Rachel Maddow on the new Poll Tax: time now equals money

[ProfessorPlum]

Run time: 04:06 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hX4TC4rP2U   Posted on YouTube: November 03, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: November 03, 2008 By DU Member: ProfessorPlum Views on DU: 976

 
How to disenfranchise the poor with time, rather than money.

[TheCoxwain]

1. I said this in a different thread

Elections should be a legal Holiday for those who vote..


A person voting should be allowed to take the day off from work over and above the vacation time that a person has. This could either be the election day or the day of the early voting.


This will ensure record turn-out

[ellisD]

2. nevemind

first it said not available... but now it works?!

[krumpli]

4. Works for me. n/t

[krumpli]

3. Unbelievable. As if someone watched an election

in Angola or Zambia.

One of the first thing Obama should do is to eliminate this outrageous system.

Paper ballots everywhere.
Machines allocated based on voter registration numbers.
Early voting in every state.
Harsh penalties for those who try to suppress the vote.

[krumpli]

5. And election day should be a national holiday n/t

[Liberalatus]

6. I've been saying for years

Election Day should be a National Holiday, and you should get a receipt for voting, and if you show the receipt to your employer that shows you voted, you get paid for that day. Simple. Get it done Congress.

[stopbush]

7. I think Rachel is off the mark on this one.

There are long lines for early voting because there are limited places to early vote. There are numerous precincts available to vote at on election day, so the lines shouldn't be as bad. What are cities and counties to do? Open multiple precincts for early voting? Perhaps double and triple the number of voting machines at the places that are open for early voting?

I get the feeling that almost everybody in every state was unprepared for early voting to be as popular as it is this year. I don't see it as a nefarious plot, just the typical lack of preparation we get in this country when people base decisions on what happened the last time around.

The question is: why are so many early voting? I think the answer is because they don't trust the vote. The solution for that is to eliminate the Diebold-type machines and go to paper ballots. Do that, and you'll see less demand for early voting. If people trusted that their votes would be counted, they'd vote on election day. As it is, voting early provides a cushion to address FUs before it's too late. Give people reason to believe their vote will be counted and counted correctly, and we'll see demand for early voting waning.

[ProfessorPlum]

9. Bull. Did you hear how many people wanted to vote in OH

in 2004 and could not? The problem will be even worse this year because of high turnout.

[Patiod]

12. How about a compromise where there's only 1-2 days

but they're over a WEEKEND. I have to use vacation days every other year to work the polls (as a street-level committeewoman, I don't get paid by the party). So I'm only willing to take those days every 2 years for the Presidential and MidTerms.

If it were a Saturday, maybe we'd get a better turn-out for the off-year elections as well.

[MakesMoves]

8. Unfortunately

Its by design.

[ellisD]

10. Some states require employers give time off to vote

even possibly paid hours.. for instance in California:

"Employees can be given as much time as they need in order to vote, but only a maximum of two hours is paid"

http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_tov.htm

So basically if you go vote before work, they can't fire you for being late, no matter how long it took, and they have to pay you for the first 2 hours

[Beregond2]

11. Easy fix: universal mail-in voting.

it works, its easy, you can take all the time you want, there is no problem with polling places, machines, etc. It is beyond me why so many are so resistant to it.

[Pastiche423]

15. It is also much cheaper for the state

Oregon voted in vote by mail ten years ago and it's been proven to be lots cheaper.

[Pooka Fey]

13. Great video. Please watch this. K&R

[canucksawbones]

14. This is so sad

In Canada, I waited in line for about 1 minute, voted on a paper ballot, and new the outcome of my riding within a couple of hours of polls closing.

The repukes in the USA have certainly taken pains to disenfranchise as many people as they can. More states need to take Oregon's initiative. I think that their mail in paper ballot system is the best anywhere.

GK

[cynthia]

16. working at a polling place in a predominately low-income precinct

I will do my best to make sure that folks get through the line as efficiently as possible - short waits, and everyone treated with respect and fairness. I expect it to be a long day so I'm off to get a decent night's sleep.

[thereismore]

17. This was kind of a "special comment" by Rachel. nt