[Dr. Sivana]

This shift coincided with a dramatic drop in turnout rates, from nearly 80 percent of the eligible population in 1896—which had been typical for the era—to 65 percent eight years later.

They have never recovered, falling to around 50 percent in 1996.

Wow. Talk about post hoc ergo propter hoc.

By that reasoning, having numerous precincts, multi-language ballots and extended hours also reduced turnout.

The main reasons turnout reduced is because access to the franchise was extended to larger groups of people (non-real property owners, 18 year-olds, etc. [I exclude women as a group because they vote ion greater proportion than the population at large]).

Another reason is that many offices just represent way too many people. It is one thing to vote for a mayor or a state rep or a congressman in a small town and state, but a Congressman today represents what would have been the population of several states in the 1850s.

The premise of the article is silly. In the era of the New Black Panthers and the SEIU, more than a little dangerous.

[justiceseeker93]

Oh yes, those multi-language ballots (which, BTW, undoubtedly run up printing bills for election boards). How sickening!!! If you can't read basic English, why should you be voting? Does one vote in France in any other language but French? Or do you vote in Italy in any other language but Italian? The US may be exceptional, but this is one area where exceptionalism is foolish.

If learning how to speak, read and write basic English is not a requirement for naturalization of immigrants, it's about time that it came to be again like it was for my grandparents.

All of this is a product of government overaccommodation of immigrants, as Democrats (and, to a lesser extent, Republicans) seek new ethnic bloc voters.

[justiceseeker93]

Oh yes, those multi-language ballots (which, BTW, undoubtedly run up printing bills for election boards). How sickening!!! If you can't read basic English, why should you be voting? Does one vote in France in any other language but French? Or do you vote in Italy in any other language but Italian? The US may be exceptional, but this is one area where exceptionalism is foolish.

If learning how to speak, read and write basic English is not a requirement for naturalization of immigrants, it's about time that it came to be again like it was for my grandparents.

All of this is a product of government overaccommodation of immigrants, as Democrats (and, to a lesser extent, Republicans) seek new ethnic bloc voters.