After all that has transpired in Ferguson, will residents vote?

[brooklynite]

(The article ran last week; the election is today)

St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

FERGUSON • To measure change on election night, look no further than the area stretching across this city’s southern boundary, a mix of charred strip malls, sprawling apartment complexes and modest bungalows.

...snip...

In fact, Ferguson’s 3rd Ward was known for something else entirely: voter apathy. So much so, that in a council race eight years ago no one bothered to officially file as a candidate. The seat went to a 31-year-old software developer who persuaded 23 people to write his name on the ballot.

Ever since, council races in the 3rd Ward seldom attract more than 200 people at the polls, despite the fact that more than 3,400 registered voters live there.

The ward includes some of the city’s most impoverished and transient residents, and in the election Tuesday it will be key in answering the most important questions facing this community:
• Will the police department continue to exist? If so, who will run it?
• Who will be the next city manager?
• How will the city negotiate an agreement with the federal Department of Justice over allegations that Ferguson’s municipal court fleeced residents through traffic fines and court fees?

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Here's a link

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/after-all-that-has-transpired-in-ferguson-will-residents-vote/article_7e633baa-bef9-5279-b332-dd485772d48a.html

[brooklynite]

2. Fixed - not sure why it wasn't showing

[jwirr]

3. I hope so. But I also hope that someone has taken all the obstructions to voting away. Can you

imagine what it would mean in a community like this to have easy registration from birth and voting by postcard?

[tazkcmo]

4. 23 people.

While I agree that folks should be able to vote without needless obstacles, I also am disgusted by voter apathy. 23 people. We citizens must also be held accountable for our absence. I'm almost in favor of mandatory voting and equally upset that it seems to be needed. Maybe bring back Citizenship as a course in every grade? I weep now.

[jwirr]

5. This is the turnout for voting in Ferguson MO? My god what were they marching for? Sorry if that

sounds harsh but things will never change this way.

[cwydro]

7. I gotta agree.

If you don't care enough to vote, you're going to get the government you deserve.

[840high]

28. Sad - they didn't learn anything

it seems.

[RandiFan1290]

80. What the fuck are you talking about?

[brooklynite]

10. I know the Secretary of State...Jason Kander

Missouri has a Democratic Administration. Voter obstacles are not part of the program.

[sabrina 1]

6. The article didn't mention WHY people in those poor areas are afraid to vote.

Has anything been done about assuring voters that they will not be arrested on those questionable warrants nearly everyone in that area seems to have a collection of?

I think we need international observers in Ferguson to make sure that voters are not harassed or prevented from voting. Any warrants out there should be dismissed considering what we have learned about the corruption surrounding them.

[jwirr]

8. That would be a reason not to vote. And I agree - we need international observers and maybe one

of our own - Jimmy carter.

[bravenak]

9. Bingo!

I think they troll the polling places to arrest people for fines and bench warrants.

[msanthrope]

11. There had to be federal intervention in Philly to stop that shit. nt

[bravenak]

16. That's fucked up. They love stopping people from voting.

[brooklynite]

13. And by "think", you mean "have no evidence whatsoever"?

[bravenak]

15. Wow. What does that even mean, yo?

Evedence as far as the residents said they are scared of getting arrested at the polling places.why would they say it if it was not true? You think them liars and the Ferguson Police upstanding? Lol! You need to chill out with the automatic snark, dude. You don't come off as smarter or better than us. Just rude and lofty.

[brooklynite]

19. I believe in facts and evidence...

...and for holding people responsible for the things they ACTUALLY do, not things I could imagine they MIGHT do. The article has no reference to anyone claiming to fear harassment at the polls. No article I came across in a Google search has any reference to people claiming fear of harassment at the polls. And YOU didn't provide any evidence of people claiming fear of harassment at the polls. As I said, I know the Secretary of State in Missiouri, and I talked to him about voter suppression. It's not an issue.

[bravenak]

21. Funny. I got a result immediately.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/16/1371220/-Ferguson-an-Apartheid-Police-State-21-000-residents-w-a-staggering-16-000-open-arrest-warrants

I don't give two shits who you know.

