San Franciscans vote in odd-numbered years for some very important local offices. For example, in 2011, we’ll be voting on the next mayor. That some folks are mobilizing now to maximize the number of voters they can cram into the booths should come as no surprise, then.
This brings us to Proposition E on this year’s ballot. Proposed by Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi and supported by all the supervisors except Michela Alioto-Pier and Sean Elsbernd, the proposition would direct the Board of Supervisors to create a system by which San Franciscans can register to vote and cast a vote on the same day in municipal elections. (Because we have state and federal races in even-numbered years, voters would still have to wait 15 days from their date of registration until they can vote in those elections.)
Supporters of Prop. E claim that voter turnout is low for our municipal elections and that allowing same-day registration will solve that problem. That’s ridiculous.
Let’s face it: The reason turnout is low is because municipal elections are boring. The last one pitted Mistermayor against a naked guy. This makes for fun cocktail party chatter, but no one’s going to skip their afternoon run to Starbucks to go vote in that type of election.
Having said that, it does stand to reason that there will be a small increase in the number of voters on Election Day if Prop. E passes. People who can’t get it together to register 15 days in advance of the election date, for whatever reason, would be our new voters. In exchange, according to the city controller, Prop. E will cost The City $424,000 per election to train poll workers, print new materials and develop new Election Day procedures.
Whether $424,000 for those new voters is a fair deal is what each of us (who manage to get registered in time) will be able to decide Nov. 2.
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