It’s a big week for voting rights in the United States. The Supremes are going to take up Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which requires pre-clearance for voting changes in states with a history of discrimination. Stay tuned.
We must all do our part to make sure our God-given rights are protected here at home. That includes our most fundamental right as citizens: the right to vote. When any Americans – no matter where they live or what their party – are denied that right simply because they can’t wait for five, six, seven hours just to cast their ballot, we are betraying our ideals. That’s why, tonight, I’m announcing a non-partisan commission to improve the voting experience in America. And I’m asking two long-time experts in the field, who’ve recently served as the top attorneys for my campaign and for Governor Romney’s campaign, to lead it. We can fix this, and we will. The American people demand it. And so does our democracy.
President Obama announcing an election reform commission during the State of the Union. Some, including the League of Women Voters, think this is just kicking the can down the road. What do you think?
It looks like President Obama will address election reform during the State Of The Union tomorrow night. Michelle Obama has invited this 102-year-old North Miami woman who had to wait in line for three hours to vote.
Photo via Miami Herald.
More people waited in line to vote in 2012 than in 2008.
As Attorney General Eric Holder said yesterday, this is a continuing problem with our voting system that we need to fix.
This means taking steps to address long lines at polling places - and ensuring that every polling place has an adequate number of voting machines. We must acknowledge that giving our fellow citizens access to the voting booth for longer hours and over additional days will enable more of them to cast their ballots without unduly interfering with the work or family obligations that so many have.
Here’s an idea: sign our petition to Congress and the President for the Weekend Voting Act.
To reduce long lines, Holder said polling places should have an adequate number of voting machines and be open for additional days - another difficult challenge because thousands of local officials make those decisions independently.
Reuters, reporting on Attorney General Eric Holder’s remarks about election reform.
Weekend voting, anyone?
Sign our petition to Congress and the President for the Weekend Voting Act.
Voters in Spain’s Catalonia region began voting Sunday.
We repeat, SUNDAY. Not Tuesday, like the United States, where voter turnout sucks.
Photo via NBC News.
Irony alert.
So, this sign across from the Tennessee State Capitol about women’s suffrage is pretty ironic since the state has SUPER restrictive voting laws.
Whether you voted for the first time, or waited in line for a very long time… by the way we have to fix that.
President Obama calling for election reform, in an ad lib, during his victory speech last night.
You’d think Mitt Romney and Barack Obama would know why we vote on Tuesday. They’re running for president, for Pete’s sake. Well, they have no clue.
When asked why Americans vote on Tuesdays Mitt Romney said “I have no idea. Ha. Ha. Ha.” If you thought President Obama might have a better answer, in 2007 he got it completely wrong. Want to know the answer? You’ll find it here.
Page 1 of 3
