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I've just said this recently (like earlier today), but its not necessarily apathy.
Many people had to work multiple jobs, couldn't get a vote by mail option, their local polling place had too few voting booths relative to the number of voters, etc, etc.
As soon as mail in voting became accessible, the number of voters actually voting jumped massively.
Preventing access to voting is an international act, and dismissing people as just being apathetic for not having the time to wait a few hours to vote (because kids, work, etc) is part of that intention.
Don't just be dismissive. Support a national holiday for election day. Support politicians who want to keep mail in voting for all. And don't look down on people who are put into situations where voting instead of showing up to work could make them lose their jobs.
Exactly. People share articles every week about Republican voter suppression tactics like limiting polling locations and creating voter ID laws, then turn around and whine when voters don't show up for their candidates. Even if you aren't a victim of these laws, if you have to vote in person, you usually have 12 hours on a weekday to vote. If you work 8 hours a day, and you commute an hour each way, that's 2 hours to vote. For a working-class person with a family, that's a big ask. That's time they normally spend making dinner for their kids and getting ready for the next day. Voting is a right, but having the time to do it a luxury.
Your voting experience really needs an upgrade.
We have a holiday to go vote - well, 3 hours off - and our setup is so simple that we have polling stations everywhere. When we get there it's usually a 5-minute process. The whole thing is over by that night.
This whole "standing in line for hours" thing is just weird, y'all.
Agreed.
My polling station is great, I'm in and out in 15 minutes. I work from home, and in the past when I didn't, I just used mail in voting.
Not everyone is lucky enough to have those options.
It's usually a 5 minute process in TX too, people just wait until the very last minute to cast a vote.
We have had a 2 week voting period since 1980, we were actually the first state to allow an early voting period. The polls are Aldo legally required to be open at least 9 hours the first week and at least 12 hours the second week and final day of voting. If there's even a line during the first 2 weeks, it's 10 minutes max. People just drag their feet and then complain to everyone else, which keeps people from voting.
TX has 2 weeks to vote. There's never a line longer than 10 minutes if there's a line at all, except for the final day. It's definitely apathy, waiting until the last day.
This year, polls will be open from Oct 21- Nov 1, with a final day to cast a vote on Nov 5. Polls will be open at least 9 hours the first week and at least 12 hours (typically 7AM-7PM) during the second week and final day of voting. Polling hours and locations can be checked at www.votetexas.gov once they are released in October. Some polls may be open on the weekend as well!
Great info for Texas, thank you. Early voting during that second week is my favorite. The first few days, there may be some small lines (depending on local population, etc). But that's usually a good sign. If Texans voted appropriately, could even demand (gasp) mail-in ballots. For now, just thankful they haven't taken early voting...
If they got rid of early voting, then TX wouldn't be able to brag about being the first state to allow early voting (established 1980).
We could even demand rank-choice voting or flip the State Supreme Court (there are 3 seats up for election this year). Given that all US and TX representatives are up for election, as well as 1 US senator and 15 state senators, we could be close to flipping the legislative branch blue too.
Here's a full list of offices for election this year: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/guide/2024/offices2024.shtml