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You are here: Home / Past Elections / Election 2016 / Some Good News on Voting Rights

Some Good News on Voting Rights

by John Cole|  March 16, 20158:16 pm| 120 Comments

This post is in: Election 2016

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This should be the standard in every state in the union, and Democrats should make it a campaign issue:

Sweeping first-in-the nation legislation making voter registration automatic in Oregon was signed into law on Monday by Governor Kate Brown, potentially adding 300,000 new voters to state rolls.

The so-called Motor Voter legislation will use state Department of Motor Vehicles data to automatically register eligible voters whose information is contained in the DMV system, with a 21-day opt-out period for those who wish to be taken off the registry.

Supporters say the legislation’s goal is to keep young voters, students and working families who move often from losing their right to vote. Republican lawmakers, who unanimously voted against the bill, complain it puts Oregonians’ privacy at risk.

“I challenge every other state in this nation to examine their policies and to find ways to ensure there are as few barriers as possible for citizens’ right to vote,” said Brown, a Democrat who took office last month after John Kitzhaber stepped down amid an ethics scandal.

The current legislation, which Brown had pushed for as secretary of state, goes further than a 1993 federal motor voter law that required states to make voter registration available for people getting or renewing a driver’s license.

Under the state law, the Oregon Secretary of State will use the DMV data, which includes information on whether a person is a citizen, to register voters, who would then be sent a postcard with information on how to opt out of registration altogether.

The postcard will also instruct voters on how to choose a political party, and those who do not choose will be registered as unaffiliated under the law.

Voting is a right and making it as easy as possible for people to do should be the focus of every politician.

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Previous Post: « What’s my deal?
Next Post: Monday Evening Open Thread: Always with the Grift, GOP »

Reader Interactions

120Comments

  1. 1.

    Randy P

    March 16, 2015 at 8:18 pm

    And we all believe that “privacy” is why Republicans want students and young people to have a hard time voting. I know I do.

  2. 2.

    Baud

    March 16, 2015 at 8:19 pm

    You forgot the both sides do it tag.

  3. 3.

    WaterGirl

    March 16, 2015 at 8:20 pm

    Voting is a right and making it as easy as possible for people to do should be the focus of every politician.

    Absolutely!

    *Cole, thanks for the new thread! It’s been kind of worrisome lately to have BJ threads so few and far between.

  4. 4.

    Kropadope

    March 16, 2015 at 8:20 pm

    Republican lawmakers, who unanimously voted against the bill, complain it puts Oregonians’ privacy at risk.

    How dare the government take my lawfully collected demographic information from the government? Keep your government hands off the DMV!!!derp!!!

  5. 5.

    Pogonip

    March 16, 2015 at 8:21 pm

    Speaking of voting, Cole, I vote that you keep Thurston. Lily is entitled to a puppy if she wants one. And besides, what if he can’t sleep on anyone else’s head? Do you want to risk sentencing him to a lifetime of insomnia?

  6. 6.

    WaterGirl

    March 16, 2015 at 8:22 pm

    @Baud: Trying to expand people’s ability to vote? Both sides don’t do it!

  7. 7.

    Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (formerly Mumphrey, et al.)

    March 16, 2015 at 8:22 pm

    Voting is a right and making it as easy as possible for people to do should be the focus of every politician.

    Should be. But won’t.

    As the Republicans’ base of angry white guys keeps getting more and more badly outnumbered, Republicans are going to fight ever harder to keep legitimate people out of the booth.

  8. 8.

    WaterGirl

    March 16, 2015 at 8:23 pm

    @Pogonip: That was an awfully sweet story… Thurston Howl sleeping on Cole’s head and Lily protecting her puppy.

    My Tucker absolutely loves having his own puppy. I had no idea how much was missing from his life until he got his own puppy.

  9. 9.

    Baud

    March 16, 2015 at 8:23 pm

    @WaterGirl: BJ does ironic tags, doesn’t it?

  10. 10.

    Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (formerly Mumphrey, et al.)

    March 16, 2015 at 8:24 pm

    @Randy P:

    And minorities! Can’t forget about minorities. And poor people. Don’t want to violate their privacy, do we?

  11. 11.

    WaterGirl

    March 16, 2015 at 8:25 pm

    @Baud: I think Cole just isn’t in a “tag” mood. Election 2016 isn’t even the tag I would have chosen for this, but I’m not sure having a tag-less post is even allowed.

    Edit: never mind. Everything is allowed here at BJ.

  12. 12.

