As reported previously on this blog, Ohio this year undertook one of the most aggressive no-excuse absentee efforts ever: it mailed a no-excuse absentee ballot application to every registered voter in the state.

Nonetheless, Ohioans still experience early-in person and Election Day lines of two to four hours.

The lesson is clear: no excuse absentee voting by mail by itself is not a cure for long lines at the polling place.  An overall solution to the capacity issue includes increased early in-person voting, on the days that voters want to vote early, and smoothly functioning precinct place voting for those citizens who desire to wait until Election Day.

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