18 Comments

What is wrong with expanding democracy? Unless you are afraid to loose your privilege salary and position!

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Good question.

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Nov 9Liked by Arthur Goldstein

As long as the option to vote by mail or in person is available I agree totally. Any method to expand voter participation is important to implement.

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The program available from AAA, which we currently use, does that. I'd think it could be cheaper too, as it would require less postage, and less time counting.

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If electronic voting does work for a union as large as ours, then local and federal elections should also have that option. People in general don’t vote. Apathy is the biggest loser or winner depending on the side you’re on. I’m old school, but willing to try this method. I believe in this day and age electronic voting would work, as long as it can be guaranteed to be safe and anonymous.

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Some 60 million Americans didn't vote this year, if I recall correctly. Also, both major parties got fewer votes than they did four years ago. Rachel Maddow showed multiple clips of Trump saying he had enough voters already, so people didn't need to vote.

https://x.com/MrsButters/status/1854719748849766892

There's certainly something wrong with our national voting system--I'd say it's the electoral college, which has candidates campaigning in half a dozen states and ignoring the rest of us. While I don't know whether or not electronic voting is viable on a national basis, it would certainly work for our union. Resisting this suggests resisting participation, which I'd label anti-union.

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Nov 9Liked by Arthur Goldstein

It would be good to know information about other unions that have adopted electronic voting, and how it affected voter turnout and the results of elections.

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Agreed. While I haven't got that information, our record is abysmal and it's hard to imagine how we could do worse. Making it more convenient would be a start, at least.

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Nov 11Liked by Arthur Goldstein

The Pba does electronic voting, https://www.nycpba.org/press-releases/2023/cops-vote-in-unison-to-approve-new-contract/

Vs

Dc37 local 372 his employees are the lowest paid in the city, and their union president only allowed for one in person voting place per borough https://thechiefleader.com/stories/local-372-must-re-run-election,50871

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Thanks Marianne. I was wondering who used it. Seems to me voting should be as easy as possible. Making it otherwise indicates a leadership that doesn't want turnout.

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Nov 11Liked by Arthur Goldstein

It’s was utilized with ease and had great support. That is one that stands out sharply for me the disparity and inconvenience compared to local 372. - even after the court said so it again- their members were disenfranchised with the “machine” and the the inability to access the single polling place again resulted in frustration

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Than you Jeff. This was useful.

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Paper ballot in a box is fairest. Electronic voting is manipulated. Not fair.

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Also, the AFT has endorsed the PRO ACT.

https://www.aft.org/resolution/support-pro-act-protecting-right-organize

The PRO ACT is a proposed United States law that would amend previous labor laws such as the National Labor Relations Act for the purpose of expanding "various labor protections related to employees' rights to organize and collectively bargain in the workplace.”

The PRO ACT calls for an electronic voting option.

https://democrats-edworkforce.house.gov/imo/media/doc/richard_l_trumka_protecting_the_right_to_organize_act_hr20sectionbysection2.pdf

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The only huge obstacle here is leadership that actively discourages participation. That's the elephant in the room.

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It’s about intentional implementation and energizing participation.

A couple of things here.

When AAA utilizes its online voting option, it is important to note that mail-in ballots are not eliminated.

1. AAA sends the electronic PIN with a mail-in ballot to the members home. They also email the PIN to the member’s email box.

Thus, improving access.

The member can mail the ballot back or choose to use the PIN to access the AAA online voting portal.

You cannot vote twice.

2. Where we could then improve this process is to ensure an in-person opportunity happens on a given day at a chapter/worksite.

On that specific day, the chapter gathers together in a space and accesses their personal PIN to vote. This is secure because it’s not a PIN that is handed to them by a CL or DR.

It also promotes solidarity.

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This sounds like a great system, and it's good to know that those who actually LIKE voting by mail, whoever they may be, will still have a chance to do it.

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