Response Draft
FROM: Sara El-Amine, Executive Director, Organizing for Action
TO: Erin Tolman
PREPARED BY: Corbin Woodruff, Ashley Morgan, Tenzing Lama, and Matt Simon
RE: Increasing Voter Turnout
DATE: November 19, 2015
Introduction
Ms. Tolman presented the committee with a number of issues and concerns regarding the low turnout for elections. While we recognize the importance of the issue and agree that there are changes that could be undertaken in order to greater improve the democratic process, we could not endorse every action Ms. Tolman wished to undertake. After careful review we have offered our opinions for various processes and actions we have both embraced and rejected. The summation of our agreed upon decision follows below.
Comments from Ashley Morgan
Ms. Tolman’s policy options cover a wide range of issues associated with voter turnout. I would first like to note that it may be to Ms. Tolman’s benefit to further explore reasons for voter turnout success in San Francisco, since there may be potential policy options for New York City as well.
Upon review of the options presented, the first option, removing legal roadblocks, poses the greatest potential in terms of effectiveness and feasibility. Arguably, trying to alter gerrymandering law would be less feasible than open up voting pathways; redistricting is a muddled, political issue that has been hotly contested for years. Similarly, trying to abolish the Electoral College would seemingly be too difficult to implement, as various political actors would have an interest in keeping it alive. Hence, although these ideas are valid and may produce change, they appear less feasible than voter roadblocks.
Ms. Tolman made a valuable point during her presentation: that young voters simply do not have the time nor means to get out and vote, and are not necessarily apathetic about politics. By trying to give voters the option to register on the same day as election day and encourage early voting, or voting by mail, a broader range of voters will be reached that has been inaccessible.
Comments from Corbin Woodruff
I believe the presentation did a good job of highlighting our country’s low turnout for all elections. This is especially prevalent in state and local elections on off years, as seen by the recent 2013 New York City mayoral election. As mentioned in the presentation, the groups most likely not to turnout to vote are those of lower income and of a minority race. This means these groups are not well represented in any election as they fail to vote in greater numbers than affluent Caucasians.
I am supportive of almost of your proposals to help increase voter turnout that you mentioned. I believe that several voting restrictions should be removed in order to increase voter turnout, such as same day registration and voting by mail. I am also supportive of reinstating voting rights for former felons as disenfranchisement, as there is a philosophical argument to make that an individual who has been released from prison should not be punished further since their incarceration is ideally the extent of their punishment.
However, I believe the greatest way to increase voter turnout is the creation of a national Election Day holiday on the Tuesday after the first Monday. I believe this holiday will foster a civic atmosphere in which individuals will have the day off from work (or a part of the day in order to vote) and turnout to vote. This does not require a Constitutional Amendment; it requires passage from Congress.
Comments from Matt Simon
The issue of low voter turnout is something that has clearly been a problem in America for a long time, but that does not mean we should not take action in order to increase the numbers. Any action which increases outreach and exposes more citizens to a candidates’ policies should be explored and in most cases enacted. I felt there was a compelling case for the majority of your points and would like to see greater provisions made for each.
Registration and voter ID laws seem to be actively hurting the electoral process and are areas that could be addressed quickly. By removing the restrictions on same day registration we could greatly increase the numbers of voters who have already taken the first step and shown up to the polls. We should not penalize people for failing to act previously if they are showing initiative and interest in the democratic process. Along these same lines I would like to see the “opt-out” method that has been adopted in some states become a nationwide procedure. Automatically registering people to vote when they apply for a driver's license or state ID would help eliminate the fraud concerns that people have raised about same day registration.
Comments from Tenzing Lama:
The presentation and policy highlighted the problem of low voter turnout especially among the low income, minority and young voters as low participation in the American political system and how this is a problem. The startling statistics of only 24% of the city’s population participating in the 2013 New York City Mayoral election makes this a serious problem that not only affect New York City but also the rest of the country and how this is something that needs to be addressed. As for the solution that Erin mentioned, all of the solution seems reasonable but except for abolishing the Electoral College. Removing legal roadblock in some way similar to Salt Lake City was one thing that could work in New York City due to a lot of people like myself not knowing elections were taking place and mailing the information to constituents would ease the problem of getting more voters to turnout. Not only would it help with voter turnout but also make citizens aware of the issues affecting them. One of the big options that should be included with any option is the removal of felony restrictions on voting because if the person did his time for the crimes he committed, he should be able to vote because he paid his debt to society and this restriction subjugates him/her to not exercise his/her right to participate in the political process. As for the Electoral College, I think that National Popular Vote Interstate Compact should go through the legal process of becoming an amendment because it causes confusion as the Electoral College already is part of the Constitution. Not only is it not legal from a Constitutional point of view, it also does not have any Republican signatories or the key swing states that she mentioned, which poses a problems for this measure.
Concluding Recommendations
Our panel has deliberated on the issue of low voter turnout in both New York City and the United States. Ms. Erin Tolman’s presentation showed this panel the problems with low voter turnout, as well as some ways in which this issue can be alleviated. Below is a list of recommendations this panel believes should be implemented to raise voter turnout:
- Election day is a national holiday
- Early voting up to 1 week
- Restoration of voting rights for former felons
- The establishment of an “Opt Out” voter registration system
- Information packets mailed to citizens prior to election holiday
It is this panel’s belief that these recommendations are reasonable and will help raise voter turnout rates in local, state, and national elections. A National Election Day will give individuals the day off to be able to visit their polling sight. Early Voting will provide those who will not be able to attend their polling sight on Election Day with an option to still cast a ballot. The restoration of voting rights for former felons will help end the disenfranchisement of these individuals, and increase voter turnout for a group that is overwhelmingly minority and of lower economic status. The establishment of an “Opt Out” voter registration system will make it much easier for individuals to be registered voters, as they have to opt out as opposed to sign up to be a registered voter. Lastly, it is this panel’s belief that information packets on the election should be mailed to citizens as research has shown individuals who are more engaged and informed about an election are more likely to turn out to vote.