Should voter registration be automatic?

[ugahairydawgs]

There's a bill in the House now that would automatically register someone to vote if they are already on file in other various governmental databases.

What say you on this? Is it a good idea to automatically push folks onto the voter rolls?

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/lewis-b...ter-mos/nWBsQ/

[prostuff1]

Just because you are registered does not mean you have to vote. I don't really see a problem with this.

[Dweez]

I think that's a bad idea.

[niuniu]

One less bit of tape for people to deal with. Works fine in parts of Europe already.

[Moyank24]

I want to say that here in Texas we are registered automatically when we register our vehicles. I could be wrong, though.

I don't see a problem with this at all.

[SilentPanda]

Originally Posted by Dweez

I think that's a bad idea.

Why do you think it's a bad idea?

--------------------------

I don't particularly care either way. I don't see much benefit in it. It's not like it's a hard process. While we have elections more frequently than every 4 years, people are more inclined to vote during presidential election cycles. This gives people 4 years to get their crap together for a process that takes just a few minutes to do. So why spend money to ensure people can vote that are too lazy to register themselves? Or are they just not aware that they have to register? If that's the issue, then determine if it's cheaper to get the word out vs automatic registration.

Whatever is cheaper, do that. I'm registered and I still get fliers in the mail telling me to register. I don't see how people can't know. If you're that ignorant of the voting process, maybe you shouldn't be voting anyway.

[ugahairydawgs]

Originally Posted by SilentPanda

Why do you think it's a bad idea?

--------------------------

I'm registered and I still get fliers in the mail telling me to register. I don't see how people can't know. If you're that ignorant of the voting process, maybe you shouldn't be voting anyway.

That's generally the basis of my problem with it and the overall nanny state type mentality that goes into a bill like this.

Voting is a very important thing and a right that I am glad to have. But it isn't something to be taken lightly and I feel that signing up the folks who are too lazy to get off their backside to do it on their own cheapens the value of the whole process. And it's not like people don't have a bazillion opportunities to register to vote. I know here in Georgia you are asked every time you renew your drivers license if you would like to be registered to vote. On top of that there are voter registration drives going on in election years just about everywhere you turn.

The opportunities are there for people to register to vote. If you can't make the minimal effort needed to get that done then you can just sit at the house on election day.

[Dweez]

Originally Posted by SilentPanda

Why do you think it's a bad idea?

Because it should not something which is "mandatory", occurs automatically etc. Personal choice comes to mind. Our government reaches much to far into the personal lives of US citizens.

[Huntn]

Originally Posted by Dweez

Because it should not something which is "mandatory", occurs automatically etc. Personal choice comes to mind. Our government reaches much to far into the personal lives of US citizens.

I view it as a convenience. If your intent is to stay under the radar, they all ready got your number and no one is making you go vote.

[Moyank24]

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

That's generally the basis of my problem with it and the overall nanny state type mentality that goes into a bill like this.

Voting is a very important thing and a right that I am glad to have. But it isn't something to be taken lightly and I feel that signing up the folks who are too lazy to get off their backside to do it on their own cheapens the value of the whole process. And it's not like people don't have a bazillion opportunities to register to vote. I know here in Georgia you are asked every time you renew your drivers license if you would like to be registered to vote. On top of that there are voter registration drives going on in election years just about everywhere you turn.

The opportunities are there for people to register to vote. If you can't make the minimal effort needed to get that done then you can just sit at the house on election day.

Frankly, I have a feeling that if one is too lazy to get off their a** once a year or every other year to register, they're probably not going to get off their a** to actually vote.

[SilentPanda]

Originally Posted by Moyank24

Frankly, I have a feeling that if one is too lazy to get off their a** once a year or every other year to register, they're probably not going to get off their a** to actually vote.

In my state, I can get the form online and print it (could do this at the library for $0.10) and then mail it. As far as I know they send me prepaid stuff in the mail after that to ensure my registration is current. So they only have to get off their duff once to register. Lazy lazy people.

