I never cease to be amazed by the level of Political Tourette’s (PT) that seem to dominate comments here.
N.B. PT differs from the real Tourette’s Syndrome (TS), in that PT is a self conditioned state caused by Wanton Atrophying of Neural Cognition (WANC). It practitioners are simply identified by their own acronym by adding an “A” to causal one. 

The topic under discussion is about the automatic right to enrol to vote.(know elsewhere as universal suffrage.
 
Those countries that have the best voter turn out tend to be in those ‘democratic’ countries whereby voting at any level is handled/administered by a non political quasi autonomous non government organization (QANGO) or a Commission.
The administration/ organization of electoral laws, eligibility, voting hrs, technology etc are are controlled by statute at arms length from government…they often require Federal referenda to alter said legislation or constitutional amendment, depending on the country involved.

Having sampled many (western) electoral systems world wide. I consider the current American system one of the easiest to manipulate.

I see no real reason, will to change accepted why America couldn’t make appropriate changes with in current structures by merely removing the responsibility to a QANGO.

Arguably this limits the scope for either party to steal an election or unfairly disenfranchise people by excluding political parties from these forms of interference.

A further dissatisfaction and inherent weakness in the system is the ridiculous notion of ‘the option to voting’ .
Some countries that have mandatory voting merely state you must get your name crossed of at the point of voting..It does NOT involve the government tell anyone from *what* to vote.
Interesting fact…. Even though the fine for not voting is as low as $10 turn out tends to be in around 98%.

The other factor is that ‘informal votes’ those that those who deliberately don’t submit a valid vote is often less than 10%. Of that there are estimated to be 2%(non deliberate errors).
In these countries the opposition to going to vote is 99% from the conservative rump.

I would then reasonably conclude that those who oppose the above are.
a. in an extremely small (ignorant and fearful)minority
b. are those who have other agendas.
The reality of Democracy that it’s credibility as a barometer of the public opinion and least effected by extremes of either end is implicitly tied to the logic of math and averages/stats i.e. the bigger the sample the more precise the result will reflect central ‘standard Deviations’.. the nearer it will be to a result that is supported by most of the people.

Let’s all watch the movie American Blackout with Cynthia McKinney (who is currently receiving death threats it must be noted) on the REAL issue of Voter Fraud and Suppression.

Like the 90,000 blacks illegally scrubbed from voter rolls in Florida 2000 or the areas in Ohio (mainly poor and/or black) that did not have enough voting machines to cast their votes. All of which was sent to Congress by John Conyers. To which the DEMOCRATIC PARTY did nothing. Except say “work for us, vote for us and we will take care of those rascally Republicans.”

I know. I was there in Ohio 2004 was an Official Observer in the 2004 Re-Count.

Never mind Holders and Obama’s targeting of the peace community. Who still, in large part, mystifyingly still support him.

Do not lets facts get in the way of this discussion.

I think it is a great idea,why should people have to register to vote anyway? it
should just be everyones birth right,or if you are a citizen of that country,there
should also be a national election commission,which would run, and oversee
elections in every state and and locale,and that all rules,etc. be the same,instead
of going to one state, and its like you are in a different country and have different
voting laws,and rules.

Good for Holder. These voter disenfranchisement issues need to be investigated and the law needs to be enforced. In the last few years we’ve seen an incredible upsurge in illegalities regarding this. I think it’s great, I stand with Holder.

Holder’s correct that we need to make it easier, not harder to vote. Everyone one should be automatically registered at the age of 18, who, beside the Republicans Party, would object to this?

Taking your right to vote away in America is tantamount to taking away your citizenship. That’s why it should be automatically bestowed upon you, not something you need to jump through hoops to get. It’s a right, not a privilege.

Chris Hayes on “UP” has a chart showing just how ridiculous the claim of “voter fraud” is:

upwithchrishayes.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/10/9351483-people-getting-hit-by-lightning-people-guilty-of-voter-fraud

(the link refuses to hypertext, but it does work if you paste it in the browser)

More electioneering on behalf of Pres. Plutocrat’s Puppy, I expect a lot more of these painfully obvious solutions to painfully obvious problems to be “discovered” in the coming months.  Perhaps if those problems were acted upon, instead of just fretted about, your numbers would be higher and your enthusiasm gap wouldn’t be so large.  See how easy it is to find painfully obvious solutions to painfully obvious problems?

This reminds me of Obamanations appearance on 60 Softballs Sunday night.  I thought the comedy routines he did about not interfering with prosecutions, to keep them free of “political” overtones. to be a real knee slapper.  Even better was his statement that Wall Street acted unethically, but not illegally.  But then maybe even a “Constitutional Law” professor can’t read and understand Sarbanes-Oxley, especially when he chooses not too.

unobjective observer troll - BOTH parties facilitate gunrunning to the Mexican cartels, as it provides a huge pile of cash for Wall Street to launder.  Besides, Wally World is having a big sale on high powered semi-automatics and armor piercing ammo, in case you’re in the woods and come upon that deer you crossed
in a drug deal, or so you can hold off the 101st Airborne when they come for your guns, just like in your “World of Armchair Warriors” video game.  What are you doing here?

Oh Oh Oh! Can I comment?
On the issue of Voter Fraud and Suppression there is so much to say. Look to Florida 2000 and Ohio 2004. But never mind the Democratic Parties complicity of silence and inaction on that.

Attorney General Eric Holder- Currently involved in Grand Jury Investigations of members of the Peace and Justice community. Specifically members of the Anti-War Committee and
Women Against Military Madness.

All being done under the very direct and personal authorization of Hopey-Changey Man, president Obama.

Who is supported by many members of the “peace and justice” community.

Can I apply for a Truthdigger of the Week Award now?

ROCKY ANDERSON FOR PRESIDENT

All citizens should be automatically entitled to receive medical care from the federal government, including from the socialist Veterans Health Administration.

That’s funny, I didn’t think Mr Holder had any ideas, or even a clue….

I guess that’s what comes of having all that time on your hands with nothing to
do….Ideas just come pouring out….

Yes, automatic voter registration, it could work… Too bad there isn’t some one to vote
for….only people to vote against…

I wonder if the concept could get through congress, better get permission from the
Republicans first…... Wall street might not like it…

I have an even better idea, Mr. Holder:

Why don’t you prosecute the sons of bitches who turned the Republic into a torture state?

Too bad it will never happen.

http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/sing-it-out/

Another good idea that will not come to fruition. The Duopoly Party understands the demographics as they are currently applied and will do nothing to alter them. Just as they will never attempt to make elections free, as they certainly should be.