Do you like the idea of someone who has to be cajoled or bribed into registering to vote actually having a vote? Do they really deserve the right to vote if they show no more initiative than accepting help or being cajoled into registering to vote.... and then maybe voting? Answer the poll-- public.
Who's been bribed to vote? I don't think it would work in North Dakota anyway. Registration is usually cut off before the election as well.
Now that the poll is up, I am sorry I posted in this thread. There is a cutoff and it already passed.
Too close to the election? I don't know what the law calls for but I do know that in every national election we start to hear and read about past and recent initiatives of suspected voter fraud. It cheapens everything. It does not cheapen the vote if GIVING A DAMN is a requirement to register and vote. I'm wanting to suggest that voter registration initiatives should be suspended because they are patently partisan in most cases.
I think voting should be as easy as possible. In texas, if I have a drivers license, I see no valid reason for making me register prior to voting. Just make me show my drivers license the day of the election.
Because it is easier to audit how many people voted and if you are legal to vote. When you have to log over 150million votes you need a good way to do the accounting.
On the day of the election, you should be able to walk up to the polling place, present proof of residence within the precinct, and vote.
False issues. I lived in Wisconsin many years ago and they had registration at the polls. This is not being: "cajoled or bribed into registering to vote". However, nice try to support the usual GOP attempt to suppress voting by making it more difficult than it has to be.
When you got your license, they asked you if you'd like to vote. At least, in the four different counties I've lived in since age 18, they asked me. Nice try. And FWIW, once I left my voter registration card at home... they checked my DL and let me vote.
minnesota's same day registration FTW! http://www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=12&select_faq_by_faq_cat=2#39
Two questions: 1. What should count as proof of residence? If it's as simple as Texas' is currently (piece of mail counts), how do we prevent those who own multiple properties from voting twice? 2. Should we check for citizenship at the same time?
Right, but if you are in college for example, outside of your normal precinct, we should still let you vote for president if you show id. This is the computer age, it is really not that hard to set up a system that eliminates fraud and lets people to register to vote the same day as the election.
And yet, banks and other institutions are victims of fraudulent activities strictly because of computers every day. I would doubt it's a simplistic venture as you, or I, would wish. There are criminals several steps ahead of the curve in the world of technology... and I would think it safe to say a voter fraud scam via the internet would be a lucrative cyber-crime. I wish it were easier in several senses of the word... but I also appreciate the steps taken to insure my vote is actually my vote. BTW- Can college students not vote in the precinct of their college address? I did. This is exactly why you have campus registration drives... and many have this info on class registration day(s). I think at issue (as giddyup has implied) is that if you really want to vote, of your own initiative, you will find out what you need to do to take part in the election process. I always did. I always made the effort to be registered on time and do my part. Maybe that's just too common sense in my view, but the system is not as flawed or geared against people as many would seem to indicate.
Yes. Those informed enough and possessing the initiative necessary needed to make their vote count will do what is necessary. Voting isn't a fad or "something just to do". You have to be intelligent enough to make an informed decision -- knowing the registration rules and process comes with the territory. I was getting into this with somebody at work the other day. She asked me who I planned on voting for for President. I told her "I don't know. I can't commit to either candidate". She proceeded to go onto some rant how EVERY American needs to vote "no matter what" and how she tells people that don't even pay attention to politics to go out and vote just for the hell of it. I'm sorry, I just don't believe in that type of logic. There's too many biases, prejudices and misleading stereotypes in this election to subscribe to that type of flawed thinking. Every time I hear a story about somebody lacking the knowledge necessary to make an informed vote bragging about how they will vote for McCain/Palin because of gender, Obama/Biden because of race, Hillary supporters going McCain or whatever it really disturbs me to know that one intelligent, informed vote can be negated by somebody like she described just voting for the hell of it.
