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n2doc

(47,953 posts)
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 11:54 AM Mar 2016

There Were Five-Hour Lines to Vote in Arizona Because the Supreme Court Gutted the Voting Rights Act

Reducing the number of polling places in Phoenix had catastrophic consequences in the March 22 primary.
By Ari Berman

Aracely Calderon, a naturalized citizen from Guatemala, arrived just before the polls closed at 7 pm in downtown Phoenix to vote in Arizona’s primary last night. “When Calderon arrived, the line spanned more than 700 people and almost 4 blocks,” the Arizona Republic reported. She waited in line for five hours, becoming the last voter in the state to cast a ballot at 12:12 am. “I’m here to exercise my right to vote,” she said shortly before midnight, explaining why she stayed in line.

But many other Arizonans left the polls in disgust. The lines were so long because election officials in Phoenix’s Maricopa County, the largest in the state, reduced the number of polling places by 70 percent from 2012 to 2016, from 200 to just sixty—one polling place per every 21,000 voters.

Election officials said they reduced the number of polling sites to save money—an ill-conceived decision that severely inconvenienced hundreds of thousands of voters. Previously, Maricopa County would have needed to receive federal approval for reducing the number of polling sites, because Arizona was one of sixteen states where jurisdictions with a long history of discrimination had to submit their voting changes under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. This type of change would very likely have been blocked since minorities comprise 40 percent of Maricopa County’s population and reducing the number of polling places would have left minority voters worse off. Section 5 blocked twenty-two voting changes from taking effect in Arizona since the state was covered under the VRA in 1975 for discriminating against Hispanic and Native American voters.

But after the Supreme Court gutted the VRA in 2013, Arizona could make election changes without federal oversight. The long lines in Maricopa County last night were the latest example of the disastrous consequences of that decision.

more

http://www.thenation.com/article/there-were-five-hour-lines-to-vote-in-arizona-because-the-supreme-court-gutted-the-voting-rights-act/
Everyone should be outraged about this, no matter whom you support.

