2016 Postmortem

G_j

(40,366 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

http://www.thenation.com/article/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

---
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.

“We are outraged at long lines for Arizona primary,” the Arizona Republic wrote in a sharply worded editorial. The paper told stories of voters who left without casting a ballot because of the ling lines.

..more...

24 replies

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Highlight:

There Were Five-Hour Lines to Vote in Arizona Because the Supreme Court Gutted the Voting Rights Act (Original Post) G_j Mar 2016 OP

Remember who runs the Political Structure Wellstone ruled Mar 2016 #1

The long lines in Arizona were due to the gutting of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act Gothmog Mar 2016 #2

There were 400 Arizona polling places in 2008. ..nt TeeYiYi Mar 2016 #7

Hillary Clinton has some of the best proposals on voter protection that I have seen Gothmog Mar 2016 #16

Now G_j Mar 2016 #24

Taking full advantage of the removal of protection marions ghost Mar 2016 #15

One more reason to vote for a Democrat in the fall... tinrobot Mar 2016 #3

unless of course said Dem only won the primary thanks to CU and smashing the VRA MisterP Mar 2016 #8

Both Democratic candidates have promised to restore the VRA tinrobot Mar 2016 #12

We *seriously* need a Democratic President *and* a Supermajority in the House and Senate Roland99 Mar 2016 #4

It is possible this election to take the WH, the Senate and jwirr Mar 2016 #10

The FAIR District Act passed here in FL *years* ago... Roland99 Mar 2016 #20

I know we have a whole country that is ruled by Rs who jwirr Mar 2016 #21

So they can keep funneling that money to their wealthy donors and neighbors Roland99 Mar 2016 #22

Yup. jwirr Mar 2016 #23

Just think what a President Trump will do workinclasszero Mar 2016 #5

Arizona had 400 polling places in 2008... TeeYiYi Mar 2016 #6

I guess we should bring back the monarchy - we would not jwirr Mar 2016 #11

An outrage. blackspade Mar 2016 #9

Yes. Jim Crow laws and others (to suppress the youth vote) mmonk Mar 2016 #13

K&R Dem2 Mar 2016 #14

Does anyone know if the corporate media conglomerates are covering the fiasco in Arizona? Uncle Joe Mar 2016 #17

Unless I missed it, G_j Mar 2016 #19

KNR - This is exactly why the problems occurred Lucinda Mar 2016 #18

Wellstone ruled

(34,661 posts)

1. Remember who runs the Political Structure

Reply to G_j (Original post)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 12:20 PM

Mar 2016

in Arizona,once the TeaParty had control of the Levers of Power the state was turned into a Theocracy much like Utah. Jan Brewer and her gang were successful in moving Arizona to a one party state with the help of a certain Religious Group. BTW,our voters strayed home in 2014 and there in lies one of the major mitigaters..

Gothmog

(144,951 posts)

2. The long lines in Arizona were due to the gutting of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act

Reply to G_j (Original post)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 12:55 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.

TeeYiYi

(8,028 posts)

7. There were 400 Arizona polling places in 2008. ..nt

Reply to Gothmog (Reply #2)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 01:30 PM

Mar 2016

TYY

Gothmog

(144,951 posts)

16. Hillary Clinton has some of the best proposals on voter protection that I have seen

Reply to TeeYiYi (Reply #7)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:40 PM

Mar 2016

The Clinton platform is one of the best set of proposals to protect the right to vote that I have seen and this is one of my passions. https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/voting-rights/

Hillary has laid out her vision for how to expand access to the ballot box for all Americans and how to defend against the systematic, deliberate efforts to stop millions of citizens from participating in our democracy:

Repairing the Voting Rights Act. Congress should move quickly to pass legislation that would fix the damage done to the Voting Rights Act by the Supreme Court and restore the full protections American voters need and deserve. These protections are crucial for young and minority voters, seniors, and other underrepresented groups disproportionately affected by harmful Republican efforts to restrict voting.

Setting a new national standard for early voting. It’s time to set a standard across our country of at least 20 days of early in-person voting, including opportunities for evening and weekend voting. This will reduce long lines and give more people an opportunity to vote, especially those who have work or family obligations during the day. Early in-person voting isn’t just convenient—it’s also more secure, more reliable, and more affordable than absentee voting.

Implementing universal, automatic voter registration. Every citizen in every state should be automatically registered to vote when they turn 18, unless they choose to opt out. At the same time, we need to make sure that registration rolls are secure, up to date, and accurate. When you move, your registration should move with you. Modernizing registration will add tens of millions of voters to the rolls, cost less, and reduce the potential for errors or irregularities.

Restoration of the protections of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act would have prevented the long lines yesterday

G_j

(40,366 posts)

24. Now

Reply to TeeYiYi (Reply #7)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 05:36 PM

Mar 2016

one polling place per every 21,000 voters.

marions ghost

(19,841 posts)

15. Taking full advantage of the removal of protection

Reply to Gothmog (Reply #2)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:39 PM

Mar 2016

---and this is the result. This is so shameful.

Certainly illustrates why you need the laws to be strong. Those Rethugs knew exactly what they were doing.

tinrobot

(10,888 posts)

3. One more reason to vote for a Democrat in the fall...

Reply to G_j (Original post)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 01:12 PM

Mar 2016

We cannot afford to lose the Supreme Court.

MisterP

(23,730 posts)

8. unless of course said Dem only won the primary thanks to CU and smashing the VRA

Reply to tinrobot (Reply #3)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 01:33 PM

Mar 2016

tinrobot

(10,888 posts)

12. Both Democratic candidates have promised to restore the VRA

Reply to MisterP (Reply #8)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:24 PM

Mar 2016

I'm not sure what you're trying to communicate here.

Roland99

(53,342 posts)

4. We *seriously* need a Democratic President *and* a Supermajority in the House and Senate

Reply to G_j (Original post)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 01:17 PM

Mar 2016

Going to take a long time to correct the damage done by the batshit insane right-wingnuts

jwirr

(39,215 posts)

10. It is possible this election to take the WH, the Senate and

Reply to Roland99 (Reply #4)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 01:37 PM

Mar 2016

fix the SCOTUS but gerrymandering has made it impossible to fix the House until after the next census if then. What we can do about the House is make sure that we vote in as many progressive candidates as we can and then add to them in the future.

GOTV

Roland99

(53,342 posts)

20. The FAIR District Act passed here in FL *years* ago...

Reply to jwirr (Reply #10)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 04:13 PM

Mar 2016

still waiting for those "fair" districts....

jwirr

(39,215 posts)

21. I know we have a whole country that is ruled by Rs who

Reply to Roland99 (Reply #20)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 04:21 PM

Mar 2016

have no interest in fixing it so that it is fair. They only want to win.

Roland99

(53,342 posts)

22. So they can keep funneling that money to their wealthy donors and neighbors

Reply to jwirr (Reply #21)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 04:27 PM

Mar 2016

jwirr

(39,215 posts)

23. Yup.

Reply to Roland99 (Reply #22)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 04:29 PM

Mar 2016

workinclasszero

(28,270 posts)

5. Just think what a President Trump will do

Reply to G_j (Original post)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 01:19 PM

Mar 2016

If elected.

What kind of teabag trash will he put up for the SCOTUS?

TeeYiYi

(8,028 posts)

6. Arizona had 400 polling places in 2008...

Reply to G_j (Original post)

Wed Mar 23, 2016, 01:26 PM

Mar 2016

...and only 60 polling places yesterday; while yesterday's voting turnout far exceeded the turnout in 2008.

Pretty bizarre decision to make in the interest of "saving money,' if anyone actually believes that explanation.

TYY