[brooklynite]

22. Show me where it says the police hang out at the polls to nab people with outstanding warrants

[bravenak]

23. You want me to prove the police harass black folks at polls?

Why? We already know they harass them everywhere else, so why the fuck do you think they get a magic no fuck with 'em pass on election day? Are you serious? We gotta prove racism constantly, and after it's proved, we need to prove it's as bad as we say.
Sounds stupid.

[brooklynite]

24. Then it should be easy to prove...

Regardless of what happened before, Ferguson is in the public and media spotlight now. Any action to suppress the vote would be an instant news story.

Can't you even find an advocacy group alleging voter intimidation? Or that it might be a risk? If you can't, perhaps there's a reason.

[bravenak]

25. This sounds stupid as hell.

[sabrina 1]

62. Have you been following the Ferguson story AT ALL? On this forum where so much ha

has been written about how AFrican Americans have for years been intimidated by various means, one of the main ones being issuing warrants causing them to fear being arrested if they go to vote. A classic tactic of voter suppression.

And yes, now that the world is watching more AAs feel safer to go out and vote. THAT ALONE should tell you that they NEEDED protection to be allowed to exercise theri right to vote.

And now that the intimidaters have been put on notice AAs DID go to the polls. Why should it have been necessary to get the DOJ, and the world press focused on Ferguson before AAs felt safe to go out and vote?

And Ferguson is just ONE of many other towns where this has been going on forever.

[brooklynite]

63. It may be a "classic tactic", but I've yet to see evidence that voter suppression happened in Ferguson

A reminder that voting is supervised at the State level. The State of Missouri has a Democratic Administration and a Democratic Secretary of State. Who I know. He says voter suppression isn't a problem in Missouri. Absent cited evidence to the contrary, I can rely on his evaluation or on speculation by a bunch of bloggers.

[sabrina 1]

65. Yes, let's talk about that Missouri Democratic Administration. Starting with the Governor.

The man who sent out the MILITARY to brutally crack down on AAs protesting the murder of Michael Brown and all the other AAs who have been murdered by the police.

Of course they do not see any problem with voting. Hopefully the Governor at least will lose HIS job in the next election.

Read the DOJ report and ask yourself, why did it take the involvement of the DOJ and months of continuing protests and WORLD attention, before finally AAs felt safe enough to go to the polls??

WHY? Why did it take all that to get to this small victory, if there is no problem with AAs voting?

[pintobean]

67. The "military" did not "brutally crack down on AAs"

The guard was in a support roll to police forces that were lead by Captain Ron Johnson of the Highway Patrol(an AA). The guard was placed around the metro area to provide security because cops were in Ferguson. Nixon didn't deploy them in Ferguson on the night of the gj announcement, as he had promised he would. Ferguson burned that night.

As you have been told before, Nixon is in his last term, due to term limits.

[JonLP24]

70. I found one too but took me a little awhile

The Washington-based Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, which set up a hotline to report voting irregularities, received complaints that poll workers were requesting voters' photo IDs, which Missouri law doesn't require, and there were at least a couple of calls "about potential police intimidations at the polling place," said the committee's director of public policy, Tanya Clay House.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/06/politics/missouri-elections-ferguson-voter-turnout/

[bravenak]

76. Thank you, that one is even better.

[sabrina 1]

17. There is plenty of evidence. Have you read the DOJ findings on the 'justice system' in Ferguson?

Considering those findings, they need to send some protection for voters since nearly every African American in Ferguson has been issued a warrant, meaning they will continue to be afraid to vote. One of the oldest methods of suppressing the minority vote.

[JonLP24]

66. Evidence?

The GOPs effort to take away the black vote has been ongoing for years. Greg Palasts' books are a good place to start. Voter ID laws, shutting down voter registration groups such as ACORN, Voter ID laws, cutting early voting, improperly purging of voters but even if they are felons the other problems Ferguson has when it comes to policing lead to felonies & the loss of the right to vote depending on what Missouri law is. Voter suppression by the GOP isn't new.

