Last week we brought you the news that over 100,000 ex-felons in Florida are getting their voting rights back.

Today the New York Times says those reforms are “well short of what’s needed — a complete overhaul of a wildly illogical system.” The interconnections of voting rights and access to jobs is part of the problem, so says the Times.

In most states, inmates win back their voting rights as soon as they are released from prison or when they complete parole or probation. One big reason that does not happen in Florida is that state law requires felons to first make restitution to their victims. And until their voting rights are restored, former prisoners are barred from scores of state-regulated occupations for which the restoration of voting rights is listed as a condition of employment.

Quite apart from the fact that it is undemocratic to bar people from the voting booth because they owe money, the system is transparently counterproductive since it prevents people from landing the jobs they will need to make restitution. Denying ex-offenders a chance to make an honest living is a sure way to drive them back to jail.

The system also requires extensive and unnecessary background checks before voting rights can be restored for some applicants, making it hard to reduce the backlog. Florida could clear up that backlog in a hurry, treat all ex-offenders fairly and enhance democracy by automatically restoring voting rights to inmates who have completed their sentences.

When we visited both the Iowa and Nevada caucuses earlier this year to document the “Un-Caucuses” — who isn’t able to participate in the caucus process and why that is — we met in both states ex-felons who are excluded from the voter rolls. We’ll continue to monitor how this issue is addressed around the country.

Posted in Civil Rights, Felon Voting Rights, Florida, Iowa, Nevada | Comments Off

PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA — With the onset of Super Tuesday, the Press has started reporting on Barack Obama’s ability to mobilize new, youth and Independent voters, the other candidates’ advantages among established, older voters, and Hillary Clinton’s advantage among Hispanic and female voters. This week’s issue of TIME Magazine reports that Obama’s campaign tactics are more effective in states with forward-thinking election law. Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada have Same-Day Registration. Florida has early voting, but the DNC has stripped the Sunshine State’s democrats of their delegates, Republicans were able to keep half of theirs. (more…)

Posted in Absentee ballots, California, Colorado, Early voting, Election 2008, Election Day registration, Election Reform, Election administration, Florida, General, Iowa, Legislation, National Holiday, Nevada, New Hampshire, Opinions, Primary schedule, What is Super Tuesday? | Comments Off

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA –- After tonight’s debate at the Kodak Theater, people (and CNN) kept talking about an Obama-Hillary or Hillary-Obama combo ticket. I don’t know if that is the case… either way the notion will be swamping the airwaves until the 5th thanks to Wolf.

More important, is that we are watching history, and because of that, people of all creeds and colors what to be a part of the action. They want to campaign, they want to caucus, they want to vote, they want a voice, and they want the Country to change its course. (more…)

Posted in California, Election 2008, Election Reform, General, Internet Voting, Iowa, Media reform, Nevada, New Hampshire, Opinions, Primary schedule, South Carolina, What is Super Tuesday? | 1 Comment »

WEST DES MOINES, IA – Born in New York and having never witnessed an actual caucus I was more than surprised at what I saw. Republican caucuses are tame in comparison to the fervor and mayhem that ensues in Democratic caucuses. With all precincts reported there were 120,000 Republican attendees and over 227,000 Democrat attendees this caucus cycle (in 2000, 87,000 Republicans attended and in 2004, 124,000 Democrats attended). Undoubtedly energy levels in Iowa were heightened by this increase in turnout and the amount of dollars spent (projected to be more than $60 Million) – by the way that equals $171.43 per vote!!!

(more…)

Posted in Election 2008, Election Reform, Iowa | 1 Comment »

DES MOINES, IA — Stay tuned for turnout numbers, but around here folks are saying it’s high. Here’s a screen shot from Yahoo! News. Click it for more.

Posted in Election 2008, Election Reform, Iowa | Comments Off

DES MONIES, IA — Still confused what the heck is going on here in Iowa? Click over to MTV.com where they’re featuring our video explaining what the Iowa caucus is all about. Once you’re there, look for the button above.

The results are streaming in to the press filing center into downtown Des Moines. CNN and Fox News both just called the Republican caucuses for Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, one of the thirteen candidates to respond to the Why Tuesday? Candidate Challenge. Maybe Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson should have responded? No final word yet on the Democrats. Stay tuned for updates.

* 8:29PM CST UPDATE: The AP and CNN are projecting Illinois Senator Barack Obama, another responder to the Why Tuesday? Candidate Challenge, to be the Democratic winner of the Iowa caucuses. That means both winners have laid out their plans for election reform to us at Why Tuesday? — and we hope they’ll continue to spend time talking about the state of our voting system.

Posted in Election 2008, Election Reform, Iowa | Comments Off