For the better part of two years, Republican policymakers in states nationwide launched a deliberate, calculated effort to restrict voting rights -- the most sweeping effort in the United States since the Jim Crow era -- specifically to influence the outcome of the 2012 elections. The goal of voter-ID laws, voter-registration restrictions, and closed early-voting windows wasn't subtle: identify likely Democratic voters and try to limit their turnout.
It's hard to overstate the extent to which this backfired.
Blacks voted at a higher rate this year than other minority groups and for the first time in history may also have voted at a higher rate than whites, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of census data, election day exit poll data and vote totals from selected cities and counties. [...]
These participation milestones are notable not just in light of the long history of black disenfranchisement, but also in light of recently-enacted state voter identification laws that some critics contended would suppress turnout disproportionately among blacks and other minority groups.
This should, of course, be the starting point for a fascinating debate: did voting rates among African Americans go up despite GOP voting restrictions or because of Republican disenfranchisement efforts? In other words, did the "war on voting" set up hurdles that voters found easy to overcome, or did the restrictions inspire black voters to work even harder to make sure their voices were heard?
I'm inclined to agree with Josh Marshall's take: "I continue to think -- and I'm not alone in this -- that Republican sowed the wind with voter suppression tactics and reaped the whirlwind. Far from taking the edge off African-American turnout, which was the intent, it mobilized these voters to historic levels."
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I wish we would try to focus on having a 100% voter turn out rate. I think we should allow people to write off a couple hundred bucks in their taxes or something like that, but only if they vote. We also should give people the option to vote for "none of the above". And if none of the above wins the majority, you have to restart the election with the major 2 candidates barred from running again that election cycle.
But if we're going to have an election, then everyone's voice should be counted.
Alva,
An easy way to increase voter turn out is to mail all registered voters an absentee ballot two weeks before election day.
Oregon does just that. We have higher voter participation than the national average without reports of fraud or 'stolen' elections. All without lines.
Several states use a similar system. In WA you can register online and vote very easily, really couldn't be more simple, no stress, no real lines or other problems. Don't know why the rest of the nation doesn't it's not that hard...at least not where I am. That's all that's needed not tax right offs, a novel idea but don't think it's quite practically or would be particularly effective. If people don't care enough about the country to vote or know what's going on I don't think tax right offs are going to change their minds. I think if you don't care about America enough to have a rudimentary understanding of what's happening in the nation's government at any given time then I say don't vote. If you don't care about the nation, don't vote and don't open your mouth to complain later.
Some less 'civilized' nations have mandatory voting.
You might be on to something, Day. If we make voting mandatory, the tea party might boycott on general principle. It may just be crazy enough to work.
No to mandatory voting - sounds just a mite like fascism to me.
Over on PolicyMic.com there's a story today, written by one of the more TeaParty-infused columnists, inveighing against the cost to government of those little "I Voted" stickers. It occurred to me that that might be the GOPT's next tactic in their war on voting - hollering about how much it costs to hold elections in the first place! Folks, we have to keep a gimlet eye on these nasty weasels because they are bound and determined to take our franchise away from us!
YES to mandatory voting. Fascism? Good grief. Have a "None of the above" option for those who refuse to choose to make a lesser-of-two-evils choice.
No offense but that's just a dumb idea. If that's the case what's the point of voting? If anything then we need stronger third parties. I think if people can just vote none of the above it becomes an excuse to not have to change the thing they find unacceptable. People must feel the pain. The people have to deal with the anguish of not wanting what they see in the candidates. Voting none of the above is voting for nothing.
I think Josh is right. I have heard blacks say that they voted because of Republican voter suppression efforts. The 1960s weren't that long ago for lots and lots of us. Voting is just not taken forgranted by a lot of people who marched and risked life and limb for the right. They have told their kids. I don't think Republicans realize just how badly they have screwed the pooch.
No they're not.
They just think they don't matter .
Now they know they do.
Cliff you consider yourself a high info voter? Then you defend consertives? Your not the sharpest pencil in the box are you.
That doesn't make them single issue voters. The majority of minority communities would not vote for republicans with or without the you must now show documents you have never legally had to show before laws. It's many reasons this is just another.
Joca41, KKKliff is a new idiot troll on this site. Laugh at him and be glad that you are not as stupid and bigoted as he is.
President Obama was the beneficiary, but to be honest, the War on Voting made 2012 very very personal for Black folks.
Giving the right to vote to everyone is only something this country pushes onto another country when we invade that country to teach them democracy. This country is insuring we lose that right and adopting suppression laws they liked which ruled those other countries. You know, keeping women in their place and not allowing the freedom of any religion being taught except their "true" christian religion.
While these same other countries have a blot of ink on their finger to vote, we have to have a court order, pictures of our birth, two witnesses to said birth and picture ID along with the receipts to prove we paid our way to allow us to vote.
Phenner- Spoken like a true REDNECK SOB! Why are you living, in the pass, come on up to this year! It's better then where your at. Do you still live in a cave?Or trake your woman,by force?