Missouri GOP official: Ferguson voter registration efforts 'disgusting'

JEFFERSON CITY • Missouri Republican Party Executive Director Matt Wills denounced voter registration efforts amid continued protests in Ferguson, calling it "disgusting."

"If that’s not fanning the political flames, I don’t know what is," Wills told Breitbart News, a conservative website, Monday.

He also called the actions "completely inappropriate."

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/missouri-gop-official-ferguson-voter-registration-efforts-disgusting/article_ae80a586-cfa3-5a67-a6dc-c48dd4681f8a.html

The fact that they're grossly underrepresented in the city is no coincidence

ACLU Sues Ferguson-Florissant School District, Charging Electoral System Undermines African-American Vote

The ACLU today filed a federal lawsuit against Missouri's Ferguson-Florissant School District, charging the district's electoral system is locking African-Americans out of the political process.

The case, brought on behalf of the Missouri NAACP and African-American residents, is challenging the district's at-large system used to elect school board members. The at-large system violates the federal Voting Rights Act by diluting African-American voting strength, the complaint charges.

African-Americans constitute a minority of the district's voting age population, and under the at-large system they are systematically unable to elect candidates of their choice. The suit seeks to allow voters to cast a ballot for an individual school board member who resides in their district and better represents the community.

The Ferguson-Florissant School District has a history fraught with discrimination against African-American citizens. The district, which spans several municipalities, was created by a 1975 desegregation order intended to remedy the effects of discrimination against African-American students. Yet, 40 years later, there is just one African-American member on the seven-member board in a district where African-Americans constitute 77 percent of the student body.

https://www.aclu.org/racial-justice-voting-rights/missouri-naacp-v-ferguson-florissant-school-district

[sabrina 1]

14. They do. And nearly every family in those areas are afraid to go vote, even if they want to,

because they fear being arrested.

I thought something had been done about that. Especially considering the DOJ findings on the issuing of warrants overwhelmingly to the African American community in Ferguson.

And if there is no protection for the voters, you can bet the MSM will simply report that they didn't vote so it's their own fault if the same corrupt morons are still in office.

The DOJ should make it clear that no arrests are to be made at voting locations warrants or not. That is one of the oldest methods of suppressing the votes.

And maybe they need to send the NG to PROTECT the voters this time.

[bravenak]

18. There should never be arrests at polling places unless a crime is in progress.

Ferguson looks like a plantation from where I sit.
I was watching the debates here for Mayor last night and they were talking about our police having similar issues with demographics last night. It's everywhere. Our is not as bad as theirs, but still have few minorities on the force.

[brooklynite]

56. Surprise! Voter turnout grew from 12% to 29%

and two more Black Councilmen were elected (now half of the Council).

Any reports of police harassment?

[pintobean]

58. Turn-out was 14% county wide

so they more than doubled that. The harassing cops must have been everywhere but Ferguson.

[yeoman6987]

20. Too late for that. Voting is half over.

We'll see how the vote turns out and the percentage of the vote soon enough.

[csziggy]

53. An earlier article said city races are held separate from any other elections

And that was one reason few people turned out for them. For many people it's hard enough getting to the polls for the bigger races. To have one local election completely apart from all other races seems wasteful and designed to reduce voter participation.

I don't have the link to that story - it was in a thread here on DU a few weeks ago.

Here is one thread - but the linked article does not go into depth:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025753597

Ah - here it is:
From this post: http://sync.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5892646

This Is The Most Important Reform Ferguson Can Enact To Give Its Black Residents A Voice

by Ian Millhiser Posted on August 18, 2014
Ferguson can help ensure that its leaders more closely resemble its population, however. They just need to hold their elections at a time when voters are actually likely to show up.

To explain, a major contributor to the disparity between Ferguson’s population demographics and that of its leaders is Ferguson’s unusual elections calendar. Under the Ferguson City Charter, “[t]he regular city election shall be held annually on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in April,” and these elections are held in odd-numbered years. Thus, Ferguson chooses its leadership at a time when there is no state or national-level general election, and it is unlikely that there are even any major primary candidates on the ballot. Missouri, like the federal government, holds its gubernatorial and state legislative elections in even-numbered years.