    Kropadope

    March 16, 2015 at 8:26 pm

    @Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (formerly Mumphrey, et al.):

    And minorities! Can’t forget about minorities. And poor people. Don’t want to violate their privacy, do we?

    Unless they’re within a thousand degrees of separation from a suspected terrorist.

  13. 13.

    West of the Cascades

    March 16, 2015 at 8:27 pm

    I love this state (a proud Oregonian since 2006). Besides this sensible step on voter registration, Oregon has 100% mail-in voting: three weeks before the election, Oregon sends me my ballot in the mail along with a Voter’s Guide. All I have to do is mark some bubbles, sign the envelope, put a stamp on it, and put it in my outbound mail (or drop it in a mailbox, or at one of the ballot collection stations if I want to save 49 cents postage). It’s the easiest voting system in the country, and yet 25%-40% of people still don’t bother voting.

    Very disappointed that no Republicans voted for this — there used to be an element of sane and moderate (and – four decades ago – liberal) Republicans in Oregon, but it’s pretty clear those are gone. Fortunately the current Oregon GOP shows its stripes like this, almost guaranteeing it will continue to be only marginally relevant here.

  14. 14.

    Pogonip

    March 16, 2015 at 8:27 pm

    I think widespread voting is great, but I think all candidates, from dog catcher to President, should have to pass a basic civics test.

  15. 15.

    Baud

    March 16, 2015 at 8:27 pm

    @West of the Cascades: Good for Oregon.

  16. 16.

    Unabogie

    March 16, 2015 at 8:28 pm

    Every. last. Republican. voted. no.

    That’s all you need to know about the modern GOP. Objectively anti-democracy.

  17. 17.

    JPL

    March 16, 2015 at 8:28 pm

    GA had a motor voter registration and the next time I have to renew my license, I have to bring in both my birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce papers and proof of residency. Funny how that works.

  18. 18.

    Pogonip

    March 16, 2015 at 8:29 pm

    @WaterGirl: Words to live by, Cole!

  19. 19.

    Unabogie

    March 16, 2015 at 8:30 pm

    @West of the Cascades:

    It’s a great place to live and days like this I’m very proud to call it home.

  20. 20.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 16, 2015 at 8:31 pm

    @Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (formerly Mumphrey, et al.): Especially not by stopping and frisking them, amirite?

  21. 21.

    Kropadope

    March 16, 2015 at 8:32 pm

    @efgoldman:

    What happened to :::ahem::: all that alleged “voter fraud?”

    If they were smart, they would have used this to attach their favorite policy of only licensed drivers and gun owners being able to vote. Then, if they were smart, they wouldn’t be elected Republican officials.

  22. 22.

    Svensker

    March 16, 2015 at 8:33 pm

    @JPL:

    NJ didn’t have motor voter and you still had to bring in all that crap to renew your license. Anti-terrorist, doncha know.. At least when I was living there 5 years ago.

  23. 23.

    Pogonip

    March 16, 2015 at 8:33 pm

    Does anyone else want to vote for Cole keeping Thurston?

  24. 24.

    Pogonip

    March 16, 2015 at 8:35 pm

    @Svensker: I hope my state doesn’t decide I have to have divorce papers to renew my license. That was 34 years ago! I don’t even remember the month and day!

  25. 25.

    Davis X. Machina

    March 16, 2015 at 8:36 pm

    @West of the Cascades:

    It’s the easiest voting system in the country, and yet 25%-40% of people still don’t bother voting.

    This is naturally due to the dearth of truly progressive candidates on the ballot.

    (I know this because I see it on the internet…)

  26. 26.

    Pogonip

    March 16, 2015 at 8:39 pm

    @Kropadope: Then I woyldn’t be scrounging for decades-old papers; I could just bring in the gun. But then what would we do about voters who are allergic to gunpowder? I have met one such person and I’m sure there are others.

  27. 27.

    Roger Moore

    March 16, 2015 at 8:40 pm

    @Pogonip:

    Does anyone else want to vote for Cole keeping Thurston?

    Vote all you want; Cole’s gonna do what Cole’s gonna do.

  28. 28.

    WaterGirl

    March 16, 2015 at 8:40 pm

    If this were an open thread, I would ask if anyone is watching the new show Battle Creek.

  29. 29.

    Davis X. Machina

    March 16, 2015 at 8:40 pm

    @Pogonip: If the divorce was responsible for un-doing a name change, you’ll need them.

    Title 2 of the REAL ID Act of 2005. Because you could have a bomb in that burqa, lady.

  30. 30.

