> Steven Clift wrote: > > Minneapolis/Hennepin County should lead the way in 2005 by pushing > > for state law changes to allow voting my mail in our next election > > for mayor/city council. Michael Atherton responded:
> I don't know if this is a good idea. I'm not sure that > we should run our government the same way that we do > warranty registration for washing machines. I think > that it might increase the participation of those who > have only marginal knowledge of the issues and the > candidates and contribute to the tend of politics as > a popularity contest. TB comments: However, we don't test voters to determine that they have appropriate knowledge of the issues. In Washington State where voters can choose to permanently vote by mail, that is have ballots automatically mailed to them for every election, there were 1,035,392 registered voters in King County (Seattle) as of October 4, 2003. 46% of those voters had chosen to permanently vote by mail. Election officials were expecting 70% turnout for this falls election among the mail voters versus an average of 47% for an off year election. Is there any evidence that voters don't take their vote seriously? Would, perhaps, receiving a ballot in the mail prompt someone to look for information about the candidates and the issues on the ballot? I think that any way the we can increase the number of people with any interest in elections and government is something that we should pursue. Terrell Brown Loring Park __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now http://companion.yahoo.com/ REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
