My Voter Registration Was Changed Last July, without Any Input from Me

[MineralMan]

Why? How? Well, my wife and I moved from our old address to a new one in a different county in Minnesota. We bought a new place and sold the old one.

In that process, we transferred our property homestead status from our old to our new address. About a week later, we received voter registration cards notifying us of our new voter registration and polling place. We did not have to physically re-register, since the move was within Minnesota.

Unlike some states that are attempting to suppress the vote and de-register already registered voters, Minnesota has a system that automatically changes your registration when you move. It would have done the same when we changed our addresses on our driver's licenses, but the homestead change triggered the change of registration first.

Minnesota tries to make it easy for people to vote. In fact, you can register to vote on Election Day, simply by bringing some demonstration of your residential address. We want people to vote in Minnesota. We're not afraid of voters here. We embrace democracy in Minnesota.

[gab13by13]

1. You are lucky,

Here in Pa. I'm keeping a close eye to see if our SC allows me and others to vote no excuse absentee. I sent in my application long ago and my status is "pending." Primary is in May so we should have a decision before I panic.

[MineralMan]

2. I'm not sure that luck is what it's about.

I have lived in Minnesota now for almost 18 years. I have been active in making sure that Democrats get elected to office here in our state legislature. We have an excellent election system in our state, due to the insistence of Minnesotans that we have that.

Since elections are a state matter, it is up to the citizens of each state to make sure their states' voting systems are in good order. Only they can ensure that for themselves. I live in Minnesota now. I lived in California before that. Both states work hard to make sure their citizens have the right to vote in elections. If your state does not, then that should be one of your highest priorities, it seems to me.

[stopdiggin]

3. and we need to keep reminding people to CHECK

your registration status (preferably before every primary).

Noting your praise for your state (no doubt warranted). And if you (generic you, some people have gotten crosswise on that) live in a state that is trying to make things difficult - "Vote the rascals out!"

[MineralMan]

4. Yes, absolutely.

[gab13by13]

5. Not going to happen in my district or many others in Pa.

The gerrymandering from 2010 was bad enough now Republicans get to make it worse. Once states lose their Democratic majority it's a long row to hoe to get it back. I will never see a Democrat elected in my district.

I can vote for judges who can make a difference and thank goodness we have fair SC judges in Pa. who should overturn the lower court judges who outlawed "no excuse" absentee voting.

Even when people do as MM says and challenges Republicans like the Democrats did in Wisconsin with the gerrymandered new map, the US Supreme Court threw out the Wisconsin SC map. It's a long row to hoe when the SC intervenes in a state's right to run its own election.

[stopdiggin]

6. the problem is

(well actually they are myriad, but ...)
that the court has affirmed that voting, and redistricting, map making, etc. - all all legitimate political functions under legislative control - with the corollary that it is not the role of the judiciary (any judiciary) to step in to the process, and start making rules and changes to the same. With the rare exception of rather blatant (protected class) discrimination - the court is to step aside and let the process carry itself out. (even when evidence of 'unfairness' is plainly obvious)

To my way of thinking - this is just one more example of 'states rule' run amuck (or the fact that it was always kind of a shi*ty idea in the first place) - but it's one of a whole basket full of ideas in which our supreme court is currently heading in the wrong direction.