    Baud

    March 16, 2015 at 8:42 pm

    @WaterGirl: The ads made it look dumb.

  31. 31.

    Tree With Water

    March 16, 2015 at 8:45 pm

    Way to go, my northern neighbors. I know my 94 year old mother (born in Colorado and raised in Salem, Oregon) will be happy and proud to hear this great news.

  32. 32.

    WaterGirl

    March 16, 2015 at 8:45 pm

    @Baud: Usually, when they over-hype a new show like that, it never lasts. But it has a plot!

    I watched American Crime and I can’t figure out why everyone thinks it’s such a great show. If I want to be depressed about everything that’s wrong in the world, and see it play out on TV, I could just watch the news.

  33. 33.

    VFX Lurker

    March 16, 2015 at 8:46 pm

    @West of the Cascades: I wanted to bring up Oregon’s nifty vote-by-mail system, too, but I am glad you beat me to it.

    Oregon sets a good example for the other states. I hope more follow Oregon’s lead in making it easier for citizens to vote.

  34. 34.

    Pogonip

    March 16, 2015 at 8:47 pm

    @Davis X. Machina: No, it wasn’t. I kept the name because my son wanted me to.

  35. 35.

    SiubhanDuinne

    March 16, 2015 at 8:47 pm

    @Pogonip:

    At the very least, the same test immigrants have to pass before they can become citizens: http://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/quiz/learners/study-test/study-materials-civics-test/naturalization-self-test-1

  36. 36.

    JPL

    March 16, 2015 at 8:48 pm

    @Svensker: A friend told me about a neighbor who moved from IL and the neighbor had been married five times. She tried to get a GA license and gave up.
    IMO, if you are getting married, don’t take your spouses name because the state makes it to complicated.
    unintended consequences.

  37. 37.

    Baud

    March 16, 2015 at 8:48 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    Or come here!

  38. 38.

    NotMax

    March 16, 2015 at 8:48 pm

    Only have recent personal experience here in Hawaii and also in NY state, but one of the unsung things government has done right to is work (and succeed) at making going to and interacting with the DMV no longer like unto gruel time at the workhouse in “Oliver Twist.”

  39. 39.

    SiubhanDuinne

    March 16, 2015 at 8:49 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    I lived in Battle Creek for three interminable years. Possibly the nadir of my life. Why would I want to watch a show with that name?

  40. 40.

    JPL

    March 16, 2015 at 8:51 pm

    In GA it’s easier to buy a gun then it is to renew your license.

  41. 41.

    Pogonip

    March 16, 2015 at 8:52 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: I’ll go for that. I’ve seen that test. It’s tough, especially if you’re taking it in a foreign language as both my aunts did. The one who can converse in English much better than she can write it really had a terrible time, but with much study and practice she got through.

  42. 42.

    WaterGirl

    March 16, 2015 at 8:52 pm

    @Baud: switching threads = changing channels

    Edit: I was getting tired of “all Hillary, all the time”. Kind of like what we used to call the law & order channel, back in the day.

  43. 43.

    Pogonip

    March 16, 2015 at 8:55 pm

    @Davis X. Machina: “Boss? There’s an unhappy lady out front with a bokken in her burka…”

  44. 44.

    NotMax

    March 16, 2015 at 8:57 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne

    Back when, Mom had to take an oral exam for citizenship.

    She tells the story of how one question was “How many stripes are on the flag?” – a tidbit not included among the stuff she had studied.

    So she took her time to answer, using that time to count the stripes on the flag behind the examiner’s desk.

  45. 45.

    namekarB

    March 16, 2015 at 8:58 pm

    @West of the Cascades:

    I’m guessing that your GOP legislators all come from the bastion of gun tot’n white cowboys in pick-ups east of the Cascades in sage brush country of eastern Oregon. (Qualifier: I was born in Klamath Falls).

  46. 46.

    WaterGirl

    March 16, 2015 at 8:59 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: I see your point. How do you feel about shows set in Chicago?

  47. 47.

    PsiFighter37

    March 16, 2015 at 9:01 pm

    Voting should be compulsory…look at Australia as a model. Stupendously high turnout or else you pay a $20 fine.

    Of course, because freedom and ‘Murica, that will never happen here.

  48. 48.

    SiubhanDuinne

    March 16, 2015 at 9:02 pm

    @Pogonip:

    I seriously wonder how many of our Members of Congress/Congressional candidates (and all other elected officials and candidates, of course) would be able to pass the test right* this minute. Personally, I’d put in a requirement that they would have to score a minimum of 90% in order to be eligible to run for office.

