The New Tammany Hall: Early Elections and Voter Fraud

This has not been a good year for elections in New York State, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said Monday. The state recorded one of the lowest turnouts in the midterm elections of any state. And over the last three federal elections, New York has averaged 47th among the 50 states in voter turnout.

Mr. Bloomberg presented his critical assessment of the state’s electoral picture as he proposed a package of changes to state laws that he said would help remove the obstacles that make it hard for New Yorkers to exercise their right to vote.

“Our voting restrictions and requirements actually discourage citizens from participating in elections,” the mayor said. “We are proposing four changes to state law that would make it easier to participate in elections and easier for New York voters to have their voice heard.”

So, NY voters, in 2010, were uninspired with their choices for Governor and Senator - and knew, before hand, that the Democrat nominees were going to win the election. Were there any doubts in 2008 and 2006 and 2004 who were going to win? None whatsoever. So now Bloomberg and others say they're surprised and disappointed that voting participation is down. What is their solution?

The mayor proposed allowing for early voting, moving the deadline for registering to vote closer to Election Day, making the ballot easier to read and making absentee voting easier.
Bloomberg Seeking Election Law Changes to Increase Voter Turnout
by Elizabeth A. Harris

All these changes do is make fraud easier and increase suspicion of ballot-box rigging, ala Tammany Hall of yesteryear.

Mayor Bloomberg do you want to increase participation? How about making it easier for third parties to get on the ballot? How about we let some decisions be decided by referendum (such as allowable decibel levels coming from car or home stereos). Such changes would dramatically increase voter participation.

The solutions put forth are at best window dressing and at worse increases the power of the local political machine and make elections feel even more one-sided, if not actually rigged.