The hottest Voting Rights Substack posts right now

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Top U.S. Politics Topics

Can Democracy Be Improved?

The Apéritif • 0 implied HN points • 01 Jul 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Democracy Elections Political theory Voting Rights Political participation
  1. Democracy is facing challenges in America, and improving the voting system could help. It's important to encourage knowledgeable and competent people to participate in politics.
  2. Many voters lack the information needed to make informed choices, which can lead to poor decision-making. One suggested solution is to introduce a quiz that measures basic political knowledge for all voters.
  3. Changing how we approach democracy could lead to better representation and choices. By prioritizing informed voting, we can work towards a political system that really reflects what people want.

The procedural statehood process, explained

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 23 Oct 20
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress Political Process Voting Rights
  1. Puerto Rico's statehood has become a hot topic after Hurricane Maria, with many believing it could improve federal responses to disasters. There's ongoing discussion in Congress about adding Puerto Rico and Washington, DC as new states.
  2. To create a new state, Congress needs to pass a law, and the process isn't complicated. However, statehood can change political power, leading to lots of debates and negotiations over who gets admitted and how.
  3. Public support in Puerto Rico is divided about statehood, with past votes showing mixed results. Congress is unlikely to admit Puerto Rico without clear majority support from its residents in upcoming voting.

Fight for your right to party

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 08 Mar 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political parties Elections Regulation Voting Rights
  1. Political parties should have more freedom to decide their own rules and processes without government control. This could lead to a more competitive and dynamic political landscape.
  2. Equal opportunity for all citizens to participate in parties is crucial. Regulations should ensure that everyone can join and vote but allow parties to set their own membership standards.
  3. It's important to be cautious about completely privatizing political parties due to the risk of corruption and fraud. While deregulation might seem ideal, practical issues could arise that harm the integrity of the election process.

Should I vote today?

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 06 Mar 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Voting Rights Political parties Elections Political Systems
  1. Voting in party primaries can feel wrong if you're not part of that party. It's important to think about whether your influence is legitimate in a primary for a party you don't belong to.
  2. The process for candidates to get on the ballot is often really difficult and unfair. When major candidates can't even get on the ballot, it shows that something is seriously wrong with the system.
  3. Participation in voting can feel like a double-edged sword. Even if you disagree with the rules, voting might help bring attention to needed changes in the system.

By the Numbers: Constitutional Amending in the House

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 18 Nov 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Constitutional Law Legislation Government Structure Voting Rights Political strategy
  1. Since 1978, no new amendments to the Constitution have been successfully passed by Congress for states to ratify. Only one amendment, the 27th, was ratified many years later.
  2. For an amendment to pass in Congress, a two-thirds majority vote is needed. This means at least 289 votes in the House, depending on the number of members present.
  3. A total of 59 proposed amendments have been introduced in the House in the current Congress, highlighting ongoing discussions about potential changes to the Constitution.
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Rank'em: Constitutional amendment edition

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 03 Nov 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Constitution Voting Rights Civil Liberties
  1. Some amendments in the U.S. Constitution have little impact today, like the 27th Amendment, which deals with Congress's pay and isn't really relevant anymore.
  2. Many important amendments, such as the 13th (no slavery) and 19th (women's voting), might seem crucial, but their core principles are now accepted in society, so repealing them wouldn't likely reverse progress.
  3. The most essential amendments protecting individual rights, like the 1st Amendment (freedom of speech) and the 4th Amendment (protection against unreasonable searches), are vital to maintain a free society.

On Electoral College by Congressional District

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 14 Sep 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Voting Rights Political parties Legislation Elections
  1. The winner-take-all system in most states was shaped by history, specifically the push for universal suffrage and the desire for states to maximize their political influence. States prefer a system that draws more attention from presidential candidates, ensuring their interests are acknowledged.
  2. As political parties have become more ideologically sorted, states might look to change their electoral systems to congressional district methods. This could reflect a growing national concern over state interests, as parties now align more closely across states than in the past.
  3. However, changing to a congressional district system is unlikely soon, particularly in Pennsylvania. Political motivations and the need for favorable conditions make it hard for state legislators to push for such changes, as they usually prefer to maintain the status quo unless there's a clear advantage.