Longtime union organizer and Democratic activist Pat Lehman told The Eagle editorial board that she is “furious” about Sedgwick County Election Commissioner Bill Gale’s recently announced plan to dramatically reduce the number of polling places in Wichita.
Lehman, who works around the nation and the world (including a recent visit to Indonesia) to organize voters and improve election access, called the new plan “the most insidious attempt to discourage voter turnout I’ve ever seen in this state” and a “clear violation of the Voting Rights Act.” She promised a battle.
Looks like this debate is only going to get hotter. Gale needs to address questions about how these decisions were made and how these changes enhance voter turnout. If longer lines and fewer machines discourage voting, how is that an improvement in democracy?
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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15 Comments
Randy:”If longer lines and fewer machines discourage voting, how is that an improvement in democracy?”
Well Randy,Don’t you know that the poor and impatient do not deserve representation in the U.S. of A. ?
Whats-a-matter with you?
Warum sollte ich mich interessieren, wo man wählt? Alle diese Politiker sind dieselben, es ausmacht nicht, wem Kanzler ist. Ich hoffe gerade, daß er einige feste Pläne für Zukunft Deutschlands hat! (Deutschland neunzehn und dreißig zwei.)
American voter: What is the problem with fewer voting places? It might make a difference if they have someone worth voting for! Them candidates are all the same, it is not like it is important or anything! Fewer voting places? I do not care one way or another! Hell I did not bother to vote when it was two blocks away, so it makes no difference where they are! Now where is that damn T.V. Guild I know survivors should be coming on sometime!
So why bother to even have an election commissioner?
(Wow! From the above previous post it’s obvious that EAGLE blogs are making it further afield than Utah.)
It’s interesting that Pat did not get upset a few years back when the previous election commissioner omitted precincts and voting places. I do agree that Gale has taken it over the line with his actions.
Where are the county commissioners on this? They have not said a word. Which probably should be no surprise but it is election year and at some point they are going to have to respond to the voters for another one of their behind the close door actions.
I guess I am missing something here. Are polling places just being closed in Democratic areas, or is it a general consolidation? Are polls just being shuttered in black neighborhoods, or is it a city wide thing?
I don’t necessarily agree with reducing polling places, but fail to see the partisan issues here. (much easier to vote in advance anyway)
School consolidation, neighborhood libraries closed to “grow”, Walmarts instead of local groceries and variety stores, corporate mega-mergers, and now a 70% reduction in polling places. Is this progress?
Gale, nice man. Stupid idea.
Reduce polling places and enlarge the ones that will be open.
They said the ones that will be open will hold much more people and booths and be better staffed.I don’t think reducing the numbers is a problem.
And I seriously doubt that it will discourage voters. People who vote, vote regardless of conditions, time, weather, or whatever. People who vote are passionate about it and nothing will discourage them.
So I believe that this “discourage” talking point is a farse.
I’ll go where I need to and wait as long as needed. With a couple of exceptions, I intend to vote against incumbancy.
Politicians, feel my wrath!
Prior to advance voting, most voters voted after work, between 5 PM and 7 PM. As a former long time precinct committeeman in both Merriam and Wichita, I remember fairly long lines especially in elections with hotly contested issues. However, now with advance voting, which I generally use, lines are shorter. So consolidating voting areas and election workers makes good business sense. True, this might require some fine tuning and tweeking with experience.
So I commend Election Commissioner Bill Gale on this change to benefit taxpayers.
I’m willing to wait before passing judgment. As Joe W points out – if they are accessable and efficient they should work. Add to this the work Gale has done to facilitate advance voting and I think we just might be going in the right direction.
This from the Eagle’s May 10th editorial:
Gale told The Eagle editorial board Tuesday that cost savings were a concern, especially with the county’s jail expansion and work-force efforts. “We’re asked to look for ways to try to basically work within our budget but still provide the same service, and that’s what we’re trying to do with the advance voting options,” he said.
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So, it is not like Gale thought this up on his own. This down-sizing was due to budget concerns. My question: shouldn’t democracy and the funtioning of that be a priority for government? It seems like to me it used to be.
Yeah DD, and now they are making it more difficult to do advance voting, the alternative to waiting in line for hours. See the article in the WE today about new affidavits required. Brought to you by the good republican kansas legislature. They must REALLY be running scared this year.
And who cant stand in line and wait that long. Ummmm… the elderly….the disabled….single parents…..
do we see pattern of REPUBLICANS being hindered at the polls? Nope. Just the traditional dem voters. The young strapping rich men, with their slicked back hair and $3000 suits wont have any trouble voting at all.
Agreed the above most of it.
Repukes constantly cry that Dems must legislate from the judiciary because their ideas can’t win at the ballot box.
Pretty good when you can make sure they won’t win at the ballot box by taking 2/3 of the “boxes” away.