Vote early and often

First, let’s get the often business out of the way. I don’t mean that one should vote many times in the same election. That would be illegal; it would even be cheating. By often, I mean that one should vote in every election that comes along - federal, state and local. I cast my first vote in 1956 and I haven’t missed a presidential or state election since - well, maybe a primary here or there, but you get my point. 

About early: If you don’t know who you’re going to vote for before the campaigns start, it’s unlikely that you’ll know any better as they roll along. The track record of national candidates is pretty well known before they run. What the campaigns add are obscuration of uncomfortable realities and negative aspersions upon an opponent. Rarely is there a coherent statement of policy positions that isn’t softened with platitudes. 

And more about early: The coronavirus shows little sign of tapering off to safety levels before the November 3 election. And all the time it is getting harder to vote in person - extremely hard with polling places closing and long lines of hours for some. VOTING BY MAIL is the way to go. 

In five states, elections are all by mail. 29 states and DC allow voting by mail without an excuse. Absentee voting is available in 16 states, with varying degrees of permissibility. Usually these are sickness, disability, out-of-state or the military. In Massachusetts, fear of COVID-19 qualifies; in Texas it does not. 

But the most important reason to vote early is to be assured that your vote will be delivered by the United States Postal Service in a timely manner. Mr. Trump, the president, is making every effort to delegitimize Voting by Mail. His claims of fraud are unsubstantiated. But worst of all is his campaign to cripple the USPS so that it cannot do the job. My answer: VOTE EARLY!