    *Note to KarenInGA: I typed the word “right,” but FYAC deleted that and provided “Iggy” instead. “Pass the test Iggy this minute.” Yeah, that makes sense.

  49. 49.

    SiubhanDuinne

    March 16, 2015 at 9:04 pm

    @NotMax:

    Wonderful!!

  50. 50.

    Iowa Old Lady

    March 16, 2015 at 9:04 pm

    We can renew licenses by mail, although once I’m 70, I’ll have to appear and be tested in some way.

  51. 51.

    SiubhanDuinne

    March 16, 2015 at 9:05 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    Well, my years in Chicago were hardly a nadir. So in principle I’m just fine with it.

  52. 52.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    March 16, 2015 at 9:08 pm

    OT: Rachel Maddow’s doing a great explainer on who Loretta Lynch is. Them of you without cable will be able to watch it on line. I saw today that John McCain, who a couple of weeks ago called her uniquely qualified, or words to that effect, announced he will not vote for her, if the Turtle ever brings her nomination up for a vote. The old coot’s up for relection 2016, I think.

  53. 53.

    raven

    March 16, 2015 at 9:10 pm

    @JPL: and social security cars

  54. 54.

    WaterGirl

    March 16, 2015 at 9:10 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: Have I offended you somehow? Or are you just more cryptic than usual tonight?

  55. 55.

    Steeplejack (phone)

    March 16, 2015 at 9:10 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    I’m liking it well enough to keep on with so far. It’s better than the ads make it look.

  56. 56.

    PsiFighter37

    March 16, 2015 at 9:11 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: If the GOP delays her vote for long enough, Obama may tell the GOP to fuck off and enjoy having Holder around for the rest of his presidency. Kind of surprised the GOP would want that – they hate Holder a lot. Frankly it’s just another sign of GOP incompetence that they can’t do anything right.

    I also wonder if any federal judges will get confirmed at all these last 2 years…kind of doubt it.

  57. 57.

    raven

    March 16, 2015 at 9:12 pm

    @WaterGirl: Have you watched Last Tango in Halifax? Seemingly silly premise but it’s really good.

  58. 58.

    WaterGirl

    March 16, 2015 at 9:12 pm

    @Steeplejack (phone): I think so, too. Are you watching anything else that’s new?

  59. 59.

    NotMax

    March 16, 2015 at 9:12 pm

    @WaterGirl

    One deservedly forgotten network series set in Chicago which came and went at nearly warp speed was The Chicago Teddy Bears, a gangster sitcom set in the Prohibition-era.

    Mention it only because it was so blatantly obviously slapped together on the cheap. The sets were so flimsy that the walls shook like Jell-O whenever anyone shut a door.

  60. 60.

    raven

    March 16, 2015 at 9:14 pm

    @NotMax: M-Squad.

  61. 61.

    WaterGirl

    March 16, 2015 at 9:15 pm

    @raven: Never heard of it, so I checked on MyFuton just now. That says it’s “on hiatus or fate to be determined”. bummer!

  62. 62.

    SiubhanDuinne

    March 16, 2015 at 9:15 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    Oh no, not at all!! I’m so sorry you thought that!

    I was just referring back to my comment #41 where I said that my years in BC were awful and (implying) that my growing-up years in Chicago were not-awful.

    Yes, that’s probably kind of cryptic. Apologies again, I wouldn’t offend for the world.

  63. 63.

    WaterGirl

    March 16, 2015 at 9:16 pm

    @NotMax: How did I miss that one?

  64. 64.

    Baud

    March 16, 2015 at 9:16 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Maddow essentially called her a female Obama. No way she gets a vote. Holder needs to go crazy. He is the most powerful man in the world.

  65. 65.

    Villago Delenda Est

    March 16, 2015 at 9:17 pm

    @West of the Cascades: Dave Frohnmayer died last week. He was about the last sane Republican left in the state. Now Art Robinson, of all people, is the chairman of the GOP in Oregon.

  66. 66.

    WaterGirl

    March 16, 2015 at 9:17 pm

    And another thread. Thank you, gods of Balloon Juice!

  67. 67.

    raven

    March 16, 2015 at 9:17 pm

    @WaterGirl: It’s on Netfix, 2 seasons with Sarah Lancashire and Derek Jacobi. Sarah is also in Happy Valley and it’s really good.

  68. 68.

    WaterGirl

    March 16, 2015 at 9:18 pm

    @raven:

    I don’t do Netflix currently, but I might have to start. thanks for the info

  69. 69.

