Jack Brickman
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And why is there a problem with early voting and same-day registration? That makes zero sense.
Because that's how the blacks vote, gouri. Duh.
And why is there a problem with early voting and same-day registration? That makes zero sense.
Because that's how the blacks vote, gouri.
It's true..
I was there in 2007/08 and saw the massive African-American early voter turnout.
African-Americans and Latinos do generally prefer to vote early as they might not have election day off.
Why isn't election day a holiday, like Christmas?
I'm aware this is controversial, but...why exactly do we want to make it so easy to cast a vote other than in person?
ETA: one more thing. No matter what precautions are taken to prevent hacking, a very large number of people won't ever believe that it is truly secure. And that's going to destroy whatever residual confidence still exists in the reliability of results.
some people can vote in 10 minutes from the time they leave their house or place of work, for other people it takes hours. Typically the areas where the first is true are where people vote predominately for Republicans while the areas where the second is true are where people vote predominately for Democrats.
How many single parents of small children aren't able to vote because they can't leave their children for hours? How would it hurt elections if everyone was given an easier way to vote if we can figure out a secure way to do that?
We have ATMs that never make mistakes with money and require identification to use. We have phones that validates users through their thumb print. Certainly we can develop technology that simplifies the voting process, reduces the chance for voter fraud or any form of election rigging.
I still can't believe what happened in the United States the year Gore won the election only to see Bush named president because of problems in the state where Bush's brother was governor. If that kind of thing happened in pretty much any other country in the world, the United States would step in to ensure the votes were counted properly.
It's just not that simple.
Why should voting be a "PITA?" Why shouldn't it be an engaging process?
Why shouldn't we be more democratic by design?
You realize the United States has one of the absolute lowest voter turnout records in the developed world? That's shameful.
is registering beforehand and then mailing in a ballot "jumping through hoops"? I agree, we shouldn't have to jump through hoops.Its a right to vote not a privilege. Honestly I don't think i should have to jump through hoops to exercise a right.
ETA: one more thing. No matter what precautions are taken to prevent hacking, a very large number of people won't ever believe that it is truly secure. And that's going to destroy whatever residual confidence still exists in the reliability of results.
It's true..
I was there in 2007/08 and saw the massive African-American early voter turnout.
African-Americans and Latinos do generally prefer to vote early as they might not have election day off.
Why isn't election day a holiday, like Christmas?
is registering beforehand and then mailing in a ballot "jumping through hoops"? I agree, we shouldn't have to jump through hoops.
It isn't a PITA, it is just a smidgen more difficult than entering a website and clicking a few times.
I don't think a greater percentage of voters is more democratic.
I think more people learning about the issues and engaging in political talks/debates/education is more democratic.
I did not realize that we had one of the absolute lowest voter turnout records in the developed world. I am not surprised. There's such an apathy to learn, watch, discuss such things. Or isn't it called "complacency" in the Stages of Democracy?
Anyhow, I wouldn't mind a system incorporating the internet, but I really like the idea of having to register to vote online beforehand. I don't think it's any less democratic to distance the reward of voting from the stimulus of commitment to achieve it.
I think the logistical problems are pretty high-stakes too (people voting for another or selling their votes).
I shudder to think about how many votes Gour could get through the system illegally, if that were his intention.
BTW, I was curious why non-voters claim that they don't vote so I dug this up:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/116711284/2012-Nonvoter-Survey-REPORT
Over one-
quarter of nonvoters say that they didn’t vote because they weren’t
registered, by far the top reason.
Those who aren’t registered say it is because they just never registered (21%), theydon’t care much about politics (14%), or because the candidates just do what they want
anyway (11%). Some cite problems with registration, such as registering too late (5%),registration issues (2%), having to work during registration hours (1%), distance fromregistration location (2%) or not knowing how to register (2%).
Other top reasons for not voting in this election include choosing not to (18%), the
belief that their vote wouldn’t make a difference (16%), dislike of the candidates
(14%) and lack of interest in politics (12%).
One-quarter blame logistical or timing issues, such as not having a way to get to the polls (7%), having to work (7%) or travel (4%)
----------------------------
I think the ego works wonders on poll answers, but here we have 18% claiming they didn't vote because of logistical or timing issues. So you can vote absentee if you have to work or can't get there - that's how we do it - so then we are down to the cost of a stamp. I will give about 3% of the 18% some credit for not being full of shit...
Maybe that makes me cynical, but really I don't think it's a limiting, oppressive system, and at the same time, I don't think I don't think there's any way to make it completely fair for all.
Just found this now too: voter turnout by age.
So we have these old farts who can't even get out of bed, can't see shit on the road, need depends, these fuckers are SCHOOLING you young bittttchezzzzzzzzzzzzzz.