Vote Suppression in Houston

[omorka]

Scholars and Rogues has a summary of local vote suppression in its usual guise as "prevention of voter fraud".

I find the current division of partisan voting concerns - the Republicans convinced that thousands of people who are not allowed to vote will do so, the Democrats concerned that thousands of people who are supposed to be allowed to vote will not get to exercise the franchise - really rather disturbing, given the Republican party's historical origins. Isn't it more democratic (small d) to default on the side of allowing people to vote? I'm always shocked that the Republican approach of assuming that registrations are invalid doesn't get more bad press than it does.

Comments

[redneckgaijin.livejournal.com]

It all goes back to ballot box stuffing, voting the graveyard, etc. To most people, voter fraud is voter fraud is voter fraud... except when the government does it, in which case it's protecting voters from voter fraud.

[quantumduck.livejournal.com]

Yes, but if you're mailing rejection letter then clearly you think they're not dead. Sitting on registrations beyond the seven day period provided by state law is a violation of fundamental rights.

I don't think most people think of ballot stuffing when they think of voter fraud. I think most people are worried their vote will be switched by malfunctioning computers, hackers, a wide-ranging conspiracy by the other political party (be it R or D). Polls have shown rising concerns from all voters that the machines are not recording votes correctly.

[doctorcaligari.livejournal.com]

Good point!

Although I'm sure both parties need watchdogging...