Point Five to True Election Integrity: Ban Early Voting*

Topic: Elections

The first Tuesday following the first Monday in November of a federal election year is called “Election Day,” and has been noted as such since 1854.  Initial arguments for setting aside a single day for voting was to prevent fraud, which we know doesn’t exist, because the media and our political ruling class has declared it so.  The use of the word “day,” in its singular form, suggests participation in said election is intended to be restricted to a single 24-hour period.  In many states, such as Texas, “early voting” is a way of life.  The concept of early voting was not intended to be for convenience.  The few allowable circumstances were designed to accommodate those who would not be available to vote on Election Day.

Texas has been a pioneer in the early voting field.  As far back as 1917, the Lone Star State passed a bill allowing early voting 3-10 days before an election if an individual was expected to be absent on Election Day. Over the years, states added more reasons other than mere absence for reasons to vote early, such as disability, childbirth, age, or religious belief.  By 1988, early voting in Texas was a staple, and has now morphed into something not at all resembling an orderly election system, in which about 90% of the vote was recorded in 2020 before Election Day.