Pathetic turnouts in municipal races is nothing new. But as newspapers die, so does our democracy. It is increasingly difficult for voters to know which local candidates deserve a vote when dailies no longer have the manpower to cover most municipal meetings.
Open primaries and
early voting might increase turnout, but I think it's time to also consider
incentive voting.
Incentive voting could be something as modest as a $5 rebate on the County tax bill, toan elaborate lottery in which a winning voter would get a cash prize.
Of course, this might just attract idiots to the ballot box, but we are a democratic form of government.
29 comments:
Definite on open primaries. Neither Dem's or Repub's, want that. Make the parties work harder. No to tax bribes. If you don't vote and the system crashes, we deserve what we get.
Learn to speak Cantonese
do the reverse. fine people who do not vote.
Those who think higher turnouts are the answer are looking at the problem from the wrong end.
Monday
Scott Armstrong
Bernie -
I couldn't disagree more about open primaries. The primaries are where people who have chosen to belong to a party get to pick THEIR candidates for the general election. It should not be where those who have chosen not to affiliate themselves with a party get to skew the results.
Do I think independents should get involved with a party or band together to start their own, yes. The more people are informed and involved, the better.
But if one makes a choice not to be affiliated, they shouldn't complain about the consequences.
One more thing. The primaries belong to the parties not the government.It is none of the government's business how political parties nominate/choose their candidates. It is up to the members of these parties to decide.
When we empower the government to solve our problems we create a tyrant!
Scott Armstrong
Incentives invite political nonsense, e.g. a politician who promises to increase the incentive vs. his stingy opponent.
People who need reminding or incentives to vote, should not be voting.
While the assumption is apathy due to dissatisfaction, perhaps it's apathy due to satisfaction.
Local papers devote dwindling resources to restaurant reviews, eating contests, prom photos, sports playoffs, and high school drama awards.
Perhaps this is because people really like the way life is going and don't want to be bothered with a regularly gridlocked system that insures few great lurches in either political direction; thus, guaranteeing much of the satisfactory status quo.
Complaining is an American tradition. Even in the best of times, Americans find a reason to lodge a complaint. Most of the time, we're rather satisfied and just looking for something to bitch about.
The only way we will ever see real change is to create an ammendment limiting the cash flow to campaigns which turns our candidates into guns for hire.
As far as independent parties:
"The Pennsylvania Ballot Access Coalition in seeking more choices for all of us on Election Day. Current Pennsylvania law makes it difficult for independent and minor party candidates to appear on the ballot — much more difficult than in most other states. The result is less political competition, less political dialog, and fewer choices to vote for in November. The current system is simply not fair and does a great disservice to the ideal of democracy and to the voters.
In 2006, independent and minor party candidates were required to collect over 67,000 valid signatures simply to get on the state-wide ballot in Pennsylvania on Election Day. Legally, Democratic and Republican candidates require no signatures to get on the state-wide ballot, and even the 2,000 signatures required for the Primary Day ballot are ridiculously smaller than the virtually impossible hurdle of 67,000.
Pennsylvania law needs to be changed by the State Legislature to lower the outrageous signature requirements. State Senator Mike Folmer has introduced the Voters' Choice Act which would bring about a fairer electoral process." from the PA Ballot Access Coalition.
My opinion is that we should require some sort of civic service to be able to vote which would give it more worth and value, as opposed to: "Big Mac, fries, and here's your ballot."
I know that the Republican party stands for "no abortions and nor right to choose, no gay marriages, no taxes for the rich, pass legislation to keep the poor and the minorities away from the polls, and right to carry guns under any circumstances". I know the Democrats favor "Abortions at any time, no right to carry regardless of the Constitution, no taxing the poor and only tax the rich, prosecute and persecute the gays, and let illegal aliens vote".
I would agree that independents should vote in the primaries, as soon as they tell me what their platforms are. The two major parties have National Conventions telling the populace what they stand for regardless of how ridiculous they sound. Independents are being elected all over the Country. When they are good candidates they win. I don't want a bunch of losers voting in my primary so they can skew the principles of my party.
A few countries do elections on the weekend.
No to paying people to do what most of us did for no payment for decades.
I think the party line vote causes some of the apathy. No need to learn about candidates. Just vote D or R. With no straight ticket voting an independent has a bit better chance.
The primaries belong to the parties............please explain how Tony Phillips became the Republican parties choice for mayor
There was no one in the Republican Party that could possibly beat the Mayor in Allentown.Mr. Phillips saw the opportunity and went for it.
