Gothamist: Rock the Vote Defends Itself in Voter Registration Mess

Aga_NY

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:56:08 -0500

The blame for the backlog of voter registration in NY seems to be placed on the voters, namely for waiting til the last minute and overwhelming the election offices. I am one of the people who is not registered despite having sent in my voter registration form through Rock the Vote. I did not wait til the October deadline, but mailed my form back out in August. I spoke with a county elections personnel whose response to me was pretty much "Oh well. Too bad." Thanks NY, Good job!!!

gregorsamsa77

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:43:56 -0500

FUCK YEAH #12 STAY HOME ON THE FOURTH VOTING IS FOR LOSERS THE SYSTEM IS CORRUPT WHY BOTHER? STAY HOME ON THE FOURTH

HUGO_MEGO

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:04:03 -0500

Anyone under 30 should not vote because it is uncool and something old farts do. Stay home and watch MTV, drink Red Bull and party like there is no tomorrow. Voting is for losers.

cucarachita

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:53:08 -0500

Everyone! Bring your cameras with you to the poll to film any abuses you see! And don't flake on the vote!

cucarachita

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:51:58 -0500

when I called the board of elections voter assistance hotline, I asked what would happen if it were 8:59pm and I were on a line around the block with 200 people waiting in front of me. The nice lady said, "I doubt that will happen." I responded by referring her to the situation in Florida with the early voters, waiting on lines two blocks long for up to three hours. She said, "If you are on the premises you'll be allowed to vote." When asked if "around the block on a line two hundred people deep" meant "on the premises or not, she couldn't give me an answer. So I'm assuming they will hold the doors open? Also, I was told political NO T-SHIRTS! Take note, whatever you've heard. If you go wearing your political t-shirt, they won't let you within 100 feet of the polls, unless you cover up.

starrygordon

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:07:08 -0500

There is not much voter fraud, but there is a lot of voter suppression. A friend of mine who lives in Florida waited three hours in the Florida sun to vote; she said some people have to wait four hours. This is in early voting -- God knows what will happen on Election Day. Of course, it's Broward County, which is about as Democratic as New York City. The state government is Republican, so that might have something to do with the problems. The constant difficulties with registration seem to be another aspect of it. As my friend in Florida said (about the authorities): "If people vote, it's a problem." I guess that means there's something good about it after all.

monday09

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:07:00 -0500

there is no way there are going to make sure that over 100,000 forms are registered in NY in the next 9 days.

leonwestbrook

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:52:52 -0500

This is exactly why I registered to vote at the DMV. You can never trust a third party.

Jen S

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:51:54 -0500

My (slightly lazy) boyfriend registered via Rock the Vote on the last day, and the paperwork went through without a problem.

JMH

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:28:49 -0500

Are we sure that's actually Buckethead and not just a guy in a costume?

Pull My Finger

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:23:51 -0500

Looking at that picture I am not surprised they fucked up.

Polemicist

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:12:38 -0500

It is worse than the idiot factor. Voter fraud is much more damaging to the Republic than a few lazy or absent minded people failing to cast their votes. When people begin to assume elections do not reflect the will of the people, they will cease to believe in the legitimacy of the government. That will hurt us all.

Steven

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:27:06 -0500

For most people it's a bad habit putting things off to the very last minute. Just like how people wait until the very last minute doing their taxes or starting a paper in high school/college a day or two before it's due.

icedespresso

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:14:12 -0500

I hate to be the a-hole, here...but I will be. If you didn't just turn 18 in the past two months, why the hell are you JUST registering to vote. Oh, you just moved here? Well, why don't you absentee vote in the state where you came from. Your vote is more likely to count there. Stop clogging up the system and use a little common sense. You can register months, even years before an electon! (*sarcasm*)