Originally published at: A Plaintive Cry For Election Reforms Before It’s Too Late
A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPM’s Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version. It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way As voting wraps up across the country today, let me take a quick step back to offer not so much a curmudgeon’s take as a plea not to…
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(Credit: From the Collection of Ann Lewis and Myron Sponder)
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This Election Day feels like it’s still Halloween, a real high-anxiety frightfest with half the country under the spell of a monster out to destroy the world with his hideous band of vampires, werewolves, and ghouls.
The Orange Monster is out to destroy
All the rights that we’ve fought to enjoy
So on this Voting Day
Keep those zombies at bay
Cast your ballot for freedom and joy
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Big lines in PA waiting to vote.
Massive Lines to Vote in Pennsylvania as Polls Open in Pivotal State - Newsweek
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Love hearing that. More voters is better for dems, and this election more voters is better for women’s healthcare rights.
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Might be a good sign, but it should be way easier to cast a vote. Long lines mean voter suppression.
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Aw man, had to use the back door.
About 25-30 people in line at my eastern PA polling place at 7a, when it opened. I was #14.
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Back door again, let’s hope the rest goes more smoothly. Regarding this in the MM:
I won’t run down the full list of needed reforms, but they include things like making voting mandatory, declaring Election Day a national holiday,
We don’t need a national election day holiday if every state voted like we do here in WA, with ballots mailed to every registered voter two weeks ahead of the election. Time to consider, time to mail back or put in a drop box.
This system has been proven to expand the franchise, and we even have ways to help homeless people vote. No voter intimidation at the polls, among other advantages. We have had zero problems with this system.
As for mandatory voting, I don’t see how that’s practical. I suppose with a modified VBM system the government could use social security numbers to send ballots to everyone of voting age, and then what? Impose a fine or jail term if ballots aren’t returned? How does it become mandatory?
I wish more people would vote, but the ways to force it would seem way too authoritarian and un-Constitutional.
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Sometimes. Going with long lines mean massive voter turnout, which is what it will take to defeat MAGA.
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Had to come in by the backdoor, after searching through my bookmarks for the link. Why does this have to happen, ever?
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Wow. Harder than usual to get in the comments section this morning. Even through the Hive.
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Exactly. 100% (almost) vote by mail is the answer. Of course it will never happen in Red states because it expands the franchise, and that’s the last thing Republicans want.
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Today is the final day to march against fascism and MAGA.
Suit up!
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My wife loved the Michigan voter sticker so much (we’re in PA), I had a magnet made and surprised her after she voted today.
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It’s a mixed bag. The more that vote, generally, the better it is for Dems. But If voters (blue or red) are turned away by the prospect of standing in the cold (not everywhere is Tucson in November) in block long lines, its suppression. Voting should not be a contest of endurance. Vote by mail/dropbox for all.
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