There was a time when our public TV station actually served the public with debates and discussions for local office. It was informative and helpful.
Now it would get ion the weay of Tempo and reruns of the animal doctor.
My polling place features homemade cookies and Moravian sugar cake. No trouble with turnout there.
I always liked it when the youth groups would have bake sales. That was getting 2 birds with 1 stone!
Tony felt that the GOP vote was not enough, but there would be Dems who were upset about some of the mayors' actions combined with a better than average minority vote would create an upset.
The trouble was Tony self destructed over very bad personal decisions.
The 2012 election was laden with Incentives.The Entitlement crowd voted for four more years of Obama phones , Food Stamps and Government dependency.
The IRS has doggedly targeted groups to discourage or prevent their entry into the political realm. This wasn't a problem for ACORN or NAACP. But has been for conservative groups in the age of Obama.
As we're learning our system was once again used to discourage and intimidate new participants, your suggestion of incentives to participation is ridiculous.
We elect representatives who booze, drive, strangle women in front of children, and easily land on their feet with the state party.
Can anyone blame voters for being repulsed by a system that does this? Buying taxpayers' indulgence of this grossness may work, however. And we'll continue to be served by drunken driving wife beaters.
Deleted a comment that violates comment policy.
Early voting and open primaries would have the most impact, imo. I wouldnt be against a small tax rebate either Bernie but I think it would be tough to make it apply equally to homeowners and renters and across differences in income and I think that'd cause constitional issues.
John, A county's revenue is derived completely from real estate tax revenue. Thus, a small rebate, applied equally, would present no constitutional issues. For state elections, the rebate would apply to income tax.
It's a thought. One of mny friends think we should offer rebates to people NOT to vote.
Bernie
Please run another blog on this topic. Let readers suggest reasons why people do not vote.
many times the primary might as well be the general election. bethlum mayor race for example
I may be the odd ball here, but why does everyone think that a higher voter turnout is important? If someone can't be bothered to go and vote and you took the time to be informed and vote, why would you want your vote diluted by some idiot who doesn't care enough to be informed.
If you want more people to vote, here are four simple ways:
1) TEACH CIVICS. Stop this false and foolish notion that our government is an enemy. Government is not bad, government is us -- it is We the People! And many people need to understand it better. Many citizens simply do not know why voting is important. People just do not know what the various elected offices do, and why it is important to come out to vote to fill these offices. In many cases people don't even know how to register and vote, even if they want to. We need more and better civics classes for students in school and also we should offer community classes so adults can learn more about how their government works.
2) STOP THE GRIDLOCK. Even people who do understand how our government is supposed to work are frustrated with today's obstructionist, extreme politics. Legislators need to come to their jobs acting like adults, ready to work with each other. Get things done as the founders intended. Stop being spoiled babies; earn your paycheck and govern!
3) GET BETTER CANDIDATES, that better reflect the citizens they represent. The voice of minorities, poor & middle class people, and women are horribly underrepresented in elected offices! For example women, who comprise 52% of the population, hold less than 17% of the seats in Harrisburg and Washington. This is not right. It's time for the network of rich, mostly white, old boys to step aside and start letting other good candidates in.
4) GET BETTER VOTING SYSTEMS! Make sure that it is easy and efficient for all eligible citizens to vote, and once votes are cast make sure they are counted accurately. The majority of Pennsylvania voters are still trying to vote on outdated touchscreen and pushbutton voting machines that are so old they are no longer being made. Paperless electronic voting machines do not allow any voter to confirm that his or her vote is actually being counted they way it was intended. Voters are expected to totally trust the system but many do not so they just stay home. In the meantime over 70% of the rest of the USA has moved to optical scan systems with voter-marked paper ballots that can be meaningfully audited. Pennsylvania needs to get its head out of the sand and start making plans to get similar, modern paper ballot based voting systems so every voter can come out, vote, and be confident that his or her vote will be counted as cast.
It is sad when there are longer lines for an IPhone or new sneaker release.
Teach CIVICS? Yes- Now if it was up to me , after we know that tax payers pay and politicos spend, I say NO TAX RECEIPT- NO VOTE! criminal record of m3 or above NO VOTE, suspended drivers licence -NO VOTE.Behind on CHILD SUPPORT ,No Vote,PUT SKIN IN THE GAME.
BERNIE--- Call me some time- I have a project about tax payers in Easton. No arrest , I'm out shortly of constable work --I don't want to be around when the the fan is hit later this year -so I'll be out. 610-248-0212- I'm "RETIRED NOW FROM TWO JOBS>and counting.
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