SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

Want to be fined $10 for not voting?

May 19, 2017, 4:03 PM

low information voter, ballot, voter suppression...

(AP)

(AP)

There is weirdness coming out of New York. Of all places!

It’s a voting system based on an existing Australian voting system. I understand the instinct, but the thinking on it is exactly the opposite of what we need.

RELATED: Jesus Christ was not a lobbyist

There is a representative from Manhattan who wants to fine people who don’t vote $10. So we would have mandatory voting.

When I say this, people freak out. But let me qualify it: We have too many people who vote. We have a problem with the low information voter.

Now, I would fight for people’s right to vote. But we have too many people voting. Do we want people voting only because they would be fined if they didn’t?

Voting should be welcoming and easy. And we should get a receipt when we vote. But this instinct to get people who can’t be bothered to vote means that we will continue to empower the low information voter. The low information voter is how elections are won and lost now; this would make it even worse.

If you don’t know the issues, you have no damn business voting. You just simply don’t. Just like you have no business working on the electricity at your house if you don’t know what you’re doing.

As always, please listen to the full audio clip for complete context.

People walk past a sign directing voters on the first day of early voting in Minnesota at the Elect...

Associated Press

A high-stakes fight for state political power heats up, with Trump’s agenda on the line

Political power in legislatures and governors’ offices is at stake in the November elections in more than one-third of the states, creating down-ballot drama in the midterms that could have significant implications for President Donald Trump’s agenda. Outside groups aligned with the two major parties have pledged heavy spending in a battle for control of […]

19 minutes ago

Children look through a book of first words at a Head Start preschool in Immokalee, Fla., Thursday,...

Associated Press

A Head Start preschool in Florida faces changes under proposed English-only education rules, in photos

IMMOKALEE, Fla. (AP) — Head Start preschools are bracing for changes proposed by the Trump administration that would require all education to be conducted in English. This shift could impact centers like one in Immokalee, Florida, where both English and Spanish are used daily.

3 hours ago

Israeli passenger Yaniv Hayoun, with blood stains on his shirt, who was aboard a Flydubai aircraft ...

Associated Press

Attacker’s identify and motive remain unknown after FlyDubai flight to Israel escapes disaster

JERUSALEM (AP) — The identity and motive of the Omani copilot who stabbed his captain on a flight to Israel, causing the plane to plummet dangerously and forcing it to land in Saudi Arabia, remained unknown on Thursday as investigators raced to learn more. Israeli passengers on the FlyDubai flight carrying 174 people from the […]

3 hours ago

Associated Press

California helicopter crash kills 2 people and leaves 2 hospitalized and 1 missing, report says

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A medical helicopter crashed off Catalina Island near Los Angeles, killing two people and leaving two hospitalized on Wednesday night, authorities said. L.A. County Fire Engineer Jonathan Torres confirmed the two deaths and said two people were transported to local hospitals, while a fifth person remained missing, KTLA-TV reported. Los Angeles […]

3 hours ago

bite of seattle ferguson text...

Frank Lenzi

Bite of Seattle shooting: Ferguson texts reveal Jayapal’s concerns about news conference

U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal questioned whether she and Gov. Bob Ferguson should attend a news conference after the July 26 Bite of Seattle shooting, according to text messages released by Ferguson’s office. The shooting left three people dead and four others wounded.

4 hours ago

President Donald Trump speaks during an East Room event at the White House celebrating Hispanic Her...

Associated Press

Trump and Vance hit the campaign trail in deep-red areas where GOP candidates seek a boost

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance will both hit the campaign trail on Thursday, but they will be heading to heavily Republican areas to shore up lagging enthusiasm in their party ahead of next month’s midterm elections. Trump’s travel on Thursday to Texas and Oklahoma kicks off what the president […]

6 hours ago

Want to be fined $10 for not voting?