What if? It's the basis of many stories. We ask. We ponder. We wonder.
On Tuesdays I throw one out there. What if? It may be speculative. It may stem from something I see. It may be something I pull from the news.
Make of it what you will. If a for instance is not specified, interpret that instance as you wish. And if the idea turns into a story, I'd appreciate a thank you in the acknowledgements 😉
I live in California. They now send all registered voters mail-in ballots. I got mine about a week and a half ago. (And I returned it all filled in a week ago.)
We have the option of doing the mail-in ballot or going to our polling place on election day. There's also early in-person voting. Options.
And I'd like one more option...
What if those who have already submitted their ballots could opt out of all the political ads? What if there was a way to just "I voted" out of the TV commercials? What if the various campaigns could find out who returned a ballot so they wouldn't waste their time mailing out the various flyers?
I wish!
ReplyDeleteIn NY absentee ballots are mailed out to voters 45 days before the election, and in person early voting begins October 26. I will likely do early voting, I am already sick of the political ads and cannot wait for November 6.
Then there would be no reason for those ads cause everyone would opt out to not watch them!
ReplyDeleteTrue. lol
DeleteI don't watch TV, so don't get commercials. I keep getting texts asking for donations, but I just delete them. I don't try to block numbers, since there is an endless number of numbers to use. My state is only vote by mail, but we don't have our ballots yet. We drop them off outside the library in the ballot box, or drive by the election office downtown. Easy. And it's safe. My daughter, when first voting, changed her handwriting, as young women do, and they contacted her to come in and set it right. They really do check.
ReplyDeleteHaven't had cable for a decade so that removes a lot of political ads from my sight. Links that arrive on my cell get the block and delete treatments. That's about the best I can do.
ReplyDeleteHaven't had cable for a decade so that removes a lot of political ads from my sight. Links that arrive on my cell get the block and delete treatments. That's about the best I can do.
ReplyDeleteThis is Birgit….i’m still in disbelief that the orange maroon could be so close in the running.
ReplyDeleteMakes a lot of sense. There is no point in being subjected to ads when one has already cast the vote. But it would be quite a challenge to filter out people who have already voted from the ads, unless the ads are personally delivered to individuals.
ReplyDeleteIn India, the option of 'postal ballots' is only for certain people, like those in the defence services who would not be stationed away from where they are registered to vote.
It would be a Christmas miracle...
ReplyDeleteI don't watch TV commercials often :D
ReplyDeleteI also wish! What Songbird said applies to me, too, as I also live in New York State. They now have an option for either absentee or "for any reason" mail in but you have to be proactive and apply for the ballot; they don't just send it out. I watched our 30 min local news and I think there were at least five political ads. None were Presidential but we are in a hot Congressional race district and hear their ads constantly.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea!
ReplyDeleteI like this idea. It'll never happen, but I like it.
ReplyDeleteThat would be wonderful! We're both registered as Independent, so our mailbox is full of political ads lately since we seem to get everything from both sides. Add living in a swing state, and it's A LOT.
ReplyDelete