[ugahairydawgs]

Originally Posted by Moyank24

Frankly, I have a feeling that if one is too lazy to get off their a** once a year or every other year to register, they're probably not going to get off their a** to actually vote.

You're right....they probably wont on their own. But when some political operative comes to their door on election day with a bag full of shiny stuff or the promise of a free this or that (along with a ride to their polling place), what do you think ends up happening there?

[eric/]

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

That's generally the basis of my problem with it and the overall nanny state type mentality that goes into a bill like this.

Voting is a very important thing and a right that I am glad to have. But it isn't something to be taken lightly and I feel that signing up the folks who are too lazy to get off their backside to do it on their own cheapens the value of the whole process. And it's not like people don't have a bazillion opportunities to register to vote. I know here in Georgia you are asked every time you renew your drivers license if you would like to be registered to vote. On top of that there are voter registration drives going on in election years just about everywhere you turn.

The opportunities are there for people to register to vote. If you can't make the minimal effort needed to get that done then you can just sit at the house on election day.

I disagree. I think it's a nuisance to deal with. To me it seems pretty clear that people should automatically be registered, it removes inefficiency in the voting system, and may encourage more people to vote since now all they have to do is show up. We don't need the government to pay people to sit around and register people, it's a waste.

[Moyank24]

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

You're right....they probably wont on their own. But when some political operative comes to their door on election day with a bag full of shiny stuff or the promise of a free this or that (along with a ride to their polling place), what do you think ends up happening there?

They would have to be registered already, though.

And, as for the other stuff....

[ugahairydawgs]

Originally Posted by Moyank24

They would have to be registered already, though.

And, as for the other stuff....

Right....that's the point. If something like this bill were to ever pass (which I can't imagine it will even come up for a vote), then all those operative would have to do is go door to door in one of their target rich environments.

[Moyank24]

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

Right....that's the point. If something like this bill were to ever pass (which I can't imagine it will even come up for a vote), then all those operative would have to do is go door to door in one of their target rich environments.

If they are going to go through all that trouble, than theoretically they can show up with goodies and transportation to register people as well.

[Btrthnezr3]

Originally Posted by Moyank24

I want to say that here in Texas we are registered automatically when we register our vehicles. I could be wrong, though.

I don't see a problem with this at all.

Nope. When we get our renew our license we are asked if we want to register to vote but that's it.

[niuniu]

Carbon footprint reduction and assistance to the elderly/less capable makes it worthwhile.

[Eraserhead]

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

You're right....they probably wont on their own. But when some political operative comes to their door on election day with a bag full of shiny stuff or the promise of a free this or that (along with a ride to their polling place), what do you think ends up happening there?

Do you have any evidence of this happening in the US?

[Moyank24]

Originally Posted by Btrthnezr3

Nope. When we get our renew our license we are asked if we want to register to vote but that's it.

I knew it was something like that. I guess I've been registered since I got my TX driver's license. I haven't been here long enough to renew it - I, for one, am glad it's one less thing to worry about. Every year (in January I believe) I get my Voter Registration card.

[SwiftLives]

I think it's one less obstacle. Personally, I think when you turn 18, you should automatically be registered to vote. The whole concept of registering is a bit antiquated.

[eric/]

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

Right....that's the point. If something like this bill were to ever pass (which I can't imagine it will even come up for a vote), then all those operative would have to do is go door to door in one of their target rich environments.

and?

[Happybunny]

Originally Posted by niuniu

One less bit of tape for people to deal with. Works fine in parts of Europe already.

Works for us.

[ugahairydawgs]

Originally Posted by Eraserhead

Do you have any evidence of this happening in the US?

GOTV efforts are pretty common. Some are more on the up and up than others, but both parties do it.

[Moyank24]

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

GOTV efforts are pretty common. Some are more on the up and up than others, but both parties do it.

There's a difference between GOTV efforts and basically bribing those to vote who wouldn't normally, which is what you were implying.

If that was "pretty common", I'm sure there is plenty of documented evidence of such wrong doing.