Sunday, July 3, 2011

Does US Voting Rights Act Require Glendale, WI Open More Polling Places On July 12?

I hope my attorney friends take a look at whether the US Voting Rights Act of 1965 requires, or sufficiently encourages Glendale, WI to open more than one of its six polling places for July 12 recall election voting, as is city's current plan.

Glendale has a significant minority population, higher than most Milwaukee suburbs.

The city's Mayor tells GlendaleNow.com he has some reservations:
Mayor Jerry Tepper wondered if one poll would be enough.
"It seems there could be a large turnout," he said. "If we have everything at City Hall, it could discourage some electors."
Keeping polling places closed also undercuts Tapper's video-taped presentation on the City's homepage touting Glendale as among the most "progressive" municipalities in Milwaukee County.

Sounds more like regressive to me.

The July 12 election that includes Glendale- - one of nine Wisconsin recall contests - - was prompted by a signature drive against incumbent State Sen. Alberta Darling, (R-River Hills), over her support for Scott Walker's union-busting plan wrapped inside the so-called "budget-repair" bill.

Darling is also the Senate's co-chair on the powerful Joint Committee on Finance, where multiple items have been approved furthering Walker's conservative agenda.

15 comments:

  1. I think they should all be open just like any other election!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Every person who reads this should send a comment DEMANDING that Glendale open all six of it's polling places for any/all voting at all times, as per the US VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965. To open any fewer polling places in Glendale would be an extreme travesty.

    ReplyDelete
  3. 1 in 6 is an extremely poor ratio.

    @Bits61: More should be open but nothing about this is "just like any other election"

    @Clara/Buzzy: You are being hyperbolic. "any fewer" than "all six" is not "an extreme travesty."

    ReplyDelete
  4. Many people will go to their home polls and find there is no voting taking place. Confusion will result! Let the republicans pay for it with their fake democrat campaign funds.

    ReplyDelete
  5. That doesn't seem like a viable solution.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Citizens voting for years at one polling location like routine. Open all the polls up. The Mayor would be crazy not to open all the polls up. Much of Glendale can't wait to dethrone Darling.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The Mayor would not be crazy not to open all the polls up.

    The Mayor spoke in favor of opening more polls.

    ReplyDelete
  8. It would behoove a party that wanted to win the election to have people at the regular polling places with lots of signs (There's no ban on electioneering if it's not a polling place!) and vans to shuttle anyone on foot to the actual polling place.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Glendale is one of the most diversified suburbs and school districts in Milwaukee County. It is also an extremely involved community in their schools. The schools are very successful because of an involved community. Parents care about their child's education.Take a look at the FB page of Parkway School in Glendale to get an glimpse of the diversity. It would be a tragedy to suppress the voter's right to easy access to vote. SHAME ON GLENDALE!

    ReplyDelete
  10. @Art, you sound both creepy and intimidating. I am not getting in your van.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Open pollimg places should not be optional. Glendale is dropping the ball.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'd ride with Art, but voters, taxpayers deserve better service from their government.

    ReplyDelete
  13. All should be open. "Costs more" -- well, darn, that's the cost of doing business right!
    A couple of people mentioned the routine of going to the same polling place -- YES. It should be consistent for ANY election, because we have witnessed firsthand how confused people get when poll locations change from one election to another.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Glendale voters' checklist:

    Voting = Good

    Stranger's Van = Bad

    1/6 Polling capacity = Unacceptable

    Hysteria = Unproductive

    ReplyDelete
  15. this is the city clerk who set up one polling place, is he a Dem. or Rep. just makes me wonder.

    ReplyDelete