The fact that Ferguson’s elections are held at a time when few, if any, high-profile candidates are on the ballot contributes to an almost comically low voter turnout rate in these elections. In 2013, for example, just 11.7 percent of eligible voters actually cast a ballot.

Turnout is especially low among Ferguson’s African American residents, however. In 2013, for example, just 6 percent of eligible black voters cast a ballot in Ferguson’s municipal elections, as compared to 17 percent of white voters.
More: http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/08/18/3472278/this-is-the-most-important-reform-ferguson-can-enact-to-prevent-another-standoff/

[sabrina 1]

59. Thank you, I remember reading that also. They had a nice little system going that seemed

almost set up to ensure its continuation.

Thank you for finding that article.

[pintobean]

60. There were elections held all over yesterday

Are they all part of this conspiracy?

[nadinbrzezinski]

61. Here, go argue with these specialists on how off year local elections have a lower turnout

No, it is not a conspiracy, but... it might as well be and this is why one side of the aisle prefers to have controversial things on off year, preferably special elections...

Here you go from a site specializing in this.

University of Wisconsin researchers provided Governing with elections data covering 144 larger U.S. cities, depicting a decline in voter turnout in odd-numbered years over the previous decade. In 2001, an average of 26.6 percent of cities’ voting-age population cast ballots, while less than 21 percent did so in 2011. Turnout for primary and general local elections fluctuate from year to year, but long-term trends in many larger cities suggest voter interest has waned.

If local turnout doesn’t improve, the implications could extend much further than the ballot box. Low-turnout elections typically aren’t representative of the electorate as a whole, dominated by whiter, more-affluent and older voters. Recent research published by a UC San Diego professor found such elections contribute to poorer outcomes for minorities, including uneven prioritization of public spending.

Now here is the test for Ferguson, which actually had a higher turnout than the rest of St. Louis County, maintaining this turnout, if not growing it.

And yes, this matters to me at a highly wonky level. Not that elections by themselves have ever done anything on their own and by the way, this is part of the demobilization of the electorate that we are seeing nationwide. Is this a conspiracy? Not in a RICO standard...but the DOJ might illuminate some of this for you, regarding what they had to say about Ferguson elections. I guess the DOJ is in it as well. Go read the report. It could really be illuminating to the dynamics in your area of the country. Not that they are that exceptional either, by the way.

[sabrina 1]

64. Protests work, there is new Civil Rights movement going on. Maybe you haven't paid much attention

to it.

To even attempt to deny the suppression of the African American vote in Ferguson until the people finally had enough, the murder of Michael Brown being the final straw, would be the same as denying the discrimination against African Americans BEFORE the last Civil Rights Movement finally forced some action to ensure their rights, to vote, to live where they chose to live, to go to the same schools as every other American etc.

So you are denying that it took a year of protests and organization, the involvement of the DOJ, the forcing of attention on the suppression of the vote in Ferguson, BEFORE it was possible for AAs to feel safe enough to go to the polls?

Same old 'look, they have rights' AFTER they and other finally took matters into their own hands.

And what will happen in Ferguson and all the other places across the country IF the current Civil Rights movement relaxes now that they've had at least one mall victory?

[pintobean]

68. Non of that addressed my question.

[csziggy]

71. Where exactly were elections held yesterday?

All over St. Louis County, Missouri, or all over the country? I'm just curious so I can research those elections.

[pintobean]

72. Yes, St. Louis County, St. Louis City, other areas of MO.

Illinois, including Chicago, Alaska, California...
Google would be a much better source for your research than me.

[csziggy]

73. Just the statement that "elections were held all over" doesn't give much to Google

Thanks for the info - I should have remembered Chicago's elections, but yesterday was a long day for me and I've been tied up with real life things.

[pintobean]

75. "Election results" in Google news

is what I would search.

