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Indybay Feature

Expand Electoral Participoation In California!!

by Tortuga Bi LIBERTY (savefreedom-owner [at] yahoogroups.com)
small proposals to increase voter turnout in CALIFORNIA
Dear BEYONDCHRON:

I too am concerned about citizens not voting.
When the lower half doesn't vote,
the plutocracy wins by default.

Accordingly, I have suggested a few small band-aids
to Assemblymember-elect David Chiu [ see below];
while realizing that such small steps aren't nearly enough.

Peace,
Tortuga Bi LIBERTY
[ seniornude2 [at] yahoo.com]


.....
[ email to David Chiu]

Dear David Chiu, Assemblyman-elect,

[ info [at] votedavidchiu.com ]


Like many Californians, I am appalled by the low turnout of registered voters
in our 2014 elections.

*** Please propose a study of possible ways to
"Expand Electoral Participation In California" [ EEPIC]. ***
...
Here are a few preliminary suggestions:

[1] POSTAGE-PAID ballot return envelopes:

In San Francisco county, ballots can be mailed back in postage-paid return envelopes.
However, I wonder whether there are some California counties where the voter must
pay the postage? If so, such voters face a severe handicap --
not merely the cost [ a small poll tax?],
but also finding out the exact amount of postage needed.
so,, [1a] Please consider legislation requiring that EVERY county
supply postage-paid return envelopes for ballots; and
[1b] that the State fully reimburse counties for such postage.
.....

[2] VOTING BY MAIL:

At present, vote-by-mail requires an OPT-IN by
each individual voter.
For some predictably low-turnout elections,
such as primaries in
non-presidential years,
perhaps every voter should receive a mail ballot
-- except for voters who
explicitly OPT-OUT?
In studying this option, please investigate the experiences of states
which already conduct ALL-MAIL elections.
........

[3] PRIMARY ON WEEKEND?

Since Tuesday is a work-day for most adults,
why does California always hold primaries on Tuesdays?

Please investigate the experiences of states which already conduct
some of their elections on Saturdays or Sundays.

Then please consider legislation to hold primaries,
in non-presidential years,
on a Saturday [ or Sunday?].

A voter having religious objections could vote by mail --
on any day she chooses.
.................

I am painfully aware that such small steps
fail to address many major barriers to participation.
[ Indeed, I fear that our national government
has become a plutocracy, de facto.]

[ http://www.beyondchron.org/americans-dont-vote/ ]

But aren't small steps are better than no steps?

Freedom until death!


Tortuga Bi LIBERTY,
c/o SUN. P.O. Box 426937
San Francisco, CA 94142-6937

13 November 2014

.....


............
SUN suggests visiting:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SaveFreedom
https://www.aclunc.org/
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