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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNew Phoenix Election Chief Says 'Nearly 91,000' Citizens Left Off Voter Rolls
After all the talk of 'exporting democracy', maybe it's time we 'import democracy'.
http://bradblog.com/?p=12134
Fontes explains that he is now attempting to confirm the citizenship of the would-be voters himself, by checking their status as already tracked by the state's Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) database. "We had a policy in this office that uses what I consider to be a mis-read of state law," he tells me. "The read that was happening says that the County Recorder is to reject the form. My read is, if you've already proven to the State of Arizona that you're a citizen, then you should be allowed to vote."
Critics, specifically Republican critics, charge that Fontes, a U.S. Marine who formerly worked as a prosecutor in both the County Attorney's office as well as for the Arizona Attorney General, is not shy in countering those critics. "Why in the world would anyone not want me to go check with the MVD and say 'lo and behold, the Motor Vehicle Division of the State of Arizona has on file a document proving that this person is a citizen. I will therefore register you to vote!' Why would anybody oppose that?"
Making matters worse or more "ironic" or "laughable", as Fontes describes it, because the federal voter registration form has no instructions for attesting to citizenship status, state guidance requires him to check with the MVD himself to confirm citizenship status for those voters. But if the very same person were to have used a state voter registration form and forgot to fill in their drivers license number or provide other proof of citizenship, he is not supposed to register that person, according to the state rulebook. Moreover, he tells me, an online state registration system automatically checks that very same MVD database for applicants. "So, something that the state does, automatically, on its own website, you've got people telling me that I'm barred from doing. If that's not the epitome of craziness, I don't know what is!"
Amaryllis
(9,524 posts)chastised by an R, "You Democrats just always want to make it easier for people to vote!"
msongs
(67,420 posts)diva77
(7,643 posts)This story from Phoenix is the tip of the iceberg --
https://ballotpedia.org/Secretary_of_State_(state_executive_office)
As of 2017, We have 29 Republican Secretaries of State and only 17 Democratic SOS's
Prior to 2010, there used to be more dem SOS's than repug SOS's
The SOS's are responsible for certifying the vote & voting machines and compiling voter rolls -- we need to flood SOS's with emails and calls and tell them to end the use of Crosscheck, and computerized voting machines & tabulators. We need to insist on having paper ballots handmarked and handcounted at the precinct level!!!
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,862 posts)Surely there is an easier way than our system.
I did not vote in the first election for which I was eligible. It was partly indifference, but mostly I hadn't a clue how to go about getting registered. And keep in mind I'm white (meaning plenty of privilege), reasonably well educated, and was living in a strong middle-class environment at the time. Perhaps it mattered that I was living a very long way from family, and I felt too shy to ask those around me how to go about getting registered.
It simply shouldn't be that hard. Any citizen ought to be able to show up and vote.
Where I currently live, during early voting and during certain regular local elections, you just show up at one of the several polling places, state your name, date of birth, and address. The clerk now knows who you are and what specific district or precinct you are in, and prints up the appropriate ballot. What an excellent system. Best of all, during early voting, whenever there's a first time voter that's loudly announced and all present cheer.