Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker first floated the idea of ending same-day voter registration, then called the idea "ridiculous." The state's nonpartisan Government Accountability Board, which runs elections in Wisconsin, has another way of looking at it: expensive. From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
The accountability board estimated in its report that ending election-day registration would cost the state $5.2 million for the first two years -- $1.9 million for increased costs to maintain voter lists, $1.2 million in computer system upgrades, $1.2 million for an ad campaign and voter outreach and more than $800,000 for training and adding staff.
GAB spokesman Reid Magney tells the Wisconsin State Journal that the new expense for the $7 million agency would be "huge." About to 10-15 percent of Wisconsin voters take advantage of the law either to sign up or to fix their registrations when they go to the polls. Wisconsin had voter turnout of about 70 percent in November, with 87 percent turnout in Milwaukee. After Barack Obama won Wisconsin for the second time, state Republicans proposed ending same-day registration.
Leave a Comment:
Does anyone truly think that this has anything to do with costs or anything but voter suppression?
If Walker thought he could get away with it, he would, and damn the cost. It's not like it comes from HIS pocket or his masters the Kochs' pockets.
Government is the problem! there they are proving us right!
shameless.
I read yesterday that his son used same day voter registration to vote in the November election
Vwjan, That was true, And our GOP is also asking for More $$ for their daily Per Diem. Maybe Walker will take the 5.2 mil from the WEDC that HE has such good responsibility of??
Hey, what's a few million, when you can get some quality voter suppression? Good stuff like that isn't cheap! (snark)
WIS Politics. com has great coverage on this. Ryan spent 3 times as much to retain his seat and even then only barely won! Wisconsin is winnable!
Voter suppression is right. Beware, everyone.
We all know it's about voter supression, but what's the excuse they are using to promote this new rule?
Voter Fraud, like with everything else. It is a lie. They know it, you know it, we all know it, but when you're this shameless, a little lie like this doesn't matter.
Rachel, here is a story to run with. Wisconsin also passed a law that eliminates voter registration in high schools, but only for high schools located in cities with a population greater than 500,000. The racism at work is extraordinary. Look at the law the Governor signed. It's 2011 WISCONSIN ACT 240.
As a proud Badger thanks for the additional info.
BUT RM has nothing to do with this blog but the name of the website. This is blog is written by a very smart man named Steve Benen.
False advertsing! LOL. It's still a good blog, but I wish you hadn't told me that. It loses some of the luster!
Walker is slime. Get him out of office... Along with that turd in Michigan.
And, can someone please send the Koch Brothers to another universe to destroy?
Of course they will dispute the costs and not allocate the funds. Similar to PA this year when they claimed everyone would have a voter ID in plenty of time. Another governor promised folks a ride to the DMV if they needed it--how'd that turn out?
I do not see any extimates for the cost of litigation? Then there is the political cost of losing the next election to any democrat that would fight against the voter suppression.
We cannot expect the Republicans to stop their efforts to suppress the vote. They see the shifting demographics and the only way to deal with that fact is to continue their efforts to stop people from voting. That means Dems have to counter the Republican strategy by focusing on registering new voters every day. The swing states are where the Republicans will focus their efforts and Dems need to be ready for the next state elections.
This is going to be a cautionary story for the ages .
I guess no one will ever again have to tell Wisconsinites about the importance of off year elections .
It's going to be one h*** of a mess to put right.
This once great state is a laughing stock ever since Scott Walker, a drop out, got voted as governor. Two more years is too long.
Hmmm don't be surprised if this happens. Hey you know why not just end women's suffrage and bring back the poll tax it will be a lot more effective at the goal they're trying to achieve. Be real men...and I guess one or two women....and just be out with your real anti-voter agenda.
Watch folks. If Walker announces in august of the next cycle there'd be no same day registration don't say we weren't warned. We'll just have to out fox the fox news fans again on the ground.
Remember Walker is the "first domino" according to his owner David Koch. What he does the others follow you see it on unions, voting rights, just keep watching......