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After Republican policymakers nationwide imposed the most sweeping voting restrictions since the Jim Crow era, GOP officials saw the election results, realized that the restrictions didn't produce the desired effect, and decided it's time to end the "war on voting."
No, I'm just kidding. Actually, some of the same officials who wanted new restrictions in advance of 2012 are now looking to expand the barriers between voters and their democracy in the future. Take developments in Wisconsin, for example.
Gov. Scott Walker has joined one of the Legislature's most powerful Republicans in saying he's considering ending the state's same-day voter registration law, drawing quick criticism from leading Democrats, including Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.
The idea was part of the agenda that Walker put forward Friday in an appearance before a sold-out crowd at the Ronald Reagan Library and Museum near Los Angeles, a traditional venue for Republicans looking to run for president.
For nearly four decades, Wisconsin has allowed voters to register at their voting precinct on Election Day. The results have been terrific -- the state has one of the highest voting rates in the nation. This year, voting rates in Milwaukee, for example, reached a stunning 87 percent.
Why would Wisconsin's governor and leading state GOP lawmakers want to scale back a system that's worked so well? According to Walker, the state has "poll workers who are wonderful volunteers, who work 13-hour days and who in most cases are retirees." He added, "It's difficult for them to handle the volume of people who come at the last minute. It'd be much better if registration was done in advance of election day. It'd be easier for our clerks to handle that."
Yes, the governor of Wisconsin wants to scrap same-day registration because he feels bad for county clerks and elderly volunteers. Riiiiiight. I'm sure that's the only reason Walker, who also pushed a destructive voter-ID scheme that was blocked by the courts, supports this change.
For some reason, Walker's critics are skeptical. Andrea Kaminski, executive director of the League of Women Voters in Wisconsin, told the state AP, "Given that there have been few problems related to election-day registration, this looks like another effort to fix a problem that doesn't exist and to do it in a way that makes it harder for people to vote. She added that same-day registration "has not been a big problem in the past -- and I don't think it was on November 6, either."
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To further ease the burden on these elderly 'volunteers', Walker proposed the elimination of elections, altogether, substituting a Lifetime Appointment Decree in its place. It was unanimously passed by the Republican Legislature on Monday.
I was gonna say something snarky in response to the article... but you win in the snark division. Bravo.
It's always amazing when I hear the GOTP screech about freedom & democracy - as they're attempting to disenfranchise the people of their rights.....
Fascism here we come....
Walker's efforts are nothing but radical in a nation that believes itself to be the world's exceptional democracy!
Contracting the vote is repugnant and profane! If Walker and his Republican brethren insist on traveling the road of disenfranchisement, they will be met at the ballot booth in the next election cycle!
Let the nation-wide get-out-the-vote-effort for 2014 begin today! -Kevo
Isn't it about time for Michelle Bachman to investigate State governors and find out which ones are for America or Against America?
Should be a slam dunk(R)
This jerk wins a recall election and thinks he's the star of the repulican party. The only reason he won the recall is because voters were tired of recalls,not because of his popularity. We'll see how popular he is when his term is up. And then again maybe he'll run as Palin's vice president. (ha ha ha ha) Thousands of comedians out of work and here I am making trying to be funny.
Maybe his Campaign Committee is behind it!!, Another one of his Aides was sentenced, Kelly Rindfleisch, I think the noose might be getting tight, Story is in Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, As for the Voter ID issue here in WI, Our State Supreme Cout decided not to do anything about it until the Election, With that said Walker and our AG JB van Hollen where unable to hand WI over to Ryan and Romney.So I would expect Walker and Van hollen to really push on this issue.
Forgot to mention, Gov. Walker, Did Diane Hendrick's call after the election asking about failing to make Wi a Red State, Did she ask for her 1/2 million back???? Just wondering.
It's not just because "voters were tired of recalls." We really do the process a disservice when we buy into that narrative. Convincing voters they should be tired of recalls and that recalls shouldn't be used over policy differences was the entire thrust of the pro-Walker campaign in the period before the Democratic candidate was chosen. It was a clever strategy, sadly, but there is little evidence that people were spontaneously against recalls before that.
