Mandatory Voting vs. Opening Up the Political Process

MANDATORY VOTING
Mandatory Voting Isn’t a Solution to Polarization (John Sides, The American Prospect) First, the period of the highest voter turnout (of those eligible)—the mid- to late- 1800s—coincided with a lot of party polarization.  And the decline in turnout in the first half of the twentieth century occurred during a decline in polarization.  Compare turnout in presidential elections and polarization.  And the increasing turnout in presidential elections during the past decade has coincided with increasing polarization. Second, although states vary in whether they allow independents to vote in party primaries, more “open” primaries do not tend to produce more moderate members of Congress or less polarized state legislatures.

ALSO SEE:

Should Americans be Forced to Vote?

by  William J. Kelleher, Ph.D.

Some guy who is paid a fat salary by a rich think tank says that the best way to raise voter turnout is to force folks to vote. The New York Times gave him lots of space

This guy fails to see the cause of low interest and low turnout – political powerlessness. Turnout largely follows the power/wealth scale in the US. Turnout increases as you go up the scale, and decreases as you go down it. The wealthiest have the highest turnout, and the most power to get what they want from government... [continue reading]

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS 8/11/09

INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• Chafee On Ballot Would Complicate Rhode Island Race (By Emma Dumain, CQ Politics)
• Why Indie Voters Don't Make California Purple (Jerry Roberts, Huffington Post) Others, like Dave Lesher and Mark Baldassare of the Public Policy Institute of California, have made the case more subtly, arguing that because California's independents combine strains of social liberals and fiscal conservatives, "their vote is up for grabs." "Independents' attitudes, in contrast to that of Democrats and Republicans, don't fit neatly into traditional liberal and conservative camps," the two wrote in a LAT op-ed in 2006, adding that this made for "a surprising degree of uncertainty and volatility."

OPEN PRIMARIES

• Polarization is paralyzing California-The path to moderation starts with an open primary and the end of gerrymandering. (George Skelton, Capitol Journal, LA Times) What's going on is that moderates have been abandoning the two major parties and registering as nonpartisan independents, or "Decline to State." In 1978, about 8% of voters were independents. In 1992, it was 10%. Today it's 20%. "The fastest growing segments of non-partisans are Latinos and Asians," DiCamillo says. "We're talking about first-generation citizens with few ties to a party."

BLOOMBERG 09

Mike Bloomberg's campaign (he's an independent running on the Independence Party line -- Column C on the ballot) could have big significance not only for New York City, but for the nation -- AND the independent movement. What are the political parties do to?! Read local press at your own risk!

• With REBNY And Other Key Allies, Independence Party Regroups To Fight WFP-Bloomberg’s hand-picked candidates part of effort to advance pro-business agenda (Sal Gentile, City Hall News) Dan Levitan, a spokesperson for the WFP, confirmed that the party discourages potential candidates from seeking the Independence Party’s support. He argued that the Independence Party’s connections to the real estate and business worlds would repel voters. “If they want to help highlight which candidates are in the pocket of real estate developers and landlords, it will make the choice to vote against them that much easier for middle-class families on election day,” he said. But after years of being marginalized and dismissed, the Independence Party is finally becoming a power broker, Ognibene said.
• Ognibene Runs On Bloomberg’s Shoulders, With Resources And Expected Endorsement-Mayor provides big help to one-time challenger he recruited into Council race (Sal Gentile, City Hall News) NOTE: Personally, I support Tom Ognibene for NYC Council -- I think he's independent, if a politician...

PEDRO ESPADA/NY STATE REFORM

Long-time independent and nemesis of the formidable Bronx County Dem Machine is one point up on (so far so good....) the Machine. Now the NY State Senate Majority Leader, Espada fights the good fight! Witness the (really) bad NY press... Cherche le source!

• Pedro Espada’s Son Hired for Cushy State Senate Job (New York Magazine/Daily Intel)
• Espada's picks to draw scrutiny (By Erik Engquist and Daniel Massey, Crains New York)
• Warts and all (Albany Times Union) Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. of the Bronx remains the majority leader, even as he's been outed by the New York Daily News for missing a deadline...

NEW JERSEY GOV RACE

Hey did you know there's an independent running for Gov in NY?? Keep watching the state-wide and local races for the rise of significance of indpendent voters!

• Can independent Chris Daggett break two-party rule in New Jersey? (BY STUART SENDELL, Daily Record - Bergan Co)
• Corzine is losing support (Courier Post - So Jersey)

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• Gary Andres says independents could save the Repubs... [Reminder: Gary doesn't believe in independents]
  
• Andrew Sullivan talks about the Pew Polarization factor
  
• Capitalism 35, Socialism 27
  
• Crain's New York confuses Nassau with NYC Independence Party...