The noted low voter turnout in the cities inner core
is part of the reason election reform is so critical.
The wards in the city are required to be equal in
population but not in size of voting population. The
city's "inner core" wards(as defined by an earlier
poster) have a higher percentage of children in their
overall population count than many other parts of the
city, a higher concentration of noncitizens, and a
higher concentration of individuals who cannot vote
due to being on probation. Add to this the fact that
these wards also include a population which generally
has overall lower income, is less educated, and more
transient and is it any wonder that voter turnout both
numerically and percentage wise varies so drastically
from ward to ward?
One of my concerns is how this leads to the concerns
of certain wards taking political primacy particularly
in the eyes of city wide elected officials. Note the
proposed closure of parks in Phillips. Which wards do
environmentally questionable projects go into? Where
are less desireable projects sited and what wards find
themselves sustaining more than their share of
community programs for the downout?
I think you will find a direct corelation between Ward
and precinct turnouts and these problems with lack of
service.
One way to help alleviate these inequities and empower
parts of the ciy with low turnout would be to expand
franchise rights in local elections. This could
include allowing all who are not incarcerated who
reside in the community to vote in local elections and
allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections.
I think both of these are important to bringing
balance to local city politics and look forward to
working with our local elected offficials in
recieiving the discretion to expand the franchise in
local elections.
David Strand
Loring Park
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