Monroe County Democratic Party

The Bloomington Herald-Times published an editorial in today's paper lamenting the GOP vote against satellite voting centers for November's election. I encourage you to pick up a copy of the paper or read it online, but if you don't have a subscription, here's an excerpt:

But these arguments are as thin as a paper ballot. Voting centers encourage voting — a laudable goal no matter how extensive an election. In many ways, local elections have as great or greater impact on people’s daily lives as national elections. Local elected officials make decisions on important government services such as public safety, planning and zoning, roads and parks. To say that this election doesn’t warrant voting centers because it’s only a “county” election is a slight to our hard-working elected leaders.

In addition, the assertion that voting centers “favor” one class of voters is spurious. Making the election process more convenient for greater numbers of voters, many of whom have perhaps been disenfranchised from the process, allows more citizens to participate and leads to government that is more representative of the people. Satellite voting at more centrally located sites near to where people shop, work or attend classes is an obvious way to reach more voters of all demographics and political views, not just one class.

Finally, the argument that some precincts only have a few voters is not an argument against voting centers; it’s an argument for better consolidation of precincts.

For too long, unfounded fears of “voter fraud” kept our government from taking steps to make it easier for citizens to exercise their most fundamental right. Now that we have tested voting centers and proved they are working, it’s hardly a time to step backward.

The Monroe County Election Board should reverse last week’s decision and approve satellite voting centers for the fall election. The citizens of Monroe County deserve it.