    Villago Delenda Est

    March 16, 2015 at 9:18 pm

    @namekarB: East of the Cascades and South of TrackTown, USA, the derp starts getting really thick.

  70. 70.

    Baud

    March 16, 2015 at 9:21 pm

    I caught an episode of The Royals on E! Another dumb show.

  71. 71.

    WaterGirl

    March 16, 2015 at 9:21 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: I caught the reference – there was just something in your wording that made me wonder. Glad to know I was wrong! Given how tough we are on apologies here at BJ, I would have to make sure there it was well done! :-)

  72. 72.

    Villago Delenda Est

    March 16, 2015 at 9:21 pm

    @Davis X. Machina: A lot of the GOTV effort this last cycle was just getting people to open the envelope sitting on the kitchen table and fill in the bubbles. Just reminding people to do it.

    I still wish the computer system was more up to date so that when people got their ballots in, we no longer called them, for two reasons: People get annoyed at reminder calls for something they’ve done, and we’re wasting volunteer time on calling people who don’t need a reminder.

  73. 73.

    Mike in NC

    March 16, 2015 at 9:21 pm

    @PsiFighter37: We should fine our lazy assholes $200 for not voting. Nothing else would get their attention.

  74. 74.

    JaneE

    March 16, 2015 at 9:22 pm

    A thousand times AMEN. I have been registered to vote since I was 21. The last time I moved, when I changed my drivers license address, I just checked the box that said Yes, I want to register to vote using this address. Got forms in the mail in a couple of weeks so I could pick my party affiliation. One less thing to run around and do.

    Not surprising that the GOP voted against. They are against anything that doesn’t put more power and/or money in the hands of rich white men, no matter how good it might be for the whole country.

  75. 75.

    Villago Delenda Est

    March 16, 2015 at 9:23 pm

    @efgoldman: The only voter fraud that exists in Oregon is perpetrated by registered Rethuglicans working in county elections offices.

  76. 76.

    WaterGirl

    March 16, 2015 at 9:24 pm

    @Baud: I would pay to see Holder unleashed.

  77. 77.

    Baud

    March 16, 2015 at 9:27 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    “Excuse me while I whip this out.”

  78. 78.

    SiubhanDuinne

    March 16, 2015 at 9:27 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    As well as we (the Juicetariat) think we know each other, it is surprising how often the written comment fails to convey — or inaccurately conveys — the intended meaning. No worries, I would just hate to have you think that I was angry or offended.

    (And now I need to go puzzle over what in my wording prompted your reaction, so I can refrain from doing it in the future.)

    :-)

  79. 79.

    Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (formerly Mumphrey, et al.)

    March 16, 2015 at 9:36 pm

    @JPL:

    In GA it’s easier to buy a gun then it is to renew your license.

    I’m guessing that they find some way to throw some hurdles up before the Black people, though. I know it sounds like I’m kidding, but in all seriousness, I can’t believe they’d let Black people get guns as easily as they let white people get them.

  80. 80.

    Steeplejack

    March 16, 2015 at 9:37 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    New shows? I’m liking Backstrom, which started off really rubbing me the wrong way. Every freaking character was “quirky” and always cracking wise. They’ve smoothed it out a bit, or maybe I’m getting used to it.

    Somewhat the same for Fresh Off the Boat, about the Vietnamese family that moves from D.C. to Orlando in the ’90s. It was a little unsteady at first, but it has gotten better, and Constance Wu is killing it as the “tiger mom” mother of the family.

  81. 81.

    West of the Cascades

    March 16, 2015 at 9:45 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est: Oh Gawd. I’d seen reports of Frohnmayer’s death, but not the fact that Art Robinson is now GOP chairman. The crazification of the Oregon GOP took another great leap forward.

    Sadly, you don’t have to go much further than a half hour from downtown Portland to Clackamas County to get some serious derpification.

  82. 82.

    WaterGirl

    March 16, 2015 at 9:49 pm

    @Baud: That wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. I’m thinking bankster prosecutions, making marijuana legal at the federal level, cracking down on all the bullshit evil towns like Ferguson, investigations into safety issues in Texas, surely there’s something he can do related to immigration. Pretty much anything that would piss off the republicans would work for me.

    Make that EVERYTHING that would piss off the republicans.

  83. 83.

    WaterGirl

    March 16, 2015 at 9:52 pm

    @Steeplejack: I thought the same thing about Backstrom. Not just the one quirky character, so much quirky it was like a caricature of quirky. But I gave it a few shows to see what would happen, and I am still watching.

    I haven’t heard of the other show.

