Content Authored by Christina Grier
1 - 9 of 9 results
-
America's Young Voters: Who They Are and Why They Matter
- Posted: December 2, 2011
- Author(s): Christina Grier
- Categories: Home, Voter Preregistration
Young voters hold the key to the future of the country and are an important part of the electorate. Just like every other age group, they are frustrated with political officials. Yet despite this frustration, there has been a slight increase in youth voter turnout over the past few years. Even with the increase in turnout, young voters still vote at a lesser rate than voters of other age groups. It is a problem that needs to be addressed because the strength of our democracy depends on all voters participating.
-
The Ongoing Problem of Low Voter Turnout: Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey and Virginia
- Posted: November 10, 2011
- Author(s): Christina Grier
- Categories: Home
Tuesday November 8 was Election Day in Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey and Virginia. Despite holding elections for both houses of the state legislature in New Jersey, Mississippi and Virginia and gubernatorial races in Kentucky and Mississippi, voter turnout was low, continuing the nation-wide pattern that was seen in other states who have held elections already this fall.
-
Why Settle? A Review of the Conference on "Creating the Voting Rights Act of 2012"
- Posted: November 8, 2011
- Author(s): Christina Grier
- Categories: Reforms, Universal Voter Registration, Home
The electoral reform organization Why Tuesday? held a conference on November 7 to address existing voting barriers, and offered solutions on how to fix an electoral system that is still functioning under 20th century guidelines. Panelists presented information on issues such as restrictive voter ID laws, voter fraud, and ways to modernize the registration process.
-
Low Voter Turnout Strikes Again: Louisiana Gubernatorial Race
- Posted: October 25, 2011
- Author(s): Christina Grier
- Categories: Home
Low voter turnout continues to plague the country. On October 22, the state of Louisiana held statewide elections where voter turnout was barely 30% in the gubernatorial race, and even lower for some other senate and house races. Many are attributing the low turnout to a lack of competitiveness in the races, many having been uncontested. Such a lack in competition takes away choices for the voter, and produces elections where outcomes are predetermined before voters have cast their ballots.
-
Low Voter Turnout in West Virginia's Special Election for Governor Part of Disturbing Pattern
- Posted: October 13, 2011
- Author(s): Christina Grier
- Categories: Home
Low voter turnout in elections is an ongoing problem in the United States, and is always expected to be lower during odd or special elections like the ones recently held in West Virginia, New York, and Nevada. Yet electoral participation is an outlet in which the citizen voice can be heard. What happens to the voice of the citizen when voters become so fed up with a broken system that they neglect their opportunity to vote? It is a concern when the electorate does not see elections as a way to fix government.
-
Voter Fraud: Let's Modernize Voter Registration First
- Posted: October 13, 2011
- Author(s): Christina Grier
- Categories: Reforms, Universal Voter Registration, Home
A conference hosted by the Heritage Foundation focused on the importance of fair elections, in which implementing voter ID laws across the country would be essential. But when it comes to voter fraud, there are institutional barriers currently in place that if reformed, would help ensure that the integrity of the election process not be compromised in any way. Such reforms would alleviate the burdens put on voters, while handing over duties such as registering voters and updating registration rolls, over to the states and federal government.
-
Modernizing Voter Registration: An Overview of the American Enterprise Institute Conference
- Posted: September 22, 2011
- Author(s): Christina Grier
- Categories: Reforms, Universal Voter Registration, Home, Voter Preregistration
Electoral reform experts gathered together on September 19th for a conference on modernizing voter registration. Panelists discussed the current registration system, and provided solutions that will bring voter registration into the 21st century.
-
The Disappearing Vote: A Spotlight on the Disenfranchised Felon Population of the US
- Posted: September 15, 2011
- Author(s): , Christina Grier
- Categories: Felon Disenfranchisement, Home
Securing voting rights for every citizen should be a primary goal of the government. Up to 5.3 million people in the United States previously convicted of a felony are currently disenfranchised. While disproportionately affecting African-American men, the lack of voting rights due to having a criminal history serves as a hindrance to a successful re-entrance into society.
-
Right to Vote Advocates Give Testimonies to US Senate Judiciary Committee
- Posted: September 8, 2011
- Author(s): Christina Grier, Right to Vote Blog
- Categories: Right to Vote Amendment, Home
On September 8, 2011, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on state voting laws, in particular, laws that could be seen as suppressing voter turnout. Advocates spoke about why a right to vote is so necessary, and not simply amendments that prevent voters from discrimination.