Vote Absentee, Courtesy of the Republican Party

I am a registered Republican while my lovely wife chose not to specify a party on her voter registration. Here in New York, the voter registration lists are publicly available and the parties often use them to generate mailings. I received such a mailing today.

For a long time the New York State government consisted of the Governor (either Democrat or Republican), the State Senate controlled by the Republicans and the State Assembly controlled by Democrats. Due to some special elections and some intra-party politics, the Democrats now control the State Senate.

This concerns the Republicans, as it should. Unfortunately as we long time observers of Albany politics know, the concerns are not for the right reasons. By not controlling the Senate, the amount of pork available to Republican legislators is markedly less than they are used to being able to take credit for. They would like to regain control of the Senate and regain their place at the three man bargaining table that decides the budget for the state.

In today's mail I received an application for an absentee ballot. When the lovely wife called up to me, working in my home office, I was surprised. I had not requested an application. When she told me it was sent by the Republicans I fairly jumped from my chair to go and look at it.

Why? New York is a state that requires you to have a good reason to request an absentee ballot. Some states do not, but in New York you have to attest that you:

will be absent from your county on election day, or

you have a temporary illness or disability, or

you have a permanent illness or disability, or

you have to take care of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disables, or

you are a patient or an inmate in a V.A. Hospital, or

you are in jail or prison and have not been convicted of a felony

When you sign the application, you are signing that one of the above reasons will prevent you from voting in person at your regular polling place on election day. You are also signing that the information that you have provided is true and correct.

Here is the kicker. You are also signing that a material false statement on the application shall subject you to the same penalties as if you had been sworn.

The Republicans want me to know how easy it will be for me to vote by mail. The front cover of the mailing tells me that it will cost me $.44 or less.

It is a cold and rainy Fall day here in upstate New York. Voting by mail looks very attractive. That word "penalties", though, bothers me. Any penalty for lying about my reasons for needing an absentee ballot would certainly cost me more than 44 cents. Jail time would certainly be costly, as would any fines. And having to get a lawyer would be costly, too.

I am not sure just what the Republican Party meant to tell me with this mailing. If I really want to take a chance, there are several casinos within a day's drive, and I can buy Lotto tickets on almost every corner. Lying when I vote just isn't a chance I want to take so I will see you at my local polling place on election day.