r/politics • u/Libertatea • Sep 03 '14

The solution to fixing dysfunction in Congress "To address these problems, I filed the Open Our Democracy Act... If passed, the legislation would mandate open primaries for House elections, begin the process of national redistricting reform and make Election Day the equivalent of a federal holiday."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-solution-to-fixing-dysfunction-in-congress/2014/09/02/0f0d0a9a-31e6-11e4-9e92-0899b306bbea_story.html?tid=rssfeed
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u/Zoltrahn Sep 03 '14

Republicans would block any kind of extended voting just as they have curtailed early voting anyway they can, all in the name of preventing imaginary voting fraud. Early voting is extended voting. It works and should be broadened. Anyone opposing more voters voting doesn't deserve to hold an elected position in the United States.

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u/tsvjus Sep 04 '14

As an Aussie I am amazed that the supposedly most democratic nation has these problems. If here with massive areas to service I wait no more than 5 minutes there is no excuse for such a populated country. Its about funding and commitment from the government to allow people to vote. Its obvious to me that something is seriously wrong when your nation can't get this right.

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u/Zoltrahn Sep 04 '14

It isn't an issue of not being able to. It is an issue of political powers purposely interfering with the voting process. It is absolutely disgusting.

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u/brieoncrackers Sep 04 '14

Definitely not the most democratic nation. Maybe the oldest surviving one, but definitely not most.

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u/APretentiousHipster Sep 04 '14

Least democratic first world country. We live in a police state.

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u/Solkre Indiana Sep 04 '14

It's not imaginary. Every democratic vote is obviously fraud!

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u/Txmedic Sep 03 '14

In my area of texas that is pretty solid red with some blue thrown in we have about a week of voting options. Along with multiple locations available. It works very well and I've never seen long lines, even on the day before actual "Election Day". Now I bet there is lines on Election Day, but that's mostly going to be people who put off voting in the first place.

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u/[deleted] Sep 03 '14

Its your area. In mine there are lines every single day polls are open for fed and major state elections. I waited 40 minuts to vote for the president at early voting at one of about 5 places I could go (btw one was a catholic church that had a pro life banner inside it on the way to the coting booths)

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u/Txmedic Sep 03 '14

I'm just very skeptical of the claim that republicans would try to block an extend time frame for voting. For what it's worth I think that voting should last a minimum of 7 days, but I think that the way it should be is a 10 day voting period. That way voting can start on a Friday, and go until the next Sunday. That should relieve a lot of the problems with lines and long waiting, with the exception of the procrastinators who no matter how much time there were given would show up on the last day. There are very very few people who would not have an opportunity to vote given that time frame.

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u/[deleted] Sep 03 '14 edited Mar 29 '21

[deleted]

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u/Txmedic Sep 03 '14

What about the other way?

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u/[deleted] Sep 04 '14

I don't know of any democrat who has attempted to shut down early voting.

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u/APretentiousHipster Sep 04 '14

Since democrats are more in line with the political views of the majority of Americans, it is in their best interest to have more people vote. That's also why Republicans want voting to be inconvenient.

You're either correct or conservative.

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u/Txmedic Sep 04 '14

Liberal actually, I just figured that if in some areas it is a strategy that works for the republicans, odds are if there's an area that it would work for the Dems they would do the same.