Silly Rules and Voting
Two weeks ago was Primary Day in New York City. As I've previously mentioned some time ago when I did my long post on races that captured my own interest (after all, I can't say much about races in other districts, even if I've formed an opinion on some of the other current officeholders), this is the real Election Day for many of the races, as there's hardly any serious competition from someone of another party (usually Republican, as this is an overwhelmingly Democratic area). Sadly, I could not vote in this election even though I had a large window of opportunity in the day to do so. The reason for this is an asinine rule by the Board of Elections that a change of address must be in their hands within 25 days of an election. And...brace for it, a mini-rant on voting.
Okay, it had to be in 25 days before an election. Why is this stupid, you may ask? I have valid reasons. First of all, some states (or at least some municipalities in the country) make it completely possible for a a person to register and vote in an election the very same day!! I'm sure they're able to verify that a voter is not already registered elsewhere and is voting multiple times. Even if they need to go back to the voter rolls and knock off that vote while in the process of counting and verifying the votes, that takes...what...a couple of days maybe? So why do I need 25 of those days to register a simple change of address? Even the Post Office processed my change of address in less than 25 days! And they're dealing with incoming mail. All the Board of Elections would need to do is look up all the districts that address is in and provide the appropriate voting site. It isn't like they'll need to redraw all the district lines just to process that change of address. The lawmakers are the ones that get to gerrymander the hell out of everything every ten years (or apparently, not as often if you live in Texas or in some other places where some are pushing for a new redistricting).
Furthermore, when a person moves, is the first thing he or she going to think about is getting a form and mailing it to their local Board of Elections? NO! There are a seemingly infinite number of other things to worry about. Like making sure the electricity is on or making sure the bills will not get lost in the mail. There's also the lovely issue of nearly every square foot (especially in a smaller place, like what I'm in now, very simple apartment) covered in boxes, until they're all unpacked. And to get the form to mail it in, you have to go to either the Post Office or check online then print out the form and mail it. How many people that recently moved are going to do that or go out of their way to make sure that this form is the first thing they print out once they finally reconnect the printer and the computers to their new home? Or will remember to pick up the form at the Post Office (once they find it) when there are many other things that have to be done immediately?
It's rather silly that it has to be done 25 days before an election, whether it is a primary, a runoff, a municipal one, or the general elections on Election Day. And I wouldn't be surprised if I'm not the first person locked out of an election because of a rule like this.
It is time for some changes in the Board of Elections, not only in places where there were disputes over vote counts and felony lists, but throughout the country. Many places are still operating with outdated rules that no longer apply to this fast-paced world we live in today. Perhaps if voter registrations and changes were as quick and efficient as many huge commercial databases, we would have a higher turnout at the polls.
Okay, it had to be in 25 days before an election. Why is this stupid, you may ask? I have valid reasons. First of all, some states (or at least some municipalities in the country) make it completely possible for a a person to register and vote in an election the very same day!! I'm sure they're able to verify that a voter is not already registered elsewhere and is voting multiple times. Even if they need to go back to the voter rolls and knock off that vote while in the process of counting and verifying the votes, that takes...what...a couple of days maybe? So why do I need 25 of those days to register a simple change of address? Even the Post Office processed my change of address in less than 25 days! And they're dealing with incoming mail. All the Board of Elections would need to do is look up all the districts that address is in and provide the appropriate voting site. It isn't like they'll need to redraw all the district lines just to process that change of address. The lawmakers are the ones that get to gerrymander the hell out of everything every ten years (or apparently, not as often if you live in Texas or in some other places where some are pushing for a new redistricting).
Furthermore, when a person moves, is the first thing he or she going to think about is getting a form and mailing it to their local Board of Elections? NO! There are a seemingly infinite number of other things to worry about. Like making sure the electricity is on or making sure the bills will not get lost in the mail. There's also the lovely issue of nearly every square foot (especially in a smaller place, like what I'm in now, very simple apartment) covered in boxes, until they're all unpacked. And to get the form to mail it in, you have to go to either the Post Office or check online then print out the form and mail it. How many people that recently moved are going to do that or go out of their way to make sure that this form is the first thing they print out once they finally reconnect the printer and the computers to their new home? Or will remember to pick up the form at the Post Office (once they find it) when there are many other things that have to be done immediately?
It's rather silly that it has to be done 25 days before an election, whether it is a primary, a runoff, a municipal one, or the general elections on Election Day. And I wouldn't be surprised if I'm not the first person locked out of an election because of a rule like this.
It is time for some changes in the Board of Elections, not only in places where there were disputes over vote counts and felony lists, but throughout the country. Many places are still operating with outdated rules that no longer apply to this fast-paced world we live in today. Perhaps if voter registrations and changes were as quick and efficient as many huge commercial databases, we would have a higher turnout at the polls.
posted by Will at 11:59 PM
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