[csziggy]

79. Got some figures and it's not good anywhere

Chicago only had a 28 percent turnout yesterday
http://www.nwherald.com/2015/04/07/chicago-mayor-runoff-election-turnout-light-after-heavy-early-voting/afgghxx/
Or maybe 40 percent: http://abc7chicago.com/politics/voter-turnout-around-40-percent-in-mayoral-runoff-officials-say/636412/

Sacramento had 23.27% turnout
http://www.eresults.saccounty.net/

Duval County, Florida (Jacksonville) had a 33.77% turnout
http://enr.electionsfl.org/DUV/Summary/1251

So it seems that no where that only local elections are held have good turnouts. Considering most places have between 60-75% turnout for presidential race years, this is abysmal. In fact, I consider the prevailing levels of voter participation for presidential years to be horribly low.

Way back when Al Gore was VP and tasked with increasing voter turnout, my husband suggested that eligible voters who aren't at least registered should not receive their federal tax credit. That seems a little steep to me, but something needs to be done to increase voter participation. And something needs to be done to reduce the number of people who are made ineligible to vote - people who have been convicted of a crime but who have served their time should have an easier path to regain their right to vote.

Got to go - I have several hundred (thousand) slides and negatives to scan and edit over the next few weeks.

[Bluenorthwest]

12. Oh I think there will be quite a bit of voting....

I'm using history as my guide in thinking so. There are voter blocks that today are seen as hugely organized and effective that were, in my own lifetime, disenfranchised and apathetic, neither offering nor being asked for political participation......

[pintobean]

26. Turn-out is very light so far

all across the area. We had heavy thunderstorms this morning.

[Journeyman]

27. Why I favor mail-in ballots and multi-day voting. . .

It removes the issue of poor weather and unforeseen problems for someone just trying to get out the door.

[840high]

29. Rain, snow, sleet - I have

never skipped voting.

[Journeyman]

30. Ever had a sick child, or explosive diarrhea on voting day? . . .

Your track record is admirable. It has no bearing on life's innumerable curves and roadblocks.

[brooklynite]

31. Polls are open 12+ hours...

...I find it hard to believe that, on average, people can't get to the polls if they want to. If voting is light, that means a lot of people are choosing not to go; are they all afflicted with sick children?

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. Or working two to three jobs

Last edited Tue Apr 7, 2015, 06:52 PM - Edit history (2)

And there is no time to vote.

Regardless tell me what is the average turnout in an off year election for Fergussn MO? I am on the road, so doing this from the phone. Huff post ran the number in the morning. 15 percent. I am going from memory.

CNN expects at least two, maybe three African Americans in City Council, again, from their morning reporting.

As to why you cannot comprehend why people are afraid. Ferguson is an extreme case of what I am hearing in San Diego. I recommend you walk down to the hood in NYC and have a long conversation with the alienated youth about that thing you call voting. If you listen and don't interject why you think voting is the absolute solution to this... I guarantee an education.

I also recommend you read the DOJ report, from start to finish. You might thnk those fears are silly, and from your POV they are. Mostly you have never had that conversation with young teens because of the police. Anecdotally you have never had an 8 year old back away from you because your media ID is issued by the same PD occupying the neighborhood. Yes, this is exactly the way it feels to residents. They are under occupation.

Your OP was not nice. People tried to explain this to you. If you listen, you might even learn why people's of color in this country have the same low opinion of the political process being the grand savior as I do, as well as the Oligarchy study from a certain major University. You might want to read that as well.

Have an excellent day.
[link:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/07/ferguson-election_n_7016256.html|
Huffpost story ]

"This may be a little municipal election, but ... city council can have a tremendous impact in the community," said attorney Denise Lieberman, who has helped run a voter protection program for the Advancement Project civil rights organization.

"These local leaders make important and significant decisions that affect the day-to-day lives of people," Lieberman told Reuters.

CNN

St. Louis elections officials said they had no indication that turnout in Tuesday's election would be any different than other years. But among the candidates inspired by recent events to run for office, there was hope of seeing greater voter participation.

