Has everyone registered to vote?

**djones520** · 10-07-2012, 10:38 AM

Just curious if we've got any stragglers out there, or god forbid folks who aren't even planning on voting.

I'm a bit late going on requesting my absentee ballot. Thankfully Michigan will mail that stuff out as late as election day, so I still have to do it.

I hope everyone else here plans on casting a ballot this year. I personally don't care which way you do it, just as long as you do it. I always find it annoying when people get so up in arms about things on the interwebs, and then don't even bother doing what they can.

**Gina** · 10-07-2012, 11:37 AM

We have to register in order to vote?

jk.

**Novaheart** · 10-07-2012, 12:01 PM

Does anyone know the true history of voter registration? I found one online, but it reads like it was written by Angela Davis.

to wit:

The History of Voter Registration in the U.S.
Voter registration originated in the early 19th century as a method of disenfranchisement. Many states were concerned with the growing number of foreign-born transients participating in local government, and so they developed a system of registration to ensure that these non-citizens could not vote. While this did disenfranchise transients and the foreign-born, many poor citizens were also not included on the voter rolls; they were often not home when the assessors came by, which was typically during the work-day, so they were not included. Many areas that were largely Democratic rebuffed the registration system, because most of the poor, immigrants, and other potentially disenfranchised groups tended to vote Democrat.

http://archive.fairvote.org/index.php?page=2553

**Zathras** · 10-07-2012, 01:16 PM

I'm registered as a permenant absentee voter in Cali...just waiting for my ballot to arrive.

**djones520** · 10-07-2012, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by Zathras

I'm registered as a permenant absentee voter in Cali...just waiting for my ballot to arrive.

I'm not quite sure how the registration works in Michigan. So far I've had to call every election to get my absentee ballot, but I seem to be permaregistered as a voter.

**Gina** · 10-07-2012, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by djones520

I'm not quite sure how the registration works in Michigan. So far I've had to call every election to get my absentee ballot, but I seem to be permaregistered as a voter.

I got an absentee ballot in the mail last week. Never did before, but I'm going to go in person anyway one last time because my 18 yr old daughter has to vote in person.

**Elspeth** · 10-07-2012, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by Zathras

I'm registered as a permenant absentee voter in Cali...just waiting for my ballot to arrive.

You and me both!

Love that permanent absentee thing. All states should have it.

**RobJohnson** · 10-07-2012, 03:53 PM

After a trial run in Nevada with some parts of the state they now offer state wide registration online. They are having some issues with our seasonal residents that can only vote for President.

When I first moved to NV I had issues trying to register to vote. There was an issue with my address (there was more then one legal address) yet I never was notified of the problem. I exchanged a few emails, at first the lady in charge said she did not know anything about it, two weeks later when it was too late to reregister..she knew all about it. I even paid her a visit in person.

The good news is the lady lost the next election and her 100k plus salary from our county...she was a bitch.

I use early voting. It's quick and easy. I also help my mom fill out her sample ballot. She usually votes the exact way that I do...

**Elspeth** · 10-07-2012, 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by Novaheart

Does anyone know the true history of voter registration? I found one online, but it reads like it was written by Angela Davis.

to wit:

The History of Voter Registration in the U.S.
Voter registration originated in the early 19th century as a method of disenfranchisement. Many states were concerned with the growing number of foreign-born transients participating in local government, and so they developed a system of registration to ensure that these non-citizens could not vote. While this did disenfranchise transients and the foreign-born, many poor citizens were also not included on the voter rolls; they were often not home when the assessors came by, which was typically during the work-day, so they were not included. Many areas that were largely Democratic rebuffed the registration system, because most of the poor, immigrants, and other potentially disenfranchised groups tended to vote Democrat.

http://archive.fairvote.org/index.php?page=2553

Is that true? (It rings true, considering the anti-Irish and anti-Chinese feeling in this country during the 19th century, not to mention the overwhelming prejudices against Jews and Italians in the 20th.)