S.B. 24, as proposed by Senator Peter Knudson (R- Brigham City, District 17), is one of those sneaky bills that, on the surface, seems somewhat reasonable, or at the very least does no harm; this, however, is a lie.
There is something very fishy about this. Why would Senator Knudson want to take away the assurance that there is at least some reasonable access to early voting locations? Why would he want to make it more difficult for people to legally access the polls? Why would he want to make it more difficult for Salt Lake County residents, and only Salt Lake County residents, to vote? Well I will give you a hint – look at the political party of Mr. Knudson.
See that uppercase “R?” In case you did not know, that stands for Republican. Now why would a Republican want to do this to Salt Lake County? Is it possible, just possible, that Senator Knudson does not like Salt Lake County? I propose to you this:
Early voting traditionally favors Democrats for various reasons that do not need to be discussed here. Furthermore this “County of the First Class” seems to be showing some disturbingly liberal trends as of late – putting such esteemed senators such as former senator Carlene Walker out of a job and putting Senators Waddoups (57% of vote in 2008), Buttars (49% of vote in 2008), Niederhauser (52% of vote in 2006) on relatively thin ice.
So what is a good way to solve this little problem? Why make it more difficult for those crazy, tree hugging, liberals to vote of course! What better way to do that than make it physically more difficult to access the polls?
Now if this bill passes, I severely doubt that the current County Clerk, Sherrie Swensen (D), would actually reduce the number of polling locations in the county; after all she has been all about greater voter access. But it is not impossible to think that this partisan office will one day go to a Republican who would be more than happy to make it a little harder for those Subaru driving liberals to actually vote.
This is a bad bill and a shameful one too. We should be fighting for greater access to government, not have government make it more difficult to take part in democracy.
don’t forget “latte-sipping”
That is interesting. I wonder, however, what other merit Senator Knudson sees in the bill, aside from curbing Democratic voter turnout in Salt Lake County. No doubt he knows this will be a side effect, but I doubt that he is sponsoring this legislation with malicious intent to keep those damn liberals from voting. My guess is that in his mind, it is budgetary. The legislature is looking to cut costs out of everything this year. A billion dollar shortfall in revenue will do that to you. Maybe he sees it as an expense that can be spared in a tight year. I don’t know. I agree with you, that it looks kind of fishy and that restricting access to polls is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. But give him the benefit of the doubt. He is a good public servant, Republican or no.
Sara,
I wonder too what merit Sen. Knudson sees.
It is his targeting of the bill that makes me suspicious – to only single out Salt Lake County seems odd (though in 15 years Utah County will also be under the same rules).
I have to disagree with the budget issue – the next county wide election will not be for another two years; if this is a cost cutting measure, we as tax payers will not see the benefit for quite some time. Furthermore, I hope that citizens see the importance of elections and will be willing to pay for them.
Like I said, I just don’t like the smell of this one, but thanks for the comment!