This year’s presidential election is expected to be a record turnout year, particularly for Native American voters, who have been rallied over the last few months by local, state and national get-out-the-vote efforts. But a Common Cause report released last month found that polling places may not be well-prepared to handle the massive influx of eager-to-vote citizens.
“Voting in 2008: Ten Swing States,” a follow-up to a report published two years ago that found major flaws in the 2004 election, suggests that 2008 could be a repeat of the last presidential election year — or may even be worse.
Based on a survey of 10 battleground states, the report predicted issues with voter registration, and there have been plenty of them. “Many of the most pressing problems from 2006 have gone unaddressed, or have worsened. States are still failing to comply with certain provisions of the National Voting Registration Act designed to make registration forms more accessible to traditionally disenfranchised voters,” the report said.
As we edge closer to Election Day, the report warns of long lines at polling places, a lack of and inadequately trained poll workers, insufficient language assistance, deceptive practices and disenfranchisement due to voter identification laws.
The states reviewed in the report include Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.
No comments:
Post a Comment