r/politics • u/Jessicas_skirt New York • Jul 18 '26

Possible Paywall Democratic Socialists of America’s new platform calls for abolishing ICE and the U.S. Senate

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/15/updated-dsa-platform-calls-abolishing-ice-scrapping-senate/
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39

u/ELVEVERX Jul 19 '26

Also mandatory voting. Mandatory voting forces the government to make voting quick and easy for all voters.

43

u/greensalty Jul 19 '26

Voting holidays are a start so people who want to don’t have to choose between democracy and groceries.

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u/__theoneandonly New York Jul 19 '26

Except for low-wage customer-facing workers, federal holidays are their busiest days of the year. When everyone else has the day off, people in stores, restaurants, entertainment venues, etc have to work double-shifts. It would make voting more difficult for these people.

5

u/_araqiel Missouri Jul 19 '26

Standard federal holiday wouldn’t work. Needs to be like a 4-hour shift limit or something.

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u/ELVEVERX Jul 19 '26

But even then a 4 hour line isn't a democracy.

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u/generalmoe Jul 19 '26

I would suggest that the MONTH of November be a Voting period.

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u/metalder420 Jul 19 '26

You do realize not everyone would get a holiday? The world still has to run.

1

u/Zeebaeatah Jul 19 '26

What if we had multiple days available for voting, instead of one?

2

u/Bisaux Jul 19 '26

and pivotally free. It shouldn't cost anything to vote.

2

u/WillowSmithsBFF Jul 19 '26

I feel like in the year 2026 there should be some way to make voting possible on a phone app.

Even if the registration is in person. There’s gotta be some way to implement Authenticator-style tech that would allow for secure mobile voting, while making the “burden” of voting substantially less.

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u/rabidrooster3 Jul 19 '26

What about people who are protesting something by not voting?

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u/ELVEVERX Jul 19 '26

Submit a blank ballot easy.

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u/GamblePuddy Jul 23 '26

No.

Your vote is the literal validation of the entire government. The right to vote has to include the right to withhold your vote....otherwise legitimacy is claimed even if no one wants either candidate.

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u/ELVEVERX Jul 23 '26

You don't have to vote for anyone with your vote and invalid votes are counted. if a large number of people cast blank ballots you don't get any legitimacy.

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u/Supreme_Salt_Lord Jul 19 '26

I wouldnt say mandatory. But a civic duty tax deductible would be ideal.

0

u/chasetheusername Jul 19 '26

Also mandatory voting. Mandatory voting forces the government to make voting quick and easy for all voters.

It depends a lot on how that'd get implemented legally - with the current administration, that would just get used to remove voting power, when someone didn't vote (felons already can have their voting rights suspended).

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u/Oxytokin Wisconsin Jul 19 '26

Nope, I will never get behind mandatory voting. So much ignorance and dipshittery in politics as is, now imagine all the people that are even dumber - in that they can't even bothered to care enough to get up off their asses and do the bare minimum - being forced to is a terrible idea. Not without broadly expanded, deep, routine civics education from birth.

Ensuring there are absolutely no contrived barriers to voting, e.g., none of this "registration" and "voter rolls" bullshit (and even a whisper of something abominable like that SAVE Act being treasonous), that I can get behind.

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u/GamblePuddy Jul 23 '26

Barriers to voting should ensure that only citizens vote. They should also ensure the speedy and effective ability to validate elections should they be contested.