Voting.

[saracelica]

The last two years (at least) I haven't bothered to vote. I got a notice that said I had to *re-register* or else my record would be deleted. Evidentally everyone is required to be registered to vote. I'm perplexed by the system...so they'd rather people go out and vote (with or without knowledge of what they are voting about?) Go ahead *tear me apart* I just think it's silly there should be another way to recruit people to be on the jury then *registered voters*.

 

[JoseCuervo]

There is one political party out there right now that is passing as many obstacles to voting as possible under the nonsense of "voter fraud", when, in fact, the goal is to make it more difficult to vote.

Somehow, they think the fewer voters the better, kinda back to the good old days of just white male landowners being allowed to vote.

 

[Ghery]

There is one political party out there right now that is passing as many obstacles to voting as possible under the nonsense of "voter fraud", when, in fact, the goal is to make it more difficult to vote.

Somehow, they think the fewer voters the better, kinda back to the good old days of just white male landowners being allowed to vote.

While the other party is famous for having dead people vote. What obstacles are you talking about? Require citizenship in order to vote? Oh, horrors!

 

[saracelica]

There should be a quiz before anyone can vote. That way only *qualified* people's votes count. Sure we'll let the other people vote too but we'd toss those votes out.

 

[Geico266]

The last two years (at least) I haven't bothered to vote. I got a notice that said I had to *re-register* or else my record would be deleted. Evidentally everyone is required to be registered to vote. I'm perplexed by the system...so they'd rather people go out and vote (with or without knowledge of what they are voting about?) Go ahead *tear me apart* I just think it's silly there should be another way to recruit people to be on the jury then *registered voters*.

It use to be you have to be a land owner and paid taxes before being eligible to vote. Freeloaders could not vote.

I find it offensive that a crack whore can cancel out my vote.

 

[Everskyward]

The last two years (at least) I haven't bothered to vote. I got a notice that said I had to *re-register* or else my record would be deleted. Evidentally everyone is required to be registered to vote. I'm perplexed by the system...so they'd rather people go out and vote (with or without knowledge of what they are voting about?) Go ahead *tear me apart* I just think it's silly there should be another way to recruit people to be on the jury then *registered voters*.

I'm not sure why you are assuming the bolded statement. You say if you don't register you record will be deleted. To me, that means you won't be able to vote again until you reregister. But if you don't want to vote that shouldn't be a problem. I don't see why you assume you are required to be registered unless that requirement is stated somewhere else. I don't think I've lived in your state but in any state I've lived in, being registered to vote was not mandatory.

 

[AggieMike88]

I'd vote more elections if our elections office would do a better job telling us the date the election is. Sure, I see all of the campaign signs go up, but nothing is saying when the election is. No post card in the mail box, no sign of their own saying "vote on ___", nothing. If they already have my address and some other ID info, how hard is it to expand the database to have my email and send me a reminder? I don't watch the 10 o'clock news or get the paper. Very poor job telling us when to vote and then lots of grinning on how our local government is voted in with less than 4% of the city's population.... -sigh-

 

[JOhnH]

I'd vote more elections if our elections office would do a better job telling us the date the election is. Sure, I see all of the campaign signs go up, but nothing is saying when the election is. No post card in the mail box, no sign of their own saying "vote on ___", nothing. If they already have my address and some other ID info, how hard is it to expand the database to have my email and send me a reminder? I don't watch the 10 o'clock news or get the paper. Very poor job telling us when to vote and then lots of grinning on how our local government is voted in with less than 4% of the city's population.... -sigh-

Aggie, I'm surprised at you. I have ALWAYS respected and enjoyed your posts. But this one is really bad. If you can't figure out when election day is, perhaps you shouldn't be allowed to vote.
Just remember this;
Republicans always vote on Nov 6
Democrats always vote on Nov 7.
There. That was easy.

