voter (and caller) ID?

Andrew — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:19:07 +0000

Hopefully we’ll think aloud on here sometime soon on Indiana’s voter ID law recently upheld by the Supreme 9. Fair voting isn’t something we’ve thought much about here – but man, is it ever a lush field for conversation. Let’s begin by working out four initial elements, starting with the final act:

(1) what is the meaning of fair, honest, and accurate vote tallying?

(2) what is the meaning of fair, honest, and accurate voting?

(3) what is the meaning of fair, honest, and accurate getting out the vote?

(4) what is the meaning of fair, … campaigning?

By that third element, I mean the things that government and private entities do to encourage folks to go vote – including absentee balloting, information dissemination, transportation efforts, etc.

Is, for instance, a robo-call telling people they will get voter registration information in the mail, and to wait for that information, and to sign it and send it in…fair, honest, and accurate? Does the answer depend on context – if the call might make folks think they can’t vote without having performed the actions discussed in the call? Is there some reasonable person standard we apply here – so that, if only folks half-paying-attention would have their votes suppressed, we don’t care? Like the Buchanan voters in Florida. Or the folks getting these calls?

Owens Rhetoric » elctions

voter (and caller) ID?