Election 2004

Talking Points and Useful Reference Article Links

The Right to Vote?

· The phrase “The right of all ‘qualified’ citizens to vote,” in the constitution has been interpreted by the current Supreme Court very literally – we the people have only the voting privileges granted to us by the states – there is no federal constitutional or universal “right to vote.” Other countries who do not have explicit mention of right of all citizens to vote: Chechnya, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Pakistan and the UK, among others.

· At least 135 nations – including Canada and Mexico, explicitly guarantee citizens the right to vote and be represented at all levels of government. Every new constitution adopted over the past decade makes the right to vote a foundation of government.

For more on this, see: “A Right to Vote,” Jamin Ruskin, The American Prospect, 8/27/01, http://www.prospect.org/print/V12/15/raskin-j.html

Felony Disenfranchisement

· 13% of black men are unable to vote due to racial disparities in the criminal justice system.

· 80% of the public support restoration of voting rights to ex-felons.

Voting Obstacles

· Some of the major obstacles for Latino voters are, inability to get to the polls during open hours due to employment, limited or non-existent access to ballots and voter assistance in Spanish, lack of education on the basics of the American political system and voter disenfranchisement.

· Voter Education is lacking: 42% of jurisdictions did not send out sample ballots before the election.

For more on this see: “Barriers to Voter Registration,” Doug Israel, Gotham Gazette, 10/10/04 http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/voting/20041004/17/1137

Voter Protection

· Several organizations have set up hotlines for the public to get information about voting and to report problems at the polls on election day. For more information, see People for the American Way at www.pfaw.org (1-866-OUR –VOTE) and the National Association of Elected Latino Officials at www.naelo.org (1-888-Vey-Y-Vota)

Uncounted Ballots and Ballot “spoilage”

· A report from the Civil Rights Project at Harvard University on the 2000 elections found a direct correlation between ballot spoilage and the concentration of minority voters: Of the top 100 coutnies with the highest rates of ballot “spoilage” 67 have black populations above 12% – conversely, of the top 100 counties with the lowest “spoilage” rates only 10 had sizable black populations and 70 of the counties were over 75% white.

· The study also found technology will not necessarily improve the spoilage rates, rather, some of the most effective strategies came at minimal cost and modest improvement: ballot design change, poll worker training, and voter education.

Voting System Reforms

· California: In San Francisco, voters will have a new system of voting for electing their seven seat Board of Supervisors. Ranked Choice Voting allows voters to rank their candidates providing for an instant runoff system that saves the county money and prevents voters having to return to the polls a month later for a runoff election. (FairElections.us)

For more on this, see the “Frequently Asked Questins About Ranked Choice Voting” http://www.sfrcv.com/rcvfaq.htm

· Colorado: Amendment 36 to the state constitution would make the candidate who wins the greatest number of popular votes wins all nine of Colorado’s electoral seats. Compared to 1992, when Bill Clinton gained 40% of the popular vote but won 100% of the state’s electoral votes.

For more on this, see: “ Dividing Colorado’s Vote” by Julia Martinez, The Denver Post 9/26/04 http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~75~2422386,00.html

For More on Voter Intimidation, see: “Bullies at the Voting Booth” Anne Marie Cusac, The Progressive, 10/04 http://www.progressive.org/oct04/cusac1004.html

Also: “Fox Hunts Student Voters” Katha Pollitt, The Nation, 10/11/04 http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml%3Fi=20041011&s=pollitt

For the status of military and overseas voting see: “Military Voter Education Underway,” Becker and Fainaru, 10/01/04 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A63198-2004Sep30.html

And: “Hurdles Remain for American Voters Who Live Overseas” Michael Moss, New York Times/Herald Tribune 9/29/04 http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040929/ZNYT02/409290715