Looking ahead to 2014, I often think back to 2010, when so many on the left stayed home. I feel pain at the notion that so many have put so little value on their right to vote. You may think you’re vote doesn’t matter, but if so many hadn’t thought so, those votes would have mattered in 2010. This nation could have been spared the suffering that Republican obstruction has brought us. Before you get used to the idea of not voting, remember this. Your vote won’t count, if you can’t.
Pivotal swing states under Republican control are embracing significant new electoral restrictions on registering and voting that go beyond the voter identification requirements that have caused fierce partisan brawls.
The bills, laws and administrative rules — some of them tried before — shake up fundamental components of state election systems, including the days and times polls are open and the locations where people vote.
Republicans in Ohio and Wisconsin this winter pushed through measures limiting the time polls are open, in particular cutting into weekend voting favored by low-income voters and blacks, who sometimes caravan from churches to polls on the Sunday before election.
Democrats in North Carolina are scrambling to fight back against the nation’s most restrictive voting laws, passed by Republicans there last year. The measures, taken together, sharply reduce the number of early voting days and establish rules that make it more difficult for people to register to vote, cast provisional ballots or, in a few cases, vote absentee.
In all, nine states have passed measures making it harder to vote since the beginning of 2013… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <NY Times>
Republicans know that the only way they can seize and hold power is to disenfranchise people, who are likely to vote against them. Their goal is to establish a permanent Republican Regime, a totalitarian plutocracy. Elections will exist for show only, because they will decide who gets to vote. Unless we all do everything we can to fight these vile laws, unless we do whatever it takes to vote, and unless we do whatever it takes to help others vote, Republicans just might get their way. Kudos and thanks to all who are already doing this.
11 Responses to “Your Vote Won’t Count, if You Can’t!”
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I blame SCROTUS for this as much as the Republithugs who voted to disenfranchise voters in many states. They should have struck down the laws as unconstitutional when suit was filed and brought before them last year. The idiots keep passing these unjust laws in the unholy name of "stopping voter fraud" which doesn't exist . Except of course the fraud committed by those same Republithugs.
Everyone must vote them out of office all over the USA in Novemberber if we are to keep our country and save it from the evil that is the Koch-suckers.
Only way Repubicans can win is voter obstruction & intimidation.
Nameless, while it's true that the Republicans are past masters at obstruction and intimidation, that's not the only way they can win. They won in 2010 not through obstruction and intimidation (alone) but through progressive voter inaction. http://blog.seattlepi.com/davidhorsey/files/library/Right-Left-web.jpg THAT is what we can't allow to happen again. Yes, I know I have said and cited it before. I probably will again.
My point exactly. Thanks for expressing it so well.
Maybe I missed it, but have you changed your voter registration after you moved? Since we get mail-in ballots, they are not forwarded to new addresses.
I hope the Left are Left Behind again. If it goes badly, I'll be in the market for a Canadian rental. However, my Canadian friends (and Brits) aren't too thrilled with the conservative direction their own countries are taking.
It was the very firstt thing I did.
There are some countries that voting in an election is mandated and required that
its citizens VOTE. "Compulsory Voting".
Compulsory Voting
Australia is Well-Known for its Compulsory Voting Laws.
Compulsory voting around the world: Full list of countries with compulsory voting
Austria, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Fiji, France (senate only), Gabon, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mexico, Nauru, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland (Schaffhausen), Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay
Belgium
Belgium has the oldest existing compulsory voting system, introduced in 1892 for men and 1949 for women. People aged 18 and over who do not vote face a moderate fine or, if they fail to vote in at least four elections, they can lose the right to vote for 10 years. Non-voters also face difficulties getting a job in the public sector.
Penalties differ from country to country. See the Guardian, The News, Economist links below.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/jul/04/voterapathy.uk
http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-20732-Of-31-countries-with-compulsory-voting-a-dozen-actually-enforce-it
However, in some countries skipping the polling booth can land you in trouble. In Australia non-voters can expect a letter from the electoral commission demanding an explanation for their absenteeism. If they don’t have a good excuse they are fined A$20 ($19). If they fail to pay they can end up in court, where the fine is upped to A$170, plus court fees. Refuse to cough up and they face jail. – See more at: http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2013/09/economist-explains-10#sthash.T9fWHJ4D.dpuf
Imagine what the political implications would be like if USA had compulsory voting… A 95% =/- voter turnout here in this country…
Jim, I disagree., Compulsory votes are ignorant votes. People need to care enough to demand the vote.
These new attempts to control the vote are disgusting. However, too many are just too disinterested to vote, but they do like to complain. I have voted in every election since I was 18 and became eligible to vote. And, no, I am not going to brag about how many years that is.
Completely agree with you, Edie and same here on the personal voting record. I just do not get why people do not care enough to vote, it effects their lives in so many ways. I guess they are just fine with it until it DOES effect them personally……kinda like Baggers. They love to complain….until it hits their own life or circumstances. Then they get real mouthy around/with their compatriots but get real quiet around known Dems/Left in private. (yeah, I know a few). They know we will call them on it in a nanosecond. Only difference is, Baggers will vote, against their own interes 100% of the time but they vote. I do not understand WHY Dems/Progressives, et al, do not. I wish I did.
Thanks all!