Trickle-down voter suppression?
The New York Times has a somewhat horrifying article about what may be unintentional voter suppression on a wide scale, affecting six swing states including Nevada.
Tens of thousands of eligible voters in at least six swing states have been removed from the rolls or have been blocked from registering in ways that appear to violate federal law, according to a review of state records and Social Security data by The New York Times... apparently the result of mistakes in the handling of the registrations and voter files as the states tried to comply with a 2002 federal law...
These errors plus overzealous voter fraud laws may lead to a frustrating election day for many.
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If the reporter says it's unintentional, I suppose I believe it, but that means these clerks' offices really don't give much of a crap about accuracy or enfranchisement. Which is kind of horrible. It would be nice to create a culture of paranoia about disenfranchisement, sort of like the culture of paranoia about sexual harassment in some of the jobs I've been in.
I've been having a hard time getting my absentee ballot from MA after two attempts so far, direct contact with their office over the phone and email. Not a swing state, but hell hath no fury like a woman who is denied the vote. And I know absentee won't count, but it's the principle. If I don't get it this week, then I'm going to the Embassy.
By contrast, I had a lovely experience with Elections Canada (don't worry there are negative things about Canada), open 7 days a week until all hours, convenient locations, large staffings with simple directions and very encouraging (even when I forgot my proof of address, they found a way); also the ballot will be in 38 language choices here in Toronto (Tuesday is the federal election). Voter turnout in Canada, was about 61% the last time, which is not bad for a country whose citizens consistently refer to politics as "boring" even if they're "into" them--it's just because it's about issues and they see the contrast to the states in terms of media buzz.
you can vote in two countries at the same time? that doesn't seem right to me...
I got a ballot for the Italian elections this year. What is so wrong with the Mr. May?
you have more of a participation in democracy than i do. it's like when people argue they should be able to vote in each town they have a house in. that makes them more enfranchised than others.