No vote for police commissioners

No vote for police commissioners

Disenfranchising expatriate citizens is undemocratic, and probably illegal. Although the UK signed up the the ICCPR, thereby guaranteeing citizens' active and passive electoral rights, many expatriate citizens who would otherwise be enfranchised will be excluded from the police commissioners' elections.

Does the British state fear a partisan vote from abroad?  Why should citizens non-resident for 14 years be allowed to vote and those non-resident for longer be prohibited?

Democratic participation in the determination of the upper echelons of the judiciary is a good idea.  But to be meaningful, it needs to be properly democratic, not tuned according to the whims of the government.

If you are allowed to vote, use the opportunity.  More details here

Republicans' initiative leads to disenfranchisement (another view)

The Economist has some comment from the US discussing Republican attempts to disenfranchise the non ID bearing voters.  See http://www.economist.com/blogs/lexington/2012/09/art-voter-turnout

The interesting point is that, as the blogger mentions at the end of the article, this may end up giving a positive edge to the Democratic vote.

Republicans' disenfranchisement initiative

Republicans' disenfranchisement initiative

Just in time for the election in the US, the Republicans have been carefully trying to disenfranchise elements of the Democrats supporters within the electorate.

The article in Rolling Stone is here
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-gop-war-on-voting-20110830

Is there also gerrymandering going on, I wonder.