Can you only call people you disagree with names and try to insult their intelligence? Take my women by force? Now you're calling me a teapub? Get out of teapubikstan and see what is really happening, dude. Voter suppression is real. It's not something the nasty libs made up. Open your eyes. Better yet, get a real education and you won't have to assume everyone is as dumb as you are.
melvin perrils, gee, i tried to upvote your post but some scared republican troll blocked my attempt. i'll have to think about it but i think i may have been disenfranchised.
I can't wait to see black voter turnout in the 2016 presidential election.
Let's say it's Hillary vs. Christie (no black candidate anywhere). Are blacks gonna support somebody just because that person will offer him/her something? It certainly won't be because "the candidate looks like me"
Oh yeah, if I get in (based on my user-name) I will not pander to any one group just to get votes. That would be wrong.
As Republicans have just proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, pandering to one group (angry white men) just to get votes is not only wrong, it is stupid.
really stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FuturPrz. Is it your nature to play the race card,every time,when you talk about the afr/ams. GET off of it!!!! We are a nation,of mixed people, NOT white only!!!! So I say to you, GROW UP LITTLE BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Absolutely right, KKKliff!
I mean the rep message to black people is this: "We don't like black people!"
And to think that black people don't vote republikkkans!
What an idiot you are.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
If the right want to continue to portray minorities as lazy people wanting free things while their gop voters are hard working and more american who want to earn things. The majority of republicans are white middle aged protestant men if you can't see why people not in that group might find that unappealing there is no hope for you.
Just what is it that whites want that the GOP can deliver? You'd never ask that question now would you?
It's obvious you believe dems only give free stuff people didn't earn thus thoe who vote for them: most minorities, young people, women, etc. Implying the republicans do the opposite and they are primarily supported by white middle aged men.
If you think saying GOP voters want to work while dem voters only want gifts whether you know it or not you're saying that only white men aren't lazy moochers. If the GOP would listen to that instead of dismissing that aspect which is valid to most of this group they need to reach out to then you're going to keep pushing them away.
Let's hope Republicans start using this tactic in off-year elections, too.
YES, lets hope they do. Then we will be able to get rid of the tea party branch of their party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nobody is afraid of the teabaggers; you mistake telling the truth for fear, which is typical for right wing trolls like you.
The teabaggers just cost their party the senate for a second consecutive time and the white house, most of the country does not like the tea party I don't see what the dems have to be afraid of other than the possibility that people like Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Bachmann, Louie Gohmert might actually shut up. That would hurt.
At this point the DNC should send Rush flowers and a card that says "we couldn't have done it without you" for his contribution to the 2012 election.
The only people scared of the tea party are republican leaders who fear if they appear too rational they'll lose their seat in a primary to some bagger candidate. On the national level the tea party hasn't defeated almost any prominent dems even if those congress people were already on their political death bead.
Reid: No one thought he had a chance. Then Sharon Angle showed up, trully an act of god on that. A gift from the heavens
McCaskill: Tod Akin, wasn't supposed have a chance. She smashed him.
Sherrod Brown: Totally out spent by tea party opponent. Still won.
Deb Stabenow: Pete Hoektra lost
My christmas was fine and trailer park free, unlike your own miserable holiday, KKKlifff.
And you thinking that I'm stalking you is very funny, KKKliff and shows your over inflated ego and your under par intelligence.
And I learn something from the intelligent people who post on this thread and YOU are not one of them, inbred redneck troll.
I think 2016 and an all-white ticket will tell. If Democrats are smart and motivated, 2014 will be much different from 2010; but that remains to be seen. I think a generation of black voters learned something in 2012 that they will not forget. Perhaps the group of young black children who followed me from door to door in their apartment complex yelling "Obama" won't forget either - hopefully their very aware parents will fill in their education on the topic of voting and enlightened self-interest. The hundreds of black voters I met were way above the average white voter in sophistication. The Democrats need to get their arms around their loyal base now, with voter ID campaigns, social and educational events, local political involvement, and other community-building, so that when the next election comes, it will be another step forward.
And the republikkans can get the "we hate black people" tour(because you left that out because you are so ignorant). That will motivate your "angry white guy" voters.
How many republicans have you heard say they love GW. He's persona non grata on both sides you know that. Don't play childish games.
I guess saying the president isn't "true" american, or is muslim which insults both american muslims and Obama, called him not "their" president, socialist, communist, anti white racist, anti black racist, terrorist sympathizer, anti-christ, lazy, called his wife uppity, called his wife angry black women, affirmative action president, should be tried for treason.......obviously the flow of all these claims at the center of GOP leadership is nothing. Far outweighs the horrible visciousness of saying you didn't like Bush's legacy when most people in the country don't either.
Actually, the Republicans are known as the Party of Hate.
Why else do you think the California GOP has shriveled to near third-party status?
