So after becoming an Officer of Election and peeking behind the curtain, I’ve become very interested in increasing voter turnout, particularly in state and local elections. I want us to legitimately be able to say what the people want and in what proportion they want it. And you can’t do that with even 60% voter turnout. If even 50% of the remaining voters voted, plenty of elections would have different results.
As an example, I heard a program a while back that revealed that if there was 100% voter turnout in Texas and everyone voted their party affiliation, Texas would be strongly blue. And I’m sure this is true of at least one traditionally blue state as well.
So what are some ideas for increasing voter turnout. The two broad issues I see that need to be addressed are voter apathy and ease of access to voting. With the statistical insignificance of voter fraud, I think voting should be as easy as we can make it within reason. Not sure what can be done about voter apathy as I’m not a charismatic person.
Same-day voter registration and early voting. I live in Maine, which tends to have one of the highest participation rates in the country. In the 30 days leading up to the election, you can show up at your town hall to vote in person. Anyone can also receive a mail-in ballot on request, which you do not need to give a reason for. You can register to vote at the polling place, or within 30 days of the election go to the town hall, register, and immediately cast a ballot. You also do not need to show ID to vote.
All of the above also applies to primaries here.
That sounds very accessible. Do you know what the level of voter fraud is in Maine? One of the usual arguments I hear from people that do not want to lessen voting laws is that voter fraud is low because of the laws that are in place, arguing that taking them away would drastically increase voter fraud. I hypothesize that if voter fraud increases at all, it will be marginal, make no difference in the outcome, and be outweighed by the good of increased voter access and turnout.
National Holiday for election day; same day registration; plenty of early voting. If we really want to boost it, make it mandatory, and/or add a tax along with a full credit that is received upon voting.
Also, it should be postage-free to mail in your ballot. I know it’s not in all areas. Here in Arizona, the county recorder’s offices provide business reply envelopes to return your ballot in.
Poll taxes of any kind have been found unconstitutional. Mandatory voting probably would be struck down by the courts as well. I agree 100% with your other provisions though.
On the one hand you had a representative of the political class, Wall Street, and of beltway values, on the other you had a narcissist sociopath - have a wild guess at how the USA could better improve voter engagement.
Make Election Day on a weekend day, or a national holiday.
I don’t think compulsive voting would be good; there’s a certain free speech in abstaining from voting because “I want to send a message by not voting,” even if it’s a rather inane or juvenile motive.
No tax refund, no welfare, no public pension, no government cheques, at all! Unless you vote!
(I didn’t think of this, but I was having a similar conversation recently, and this suggestion got the best responses!:D)
My suggestion was tax incentive, flat $50 rebate for those not paying taxes, and X percentage points, (capped at some maximum), off your personal tax rate, if you vote. Or even a 50% discount on every government fee, park entrance, filing fees for stuff, etc, if you vote!
Step one is to stop electing shitty candidates. Then maybe the less shitty candidates will feel like they have a chance at being elected, and campaign harder. Then the ones even less shitty than that might feel like it’s worth a shot, and enter the race. So on and so forth until we finally get to elect someone with a conscience.