This is a really interesting memo and frustrating problem. It is hard to believe such an overwhelmingly progressive state has such restrictive voting rules and systems and subsequently such low voter turnout. I think you do a really good job of laying out the various issues at hand, including party registration dates, absentee voting, etc. They all seem like problems that are somewhat easy to fix and would have large public support. I’d love to see New York move towards a system like Oregon or Colorado, like you mention, where you receive a ballot in the mail and can vote by mail.
Hi! It is very interesting that NYS is ranked as one of the lowest in the country for voter turnout, but you did a nice job detailing the reasons that contributed to such low voter turnout numbers. This past Presidential election was a good example of how the voting system in NYS needs an upgrade. Lines to vote were wrapped around city blocks as voters tried to cast their votes before work. Perhaps to make your argument stronger, you might try and find more statically data from survey studies that give more insight on reason why more New Yorkers are not voting.
I think this is a great topic and is obviously really relevant. Another thing you could look into is how low NYS voter turnout is during non-presidential election years (it is usually WAY lower) and those elections are just as important.
I thought this memo was informative and easy to digest. Lauren, I appreciated that you compared New York, a traditionally progressive state, to other states that have already taken the steps necessary to make the democratic process fit for today’s environment. I too believe that this voting issue stands to become a major issue for the country as our generation becomes the majority voter. Changes that I would like to see include a weekend long voting duration and a digitally remote voting option.
Low voter turn-out is a major issue for any democracy . Citizen participation is paramount. The Democratic party needs to address as you suggested issues that account for reasons of low voter turn-out. Citizens should exercise their right to vote. Historically in the United States lives were lost for people to earn and keep their right to vote it, African Americans from the 15th Amendment and women in 1920. Your memo was strong in highlighting benefits in voting, giving both sides and pro’s and con’s. You gave insight on how various processes work and can be improved. You gave information on the Board of Election mission statement which gave an agency accountabilty of regulating the voting process. New York has a mayoral election soon. It would be interesting to give local officials views or information on how they are addressing the problem. Your topic is very relevant and will impact all elections especially the next presidential election. Good information.
A very pressing issue, Lauren! I’m glad you are addressing it. Everyone else that commented gave great suggestions. One piece that I think that would be helpful to your argument would be the elimination of civic education in the classroom. A large piece of increasing voter participation should include grooming citizens to vote at a very early age, especially in low-income communities where voter turnout is especially low. You might want to look at differences in voting blocks to see if civic education made an impact in today’s older voters (I’d say it did). Additionally, and you touched on this, but historically the United States has treated voting more as a privilege than a right by making people go through hoops in order to vote (owning property, age, race, gender, etc.). Perhaps you can look specifically at New York State’s Constitution for limitations as it relates to voting.
This memo effectively uses statistics and comparisons to other jurisdictions to illustrate New York’s poor voter turnout problem. Low voter turnout at the percentages described are quite serious when one considers the results of the last presidential election. The inclusion of information about a positive voting environment resulting from early voting opportunities, for example, makes it clear that the source of the problem is not just the voters’ apathy. The data show the degree of New York’s problem compared with that of the nation and other key voting communities. The memo also provides some comparison with those states where voting is not as problematic.
The memo also speaks to the operational side of how we vote. The inclusion of closed primaries as a factor discouraging voter participation helps to explain why the numbers are what they are. It is also important that the behavioral analysis included the convenience factor and the obstacles to obtaining an absentee ballot, for example. Those ballots are supposed to make it easier to vote so it shouldn’t be difficult to access them. The information about voters’ behavior by demographic age group was also an important inclusion due to different groups’ facility with technology. The memo suggests that technology may be a greater part of the voting solution as voter demographics continue to change.
This is a really interesting memo and frustrating problem. It is hard to believe such an overwhelmingly progressive state has such restrictive voting rules and systems and subsequently such low voter turnout. I think you do a really good job of laying out the various issues at hand, including party registration dates, absentee voting, etc. They all seem like problems that are somewhat easy to fix and would have large public support. I’d love to see New York move towards a system like Oregon or Colorado, like you mention, where you receive a ballot in the mail and can vote by mail.
Hi! It is very interesting that NYS is ranked as one of the lowest in the country for voter turnout, but you did a nice job detailing the reasons that contributed to such low voter turnout numbers. This past Presidential election was a good example of how the voting system in NYS needs an upgrade. Lines to vote were wrapped around city blocks as voters tried to cast their votes before work. Perhaps to make your argument stronger, you might try and find more statically data from survey studies that give more insight on reason why more New Yorkers are not voting.
Thanks Quyen! That’s a great suggestion.
I think this is a great topic and is obviously really relevant. Another thing you could look into is how low NYS voter turnout is during non-presidential election years (it is usually WAY lower) and those elections are just as important.
I thought this memo was informative and easy to digest. Lauren, I appreciated that you compared New York, a traditionally progressive state, to other states that have already taken the steps necessary to make the democratic process fit for today’s environment. I too believe that this voting issue stands to become a major issue for the country as our generation becomes the majority voter. Changes that I would like to see include a weekend long voting duration and a digitally remote voting option.
Low voter turn-out is a major issue for any democracy . Citizen participation is paramount. The Democratic party needs to address as you suggested issues that account for reasons of low voter turn-out. Citizens should exercise their right to vote. Historically in the United States lives were lost for people to earn and keep their right to vote it, African Americans from the 15th Amendment and women in 1920. Your memo was strong in highlighting benefits in voting, giving both sides and pro’s and con’s. You gave insight on how various processes work and can be improved. You gave information on the Board of Election mission statement which gave an agency accountabilty of regulating the voting process. New York has a mayoral election soon. It would be interesting to give local officials views or information on how they are addressing the problem. Your topic is very relevant and will impact all elections especially the next presidential election. Good information.
A very pressing issue, Lauren! I’m glad you are addressing it. Everyone else that commented gave great suggestions. One piece that I think that would be helpful to your argument would be the elimination of civic education in the classroom. A large piece of increasing voter participation should include grooming citizens to vote at a very early age, especially in low-income communities where voter turnout is especially low. You might want to look at differences in voting blocks to see if civic education made an impact in today’s older voters (I’d say it did). Additionally, and you touched on this, but historically the United States has treated voting more as a privilege than a right by making people go through hoops in order to vote (owning property, age, race, gender, etc.). Perhaps you can look specifically at New York State’s Constitution for limitations as it relates to voting.
This memo effectively uses statistics and comparisons to other jurisdictions to illustrate New York’s poor voter turnout problem. Low voter turnout at the percentages described are quite serious when one considers the results of the last presidential election. The inclusion of information about a positive voting environment resulting from early voting opportunities, for example, makes it clear that the source of the problem is not just the voters’ apathy. The data show the degree of New York’s problem compared with that of the nation and other key voting communities. The memo also provides some comparison with those states where voting is not as problematic.
The memo also speaks to the operational side of how we vote. The inclusion of closed primaries as a factor discouraging voter participation helps to explain why the numbers are what they are. It is also important that the behavioral analysis included the convenience factor and the obstacles to obtaining an absentee ballot, for example. Those ballots are supposed to make it easier to vote so it shouldn’t be difficult to access them. The information about voters’ behavior by demographic age group was also an important inclusion due to different groups’ facility with technology. The memo suggests that technology may be a greater part of the voting solution as voter demographics continue to change.