 

[Morgan3820]

I think that it should be hard to vote. It should require effort and thought. I never vote in a race where I do not know the candidates positions, like in judicial races. People who do not pay taxes or are on public assistance should not be able to vote. Why should anyone be allowed to have a say on the spending of public monies when they make no contribution? Or are in receipt of welfare funds? Busing illiterates to place their 'X' where their handler tells them is not democracy as the Founders conceived of it. I paid $21K in federal taxes last year but the welfare mom with 4 kids from 4 sperm donors gets the same influence in the choice of our national leadership!

 

[AggieMike88]

Aggie, I'm surprised at you. I have ALWAYS respected and enjoyed your posts. But this one is really bad. If you can't figure out when election day is, perhaps you shouldn't be allowed to vote.
Just remember this;
Republicans always vote on Nov 6
Democrats always vote on Nov 7.
There. That was easy.

Comment wasn't just about national elections.

 

[flightwriter]

It use to be you have to be a land owner and paid taxes before being eligible to vote. Freeloaders could not vote.

I find it offensive that a crack whore can cancel out my vote.

Amen and hallelujah. Our system needs to be thoroughly overhauled specifically to prevent the lowest common denominator from holding the level of influence on national policy that group currently enjoys.

 

[Zeldman]

My wife took the oath of alligiance and became a US citizen on 19 June 2014. The first thing she did as a citizen was register to vote. She can't wait to vote for anything.!!! I tell her she should just write my name in on the ballot. She gives me an accusing look and then I assume she curses at me in her native language..!!!

 

[Zeldman]

I'd vote more elections if our elections office would do a better job telling us the date the election is. Sure, I see all of the campaign signs go up, but nothing is saying when the election is. No post card in the mail box, no sign of their own saying "vote on ___", nothing. If they already have my address and some other ID info, how hard is it to expand the database to have my email and send me a reminder? I don't watch the 10 o'clock news or get the paper. Very poor job telling us when to vote and then lots of grinning on how our local government is voted in with less than 4% of the city's population.... -sigh-

I hear ya. Same thing happens where I live on the local elections. Lots of vote for me signs everywhere, but nothing on when the election is. I live in a small town and the politicians families vote themselves right back in. This digressing town needs new blood in the city council badly.

 

[wsuffa]

Before this ends up in Spin Zone, most states have laws that require voters to be purged from the rolls if they don't vote in a certain number of years. Several very good reasons for that.

Once you're purged, you have to reregister. It's a simple process.... No reason not to do it.

 

[Geico266]

I think that it should be hard to vote. It should require effort and thought. I never vote in a race where I do not know the candidates positions, like in judicial races. People who do not pay taxes or are on public assistance should not be able to vote. Why should anyone be allowed to have a say on the spending of public monies when they make no contribution? Or are in receipt of welfare funds? Busing illiterates to place their 'X' where their handler tells them is not democracy as the Founders conceived of it. I paid $21K in federal taxes last year but the welfare mom with 4 kids from 4 sperm donors gets the same influence in the choice of our national leadership!

110%

 

[poadeleted21]

I'd vote more elections if our elections office would do a better job telling us the date the election is. Sure, I see all of the campaign signs go up, but nothing is saying when the election is. No post card in the mail box, no sign of their own saying "vote on ___", nothing. If they already have my address and some other ID info, how hard is it to expand the database to have my email and send me a reminder? I don't watch the 10 o'clock news or get the paper. Very poor job telling us when to vote and then lots of grinning on how our local government is voted in with less than 4% of the city's population.... -sigh-

I've found that the candidates I vote for put the dates on their political signs. I'm sort of OCD about details. "Oh looky there, I can go vote for Marty on June 4th" so I go vote for Marty in my appreciation for him being detail oriented enough to tell me when to do it.....I'm only half kidding.

