We just completed our mail-in ballots. Disheartening it is that Texas will do it's best to disqualify those ballots

[SorellaLaBefana]

The first thing which struck us was that the ‘Republican’ (remember when that was not MAGA?) candidate was always the first listed for each position.

I seemed to recall, and was able to confirm, that multiple studies over decades have shown that the first candidate listed is more likely to receive a disproportionate share of the votes contrasted with those further down the listed order.

There are about half-a-dozen frequently quoted studies showing this ‘Primacy’ or ‘Ballot Listing Position Effect’

The earliest (which I find hard to believe, but DO have things that need doing today!) was in 1998 by Miller & Krosnick. Sadly this, and all of Krosnick’s (Political Scientist) I could find are paywalled. However, based upon what people mention, the first listed candidate has a distinct advantage (as does, to a lesser degree) the one listed last.

When opening the envelope the Texas ballot comes in there's a total of SEVEN pieces of paper each with complex directions!

Somehow, hard to trust that the true purpose is any but to cause confusion, since apparently, older and non-Fascist voters are more likely to vote by mail so any rejected mail ballot will help MAGA.

Sigh.

[Jirel]

1. Are you out of the state/country between now and Election Day?

We have a long period of early voting in TX. Very few are unavailable to go vote, and need absentee ballots. For most, rides can be arranged, though it may be inconvenient for elders or folks with disabilities to ask for help. There have been 4 years to plan for it. When it’s well known, as you pointed out, that Texas would love to disqualify absentee ballots, we should be helping each other avoid that entirely.

[LeftInTX]

2. The governor's party is always first on the ballot. It's a state law.

Our ballots only come with one page of instructions.

Are you sure those seven pages aren't propositions? A local municipality has 12 propositions on the ballot. The language is archaic. So, is the City of San Antonio's five or six propositions.