Disillusionment, voter suppression may diminish black voter turnout

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: Democrats See Black Turnout as a Challenge
By IAN URBINA
Published: October 27, 2006

....For Democrats...in tight races, black voter turnout will be crucial on Election Day. But despite a generally buoyant Democratic Party nationally, there are worries among Democratic strategists in some states that blacks may not turn up at the polls in big enough numbers because of disillusionment over past shenanigans....

***

This will be the first midterm election in which the Democratic Party is mobilizing teams of lawyers and poll watchers, to check for irregularities including suppression of the black vote, in at least a dozen of the closest districts, (Democratic strategist Donna) Brazile said.

Democrats’ worries are backed up by a Pew Research Center report that found that blacks were twice as likely now than they were in 2004 to say they had little or no confidence in the voting system, rising to 29 percent from 15 percent. And more than three times as many blacks as whites — 29 percent versus 8 percent — say they do not believe that their vote will be accurately tallied.

Long lines and shortages of poll workers in lower-income neighborhoods in the 2004 election and widespread reports of fliers with misinformation appearing in minority areas have also had a corrosive effect on confidence, experts say.

Voting experts say the disillusionment is the cumulative effect of election problems in 2000 and 2004, and a reaction to new identification and voter registration laws....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/27/us/politics/27race.html?hp&ex=1161921600&en=966bdf2abb94c7cd&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Erika]

We need Obama and Ford out there yelling to vote

Along with the Clintons.

[beaconess]

3. Where've you been? They are busting their butts on the campaign trail

doing just that!

[Eric J in MN]

1. This is sad.

Decades after the civil rights legislation of 1964 and 1965, we still have such a problem of disenfranchisement.

[JeffR]

2. Minority voters suppression, the GOP's old standby

Especially with increased scrutiny this year on the flaws of electronic voting machines, it's not a stretch to assume that they'll go with their standby method even more than they usually do. I'm glad Brazile finally came 'round to focusing on this issue. It's crucially important.

[blondeatlast]

8. Exactly. I'm plugging this film every chance I get:

No Umbrella: Election Day in the City

http://www.noumbrella.org/

Please spread the word.

[beaconess]

4. It also doesn't help when Black voters have to hear from Democrats

that Black candidates are a liability - an all-too-frequent mantra that we've even seen in here.

The Democrats have to do a much better job in shoring up the most loyal part of the base - the Black voters. Unfortunately, too often Dems try so hard to attract the angry white man vote that they kick to the curb the very voters who they can almost always count on if they just make a little effort.

I'm hoping that in 2008, the Dems run more Black candidates across the country at all levels than they have this year. Other than the members of the Congressional Black Caucus who are running to keep their seats and a few high profile, albeit outstanding, Black candidates (almost all male), most of the candidates in these races are White.

Only five Black Democratic candidates are running for high statewide office (governor or lt. governor) - Deval Patrick in Massachusetts, Harold Ford in Tennessee, David Patterson in New York, Daryl Jones in Florida and Anthony Brown in Maryland.

[applegrove]

5. GOTV

[applegrove]

6. Especially do not allow any "exit poll" results to be published mid day.

Some people will use any excuse (oh the Dems are winning) to not have to go out there and vote. Especially if the thought of participation makes them feel apathetic.

[blondeatlast]

7. I'm more worried about the little logistical barriers to casting ballots

than I am about Diebold and the like--not that I dismiss that concern, not by a long shot.

I remember 2004 all too well, bad weather, 8-hour waiting lines, lack of poll workers, spurious "challenges" holding up the process and intimidating some voters.

We MUST reform the voting process from the ground up.

[JeffR]

9. Kick!

:kick:

[fearnobush]

10. Where the fuck has the so called liberal media been since Ohio 04?

Florida 2000?

[Kurovski]

11. No where was the question asked "Will you NOT vote because of this?"

People are more outraged than disillusioned.

Katrina alone will live with us to our last breath.

The elite really do have contempt for us. They see us as passive little ones unable to make a stand. We are not. or perhaps some elites are merely "little birdies whispering" their desires out to the populace.

Why not write an article stating full out that the outrage and concern might override all else, instead of suggesting that it may suppress voters? Americans get awfully pissed off when they get ripped off.

We are fed up, and that overrides any other consideration.

[Kurovski]

12. Self-delete.