Voter registration just another party driven debate

July 31, 2013

Voter registration debate

As we watch the vitriolic voter registration reform debate unfold it is important to understand it is simply another battle for political control and power between our two political parties. Republican leaders are demanding improved voter identification laws. Their Democratic counterparts, as expected, call for a complete ban on such practices, calling them acts of discriminatory voter suppression.

To even imagine the two political parties are actually battling to prevent, perpetuate, or ignore voter fraud is simply ridiculous.

Have you wondered what actually is motivating each side to engage in yet another divisive debate? I have, and reached the conclusion both sides are motivated by the implications for their parties of the exact same demographic facts.

Let's examine a few:

For the foreseeable future Hispanic will be the fastest growing voter segment in the U.S. Both parties know this to be true. Of course, it is also this knowledge which fuels the immigration reform debate. The Democrats favor legalization of several million illegal immigrants knowing their votes will favor Democrats. And, Republicans oppose legalization for the exact same reason.

Then add to the mix the fact overwhelming numbers of black Americans favor Democrats in every national election.

Next, among all voters, the poorest Americans are least likely to vote. Those who do though tend to vote Democratic.

Last, but not least, the youngest Americans eligible to vote do so at a lower rate than their older counterparts, and unlike their elders, are more inclined to vote Democratic.

When viewed within this set of facts, it become fairly obvious the debate between the Republican and Democrat parties on this issue is simply another example of their ongoing war for political control of our nation.

It would be naive or disingenuous to not admit the young, poor, black, and Hispanic Americans will be the least likely to have the types of ID demanded, and be most affected by stronger voter registration requirements. No matter how proponents might claim it will be simple to obtain identification...voter registration laws will serve to reduce voter turnout among these groups.

It is also worth asking what shortened time frames for voter registration and early voting have to do with anything other than reducing voting access to these same groups.

The Democratic and Republican leadership both know these facts and that's exactly why the fight is on. I find it interesting very little concern is exhibited by either party for what's really best for the majority of all Americans. It's all about grabbing power for each party. All I can conclude is that holding power must ensure receiving a greater share of the money tree from the special interests.

At the end of the day, instead of trying to restrict voting, I wish we would follow the lead of some other nations such as Australia where it is a crime not to vote. We could have used such a law to improve our last national election turnout in which nearly half of all eligible voters failed to exercise that privilege.

Power and control of our nation has repeatedly been shown to be the main motivator for our two primary political parties. It seems to me it's time to get rid of both of them. A party of, by, and for Independent Americans sounds far overdue to me. It all starts with voter registration!

These are my opinions. What do you think?

Mike Tower