And from the WAPO why you have a low turnout, and this is NOT an accident

Ferguson holds municipal elections in April of odd-numbered years. In doing so, the town is hardly unique. Approximately three-fourths of American municipalities hold their elections in odd years, a Progressive-era reform intended to shield municipal elections from the partisan politics of national contests, but one that has been shown to have a dramatic effect on reducing turnout.

For the record, MSNBC is also reporting higher than usual turnout... just in time before I have to turn to local city council meeting on city tv.

Final edit, Brooklynite, that link to the DOJ report is not to my coverage of it, though we read it, in full... but to the actual report. And yes, also a link to the Princeton University Study, not once, but twice.

[pintobean]

33. Missouri law requires employers to allow time off for voting

Most states do.

[nadinbrzezinski]

35. They do

The problem, as you will find out if you research this is enforcement. Also, many people of the underclass do not work enough hours at a specific job to force one particula employer to give that time off over the other. employer. It could be half a shift. And this is not paid either. (Most states it is two hours).

Care to ask people who are not making it if they can afford to lose $14.50 in a day? I know the answer, I have asked. In San Diego it is 20 dollars round numbers. I used the Federal minimum for MO.

Why Oregon's system of mail in ballots would take care of a lot of these structural issues. What are the odds most states will go there? There are reasons for that, and none are nice.

From my comfortable middle class perch not voting is not something I consider, even if I believe it is not going to make a difference. To people in the underclass, assuming they can even vote, it's a luxury.

Oh and NPR just reported a second AA member of city council for sure. This means a higher than the average dismal turnout numbers for Ferguson, MO.

[pintobean]

36. Here

Three hours off work to vote--interference by employer a class four offense.

115.639. 1. Any person entitled to vote at any election held within this state shall, on the day of such election, be entitled to absent himself from any services or employment in which he is then engaged or employed, for a period of three hours between the time of opening and the time of closing the polls for the purpose of voting, and any such absence for such purpose shall not be reason for the discharge of or the threat to discharge any such person from such services or employment; and such employee, if he votes, shall not, because of so absenting himself, be liable to any penalty or discipline, nor shall any deduction be made on account of such absence from his usual salary or wages; provided, however, that request shall be made for such leave of absence prior to the day of election, and provided further, that this section shall not apply to a voter on the day of election if there are three successive hours while the polls are open in which he is not in the service of his employer. The employer may specify any three hours between the time of opening and the time of closing the polls during which such employee may absent himself.
2. Any employer violating this section shall be deemed guilty of a class four election offense.

(L. 1977 H.B. 101 § 15.025)

Effective 1-1-78

http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/11500006391.HTML

We also have absentee and mail in voting. I helped my mom vote from her bed the last few years of her life. If eligible people want to vote, they can.

[nadinbrzezinski]

38. Yes, but it is the enforcement that is lacking

I can have pink unicorns written in the laws and not get them becuase of lack of enforcement. Or as detailed in the DOJ report for Ferguson on the PD, hyper enforcement of some issues for people in the underclass.

I know that a lot of people still want to believe all is fine and good in this country. But once you start talking turkey you realize quickly, how all that is an illusion.

By the way, we also have mail in ballots in California. We expect California to default to mail in within a generation at most... by default, not law. But until you have far more mail in ballots than actual ballots cast at the polls the day of the election, ensuring they are counted, that is one of the systemic issues we have.

Oregon did it the right way. They just went automatic mail in ballots, and now with their new motor voter bill, signed into law, which California is looking to follow, people will have to opt out, not in, from voting rolls. We need to expand that practice and modernize elections... instead we are getting poll taxes (ID laws) put in place. That is not a coincidence.

I am going to make a huge assumption, so if I made a mistake, my apologies, but you are middle class. I will advise you to do the same thing I told the OP to do, Go talk to people in the poor side of town. Really. You will get an education, not necessarily what you want to hear, but one nonetheless. Barber shops are an extremely good place to do that. Trust me on this, we have been covering race issues in detail, and we have gotten an education ourselves. (It also has increased our level of cynicism from a pretty high level to well beyond the solar system).

