Philadelphia turnout looks great - link

[Alhena]

Link to tweet

[pat_k]

1. Long lines are not a good thing.

They are the result of poor planning and administration.

And they are often a very intentional under-allocation of resources in more populous democratic leaning areas for the purpose of suppressing the vote.

We should get angry, not cheer, when we see them. Voting rights legislation should include steep fines for counties that subject their residents to what is effectively a poll tax (time IS money).

"racial asymmetries in precinct wait times contribute to the gap in turnout rates between white and non-white voters." link

We have no idea how many people are unable or unwilling to stand in line for hours but it is likely as much as 5%

[IbogaProject]

2. This is Center City Philadelphia

Any under allocation is due to the State budget being constrained to be "balanced" with out a deficit.

[pat_k]

3. Given that elections our the cornerstone of our

...existence as a constitutional democracy, they must be prioritized.

And it is up to those who care about ensuring free and fair elections to demand it.

We cannot tolerate what is tantamount to a poll tax to be inflicted on our fellow citizens cycle after cycle.

[IbogaProject]

4. OK lobby for elections to have federal funding and regulations

I'd love if we standardized the electronics of voting to be paper ballots, with touch screen ballot markers for the disabled. But I want the paper forms scanned and collected securely for various audits and recounts. And simplify voter registrations and don't allow that list to be used for Jury Duty, some avoid voting for that reason. The Jury stipend is way too low for many people.

[pat_k]

5. I do.

And encouraging my fellow DUers to take it seriously is part of that.

Highly recommend:

Alberto Alemanno
Lobbying for Change: Find Your Voice to Create a Better Society