    Do you like American Crime?

  84. 84.

    Mike in NC

    March 16, 2015 at 9:52 pm

    @Steeplejack: Backstrom became annoying because Raiin Wilson was tolerable in a sitcom like The Office where he was exposed as an insufferable douchebag, but the new show is a straight drama. Doesn’t work for us.

    The protagonists in Fresh Off The Boat are Taiwanese. Cute show.

  85. 85.

    Steeplejack

    March 16, 2015 at 10:02 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    Fresh Off the Boat is on at 8:00 p.m. Tuesday on ABC. Representative clip here.

    Haven’t been watching American Crime. I had the impression it was one of those shows where you have to watch it chronologically, and I missed the boat when it started.

  86. 86.

    Steeplejack

    March 16, 2015 at 10:06 pm

    Wanted to add that I gave Battle Creek a shot despite the ads because I have faith in Vince Gilligan. I can’t imagine what the initial ads for Breaking Bad were like.

  87. 87.

    WaterGirl

    March 16, 2015 at 10:11 pm

    @Steeplejack: I just watched the first two episode this weekend, and I think American Crime is really depressing.

    But so many people here said last week that it’s the best thing on TV, so now that I watched a couple of episodes, I’m interested in hearing why they think it’s so great.

    Where you are with American Crime is where I am with Better Call Saul. I never watched Breaking Bad, but I liked the first few minutes of episode 3, which is available on demand. So I stopped watching, hoping to find episodes 1 & 2. Trying to decide whether it’s worth 4 bucks to buy them on iTunes.

    Edit: talking about episodes of Better Call Saul, not Breaking Bad.

  88. 88.

    rikyrah

    March 16, 2015 at 10:13 pm

    @Steeplejack:
    I love Fresh Off the Boat.

  89. 89.

    BillB

    March 16, 2015 at 10:19 pm

    As an Oregonian Lib for 30some years, I can tell you vote-by-mail is a fraud-vehicle. Abusive spouses grab a spouse’s ballot and vote for them. Apartment buildings have common mail facilities and rethuglican landlords grab ten-twenty ballots and vote as they please. VBM is a BADDD Idea.

  90. 90.

    muddy

    March 16, 2015 at 10:20 pm

    @Steeplejack: I had to give it a shot because Dean Winters.

  91. 91.

    Kropadope

    March 16, 2015 at 10:22 pm

    @BillB: Somehow I think these particular felonies are as plausible as the claimed in-person voter fraud. Why would people risk a long prison sentence and/or huge fine for one more drop in the bucket?

  92. 92.

    sdhays

    March 16, 2015 at 10:30 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: John “I sign lots of letters” McCain has no business running for reelection. I wonder how many houses he’s signed over to his underlings because he just signed without reading/comprehending.

  93. 93.

    Kropadope

    March 16, 2015 at 10:31 pm

    @BillB: Oh, and if someone were stealing dozens of ballots, someone would be sure to notice.

  94. 94.

    Villago Delenda Est

    March 16, 2015 at 10:38 pm

    @BillB: Each ballot is authenticated by the voter’s signature.

    Naturally, the interpretation of the authenticity of that signature is subject to human error, but despite all the fears, no “massive fraud” has ever been reported with the Oregon VBM system. Well, except for the totally invented out of whole cloth fraud that The American Spectator came up with nearly two decades ago. That couldn’t be verified with the county election officials where all the “fraud” was supposed to have taken place.

  95. 95.

    Cain

    March 16, 2015 at 10:38 pm

    Suck it, Red states! We’re showing the way! At least now I won’t have to waste my time trying to get people registered to vote next election while smoking a doobie. :)

  96. 96.

    Steeplejack

    March 16, 2015 at 10:42 pm

    @muddy:

    Yeah, I hope this is a breakout for him. He has done good work in a lot of places but has so far not seemed able to get past the “Oh, yeah, that guy” phase. Or, worse, “Oh, yeah, the insurance commercial guy.”

    I thought he was particularly good in his second stretch on Law and Order as the semi-shady undercover cop.

  97. 97.

    Kropadope

    March 16, 2015 at 10:43 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est: A self-proclaimed “Lib” who’s trying to sow fears about voting access who clearly hasn’t thought things through. I smell either a Republican plant or a future frequent “Liberal” guest on MSM cable shows.

  98. 98.

    Cain

    March 16, 2015 at 10:43 pm

    @West of the Cascades:

    Very disappointed that no Republicans voted for this — there used to be an element of sane and moderate (and – four decades ago – liberal) Republicans in Oregon, but it’s pretty clear those are gone. Fortunately the current Oregon GOP shows its stripes like this, almost guaranteeing it will continue to be only marginally relevant here.

