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Stellar

(5,644 posts)
20. How Democrats Suppress The Vote
Tue Nov 3, 2015, 06:26 PM
Nov 2015

(I was going to post this, but I found your thread).




How Democrats Suppress The Vote
Off-year elections have much lower turnout, and Democrats prefer it that way
By EITAN HERSH

In the ongoing fight between Democrats and Republicans over election procedures like voter ID and early voting, the Democrats are supposedly the champions of higher turnout and reducing barriers to participation. But when it comes to scheduling off-cycle elections1 like those taking place today, the Democratic Party is the champion of voter suppression.

Indeed, few people will vote today. Many elections are taking place, but almost all are for local offices. School boards, for example, are up for election in Houston; Fairfax County, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina and in hundreds of other communities that oversee the education of millions of schoolchildren. But only a small number of highly engaged voters will participate in the elections for these offices.

Scheduling elections at odd times appears to be a deliberate strategy aimed at keeping turnout low, which gives more influence to groups like teachers unions that have a direct stake in the election’s outcome. But before getting into the details of off-cycle elections, consider the parties’ basic positions on issues of voter participation. As election law expert Rick Hasen has noted, there is a philosophical divide between the parties. Supposedly, for Republicans, small barriers to participation can help the functioning of a democracy. For instance, in recent years, Republicans have been pushing a requirement that voters present identification when they show up to cast a ballot. They argue that voter ID laws can prevent fraud and foster confidence in the electoral system. But they also argue that if an ID requirement deters people who aren’t particularly well-informed or invested in the political process, this might be a net benefit for the electoral system.

The Democratic philosophy is different. For Democrats, universal participation is a value: All voices ought to be represented in the electoral sphere, so the government should not put up any unnecessary barriers to participation.

Debates over issues like voter ID are politically explosive because each side suspects the other of having a strategic motive, not a philosophical one, for its position. Maybe Republicans want lower turnout not because it yields an informed electorate, but because it favors their side. Maybe Democrats promote higher turnout not because of an ideological commitment to civic engagement, but because higher turnout helps elect Democrats (though there is substantial disagreement on whether that is true).


More: FiveThirtyEight
They don't. L. Coyote Nov 2015 #1
You're right, elleng Nov 2015 #2
Exactly My Point Yallow Nov 2015 #3
They understand all right. Baobab May 2016 #42
Status quo. That is the only game either party plays. Why no change in hackable voting machines? LiberalArkie Nov 2015 #5
Exactly. You will NEVER see anything but a Republican House and Senate.. MrWendel Nov 2015 #4
I Didn't Even Mention Gerrymandering Yallow Nov 2015 #7
Don Siegelman Won His Elections - Was Jailed For Complaining About Being Screwed Yallow Nov 2015 #6
Democrats are not and have never "ignored" voter supression. Nitram Nov 2015 #8
New election laws are needed. And especially ones that with by pass the "States Rights" MrWendel Nov 2015 #9
Looking towards 2016 election, Wellstone ruled Nov 2015 #10
Way too late to fix 2016. jeff47 Nov 2015 #12
There are legal ways of preventing Wellstone ruled Nov 2015 #14
Hillaryt Clinton has advocated some really good voting rights proposal Gothmog Nov 2015 #11
Make Fighting Voter Suppression Priority #1 Instead Of Priority #51 Yallow Nov 2015 #16
just what are voting rights for all? eniwetok Mar 2016 #35
The senate was designed that way... Agschmid Mar 2016 #37
I know... eniwetok Mar 2016 #38
Because then we'd win. And once we win, those pesky voters expect results. jeff47 Nov 2015 #13
/\_/\_This right here_/\_/\ Scuba Nov 2015 #19
That is very well put, isn't it. Ghost Dog Mar 2016 #29
The Left doesn't control the media. toddwv Nov 2015 #15
If The Left Shut Down The Government To Bring Voting Rights To Folks Yallow Nov 2015 #17
Sure, we'd hear about it. toddwv Nov 2015 #18
How Democrats Suppress The Vote Stellar Nov 2015 #20
if Dems wanted to increase the voter turnout... eniwetok Mar 2016 #33
We could have started by not gutting the VRA... But we missed the boat on that one. Agschmid Mar 2016 #34
the VRA never guaranteed civic equality in the vote eniwetok Mar 2016 #39
The VRA would have absolutely stopped what happened in AZ from happening. Agschmid Mar 2016 #40
I know a progressive group focused on voting rights Alison Hartson Nov 2015 #21
Looking for groups that support Voter Registration in Red States SleeplessinSeattle55 Feb 2017 #44
Both parties gerrymander, but Republicans suppress votes. SaveTheMackerel Feb 2016 #22
Dems vs GOPers eniwetok Mar 2016 #31
Well... V 4 C C i IN E Mar 2016 #23
super delegates eniwetok Mar 2016 #30
Agree Rparker123 Mar 2016 #24
not that arbitary eniwetok Mar 2016 #28
It may be arbitrary but its the same rule for all Travis_0004 Mar 2016 #32
the bigger question is why do Dems ignore civic inequality in the vote? eniwetok Mar 2016 #25
Thank you. SusanCalvin Mar 2016 #26
Those who don't vote and let the repubs take over states are partly to blame. upaloopa Mar 2016 #27
I've been asking this question a loooooooong time! Kip Humphrey Mar 2016 #36
Retail caging PATRICK Apr 2016 #41
two things clarkkentvotes Sep 2016 #43
TAXPAYER_VOTERID Asa Gordon Feb 2017 #45
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