This story made my day/week/month, maybe even my year! I already suspected there was a major push-back on voter suppression tactics when people were willing to stay in line for over eight hous in some cases, but I hadn't thought it could be this outstanding! :}
Once again, thank you to all those who stayed tough and voted in the Nov election, despite the barriers thrown at us!
When the republicans attempted,to violatour right to vote,it made all the country go against them!!!!!!!! This attempted theft, of our constiutional rights,came back to bite them, where their brains are!(their a-ses) We will always refuse to allow any party,from doing so!!!!! Let this be a leasen to both parties, that we will not stand for this kind of communist move!!!!! EVER!!!!!! And to the States that are still trying, Lets turn them back in to less then a state, and not except their votes,until yhey conformto the law,of the land!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What happened in 1996 to drop voter turnout so low?
Two words: 2010 Census.
Despite voter turnout the repubs have used their win in 2010 to jerry meander districts.
They are also working to re-rig how electoral votes are counted in the states.
The repubs know they cannot win the popular vote.
After losing Latinos and with African Americans increasing their turnout, the repubs are on the run.
The repubs have given up on the African American vote, but Latinos still seem in play. Be on the lookout for repubs to throw Latinos a bone with a handful of them voting in favor of the Dream Act.
So with less votes, the new repub plan is to change how the states assign electoral college votes. A handful of the states like Maine already do this.
In some cases, the winner of the popular vote can get less electoral votes then the loser.
Maybe knowledge of these tactics will also backfire and voter turnout will increase to a point where repubs need to actually stand for something instead of obstruction (not likely)
The problem is that these tactics are on paper and do not create dramatic visuals of ridiculously long voter lines.
So what can we do?
I say start with asking everyone you know if they are registered to vote. If they are not convince them to do so especially young voters.
You would be amazed how many young potential voters are not registered.
Karma -- especially on the "comes around" part.
Karma -- especially on the "comes around" part.
Defeating voter suppression might have been just the right thing to do - or it might have been the reason people made extra efforts to vote - or it might have been the result of lots of things. Before we take credit, or give credit to the Republicans, we should consider that 2012 voter-turnout-in-spite-of-rightwing-suppression benefited greatly from prominent and continuous coverage in the mainstream media. And that's the problem. The media does not give big coverage to a big story twice. The second time it's old news. Those voter-suppression laws are still on the books, and those gerrymandered Republicans still control state governments. Can we count on the media to give us the kick we need for off-year Congressional and State elections? Probably not. Do we have a plan to maintain voter consciousness and commitment without headlines? I fervently hope we can get one. Otherwise the plan that did not work in 2012 might be very successful in 2013 and 2014 and after. !!$#!$!~@#@$@!
Defeating voter suppression might have been just the right thing to do - or it might have been the reason people made extra efforts to vote - or it might have been the result of lots of things. Before we take credit, or give credit to the Republicans, we should consider that 2012 voter-turnout-in-spite-of-rightwing-suppression benefited greatly from prominent and continuous coverage in the mainstream media. And that's the problem. The media does not give big coverage to a big story twice. The second time it's old news. Those voter-suppression laws are still on the books, and those gerrymandered Republicans still control state governments. Can we count on the media to give us the kick we need for off-year Congressional and State elections? Probably not. Do we have a plan to maintain voter consciousness and commitment without headlines? I fervently hope we can get one. Otherwise the plan that did not work in 2012 might be very successful in 2013 and 2014 and after. We cannot expect our adversaries to do our work for us every year.
"This should, of course, be the starting point for a fascinating debate: did voting rates among African Americans go up despite GOP voting restrictions or because of Republican disenfranchisement efforts? In other words, did the "war on voting" set up hurdles that voters found easy to overcome, or did the restrictions inspire black voters to work even harder to make sure their voices were heard?"
It's a combination of: 1) minorities acting with justified contempt against Republicans attempting to restrict their political input and 2) Barack Obama is black.
I hate it when people call Obama black, he is not. Obama is mixed race to deny his white heritage of his mother who raised him is disrespectful to her. I don't know we as a nation have a hard time with admitting the existence of interracial people. He's no white, he's not black, he's both. There's nothing wrong with admitting that and if fact this makes Obama far more representative of the trends in the nation.
The nation is just no comfortable with the lineage of anyone that is not one or the other. This is something I have recently noticed but it is none the less valid.
Challenge: Turn on the TV and look for the commercials. Make note of the race or apparent race of couples you see and see how many of them are interracial.
It is a secret Ballot! Don't tell who you vote for. You can't prove it anyway. Nobody saw you mark the ballot. Don't ever tell. Talk about the issues and how the various candidates respond to them. People, many, died so you could have a secret ballot and it is treated like so much garbage. It is not a popularity program, who looks best, has the nicest family. How they vote on issues is the only concern
Anyone who has ever stood in line for 6 or more hours to vote did so because they were furious with those trying to stop them. People tend to remember that kinda thing.
The GOP just recruited millions of voters into the Democratic Party, and will do so again in 2014 if they continue on this path.