I don't know many states where you can register to vote on election day. Eight states have some form of Election Day voter registration (yes, some of them have DEM administrations). Should we go after the other 42 states? So why not have Wisconsin join the rest of the states? As for ID....why the hell shouldn't people have to show identification to vote? You have to show ID to buy liquor, get into a club (most states have card you no matter how old you are), go to Michelle's book signing, buy sudafed, pick up a narcotic prescription at the pharmacy, and the list goes on and on....so to have to show an ID to vote to me is a non-issue.
I'll see your voter ID and raise you voting on the same day.
If I have to show identification to vote, why do we need to register people at all?
You're going to use the same identification to register as you are to vote.
NO registrations whatsoever. You show your ID on election day and vote.
Not registering to me is a non-issue.
Voting is mentioned in the Constitution. That stuff ain't.
Underage kids buying liquor = Problem
In person voter fraud = Virtually non-existinant
Voter ID = Solution in search if a problem.
We still have same day registration here in MN, and I hope we never give it up. Of course, there is an incentive not to wait until the day of the election. When I went to vote this year, it was at a new precinct because of redistricting, so the polling place was unfamiliar to me. I saw this long line, and my wife and I groaned that it was going to be a long wait. Fortunately, that turned out to be the line for people registering to vote. So, if you don't want to wait in yet another long line on election day, register ahead of time.
People SHOULD have to register early, the staes should have to put in place some kind of cross check system to check that people are not able to vote in more than one place. It would be easy to do if people had to have some kind of picture ID, hell, use the motor vehicle departments. When I moved, my driver's license was NOT taken. So at one point, I had a picture ID for two states. It would have been easy for me to vote in two places.
ONE instance of voter fraud is one instance too many.
North Dakota is the only state where you do not have to register to vote. You do have to show i.d. to vote though.
As to having an i.d. to vote, what about people from small towns who have lived there all their lives? My grandmother did not drive, therefore she did not have an i.d. She did not need an i.d. to open a bank account or buy liquor because everyone knew her. There are exceptions to the rule.
WE AGREE. one instance of voter fraud IS too many. but repubs are trying to kill a fly with a bomb.
in order to prevent just ONE instance of "voter fraud", repubs are disenfranchising voters. repubs RESPONSE to the non-existent "problem" of voter fraud by TRYING TO SUPPRESS THE VOTE, is the TRUE VOTER FRAUD.
voting JUST ONCE is often time consuming and difficult, having to take time off from work, and etc. you all are PARANOID thinking that americans want to vote more than once, WHEN IDENTITY FRAUD is not the problem you all think it is.
One instance of voter fraud . . .
It depends.
So if you had an instance of Republican voter fraud in the predominately African American districts of Chicago, it doesn't make any difference.
If an election came down to one vote, maybe.
What's more important? Voting or keeping people alive.
The pro-ID group wants everyone (100%) to be checked. Any doubt that the drug companies that produce life saving drugs don't check their drugs 100%? They do sampling.
Cost versus reward. If it costs Texas a couple of million dollars to have a voter ID program and they catch 6 people, is it worth it?
ONE instance of voter fraud is one instance too many.
Get off your high horse. And spare us your coy protestations about the purity of the vote. You'd trade one instance of fraud for tens of thousands disenfranchised. We strive for a more perfect union, but that "perfection", far from being some absolute state, is a balancing act between rights. With about 100 million people voting, the nation should look at the effect of a few fraudulent votes vs. the many who were denied their chance at participation.
The choice is clear.
I had a picture ID for two states. It would have been easy for me to vote in two places.
How would having two picture IDs have allowed you to vote in both states?
And technically, you could vote in your old state only if you filled out a provisional ballot, because none of the polling places of said state would have you listed as being registered to vote there. Your provisonal ballot would then be checked by the county election commission to verify your residency. Once it found out that you were no longer a residence, it would have voided your ballot.
Not to mention, you will be charged with voter fraud, a federal crime.