We will vote, but not because either my husband or I believe it makes a tinker's damn of difference.

[pintobean]

39. Like I said, if they really want to vote

they will. Getting people's excuses at the barber shop doesn't mean shit. Have you ever wondered how people find time to hang out in the barber shop, but can't find time to vote?

[nadinbrzezinski]

40. And you missed the structural issues

Not that this shocks me, surprise me. You do know people go get haircuts regularly. Most folks talk while waiting for them or on the chair. In AA communities both the barber shop and church is where community issues are discussed.

But if you prefer to miss the structural issues so be it.

[pintobean]

41. I haven't missed shit.

[nadinbrzezinski]

42. Have an excellent day

I got a couple news stories to write, and quite frankly... I am done.

[pintobean]

43. Will do.

The sun is out and it's 70 degrees. A nice break in the nasty weather. I think I'll walk my dog the 3/4 mile to the polling place and cast my ballot. It was rainy the last election day and the break in the weather was shorter than anticipated. I had a smelly wet dog when we got home. She loves socializing outside while I'm voting, though.

[840high]

45. Thank you. I always

took voting seriously. My first vote came for JFK and I always vote.

[nadinbrzezinski]

47. So I will ask you quite plainly

why are you against something that would make it EASIER, not harder to do?

Things like Oregon's Motor Voter bill will register people automatically, with a 15 day opt out option. Oregon also does this by mail in ballot, EXCLUSIVELY, and have a higher voting average than any other jurisdiction in the U.S. Are you telling me that people in Oregon take it less seriously than you do because they can sit at home at night, fill in their ballot and put it in the mail? Incidentally, that also helps the USPS.

California is joining Oregon with the introduction of Assembly Bill 1461 as far as the motor voter bill part of it, I will not bother giving you links to my coverage, but the objective of this... assuming it survives committees and general voting in the Assembly, it will increase the number of voters in the state by 7 million. If they had the chance to send this ballot in though the mail, and they got it automatically, WHY THE HELL NOT? This is what modernizing elections and opening the ballot looks like.

I am also going to assume, sorry for that, that while you stated you are a single mother, you are still middle class. There are some attitudes that are just obvious, and this is one of them.

For the record, the OP was wrong. Voting was actually HIGHER than expected, per the LA Times On the other hand, the Daily Beast reports low turnout. So what is it? I am betting these two contradicting realities cannot be true at the same time.

The LA Times is an MSM paper with nothing at stake here. The Daily Beast can be a tad to the RW of things, and the games people play to suppress the vote are quite sophisticated.

But back to the question, why are you against making it easier? Just becuase you like to walk to the polls, so do we by the way, does not mean this is the best way to vote. There are improvements, and it seems to me some folks are dead set against those.

Edit to add this from the Christian Science Monitor regarding Oregon

Oregon is one of two states that employ a vote-by-mail only system. Voters receive an information pamphlet three weeks before the election, followed a few days later by their ballots. With an average voter turnout of 60.13 – 8.5 percentage points above the national average – the system is working for Oregonians.

Final edit, for clarity

[840high]

49. I think you are confused - I'm most

certainly not against it,

[nadinbrzezinski]

50. I am going by what you posted

so not confused at all.

For the record, another poster asked you the same exact question.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6471697

We almost posted at the same time. So perhaps it is what you posted. Though I am glad you are not against it.

[pintobean]

51. 6:45 and 7:21 are not "almost posted at the same time"

It's 36 minutes later. Why don't you quote and link to where you think you got what you say 840high posted, rather than someone else's post. I sure don't see it anywhere.

[nadinbrzezinski]

52. I do, but whatever

have a good day. I am glad you walked with your dog and got your voting done... I am glad you have time to do that.

Have an excellent day.

I asked a question, I got an answer, and now I got a shadow...

[840high]

54. This is what I posted. Take it any way you want.

29. Rain, snow, sleet - I have

never skipped voting.

