MassVOTE Digest: Election 2005 The Good, The Bad and The...

[Ian David]

MassVOTE Digest: Election 2005 The Good, The Bad and The...

Juan Martinez, MassVOTE
[e-mail]
4:11 pm (5 minutes ago)
MassVote
http://www.massvote.net

>>Good and Bad News in Voter Turnout

MassVOTE has compiled a report on voter turnout for the most recent
municipal elections in six cities. As is usually the case, there were
mixed results when comparing this year's data to previous
municipal elections.

The Good

* The top five increases in ballots cast in Boston were in
traditionally low turnout neighborhoods: Chinatown (31.1%
increase), Fields Corner (19.2%), Mission Hill (18.3%),
Mattapan/Franklin Field (14.8%) and Grove Hall/Dudley (14.2%).
In all, eight of the 10 highest increases in ballots cast were
in communities of color.

* Despite just a 3% increase in registered voters, Brockton had a
15% increase in ballots cast, including a 14.5% more
ballots cast in traditionally low turnout neighborhoods.

* Ballots cast in Lowell's majority-minority precincts
increased 11% versus just 4% citywide.

* Ballots case in Worcester increased 28% citywide, including 26%
in traditionally low turnout precincts and 18% in
majority-minority ones.

The Bad

* In spite of Somerville's 9.4% increase in registered
voters, the city suffered a tremendous decrease in ballots cast
- a plummet of 27%, which translated into almost 5,000
fewer voters participating.

* Things were just as bad in Springfield, where despite an
approximate increase in registered voters of 25%, ballots cast
dropped 19%.

* Even worse, ballots cast in Springfield's traditionally low
turnout precincts were down a whopping 31.8%, with a fall of
nearly 40% in majority-minority areas. The city's on-going
corruption scandal and discriminatory At-Large voting system
undoubtedly had a hand in these alarming results.

For more details on voter turnout in Boston, Brockton, Lowell,
Somerville, Springfield and Worcester, download our analysis here.
Also, stay tuned in December for MassVOTE's "Elections
2005" report, which will look back at each election this year
with additional data analysis and observations.
http://www.massvote.net/site/R?i=d_7y8wCOu0dC9qX8PFOxfw

>>EDR Pilot Voted Down by Senate

MassVOTE has been working since last December to make Election Day
Registration (EDR) a reality in Massachusetts. Recent meetings with
Legislators led to the concept of an EDR pilot project in next
Spring's municipal elections that would allow towns to opt-in to
using EDR. The goal is to study the reform in practice and make the
necessary adjustments needed to pass it for the entire Commonwealth.

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Election Laws co-Chair Sen. Ed
Augustus, Sen. Therese Murray, chair, Senate Ways and Means, and
Senate President Robert Travaglini, language for this pilot project
was placed in the Senate's Supplemental Budget. Unfortunately,
Sen. Michael Morrissey filed an amendment Monday night to eliminate
the pilot project that passed by a voice vote on Tuesday. We are
hard-pressed to understand why these policy makers who voted for the
amendment would be against a voluntary pilot project aimed at studying
ways to modernize and secure our voting system.

Once again, the voters of the Commonwealth are the real losers. A
secure, non-partisan election reform, which helps ensure that all
votes are counted and voters are not turned away from the polls
because of administrative errors, went down to defeat. MassVOTE,
however, will continue to fight for EDR during this Legislative
session. To join the battle to secure our votes, contact us.
Also, we encourage you to call Senators Augustus (617-722-1066) and
Murray (617-722-1481) and Senate President Travaglini (617-722-1500)
and thank them for their leadership on this issue and encourage them
to bring up the issue of EDR next year.
[e-mail]

More:
http://www.massvote.net/site/PageServer

[paineinthearse]

1. My 2 cents

Election Laws co-Chair Sen. Ed Augustus is a good man, he was Jim McGovern's chief of staff.

I went to school with Mike Morrisy, he was hard to figure then, too. Will have to probe him for an explaination.