 

[poadeleted21]

I think that it should be hard to vote. It should require effort and thought. I never vote in a race where I do not know the candidates positions, like in judicial races. People who do not pay taxes or are on public assistance should not be able to vote. Why should anyone be allowed to have a say on the spending of public monies when they make no contribution? Or are in receipt of welfare funds? Busing illiterates to place their 'X' where their handler tells them is not democracy as the Founders conceived of it. I paid $21K in federal taxes last year but the welfare mom with 4 kids from 4 sperm donors gets the same influence in the choice of our national leadership!

I paid quadruple the amount of your federal taxes last year, that's just payroll deductions. why should you get equal influence as me? If 21K is the price to vote, I should get 4.

 

[Matthew]

The last two years (at least) I haven't bothered to vote. I got a notice that said I had to *re-register* or else my record would be deleted. Evidentally everyone is required to be registered to vote. I'm perplexed by the system...so they'd rather people go out and vote (with or without knowledge of what they are voting about?) Go ahead *tear me apart* I just think it's silly there should be another way to recruit people to be on the jury then *registered voters*.

I don't see a big deal with it. People move, register somewhere else, and never "unregister" at their previous location. It makes sense to me to clean up the rosters of inactive voters every now and then.

 

[Van Johnston]

I'd vote more elections if our elections office would do a better job telling us the date the election is. Sure, I see all of the campaign signs go up, but nothing is saying when the election is. No post card in the mail box, no sign of their own saying "vote on ___", nothing. If they already have my address and some other ID info, how hard is it to expand the database to have my email and send me a reminder? I don't watch the 10 o'clock news or get the paper. Very poor job telling us when to vote and then lots of grinning on how our local government is voted in with less than 4% of the city's population.... -sigh-

Wow. Seriously!? Is this a bad Aggie joke?

Bookmark this page. http://www.votedenton.com/upcoming-election-information/

 

[ClimbnSink]

When you vote you have accepted the system and result, whether you like it or not. If no one votes there is a bit of a problem with 'consent of the governed.' Probably why we need to take all your guns away.

 

[cowman]

I think I may be in the only state that does this but here we can just show up on Election Day and register at the polling place. Just need proof of residence... drivers licence, utility bill, something like that. They ruled you don't need photo ID.... I still don't get the opposition to that, who doesn't have some kind of photo ID and how are they participating in society? No doubt there's a handful for example purposes but enough to matter? I find it hard to believe.

I vote in all the major elections and I've started voting in the primaries but to be honest I'm frustrated. I don't like either of the 2 parties and in practice they keep doing all the things I hate. The other guys never win.... but if you don't vote I think you need to give up your griping rights.

 

[Zeldman]

but if you don't vote I think you need to give up your griping rights.

Amen brother...

I like the idea of purging names after a set number of years of not voting.

 

[Doggtyred]

There should be a quiz before anyone can vote. That way only *qualified* people's votes count. Sure we'll let the other people vote too but we'd toss those votes out.

We can always go back to the old ways - White Male Property owner was the primary qualification...

 

[JOhnH]

We can always go back to the old ways - White Male Property owner was the primary qualification...

Are you saying that nobody but white males could pass the test?

 

[Dr. O]

Sara, you should relocate to Chicago city. There they don't make you re-register. In fact, long after you are dead you will be still voting early and often.

 

[ClimbnSink]

but if you don't vote I think you need to give up your griping rights.

The opposite is true. If you vote you can't complain because you excepted the system and participated. Win, lose, or be cheated by a pol that doesn't do what he said he was going to. Voting is the same as losing at a casino, you can't complain because you voluntarily played and know the rules.

 

[flyingron]

We can always go back to the old ways - White Male Property owner was the primary qualification...

And quizzes at the polls were often used to illegally enforce such restrictions even after they had been rescinded in the Constitution.

I usually research the candidates and any referendum questions before voting, it ain't that hard. However, you're free to go declare your civic mindedness by casting a ballot with no votes on it.

 

[flightwriter]

And quizzes at the polls were often used to illegally enforce such restrictions even after they had been rescinded in the Constitution.