[nadinbrzezinski]

55. As I told you, I am happy that

you are all for making it easier. Take that whatever way you want it, likewise.

Regardless, I think we are more than just done. Have a good night.

[bravenak]

78. Thank you nadine, awesome post.

[840high]

44. As a matter of fact - yes. I am

a single Mom.

[Journeyman]

46. Great. My comment still holds true . . .

Why are you forwarding any case whatsoever against making it easier for anyone to vote?

If mail-in ballots or multiple day polling facilitates or encourages in any way someone's ability to cast a ballot, why do you perceive that as a negative, as something unnecessary because you have never needed it?

[840high]

48. I have no idea where

you came up with this from my post. I don't care how people vote as long as they vote.

[JonLP24]

69. The jurisdiction uses an at-large voting system

Ferguson’s election system may also be a factor. For council elections, the city has three districts, or wards, and each ward elects two members each. That means it’s edging toward an “at-large” voting system, in which there are no districts at all, and all candidates face the whole electorate. Numerous jurisdictions around the country have used such systems to reduce minority representation, since it makes it harder for numerical minorities to elect their preferred candidates.

Then there’s the school board. Ferguson shares a board with neighboring Florissant, which is mostly white. And the district uses an at-large system to elect its seven members. The result: Until earlier this year, the board had no black members.

Earlier this year, the board ousted the district’s first ever African-American superintendent, Art McCoy a move that triggered protests in the black community. Yet in April, the two white board members who stood for re-election were duly voted back in (an African-American candidate was also elected to replace a retiring member). One of the re-elected whites declared afterward that he saw his victory as vindication in the controversy over McCoy’s ouster.

It doesn’t help that Missouri’s city council and school board elections are held in April, rather than in November when they would coincide with state or federal contests. That arrangement leads to lower turnout across the board, but especially among racial minorities. Some southern cities have been accused of deliberately moving their municipal elections to the spring or summer in order to reduce black turnout.

“It brings me to tears hearing … how important it is to vote, for the people that lost their lives, when we’ve had to almost try to convince people to utilize this precious tool.”

John Gaskin, Missouri NAACP
The region’s recent migration trends also have worked against black engagement. Many of Ferguson’s black residents only moved there in the last decade or so, and are unlikely to own their homes, local leaders say. As a rule, newer residents and renters tend to be less likely to register to vote, and to cast a ballot, than those who have been there longer and own their own homes, who often have developed the voting habit – a fact that often works against minority and low-income participation.

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/ferguson-lack-diversity-goes-way-beyond-its-cops

At-large voting has been commonly used to under represent minority populations as well as continually to be struck down for violations of the Voting Rights Act

[brooklynite]

34. Update: voter turnout is "Good"

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-ferguson-election-20150407-story.html

Nothing about voter harassment

[Liberal_in_LA]

37. i hope so

[nadinbrzezinski]

57. Alas they did

Mobilization worked in #Ferguson: 29% of eligible voters cast ballots this election. That's more than double the number in the last election

Here from San Louis Dispatch

The city more than doubled its voter turnout in the nationally watched election. About 29 percent of registered voters turned out, while the average there and around the region for April off-year elections is around 12 percent.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/high-voter-turnout-in-ferguson-adds-two-black-council-members/article_422cb33f-c172-53de-a0c8-29386630ec72.html

[Rex]

74. That's more than voted in the Chicago election for mayor!

Progress is always a good thing, great reporting on this nadin.

[nadinbrzezinski]

77. What really bugged me was

the intent to make this a low turnout, they never learn their lesson, kind of a story. There is always a reason for that kind of an angle...

I started tracking different media. Ironically the best reporting, outside of St. Louis, which had to wait for the final numbers, came from the LA Times. No dog in that fight. But RW media, kept pushing the meme all day that it was the same low turnout as always.

Now back to my news writing. Had a presser on climate action plan... and I got a lot of video and audio to go though. (for quotes). I know which video I will upload.

[RandiFan1290]

81. All the bigots STFU real quick

Where are y'all?