48 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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There Were Five-Hour Lines to Vote in Arizona Because the Supreme Court Gutted the Voting Rights Act (Original Post) n2doc Mar 2016 OP
This message was self-deleted by its author KPN Mar 2016 #1
It's not a disaster for ReTHUGs malaise Mar 2016 #2
Of Course n2doc Mar 2016 #3
That's why lots of noise must be made NOW malaise Mar 2016 #4
I was told, while in that line last night, that the only people who Pakhet Mar 2016 #46
That sure was not true in either 2008 or 2012 malaise Mar 2016 #47
The long lines in Arizona were due to the gutting of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act Gothmog Mar 2016 #5
Yep DownriverDem Mar 2016 #6
Ya... SoapBox Mar 2016 #8
No ... there is thread upon thread saying exactly that. n/t 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2016 #35
I'd bet Hillary is pretty happy with the effects of Voter Disinfranchisement. NorthCarolina Mar 2016 #7
And that people DIED, fighting for the Right to Vote SoapBox Mar 2016 #11
.^that 840high Mar 2016 #13
hey rtracey Mar 2016 #38
No she isn't. She was affected to. dbackjon Mar 2016 #16
I dunno...race was called in her favor with just 1% of the vote in and NorthCarolina Mar 2016 #20
changing the make up of teh SCOTUS,,, Cryptoad Mar 2016 #9
Thanks for posting Omaha Steve Mar 2016 #10
imagine this being fostered upon Repukes.... NoMoreRepugs Mar 2016 #12
Because they're REAL AMERICANS, of course Orrex Mar 2016 #14
Wrong. There were waits because too many people failed to utilize mail-in voting. pnwmom Mar 2016 #15
Wrong. Higher than expected turnouts. dbackjon Mar 2016 #17
Nothing stopped anyone from voting two days early. And what could the possible pnwmom Mar 2016 #24
Wow. You are far, far out of touch. tabasco Mar 2016 #18
Typical blame the victim mentality n/t n2doc Mar 2016 #21
There were no victims -- just people who for some reason decided pnwmom Mar 2016 #27
Yep. And you wanna guess who gets disenfranchised in these types of situations? demmiblue Mar 2016 #34
People in Arizona have a right to expect the system to work for either choice. Eric J in MN Mar 2016 #23
The Bernie people failed to GOTV -- part of which involves educating people pnwmom Mar 2016 #30
Suppose that the general election is between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Eric J in MN Mar 2016 #43
I understand your desire to blame voters for, well... voting. LanternWaste Mar 2016 #28
They thought they could do that because of mail-in voting. pnwmom Mar 2016 #31
Petition to the White House: Investigate voter suppression in AZ. Eric J in MN Mar 2016 #19
Done! geardaddy Mar 2016 #29
Notice that the Arizona Democratic Party didn't lift a finger in protest... modestybl Mar 2016 #22
Yeah ... They did and are. n/t 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2016 #37
BEFOREHAND... modestybl Mar 2016 #41
Oh Boy ... 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2016 #44
,,,,,,,,,,, Cryptoad Mar 2016 #25
... and I am sure that is by design :-( etherealtruth Mar 2016 #40
Does anyone know if the corporate media conglomerates are covering the fiasco in Arizona? Uncle Joe Mar 2016 #26
This is why you must vote for the Democratic nominee in November ... salinsky Mar 2016 #32
Excellent article ... And most of us ARE outraged ... 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2016 #33
If the democrats get to appoint the new Supreme Court justice, we may get voting rights back. Jim__ Mar 2016 #36
I find it amazing that some find an excuse for a fecking 5 HOUR WAIT to vote! demmiblue Mar 2016 #39
K & R mountain grammy Mar 2016 #42
LMAO Rightwing radio was claiming it was because of massive turnout underpants Mar 2016 #45
Paul Weyrich Syndrome. Dont call me Shirley Mar 2016 #48

Response to n2doc (Original post)

malaise

(267,819 posts)
2. It's not a disaster for ReTHUGs
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 12:00 PM
Mar 2016

It's the plan - they don't want people to vote because rational people will not vote for ReTHUGs

n2doc

(47,953 posts)
3. Of Course
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 12:05 PM
Mar 2016

As far as I can determine Maricopa County Recorder Helen Purcell is a Repub. So she doesn't want D's to vote, and this year probably doesn't want trump voters either.

And November is going to be a replay, count on it.

Pakhet

(520 posts)
46. I was told, while in that line last night, that the only people who
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 07:02 PM
Mar 2016

Who stand in line that long were rethugs. He was positively giddy about it.

Gothmog

(143,999 posts)
5. The long lines in Arizona were due to the gutting of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 12:56 PM
Mar 2016

The long lines here are in part due to the gutting of the Voting Rights Act by the SCOTUS which Clinton wants to restore http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2016/03/22/long-lines-bog-down-arizona-presidential-primary/

Long lines were expected all day at polling places, Maricopa County Elections Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Bartholomew said.

Lines snaked up to almost every one of the 60 polling sites across the county, with the exception of remote locations such as Gila Bend or Wickenburg. The county cut the number of polling sites for this year’s presidential primary from 200 in 2012 mainly as a money-saving measure.

In addition, the majority of voters get mail-in ballots, and independents who can’t vote make up more than a third of the electorate.
“All we can do is thank them for their patience,” Bartholomew said of voters enduring the delays.
read more: http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2016/03/22/long-lines-bog-down-arizona-presidential-primary/#ixzz43kC9reof

Prior to the gutting of the voting rights act by the SCOTUS Arizona was a covered jurisdiction and the Federal govt. would get to approve the cuts in the number of voting locations

Evan WylogeVerified account
?@EvanWyloge
I wonder if the number of polling places we have in Maricopa County today would have been OK’d under VRA Sect.5. Good thing that’s gone.

