• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!
  • Welcome to our archives. No new posts are allowed here.

New rules for voter registraton in Florida: good or bad?

Most of these are unconstitutional.

One of the things that really bothered me was hearing about the outright fraud one group was engaging in during voter drives in Ohio a while back. This included paying people for each person they registered, which inadvertently led fictitious people on he voter rolls including cartoon characters. Some people were even reportedly paid in crack for registering people to vote. Voter fraud is serious threat to democracy. I was just wondering were these efforts going so far that honest people and their right to vote who are not engaging in fraud in any way being wrongly effected by these new rules.
 
One of the things that really bothered me was hearing about the outright fraud one group was engaging in during voter drives in Ohio a while back. This included paying people for each person they registered, which inadvertently led fictitious people on he voter rolls including cartoon characters.

Do you have any links that show that cartoon characters were placed on the voter rolls? I was under the impression that a few registrations were filled out with false names like that, but they all get thrown out before being accepted on to the voter rolls.
 
Do you have any links that show that cartoon characters were placed on the voter rolls? I was under the impression that a few registrations were filled out with false names like that, but they all get thrown out before being accepted on to the voter rolls.

Two weeks before New Yorkers are scheduled to go to the polls for a primary election, an investigation by our Meghan Clyne has turned up evidence that the city's list of registered voters is riddled with suspicious names. Among the findings: "Donald Duck," "Elmer J. Fudd," and "Jesus Christ" registered as voters in New York City. Dozens of voters have registered stating, apparently falsely, that their "address where you live" is a non-residential building - including places such as Macy's in Herald Square, Madison Square Garden, and city public schools and courthouses.

The Donald Duck Vote - The New York Sun

More get caught than not but I imagine some fraudulent registrations slip through. A sad state of affairs when we're more committed to our side winning, whichever side it may be, that in the principles that have made our system of government the model for the world.
 
Two weeks before New Yorkers are scheduled to go to the polls for a primary election, an investigation by our Meghan Clyne has turned up evidence that the city's list of registered voters is riddled with suspicious names. Among the findings: "Donald Duck," "Elmer J. Fudd," and "Jesus Christ" registered as voters in New York City. Dozens of voters have registered stating, apparently falsely, that their "address where you live" is a non-residential building - including places such as Macy's in Herald Square, Madison Square Garden, and city public schools and courthouses.

The Donald Duck Vote - The New York Sun

More get caught than not but I imagine some fraudulent registrations slip through. A sad state of affairs when we're more committed to our side winning, whichever side it may be, that in the principles that have made our system of government the model for the world.

Ultimately, if an election is close enough where a tiny amount of bogus votes might matter, we have detailed recounts where these issues are resolved.
 
Ultimately, if an election is close enough where a tiny amount of bogus votes might matter, we have detailed recounts where these issues are resolved.


I think 2012 is going to be close but hopefully this election won't be THAT close again.

BTW: I am not a fan of recounts. Maybe I misunderstand them.

1. It was close and our guy lost
2. Demand a recount
3. A few ballots get damaged as a result of handling
4. The recount says we're getting closer but we're still behind
5. Demand another recount
6. More chads fall out due to excessive handling and some of their guy's votes get disqualified for "voting" for two candidates on the same ballot. Make sure to shake 'em up and bang 'em on the table like a deck of cards to make as many chads dimple, hang and fall out as possible!
7. Its getting closer but we're still trailing
8. The courts say enough is enough, either declare a winner, let the legislature decide or let your state abstain
9. High profile politicians calls ending the re-re-re-recounts "stopping the voting"

If its close I'm okay with one recount provided someone can convenience me the recount is more accurate than the original count, not the other way around.
 
Two weeks before New Yorkers are scheduled to go to the polls for a primary election, an investigation by our Meghan Clyne has turned up evidence that the city's list of registered voters is riddled with suspicious names. Among the findings: "Donald Duck," "Elmer J. Fudd," and "Jesus Christ" registered as voters in New York City. Dozens of voters have registered stating, apparently falsely, that their "address where you live" is a non-residential building - including places such as Macy's in Herald Square, Madison Square Garden, and city public schools and courthouses.

