stevenson was even ahead by midday, but after the discovery of the additional ballots, 200 additional votes for Johnson were discovered, leading to his victory by 87 votes out of 1 million voters

That was, of course, an in person vote. This was common in elections all over the country, by both parties. In this case both were Democrats. There are three great books on LBJ, by Robert Caro, and he described how LBJ and Stevenson each had their box of ballots, and were trying to out wait the other. Guess Stevenson voted his box sooner than LBJ.

 

[controller1]

For all the recent whining about vote by mail by a certain incumbent politician, in person voting to some time to become reliable. Vote by mail, because of the absentee system, got there much sooner, like almost immediately.

Here is summary of how Landslide Lyndon became US Senator in 1948.

The Box 13 scandal occurred in Alice, Texas during the Senate election of 1948.[1] Lyndon B. Johnson was on the verge of losing the election and yet six days after polls had closed, 202 additional ballots were discovered in precinct 13, which swung the election in Johnson's favor. He had been in a tight race with Coke Stevenson and they were in the middle of a run-off. Stevenson was about 854 votes ahead of Johnson during the run-off. Stevenson was even ahead by midday, but after the discovery of the additional ballots, 200 additional votes for Johnson were discovered, leading to his victory by 87 votes out of 1 million voters

That was, of course, an in person vote. This was common in elections all over the country, by both parties. In this case both were Democrats. There are three great books on LBJ, by Robert Caro, and he described how LBJ and Stevenson each had their box of ballots, and were trying to out wait the other. Guess Stevenson voted his box sooner than LBJ.

You know what they say: Vote early and vote often!

 

[WinniWoman]

As many as 140,000 New Yorkers receive absentee ballots with wrong names and addresses | Blaze Media

'Voting absentee is going to work. It really is. (Fingers crossed.)'

www.theblaze.com

 

[bluehende]

As many as 140,000 New Yorkers receive absentee ballots with wrong names and addresses | Blaze Media

'Voting absentee is going to work. It really is. (Fingers crossed.)'

www.theblaze.com

If you read the article is says a few have been reported. Then somehow gets as many as 140000, all of the ballots sent out to brooklyn. Quite a leap.

 

[WVBaker]

"Business Insider reporter Grace Panetta tweeted, " And it looks like some people are getting not just the wrong return envelopes with their ballot, but other's people's ballots entirely. I can only hope this isn't a widespread problem bc it's a pretty serious safety/privacy issue."


"... it's a pretty serious safety/privacy issue"? Now there's an understatement.

 

[VegasBella]

1). Doctor's Visits: I attended visits with my son (of course, he's a minor). We wore masks and had to get temp checked first. My son's doctor says we will do future visits as 'telemedicine' during pandemic but I anticipate it will go 'back to normal' afterwards. However, I am hoping they continue the masks for the dialysis. All the experts are saying 'thank goodness we're finally using masks as a routine measure in dialysis centers, it will prevent all kinds of unnecessary problems.' But I expect that will be hit and miss, some units will be great with everyone masked and others won't.

I also attended doctor visits with my mom. Same thing about temp check first, masks, 6 feet away in waiting room etc. I wasn't going at first but I felt like she wasn't being taken seriously enough so I came to help push for more. Anyway, they haven't said no helpers at these appointments.

2). Retail Stores: I think some people will transition more to delivery and online because the pandemic has started a new habit. So I think some places will shut down and won't come back. And hours will be reduced because of that.

3). Airplane Seating: I think that will go back to 'normal' except perhaps some increased passenger screening.

4). Voting: I anticipate there will be an increase in absentee voting simply because this election will make more people aware it's an option. But I think things will mostly go back to how they were before. Mostly.

5). Real Estate: I think some markets are going to get hit hard from the economic fall-out but others will boom.

6). Masks: I think we will see them a bit more frequently than we did pre-pandemic but they will still be fairly rare. I do think though that next time there's a call to use them, more people will use them, they won't be as afraid/defensive/stubborn.

7). Toilet paper: I don't think there will be a problem. I do think that bidets will continue to increase in popularity.

8). Cruise Ships: I don't know about this. I have friends who went on a cruise and were safe. They cruise a lot and I could see them just going back to cruising. I don't think I will ever cruise. BUFFETS however are going away. Here in Vegas they are getting rid of buffets.

9). Road Construction: I don't understand this question. Nothing really changed here as far as road construction goes. I don't see why there would be changes in road construction post-pandemic.

 

[presley]

1). Doctor's visits; With rare exceptions you can no longer take someone with you to a Dr. appointment. Will this policy continue?
I think people will go back to bringing family members. It's easier to have someone along for serious conditions. Hard to remember everything and an advocate is very helpful.
2). Retail Stores: Their store hours have been cutback or reduced. Will the profits be great enough for retailers to realize they don't need to be open 9 to 9 daily? The stores around here are almost back to normal. People work different hours and sleep different hours, so I think the long openings are helpful for those working graveyard, etc.

3). Airplane seating: Available seats have been reduced. Will better legroom be a result in a few years due to greater spacing and new plane configurations? I think the airlines will stuff people into every nook and cranny sooner rather than later.

4). Voting; Many will be voting by mail this year. Will standing at the ballot box become a thing of the past?
I've been voting via absentee ballot for years. As soon as my county installed touch screens, I went on permanent mail in ballots. I did not want to touch screens that a bunch of random people already touched and possibly coughed or sneezed on.
5). Real Estate: Prices have fallen in cities, yet up in the burbs. Will this pace continue, with housing prices continuing to surge?
Our housing prices have increased the entire time. It has to crash at some point. It always does and if landlords cannot collect rent, they won't be able to pay their bills.
6). Masks; Will some folks continue to wear masks long after the pandemic is behind us?
I think they will be somewhat normal. I have allergies and it was normal for me to sneeze and blow my nose at least once every morning when I walked my dogs. I didn't sneeze at all for at least the first 2 months of wearing a mask. They seem to help with allergies.
7). Toilet paper: If we have another surge will we again have a shortage of toilet paper or have most folks salted away months of supplies at this point?I have about 2 weeks extra of toilet paper. I just don't want to have a pile of it stored. My husband installed a bidet toilet seat on his toilet. If all else fails, I can use that.

8). Cruise ships: Will folks return to them or not because of fear of being stranded at sea or on board illnesses?
I think most people will go back to cruising. I don't think I will.
9). Road construction; Will road building and improvements now become concentrated outside major cities due to serious traffic issues in the suburbs? No thoughts on this.

 

[klpca]

I do think zoom will be used in place of alot of personal meetings but I really hope it does NOT take place of in person conferences/conventions etc. It is just not the same, nor do you have the number of contacts nor engagement. We are not made to live isolated from others, and reading body language, being able to skip from one convo to another making personal/professional contacts etc. is just too important to lose. So many industries use the conventions/conferences as a way to not only network, but also as a mini "vacation" and way to have a bit of fun. A company where employees feel connected by actual human face-to-face interaction will have happier/more satisfied employees in long run.

Zoom is a useful tool but it should be one of many ways to communicate.

Oh my goodness. I couldn't hate professional conferences any more. I have really enjoyed being able to do webinars instead. I did a conference in Hawaii once and I was so antsy in the classes because I knew that my fun was right outside of the door. Never again for me.

I have had a zoom happy hour(s) with my long time circle of girlfriends every Tuesday evening since late March or early April. It has been a bright spot in my week and we haven't missed once. It's worked out great because two of them live out of town now. We have met in person twice - outside in someone's back yard. And while that was clearly a superior experience, zoom has still been a godsend simply because not everyone lives nearby any more. Also when we meet up in person I can only have one drink because I know that at some point I will be getting in the car to drive home. On zoom I don't have that restriction, lol. Our happy hours can last 2 - 3 hours - that's a long time to nurse one glass of wine.

What I think is going to stay is work at home - for some (not everyone has the discipline). That will help with both traffic and housing affordability since buyers can look to areas further out in the suburbs that previously were too far away to commute comfortably. If this holds true the impact on roads and highways should be less - but so will miles driven and gasoline taxes. Less money into the coffers. This will present an interesting dilemma for government at all levels.

Doctors visits, retail, TP, restaurants, movie theaters, etc - those will go back to normal at some point in my opinion. It takes a lot to change human nature. In my opinion, people will mentally adjust to the risk and at some point if history holds true, the virus will be a thing of the past for the most part (see 1918 for an example).