We need to restore the Voting Rights Act to keep these type of voter suppression tactics from being used. If Arizona was still a covered jurisdiction under the Voting Rights Act, there would have been no cuts in voting locations.

DownriverDem

(6,206 posts)
6. Yep
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:11 PM
Mar 2016

Of course I keep seeing Bernie folks blaming Hillary for it. Huh? Why do you all think Hillary has so much power?

SoapBox

(18,791 posts)
8. Ya...
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:17 PM
Mar 2016

The only one saying that, that I've seen, is you.

Read all of the above...that is how the problems were caused.

 

NorthCarolina

(11,197 posts)
7. I'd bet Hillary is pretty happy with the effects of Voter Disinfranchisement.
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:15 PM
Mar 2016

Let them have "Provisional Ballots" which won't be counted. I wonder, is this the style of democracy that we spend trillions of tax payer dollars to spread around the globe? Maybe we shouldn't bother.

SoapBox

(18,791 posts)
11. And that people DIED, fighting for the Right to Vote
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:20 PM
Mar 2016

all over the World and through out history.

And yet, in 2016, in America...we have forces doing everything they can to block citizens from voting.

There should be riots in the streets over this.

 

rtracey

(2,062 posts)
38. hey
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:59 PM
Mar 2016

Calm down that rhetoric... you sound like a trump supporter. Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders or ANY TRUE DEMOCRAT is NOT happy people died fighting throughout our history protecting the right to vote. You want to take that stance thinking one of our candidate is happy this is happening, then I feel sorry for you. Push that shit on Right Winger BS watch or Conservative Asshole underground.....but here, respect that fact that many DID die, perhaps someone your family, my family, even the Clintons knew....

 

NorthCarolina

(11,197 posts)
20. I dunno...race was called in her favor with just 1% of the vote in and
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:41 PM
Mar 2016

while THOUSANDS were still waiting in line to vote. It's no secret that large voter turnout is "Disadvantage-Clinton", so yes, I'd say she is pretty happy with the results of the voter disenfranchisement because a win is better than a loss.

Cryptoad

(8,254 posts)
9. changing the make up of teh SCOTUS,,,
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:19 PM
Mar 2016

now that Change that can get things done! No better reason to vote

NoMoreRepugs

(9,260 posts)
12. imagine this being fostered upon Repukes....
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:27 PM
Mar 2016

I think there might be some second amendment consequences from the batshit crazed loons on the Reich, I mean Right

pnwmom

(108,925 posts)
15. Wrong. There were waits because too many people failed to utilize mail-in voting.
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:34 PM
Mar 2016

Simple, easy, and available to anyone who asks for it.

 

dbackjon

(6,578 posts)
17. Wrong. Higher than expected turnouts.
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:39 PM
Mar 2016

Note that 20% of the GOP vote was for "other" Votes for mostly Rubio from voters who voted before he dropped out via mail


They wasted their vote by voting early.

pnwmom

(108,925 posts)
24. Nothing stopped anyone from voting two days early. And what could the possible
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:45 PM
Mar 2016

harm have been for a Bernie supporter to vote two weeks early? So what if he dropped out? Why would that have mattered? Wouldn't they be glad they made their mark for Bernie anyway?

pnwmom

(108,925 posts)
27. There were no victims -- just people who for some reason decided
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:46 PM
Mar 2016

to vote at the polls instead of getting a mail-in ballot.

Simple, easy to use, and requires no standing in line.

Eric J in MN

(35,619 posts)
23. People in Arizona have a right to expect the system to work for either choice.
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:44 PM
Mar 2016

If Arizona officials had tossed mail-in ballots in the garbage, hopefully you wouldn't be saying it was the voters' fault for not voting in-person.

pnwmom

(108,925 posts)
30. The Bernie people failed to GOTV -- part of which involves educating people
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:49 PM
Mar 2016

about the voting process.