Speaking of Twinkies. You know there is just something that just keeps going through my mind that I do want to know about. First NBC and MSNBC have increased in their ratings, but it was attributable to the very fact that they needed the way to do it. As I see it, many of us bloggers have definitely majorly contributed to changing NBC and MSNBC for the better. And I want to know what is in it for us bloggers who have really contributed majorly to the improvement of NBC and MSNBC, especially financially. Your terms and conditions in my frame of mind suck so if you could explain how it can really benefit us contributing bloggers who have stimulated NBC and MSNBC to change in the right direction? It would be appreciated if you didn’t use the typical business bull crap and pony out something substantial. How much do you really value your bloggers?
Yeah! And where do I redeem my Green Stars? I need a new toaster. . .
I agree Day-3905329 they should show at least an appreciation for us people who come here to write something that you can be used with the news media. Even though now certain ones do not want to call certain people bloggers like that is some ooooohhhh special word.
deb, get off here, same post as on other stories...weird
It's worth noting that Walker gets his basic facts wrong: Wisconsin poll workers are PAID employees.
Here in MN, I know a few poll workers of several years running, and we also have same-day registration. (I used it myself this year.)
The workers are folks who take the jobs very seriously. Training is required during the year for everybody. Job descriptions are well documented and responsibilities are distributed carefully to make sure everything runs smoothly on election day. When election day ended, it wasn't a surprise that everything including same-day registration had run smoothly and efficiently, it was the plan. Competent, prepared people did their jobs and the work got done.
Turn voter ID laws against the people who enacted them.
If, as the Republicans want, I have to show an ID to vote, then why have voter registration at all. It's obvious that it hasn't been accomplishing anything.
So why shouldn't anyone who is eligible to vote not be able to show up on election day and vote? Isn't the ID requirements essentially the same?
Retired, etc. working days that are too long? Hmm. That presumes that ONE person has to work the entire day. I don't know about the rest of the country, but here election judges are paid not much above minimum wage. Some county can't handle hiring 24 people for the day instead of 12?
If the GOP honestly wants to know what they can do to turn their party around, putting a stop to this kind of 'tiny despot' behavior is a good place to start.
We have penetrated the "fog of electoral war" in this cycle...and it looks bad...from Rove and "Orca" to long lines at the polling places...the republicans/corporations will not rest...they will continue the assault on our republic...we need to take a deep breath, and continue forward...we need to watch ALEC and the republican controlled states...the Kochs have not paid enough taxes and have way too much money and time for their continuing corruption of our government...
Electoral war is spot on. What these creeps have been up to, and haven't given up, is what the military calls "shaping the battlefield." Lee Atwater and all his spawn have always thought of elections as wars, and w bush showed us they don't think the Geneva Convention means anything. Same thing.
Walker put forward Friday in an appearance before a sold-out crowd at the Ronald Reagan Library and Museum near Los Angeles,
Every member of The Party of Public Irrelevance in the state must have had to show up to sell out that venue.
Take the power of the gerrymander away from the legislature, and that's what you get: the Republicans in California are now officially irrelevant.
Gov. Walker... we didn't elect you to be in LA. You were elected to work for the State of WISCONSIN not CALIFORNIA. Why are you there? That trip should come out of your own pocket not the tax payer. Get back to Madison and actually do some work.
The noose is slowly tightening on Scott Walker's 'John Doe' trial. Jail would be an apt reward for his behavior.
Scott Walker can go as far as the people of Wisconsin let him.
"They" tried the same thing in Maine (http://bo.st/Q8ozYX).
That November, Maine voters claimed same day registration back.
As Maine goes...
I'm one of those elderly poll workers who supposedly can't stand the pressure of registering voters on the same day as the election. Poor me!
I thought elections were about citizens getting to vote not coddling poll workers.
I live in Indiana. We don't have same day registering. However, I'd be in favor of it. If it's so difficult, how about hiring more poll workers. In our case where lines were sometimes long, we could have used more voting machines. (I'm also in favor of early voting days including weekends right up to the election).
I'm flabbergasted by the notion that Florida took so long to count ballots. What kind of fools use paper ballots in this hi-tech age? I guess that would be Florida.
I must have missed to news footage showing Floridians leaving the polls with purple fingers like they did in Iraq.
Republican just don't believe that rest of us are from the same country, shocking but true. It is the United States of Senile Republicans after all. (USSR)
Walker the weasel.