    I too am a proud Oregonian since 1996 and I love this state fiercely. Everyone along the political spectrum loves this state passionately as well. It’s moderate standing came from Republicans from early days. We had some amazing Republican governors like Tom McCall. I wish we could have that kind of calibre of people again. We have plenty of problems, but we’re not afraid to be first timers. I hope that we can raise better funds for education. Thanks to companies like Intel though we are creating a lot of moderate people. Over the years, Intel has become quite the liberal company making some interesting moves like 2 month bonding leave for husbands with newborns. This is the kind of stuff that companies should be doing.

  99. 99.

    Cain

    March 16, 2015 at 10:45 pm

    @West of the Cascades:

    It’s the easiest voting system in the country, and yet 25%-40% of people still don’t bother voting.

    I suppose if we could hook it up twitter it would be a lot easier for these millenials to vote. #takemyvoteoregon

  100. 100.

    Kropadope

    March 16, 2015 at 10:47 pm

    @Cain: Maybe it’s best to not have people who are that uninterested in voting vote.

    Besides, I’m a millennial and I refuse to get a twitter account.

  101. 101.

    muddy

    March 16, 2015 at 10:51 pm

    @Steeplejack: As far as the insurance sales, I would watch an hour of that, I like him so well. He was remarkable on Oz.

  102. 102.

    Cain

    March 16, 2015 at 10:51 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    I still wish the computer system was more up to date so that when people got their ballots in, we no longer called them, for two reasons: People get annoyed at reminder calls for something they’ve done, and we’re wasting volunteer time on calling people who don’t need a reminder.

    Yeah, same problem here. I guess we were both doing phone banking in the same area… it is annoying to the voters, even those who vote all democrat. The stupid thing is that, the only people we call are everyone over the age of 45. Nobody else will pick up the phone or are not around. The people we need to reach are the people we can’t!

  103. 103.

    Cain

    March 16, 2015 at 10:52 pm

    @West of the Cascades:

    Sadly, you don’t have to go much further than a half hour from downtown Portland to Clackamas County to get some serious derpification.

    We just need to kill talk radio, that’s what is crazifying the entire area. I’d like to have a thousand bed bugs infest Lars Larson’s bed one night.

  104. 104.

    Mike E

    March 16, 2015 at 10:53 pm

    @Cain: Why, you must be one proud NW’er!

  105. 105.

    Cain

    March 16, 2015 at 10:55 pm

    @Kropadope:

    Besides, I’m a millennial and I refuse to get a twitter account.

    I agree. Like the previous generation, the young people are mostly interested in what’s in front of them and pop culture. :-) Also get off my lawn.

  106. 106.

    trollhattan

    March 16, 2015 at 10:57 pm

    Yay, Oregon.. Makes up for tabling mandatory vaccinations. More or less.

  107. 107.

    Cain

    March 16, 2015 at 11:01 pm

    @Mike E:

    @Cain: Why, you must be one proud NW’er!

    I am. Let me tell you a story: I went grocery shopping last week. I went to a produce store, and lo and behold they had a bar with 12 taps on it, including two kombucha taps. I stocked up on a growler of kombucha, got a bunch of beer bottles (all Oregon made), had some beer tasting on what was on tap in addition to the fruits and vegetables I was getting. I then went to New Seasons, another general purpose grocery store. While shopping there, I had a tasting of a couple of beer taps they had there. Had a pint of this amazing double IPA that I can’t get now (and I’m pissed..) had a bunch of discussions with a bunch of people, ripped on our city government, and walked out somewhat tipsy. It wasn’t clear to me whether I was grocery shopping or on one amazing pub crawl without actually going to a pub. Every grocery store now has beer taps, and/or wine taps. Probably not the best place for John G. Cole to be moving to. Besides I think he likes Madison, WI better anyways.

    23903th reasons why I love this state. Now, if want to start talking about the city of Beaverton, well they are on my shit list.

  108. 108.

    Mike E

    March 16, 2015 at 11:27 pm

    @Cain: Heh, Madison was where I got served beer my first time–I was 16 at the time– but my 24 year old brother was told no. Love that crazy college town!

  109. 109.

    Bobby B.

    March 16, 2015 at 11:27 pm

    @West of the Cascades: Ever drive around rural Josephine County? The tweakers have so many Art Robinson signs you’d think he was a local warlord. Also US Out Of UN signs.

