Rhode Island closes 66 percent of polling places to cut election costs.

[elleng]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by mcar (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: raw story

The Rhode Island Board of Elections announced this week that two-thirds of the state’s polling places would remain closed for the upcoming primary as a costs savings measure.

According to WPRI, the Board of Elections plans to cut costs by opening only 144 of the state’s 419 polling places for the April 26 primary.
Board of Elections Director Robert Rapoza argued that the state had handled record turnout in 2008 after implementing similar cost savings measures.

But since 2008, the state has reduced the total number of polling places. Meaning that there were 33 more voting locations in 2008 than there will be this year.

“I don’t think enough has been done to make sure voters know that they likely won’t be casting their ballot at the same location as they did in November of 2014,” John Marion of Common Cause Rhode Island warned. He noted that voters could review their polling place location and sample ballots online before election day.

Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/2016/04/rhode-island-closes-66-percent-of-polling-places-to-cut-election-costs/

[silvershadow]

1. I'm not sure they are meeting their Constitutional obligations. But as Cheney once said

about the Constitution, (paraphrasing) "That's quaint".

On edit: If we can't afford proper elections, then we can't afford the Bush tax cuts that were supposed to expire in 5 years, then was extended to expire at the 10-year mark, then were extended, I believe, without an expiration date.

[flor-de-jasmim]

2. SO democracy is too expensive now?

[elleng]

3. Was thinking the same thing, flor.

[bjo59]

4. Yes, that is exactly it.

[Bodych]

16. Bingo.

How much is being saved is the question.

I can't find a figure anywhere.

[OnlinePoker]

5. Did they learn nothing from the fiasco in Arizona? n/t

[elleng]

7. 'They' who?

50 states are entitled to make their own mistakes, aren't they?

AND, with elections, the harm is always done and MAYBE later some patch is applied for the future.

[YOHABLO]

6. Our election process and the political system has become a joke. When does the

anger start.. what will it take? A Trump presidency? Maybe Susan was right.

[haikugal]

8. We need to call in the United Nations election observers....we are now officially a third world

country.

[turbinetree]

9. What is it with these people running this stuff........................

its like hey legislature, did you think just like in Oregon , to have a thirty day process whereby you use mail in ballots---------------------or better yet if people want to go and vote have a thirty day window, ..........................this is just outrageous
People go and go and die and protest to have this voting, and these people in the government cannot and will not do anything,
it like they all follow this right wing hypocrites mantra.......................lets play this................and just think the Koch Foundation is in the back ground behind this "stuff"...............................................but you don't have good old Joe and Mika asking any of the Koch's questions like that -------------------hell no..............................

Honk-------------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016

[Gregorian]

10. Election costs? I don't buy it.

Sorry, but it sounds like voter suppression, not cost cutting.

[blackspade]

11. The finest voter suppression money can buy.

[gaspee]

12. As a Rhode Island Voter

Who has never had to wait in a line to vote, and I mean that literally - I have never not walked in and voted right away - not even one person in front of me, I wish they would close more of them to save money.

Every single time I have voted, I have commented what a waste of money it is to have so many polling places.

Look, people who aren't from here have no clue just how small this state is.

I live in the 2nd largest city in the state. We do not need as many polling places as we have.

[elleng]

15. Thanks. It's good to know.

What about this? '“I don’t think enough has been done to make sure voters know that they likely won’t be casting their ballot at the same location as they did in November of 2014,” John Marion of Common Cause Rhode Island warned. He noted that voters could review their polling place location and sample ballots online before election day.'

[gaspee]

19. I didn't know about it

until this morning when it was on every single news outlet and the front page of the paper and my mother told me

I do not have a cell phone and am not "plugged in" as they say and I still found out about it multiple ways.

M normal polling place is the elementary school in my neighborhood - it's been moved to the senior center on the other side of the parking lot - another known polling place and a notice will be on the elementary school door.

RI is a really small place. As long as you not a shut in without a television, you will know by next Tuesday.

[Ferd Berfel]

13. IF they did it like Oregon

(by mail) and had early voting it probably wouldn't matter. As is stands, the assholes should be run out for crimes against democracy

[LisaM]

14. That's pretty crappy. I hope people lodge complaints ahead of time.

They now have the Arizona example to use when they make their calls.

[elljay]

17. These elections are getting too darned expensive

Why don't we just eliminate the expenses by appointing a group of very wealthy people to take care of this voting business for us. We can schedule the election for one of their annual get-togethers in Davos. We'll save tens of millions of dollars, get the same results we get from voting ourselves (ignored in favor of the rich and multinational corporations) and won't have to waste hours standing on line to press Democrat and have our votes switched to Republican.

[Andy823]

18. Hi elleng

I live in Washington state, and like Oregon we do mail in ballots. I thin only one county in the state does not do it that way, there rest of us do. It's the only way to go if you ask me.

Hope you are doing well. I miss the O'Malley group. They were the greatest bunch of supporters I have ever come across on any internet discussion board.

[mcar]

20. Locking

Duplicate thread. Original is here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1423216