Voter Photo ID -- Is It Really Terrible?

[Loki]

Okay, you had a voter turnout of just over 40% in 2010.

What would you say are the pros and cons of having 60% of your eligible voters not vote?

It was a non-presidential election. Turnout is closer to 55% in presidential ones. The main reason for the low turnout is actually voter registration. The US is the only Western country where you have to register to vote despite being a citizen. In states where people can register to vote at the last second, turnout is significantly higher.

[Aimless]

It was a non-presidential election. Turnout is closer to 55% in presidential ones. The main reason for the low turnout is actually voter registration. The US is the only Western country where you have to register to vote despite being a citizen. In states where people can register to vote at the last second, turnout is significantly higher.

Thanks for the clarification from what I've read, eliminating the registration step or at least allowing election day registration would increase turnout by 5-10%. It's not much but significant enough for me to wonder why all states don't allow election day registration yet.

I also don't understand why you guys can't just have your elections on a day when most people aren't supposed to be at work.

But anyway, thanks for the clarification like I said If you or anyone come across any discussion of the consequences and implications of low voter turnout, do let me know. I can't help but feel as if a democracy with low participation is a democracy in trouble.

[Loki]

Thanks for the clarification from what I've read, eliminating the registration step or at least allowing election day registration would increase turnout by 5-10%. It's not much but significant enough for me to wonder why all states don't allow election day registration yet.

Average turnout in Western European elections is 65-70%, so getting rid of registration would make the American presidential turnout roughly the same as turnout for key European elections.

I also don't understand why you guys can't just have your elections on a day when most people aren't supposed to be at work.

Tradition. I'm not sure how much of a difference it makes; a lot of people have the day off (it's a national holiday), and the polls are open all day.

But anyway, thanks for the clarification like I said If you or anyone come across any discussion of the consequences and implications of low voter turnout, do let me know. I can't help but feel as if a democracy with low participation is a democracy in trouble.

Minorities and the poor are somewhat less likely to vote as a result (they're not as good at making sure they register on time). It probably wouldn't make a wild difference, but might lead to a 1-2% swing in favor of the Democrats.

What!?

We have to register to vote, and renew the registration annually. Deadline to register is normally a month before polling day.

How could you remotely avoid fraud without having a registration?

I stand corrected, though it's actually 2 weeks for Britain: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/p...10/8625136.stm

Also, Britain has one of the lowest turnouts in Western Europe.

[Aimless]

Average turnout in Western European elections is 65-70%, so getting rid of registration would make the American presidential turnout roughly the same as turnout for key European elections.

Ah I was hoping they'd aim for the 80%+ you see in Scandinavia

If I've understood you correctly, turnout is esp. low in elections where you have to vote on senators and representatives. Aren't those the elections where you'd hope for the greatest turnout, given that they're supposed to be more in touch with their constituency?

Tradition. I'm not sure how much of a difference it makes; a lot of people have the day off (it's a national holiday), and the polls are open all day.

Hmm that's surprising, because according to wikipedia it isn't much of a holiday:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electio...%29#Objections

Of course there's nothing to say the people who don't get the day off are likely to belong to some particular demographic.

Minorities and the poor are somewhat less likely to vote as a result (they're not as good at making sure they register on time). It probably wouldn't make a wild difference, but might lead to a 1-2% swing in favor of the Democrats.

I read that in at least one case (the only one I know of) it led to a slight advantage for Republicans! Regardless of which party benefits, it's nice if more voters benefit.

[Loki]

Ah I was hoping they'd aim for the 80%+ you see in Scandinavia

If I've understood you correctly, turnout is esp. low in elections where you have to vote on senators and representatives. Aren't those the elections where you'd hope for the greatest turnout, given that they're supposed to be more in touch with their constituency?

A) The federal government usurped most of the state and local powers over the last century, so that's not as true as it once was (when it was true, turnout for local and state elections was higher than for national ones).
B) People are more knowledgeable about national candidates than local ones due to the media attention given to the former and the amount of ads paid by them.

[LittleFuzzy]

Tradition. I'm not sure how much of a difference it makes; a lot of people have the day off (it's a national holiday), and the polls are open all day.

Loki, what country are you talking about?

Freaking New Yorkers thinking they're the whole of the universe

[Loki]

Loki, what country are you talking about?

Freaking New Yorkers thinking they're the whole of the universe

"California Elections Code Section 14000 provides that employees otherwise unable to vote must be allowed two hours off with pay, at the beginning or end of a shift."

More reasons why the vote is on a Tuesday:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electio...tates)#History

[LittleFuzzy]

"California Elections Code Section 14000 provides that employees otherwise unable to vote must be allowed two hours off with pay, at the beginning or end of a shift."

More reasons why the vote is on a Tuesday:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electio...tates)#History

A mandate to provide 2 hours off, if employees cannot otherwise manage to vote, in no way, shape, or form resembles a federal holiday. This was you, with the usual self-centered insularity of the New Yorker which you often display, thinking that conditions in New York *where the state did declare a civil work holiday* must naturally be universal.

[RandBlade]

The US is the only Western country where you have to register to vote despite being a citizen.

What!?

We have to register to vote, and renew the registration annually. Deadline to register is normally a month before polling day.

How could you remotely avoid fraud without having a registration?

[earthJoker]

How could you remotely avoid fraud without having a registration?

Do you suggest countries without registration have a high amount of fraud?