  110. 110.

    myiq2xu

    March 17, 2015 at 12:08 am

    Are these the same Democrats who can’t get ID to vote?

  111. 111.

    pseudonymous in nc

    March 17, 2015 at 12:27 am

    @VFX Lurker:

    Oregon sets a good example for the other states. I hope more follow Oregon’s lead in making it easier for citizens to vote.

    Said it before, will say it again: what Oregon has is a strong civic culture and a belief in free and fair elections with full participation, and that translates into vote-by-mail and this new automatic registration system. (That prevailing culture is why Kitzhaber’s exit was both a shock and happened relatively quickly.)

    These things require a willingness both to put money into supporting electoral institutions, and to crack down on voter suppression and manipulation. And I do think that it’s hard to export good government to those states that don’t really believe in it.

  112. 112.

    Villago Delenda Est

    March 17, 2015 at 12:54 am

    @trollhattan: Yeah, I’m pissed about that. They backed off after being flooded with vaxxer fuckwits, to include Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

  113. 113.

    Tree With Water

    March 17, 2015 at 1:23 am

    @Cain: My mother grew up as the girl next door to former governor Mark Hatfield. Or almost next door, anyway. Indeed, they also attended Willamette University together, where he was once voted ‘the prettiest girl on campus’ (or something like that). He was a republican, too. However, I never once heard a ill word spoken of him from any family member that knew him. And they were all were New Dealers whose lives had been saved by FDR’s democratic party. They all recognized the GOP as their mortal political enemy, and yet all held Hatfield in sincere esteem. That would not be the case with literally any republican politician alive today, if only because (without exception) that side of the family were all decent enough people.

  114. 114.

    Seanly

    March 17, 2015 at 1:43 am

    @efgoldman:

    The NPR story about it was all over that.

  115. 115.

    Tree With Water

    March 17, 2015 at 1:44 am

    “San Francisco 49ers linebacker Chris Borland is retiring after one year in the NFL due to concerns over the long-term effects of head trauma, he told ESPN’s Outside the Lines on Monday. The 24-year-old is coming off a promising rookie season that saw him lead the team with 107 tackles in eight starts in relief of injured All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis”.

    Willis retired last week, too. Borland was quoted as saying he played through a concussion last year, but found himself asking why, knowing what he did about the risk of permanent brain damage. Smart guys, both of them- especially Borland.

  116. 116.

    SWMBO

    March 17, 2015 at 2:33 am

    OT John I tried to email you about Mary G and Ginger. I have a friend who works in basset rescue who would try to hook up one of their groups to do Mary’s home inspection for Furkids. Email me with her contact info and I’ll pass it along to my friend. May not work but it’s worth a shot. Ginger and Mary deserve each other and to be home at last.

    Balloon Juice–come for the politics and stay for the pets, food and gardening. Such a nice place.

  117. 117.

    TriassicSands

    March 17, 2015 at 6:29 am

    Voting is a right and making it as easy as possible for people to do should be the focus of every politician.

    Voting is a responsibility that just takes too much effort for many American citizens no matter how easy you make it for them.

    What the Republicans have been doing to suppress the vote is about as undemocratic as you can get, and there should be no unnecessary obstacles for voters to overcome to fulfill their responsibility to vote. However, millions of Americans just can’t be bothered.

    The one obstacle I’d be in favor of is a “literacy” test that would eliminate anyone who watches Fox News and thinks what they’re getting is news.

  118. 118.

    brantl

    March 17, 2015 at 7:37 am

    The only problem is, everyone entitled to a driver’s license, isn’t entitled to vote.

  119. 119.

    Matt McIrvin

    March 17, 2015 at 7:56 am

    @West of the Cascades: I am concerned about taking universal vote-by-mail nationwide: it seems to me that the system is vulnerable to blatant coercion and vote-buying, because there’s no way to enforce ballot secrecy. (“Show me your Republican-marked ballot or be fired” would be fairly easy to pull off, for instance. Or just “shred your ballot in front of me or be fired.”)

    In Oregon this is probably not a problem, but in, say, South Carolina or Mississippi I guarantee it would be.

  120. 120.

    pseudonymous in nc

    March 17, 2015 at 1:09 pm

    @brantl:

    The only problem is, everyone entitled to a driver’s license, isn’t entitled to vote.

    Well, it’s a good thing that DMV databases make a note of the supporting identity documents you provide when you apply for a license, and whether they indicate citizenship. Of course, some states have used this information to disenfranchise eligible voters who had become citizens after applying for their license.

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