Im hearing endless bloviating about why voter turnout was low and it all sounds like white, elitist navel-gazing. Before we talk about why someone might not go to the polls politically, lets look at logistics. If youre an hourly worker how easy is it to go vote? Who will watch your kids if theyre not in school or daycare? Will you lose pay if you take time off to vote? What if you need a translator? Does your state require ID? What kind? Do you have it? What if youre elderly or disabled and cant wait comfortably in a line? Can you get to the polls? Do you know where to go? Do you know how to find out? Do you have a computer to help learn all of this stuff? Is your polling place safe, especially after dark? Can you get there by public transport during all voting hours? There are so many baseline barriers to voting that middle class people dont think about. Just the fact of having elections on a weekday with only the most minimal protections for workers to take time off to vote is a barrier. Id bet 25% of the people not voting did so because of logistical issues.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 19:23:55 +0000
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