Airplanes will be crowded because they have become addicted to that business model but I think that there will be fewer flights and higher prices as business travel will be permanently affected. (No more subsidies for the casual traveler). I have a friend who used to travel to company meetings once a month - NYC, India, South Africa, Thailand, China etc - far flung places with tough travel schedules. Not any more. The company is very pleased with the success of remote meetings and the cost savings, not to mention the time savings with the elimination of travel. I think that they will not be an outlier. The cost of travel will be scrutinized and will be an easy one to cut for many businesses. I do not think that it will be eliminated but I think that it will be reduced for sure.

Masks in some form will probably stay around - primarily when someone is ill and out in public (shopping, public transportation).

Voting is interesting. I think that it *should* look different in the future - online for example. But that change will continue to be slow because of security issues. I usually vote by mail - frequently we are not in town in November - but I have been know to drop off my vote by mail ballot in person when necessary. I have never stood in line to vote - not once. Maybe more polling places will be the norm so that there is less of a chance for people to have to stand in line with others.

Cruising is another interesting activity. On the face of it I would say that it won't survive the pandemic in it's current form. It will be very challenging in a post pandemic environment but as it is a very popular way to travel, I suspect that ultimately people will happily return at some point. Again, human nature. Look at the amusement parks that are reopening. It will be different, but people will return.

 

["Roger"]

Well Covid-19 has certainly made a lot of changes in life since March of 2020. What changes have you really noticed, and do you think these changes will now remain permanent even after the Vaccine is approved or the current Pandemic has ended?

Answers very much depend upon what "ended" turns out to be. It is one thing if the pandemic is completely defeated. I seriously doubt that this will happen. More likely vaccines will be somewhat but not totally effective. That colors what the answers to your questions will be.

Here are a few that I have noticed;



1). Doctor's visits; With rare exceptions you can no longer take someone with you to a Dr. appointment. Will this policy continue? I doubt it. Too many people need a spouse or some one else to accompany them on a visit to help the interchange.

2). Retail Stores: Their store hours have been cutback or reduced. Will the profits be great enough for retailers to realize they don't need to be open 9 to 9 daily? No opinion.

3). Airplane seating: Available seats have been reduced. Will better legroom be a result in a few years due to greater spacing and new plane configurations? Airlines will have to adjust the number of planes they own and their schedules so that they have full flights in order to make sufficient profits. Full flights will again be the norm.

I might mention that right now what is occurring is very spotty. We have seen and heard of these full flights, but at the same time I have friends who just came back across most of the country. They were on two flights and neither one had more than ten passengers.

4). Voting; Many will be voting by mail this year. Will standing at the ballot box become a thing of the past? I have never had to wait in line more than five minutes to vote. Yet there are other places in the state where four to five hour waits have been the norm during major elections. (Need to avoid a political comment.) The people in those places will demand that mail in ballots become the norm.

5). Real Estate: Prices have fallen in cities, yet up in the burbs. Will this pace continue, with housing prices continuing to surge? There will be a slow shift back to the cities.

6). Masks; Will some folks continue to wear masks long after the pandemic is behind us? Fewer people will wear them, but it will not be abnormal, much like you saw in Asia even before the pandemic.

7). Toilet paper: If we have another surge will we again have a shortage of toilet paper or have most folks salted away months of supplies at this point? Retailers are anticipating another surge and have procured a larger supply that they have put in storage than they normally would.

8). Cruise ships: Will folks return to them or not because of fear of being stranded at sea or on board illnesses? People are anxious to travel. There will be a surge of people taking cruises because of pent up demand.

9). Road construction; Will road building and improvements now become concentrated outside major cities due to serious traffic issues in the suburbs? No opinion.



These are just the tip of the iceberg. Feel free to contribute any that you can think of.

Schooling; While there will be a return to more face to face classroom instruction, many (not all) teachers will also start incorporating some of the online techniques with which they became familiar as a norm. (Note: I taught some entire college courses on line. I begin to demand that some of my regular students participate in online discussions. Sometimes they were required to work in small groups working out how to do assignments.)

Zooming: Some families have had better contact with Zooming than before the pandemic. Their entire family spread across the country could meet at once. At work, Zooming will become a common alternative to group emails. On a couple of church committees I belong to, meeting by Zoom saves a lot of travel time and is just as effective. Zooming is here to stay.




.

 

[Talent312]

...Voting is interesting. I think that it *should* look different in the future - online for example....

I concur.
I think that the same security that banks use to secure
$$ in their computers could be used to secure ballots.

 

[mbh]

As Neils Bohr, the Danish Nobel winning physicist said "Prediction is hard, especially about the future"