Thread

1. agos · 1790263045 · focus · HN ↗

   the entire concept of "voter registration" (and associated shenanigans) is so alien to my European brain that I fail to see any reason why the richest country in the world does things this way other than voter suppression. What am I missing?

   1. datsci_est_2015 · 1790264275 · focus · HN ↗

      There’s a rich history of voter suppression tactics in the US. Naïve conservatives refuse to see the straight line from poll taxes to voter registration deadlines. Anti-democratic conservatives take great joy in continuing the racist and classist traditions of their forefathers (both by blood and by tradition), and you’ll find such characters packed in the state governments in the South.

      1. zahlman · 1790312479 · focus · HN ↗

         > Naïve conservatives refuse to see the straight line from poll taxes to voter registration deadlines.

         There is no such line. Of course the state and the people should be clear on who is and is not legally entitled to vote, in advance of actual voting. How could it be otherwise?

         1. thunderfork · 1790317111 · focus · HN ↗

            >How could it be otherwise?

            I feel like acting like things are impossible which are done in other regions without issue is a losing argument, no?

            1. zahlman · 1790373998 · focus · HN ↗

               What are you talking about? I made an "ought" claim, not an "is" one. No matter what democratic polity you're in, the government and the people should be aligned about who is and is not allowed to vote for that government. Otherwise you do not have anything that can be called a democracy.

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