Choose mail-in voting

The March 8 editorial advocating early voting in Kentucky has great merit. An extra 12 days to vote before Election Day certainly would increase participation in choosing local, state and federal officials. House Bill 290 should be approved.

However, there’s a better option. Call it “A tale of two states.” Kentucky has a 2015 estimated population of 4,425,092. Oregon has a 2015 estimated population of 4,028,977.

In 1998, Oregon voters approved a measure to conduct all primaries and general elections by mail. Registered voters receive their ballots by mail and mail them back.

The Oregon system eliminates polling places. No standing in line. No trudging to polls. No poll workers to hire, train and pay. No candidates’ supporters or signs to encounter.

A University of Oregon survey in 2003 showed 81 percent of respondents favored it. This included 85 percent of Democrats and 76 percent of Republicans. Also, 30 percent said they voted more often under this system.

If mailing is good enough for filing income tax forms, it’s good enough for voting.

Kentucky should follow Oregon’s lead.

This story was originally published March 14, 2016 at 6:44 PM with the headline "Choose mail-in voting."