voting
Postmortems of voting woes, disenfranchisement, and how countries around the world elect government officials.
Realistic Takeaways from the Midterm Elections
There was a breathless anticipation going into the Midterm Elections this year. It was a reality show that every network carried, and the pundits became the stars who's words were hung onto as if it were the gospel sent from above. On the Conservative side, there was a belief that the American people embraced Trump's policies and wanted more of the same. The flip side for the Liberal base was that Trump and his antics were growing tiresome, it was time for the so-called adults to take control again. What can be taken away from the results of the most consequential election of our generation?
By Edward Anderson7 years ago in The Swamp
Don't Buy These Ads in Ohio
When it comes to this year’s midterms, it seems that the strategy on the right is simply to lie and cheat their way into office. There were so many ads this weekend here in Columbus, Ohio (the Heart of it All) that flat out attempt to distort reality. They’re as blatant as they are inane. Here is a rundown of some of the boldest, most shameless lies of the midterms in the final campaign weekend here in Ohio, starting with the worst:
By The Disruptors7 years ago in The Swamp
Crash Course Guide to Voting on November 6, 2018
Why vote? Americans are notorious for "going ghost" when it comes time to make our voices heard in the polls. Just looking at statistics from the most recent few years alone, the percentage of active American voters has plummeted rapidly—in fact, only ~42 percent of registered voters practiced their right to vote in the last cycle of midterm elections. With that being said, young people need to vote. Youth voter turnout rates are at an all time low, so its no surprise that you've probably seen an alarming number of posts and signage popping up over the course of the last couple of weeks, urging America's youth to get registered and get themselves to their local polling station. Non-presidential elections have low turnout rates in general, which is what heavy midterm campaigners are hoping to challenge in the polls this year by spreading the word in every way possible.
By Tabitha Reno7 years ago in The Swamp
Down with Representatives
Now is a time that you hear things such as “go vote!” and “we determine our future!” I don’t want to come off as cynical, but our vote doesn’t matter, and really never has. This is due to many reasons, but three of them really stand out to me. I will not only refer to the problems with our current system, but offer my idea for a solution.
By p wave Swingle7 years ago in The Swamp
What's Wrong with Voter ID Laws. Top Story - October 2018.
Voter ID laws sound reasonable on the surface. We should want to protect our democracy, which means guaranteeing one vote per citizen. Since most people already have a state-issued driver’s license, what’s the big deal about asking everyone to show some identification before they vote?
By Robert Wells7 years ago in The Swamp
Why Are People Single Issue Voters?
The 2018 election was a prime example of how powerful single issue voters can be to an election. Sure, many people weighed other major considerations, including tax breaks and abortion laws, but the overwhelming majority of talk surrounding the polarizing election had to do with laws regarding immigration and minorities in the United States. The rise and election of Donald Trump brought to light a massively polarized issue in the country, and the 2018 campaign became, ultimately, a campaign of appealing to single issue voters on two opposite sides of the aisle.
By Nicola P. Young7 years ago in The Swamp
Why Voting Is Still Important Even If You're Black and Fed Up
There is a very popular yet understandable misconception in this country regarding the effects of citizen voting. Because of the misunderstanding of how the Electoral College works, voting fraud, as well as an abundance of political corruption within our government, many people are inclined to believe that their vote doesn't count when it comes to official governmental elections. In fact, there are very many people who make strong arguments to support that claim. But when we practice a little bit of critical thinking and objectivity while using an investigative thought process, then there are some things about our election processes that we notice that are just a little bit to undeniable.
By Monsoor Ali7 years ago in The Swamp
Sorry Reagan, I Gotta Vote Democrat
Since before I was old enough to vote, I have been a conservative Republican. I worked Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign while still in high school doing everything from knocking on doors, working the phone bank, and compiling voter data. It was incredible. Equally important, it was a victory!
By Dan McGinnis7 years ago in The Swamp
Oi, You, Are You Gonna Vote?
The result of the 2017 UK General Election was really one of those wig-snatching moments. After David Cameron resigned, Theresa May took over as Prime Minister and a snap election was declared. Seeking a mandate of her own, the Prime Minister came out of the election not only losing seats, but losing her own edges, cheekily snatched by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. May's less "strong and stable" party (and scalp) had to then partner up with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to form a government.
By Vanessa Martins8 years ago in The Swamp