We have all mail-in balloting in my state (except for party caucuses) and we get calls from all the campaigns to make sure we fill them out and send them in.

Bernie's campaign should have done that too, instead of blaming everyone else. Call banks are a better use of campaign funds than blanketing the state with TV ads that no one watches.

Eric J in MN

(35,619 posts)
43. Suppose that the general election is between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 03:14 PM
Mar 2016

...and suppose that in the general election, Trump does better among older voters, who are more likely to vote absentee, and Clinton does better among younger voters, who are more likely to vote in person.

And suppose there are 4 hour lines. Will you blame that on the Clinton campaign?

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
28. I understand your desire to blame voters for, well... voting.
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:48 PM
Mar 2016

"There were waits because too many people..."

Or because Maricopa county (the most populous county in AZ) reduced polling stations from 200 to 60 as a cost-saving move (in 2008, there were 400 polling stations). But, I understand your desire to blame voters for, well... voting.

pnwmom

(108,925 posts)
31. They thought they could do that because of mail-in voting.
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:50 PM
Mar 2016

Here in my state we have ZERO polling places and yet people are voting at higher rates than ever.

Eric J in MN

(35,619 posts)
19. Petition to the White House: Investigate voter suppression in AZ.
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:41 PM
Mar 2016
http://wh.gov/i7BUo


The petition has more than half the required amount to get a response from the White House.

The White House response can be a Yes or a No.
 

modestybl

(458 posts)
22. Notice that the Arizona Democratic Party didn't lift a finger in protest...
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:43 PM
Mar 2016

...this was egregious...

Thousands were turned away who had changed their Party affiliation specifically to Dem to vote in this election were turned away... we were getting reports early yesterday from Sanders' poll watchers all over the state that this was happening...

Voting locations went from 200 to 60 in Maricopa county. 32K votes on election day yesterday vs. 118K in 2008.

http://recorder.maricopa.gov/electionresults/screen2.aspx

http://recorder.maricopa.gov/electionarchives/2008/02-05-2008%20Final%20Summary%20Report.pdf

The result? Sanders WON the election day vote 19.9K to 11.3K .... over 60-40% If the Election day vote was in the same proportion as the vote in 2008, he wins this county... same all over the state.

Clinton isn't who people really want, and the Clinton campaign has to cheat and lie and scare people into voting for her. The Democratic Party is rotten to the core...

 

modestybl

(458 posts)
41. BEFOREHAND...
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 03:03 PM
Mar 2016

... seemed they weren't all that concerned about election day turn-out when their gal was ahead in mail ins...

Eager to see what they do now...

Uncle Joe

(58,112 posts)
26. Does anyone know if the corporate media conglomerates are covering the fiasco in Arizona?
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:46 PM
Mar 2016

Thanks for the thread, n2doc.

salinsky

(1,065 posts)
32. This is why you must vote for the Democratic nominee in November ...
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:51 PM
Mar 2016

... when the Repukes have the White House, they do things like nominating rightwing nutjobs to the SCOTUS, and then your purity candidate gets the screwgie.

We are getting close to coming full circle here.

 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
33. Excellent article ... And most of us ARE outraged ...
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:53 PM
Mar 2016

some for better for, in my estimation, better reasons than others (i.e., the disenfranchisement cited to in the article versus a nefarious plot of the DNC or HRC or both).

Jim__

(14,045 posts)
36. If the democrats get to appoint the new Supreme Court justice, we may get voting rights back.
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:57 PM
Mar 2016

We all need to work for a Democratic president, senate, and at least try for the house.

demmiblue

(36,751 posts)
39. I find it amazing that some find an excuse for a fecking 5 HOUR WAIT to vote!
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 03:01 PM
Mar 2016

What the hell, DU?!

I don't care who you vote for (Dem or Rep)... this is just plain wrong.

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