The Donald Duck Vote - The New York Sun

More get caught than not but I imagine some fraudulent registrations slip through. A sad state of affairs when we're more committed to our side winning, whichever side it may be, that in the principles that have made our system of government the model for the world.

Is there any evidence to suggest that these fake people actually voted? That's what matters, isn't it? If the votes aren't real. Who gives a crap about registration to vote? It's if the actual election is dishonest. Bilbo Baggins can be registered to vote all he likes, so long as no one shows up on election day claiming to be him and tries to cast a vote.
 
Is there any evidence to suggest that these fake people actually voted? That's what matters, isn't it? If the votes aren't real. Who gives a crap about registration to vote? It's if the actual election is dishonest. Bilbo Baggins can be registered to vote all he likes, so long as no one shows up on election day claiming to be him and tries to cast a vote.

I agree. No telling. Its not like anyone is going to turn themselves in after voting fraudulently. FYI: There was a recent special election held where I heard they had a 115% voter turn out. I won't mention the specific special election since I don't have time to conduct research for the evidence. :)
 
Smeagol, you have yet to show that any of this is true. Please provide your source for this. If it's just word of mouth from a volunteer who collects signatures, you might want to take a look at what the law itself is. This whole thing sounds like an election season rumor.
 
Smeagol, you have yet to show that any of this is true. Please provide your source for this. If it's just word of mouth from a volunteer who collects signatures, you might want to take a look at what the law itself is. This whole thing sounds like an election season rumor.

There is no truth to any of it.
 
Smeagol, you have yet to show that any of this is true. Please provide your source for this. If it's just word of mouth from a volunteer who collects signatures, you might want to take a look at what the law itself is. This whole thing sounds like an election season rumor.

I'm confused. Any of the items listed in the OP of cartoon characters registered to vote? Typically I'm doing other things when posting but if seeing documentation on whether the new reforms I heard about are in fact true makes a difference on whether are good or bad ideas, I'll try to look it up maybe this weekend.

This we do know for fact, Florida has instituted new reforms on voter registrations that were so controversial its led to a couple of federal law suits. This is undisputed. What were the specific reasons for the law suits, if you need to see it in writing to believe it, I'll need time. Maybe this weekend. I'm sure federal law suits would not have been filed for no reason at all and whoever filed them must consider the changes to be serious. The League of Women Voters was one of the groups suing, but don't take my word for it. I'll try to get some references within a week for you.
 
Last edited:
It all might be moot anyway. In my research I've noticed a judge has already overturned many of the new rules:

A victory for voting rights out of Florida this week: a federal court in Tallahassee blocked key provisions of the state’s new voter suppression law which discourages voter registration drives. The new law is so extreme that groups such as The League of Women Voters stopped registering voters entirely, and two teachers were threatened with fines for registering students in their classrooms under the guise of cracking down on ‘voter fraud.’

The ACLU, along with a coalition of civil rights groups, represents The League of Women Voters, Rock the Vote and other impacted groups in a constitutional challenge to the law, arguing that restricting the rights of individuals and organizations to engage in the political process without a compelling state interest was a violation of the First Amendment. The judge agreed: “soliciting an application [to register to vote] is core First Amendment speech.”


...Other parts of the law make it harder to vote and harder to have your vote counted. Those provisions are under review in another ACLU case; this case is before a federal court in the District of Columbia and will determine whether the changes are in violation of the Voting Rights Act because of their disproportionate impact on racial and language minorities.


A Victory for Voting Rights: Florida

I can't believe you people are having me quote the ACLU of all people! :3oops:

- The state’s new elections law — which requires groups that register voters to turn in completed forms within 48 hours or risk fines, among other things — has led the state’s League of Women Voters to halt its efforts this year.

-...an effort last week to register high school students around the nation — but not in Florida, over fears that teachers could face fines.

-Florida’s law — which is being challenged in court by civic groups and, in counties covered by the Voting Rights Act, the Justice Department — is one of more than a dozen that states have passed in recent years that have made it harder to vote by requiring voters to show photo identification at polls, reducing early voting periods or making it more difficult to register.

-...the laws will make it harder for young people and members of minorities, who tend to support Democrats, to vote.

-The law in Florida, which was passed by a Republican-controlled Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, also reduces the number of early voting days in the state.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/28/u...ration-in-florida-have-groups-opting-out.html
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom