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ProfessionalLeftist

(4,982 posts)
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 10:46 AM Feb 2013

Report Outlines Plan To Fix Long Lines On Election Day

WASHINGTON -- As the federal government works to address the long lines and administrative problems voters nationwide faced on Election Day, a new report from the Brennan Center for Justice argues that the first steps should be modernizing voter registration, providing a national period for early voting and setting minimum standards for polling place access.

During his victory speech on Nov. 6, President Barack Obama thanked Americans for turning out to vote, noting many people had waited in line for hours to do so. He made clear that voting reform would be a priority in his second term, when he said that the country needed to "fix" those long lines so that all Americans are able to carry out their constitutional right.

Since then, several lawmakers have introduced election reform bills, and the Justice Department is already working on solutions.


MORE...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/04/long-lines-election-day_n_2601963.html
7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Report Outlines Plan To Fix Long Lines On Election Day (Original Post) ProfessionalLeftist Feb 2013 OP
It's about time we have national standards! PADemD Feb 2013 #1
I agree. Our election system is too easily messed with ProfessionalLeftist Feb 2013 #2
Interesting, but we haven't had long lines in years... TreasonousBastard Feb 2013 #3
Who is 'we'? In Florida in 2012 ProfessionalLeftist Feb 2013 #5
My part of NY state... TreasonousBastard Feb 2013 #6
How soon until repubs howl with outrage IDemo Feb 2013 #4
A verifiable paper trail as well libtodeath Feb 2013 #7

ProfessionalLeftist

(4,982 posts)
2. I agree. Our election system is too easily messed with
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 12:02 PM
Feb 2013

at the local level. Some broad national standards are a must, IMO.

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
3. Interesting, but we haven't had long lines in years...
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 12:07 PM
Feb 2013

the new ballot scanners eliminate the 5 minutes or so voters used to spend in the one lever machine per ED.

Better pay and training for election inspectors, along with more accurate voter information, reduced the time for voters waiting to sign in.


(Not so hard, is it?)

ProfessionalLeftist

(4,982 posts)
5. Who is 'we'? In Florida in 2012
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 12:34 PM
Feb 2013

(P)Rick Scott's shortening of early voting hours and days and lengthening of the ballot caused lines 12+ hours long, as do requirements for "Voter ID":

http://www.examiner.com/article/florida-dems-congress-want-election-2012-civil-rights-commission-hearing

IOW this isn't about ballot scanners or training election workers. It's about civil rights.

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
6. My part of NY state...
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 02:20 PM
Feb 2013

it's fairly honest and civilized out here, so we don't see much, if any, election fraud. Even in NYC we didn't see it much after the Tammany Democrats got thrown out.

But, you're right-- I keep forgetting there are many places where gaming elections is great sport and the general population is too powerless, or uninterested, to stop it.

IDemo

(16,926 posts)
4. How soon until repubs howl with outrage
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 12:25 PM
Feb 2013

that the gummint wants to interfere with state-run voter suppression?

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