Surely there exists a happy middle ground between racial and/or socioeconomic profiling, and some kind of requirement that voters demonstrate a degree of civic-minded responsibility and knowledge of the pertinent issues before being allowed to cast a ballot?

 

[Sac Arrow]

There is one political party out there right now

That pretty much sums it up. Tell me they're different from each other. They both do the same things.

 

[nauga]

Surely there exists a happy middle ground between racial and/or socioeconomic profiling, and some kind of requirement that voters demonstrate a degree of civic-minded responsibility and knowledge of the pertinent issues before being allowed to cast a ballot?

Who gets to decide where that middle ground lies? You? Me? The people you want to keep from voting? If you draw the line pretty much anywhere, I can guarantee you that it won't be "happy" and it probably won't be "middle".

It's been my experience that when people talk about restricting voting they are always draw the line such that they are eligible to vote.

Nauga,
typically apolitical

 

[hyphen81]

While the other party is famous for having dead people vote. What obstacles are you talking about? Require citizenship in order to vote? Oh, horrors!

 

[jsstevens]

Who gets to decide where that middle ground lies? You? Me? The people you want to keep from voting? If you draw the line pretty much anywhere, I can guarantee you that it won't be "happy" and it probably won't be "middle".

It's been my experience that when people talk about restricting voting they are always draw the line such that they are eligible to vote.

Nauga,
typically apolitical

Well put. Therein lies the rub. Who gets to decide who the "qualified" voters are? I had this exact discussion with my now 15 year old daughter. She is rightfully frustrated with the ignorance demonstrated by voters (as am I) but after the chat realized that letting someone "qualify" voters would be a problem. If only there were someone we could trust with power. But there really isn't. Even the best intentioned people will manipulate to get what they firmly believe is best for us all. And, of course, those who are attracted to power will do whatever it takes. And we never seem to have a shortage of either.

I do think voters should be able to prove citizenship. I also think that if this becomes a requirement the government should invest heavily in making darn sure that ALL citizens can get that proof. Making the proof (ID cards or whatever) available at late hours, in all neighborhoods, providing education campaigns, the works.

John

 

[flyingron]

Surely there exists a happy middle ground between racial and/or socioeconomic profiling, and some kind of requirement that voters demonstrate a degree of civic-minded responsibility and knowledge of the pertinent issues before being allowed to cast a ballot?

Well, it would take a Constitutional amendment to change it.

 

[C182P]

I just think it's silly there should be another way to recruit people to be on the jury then *registered voters*.

I think it's unlikely that your jury pool is based on voter registration. It used to be like this (back when people were much more likely to be registered to vote), but most places moved away from that and instead pull their potential jurors from the local driver's license pool.

 

[jsstevens]

I think it's unlikely that your jury pool is based on voter registration. It used to be like this (back when people were much more likely to be registered to vote), but most places moved away from that and instead pull their potential jurors from the local driver's license pool.

That's how they do it in Seminole County FL. (Driver license pool.)

 

[asechrest]

I find it awfully strange that an intelligent group of folks are suggesting civics tests and other ridiculousness to exercise your right to vote. No one gets to decide if you're smart enough, learned enough, wealthy enough, or anything else, to vote.

 

[1600vw]

I find it awfully strange that an intelligent group of folks are suggesting civics tests and other ridiculousness to exercise your right to vote. No one gets to decide if you're smart enough, learned enough, wealthy enough, or anything else, to vote.

 

[1600vw]

Voting is not about how much you have, but about being...AMERICAN.

Simple

Tony

 

[EppyGA]

Voting is not about how much you have, but about being...AMERICAN.

Simple

Tony

or even an illegal American

 

[Jimmy cooper]

It use to be you have to be a land owner and paid taxes before being eligible to vote. Freeloaders could not vote.

I find it offensive that a crack whore can cancel out my vote.

Banks own the majority of homes so maybe only banks should vote. Very few people actually own their homes. In addition the words " we the people" should not be interpreted as " we the corporations". I find it even more offensive that no bankers have gone to jail.