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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWith Trump as an asset, Democratic voter registration surges
If you want to glimpse the future of the Democratic Party, look at Riverside County, where the number of registered Democrats surged past the number of Republicans. In an historic shift, a county that was solidly conservative "red" for decades seemed to turn Democratic "blue" overnight.
This unprecedented change is the result of a concerted effort to register and engage as many California voters as possible in 2016. It was made possible by the hard work by community groups, voter engagement organizations, labor unions and the California Democratic Party.
They are building a statewide infrastructure to reach the seven million eligible California voters who have not registered, and they deserve high praise for re-energizing our democracy.
Yet none of this would be possible without one unwitting ally: Donald Trump.
His hate-filled presidential campaign has awakened Californians to the hazards of apathy at the polls. Record numbers of Californians are answering the call and registering. Despite the nonpartisan nature of most voter registration drives, Democratic registration is surging, thanks to the Republican nominee's divisive message.
The Rest:
http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_30294373/steyer-trump-an-asset-democratic-voter-registration-surges
Wounded Bear
(58,656 posts)This is why Repubs attacked Obama as a "community organizer." They fear true democratic processes.
Go California!
SHRED
(28,136 posts)...but happy it's happening.
Enrique
(27,461 posts)Coyotl
(15,262 posts)mjjoe
(260 posts)Texas and Arizona, for example. Also states where the vote is closer, like Ohio and Florida.
greymattermom
(5,754 posts)Georgia
IronLionZion
(45,442 posts)Danascot
(4,690 posts)a step in the political process that has historically been difficult to navigate and subject to onerous burdens designed to exclude citizens of color and lower-income citizens from easily casting a ballot.
In fact, the United States is one of only a few democracies that places the responsibility of registering primarily on each individual voter, rather than making government accountable for ensuring that eligible persons are registered.2 Not surprisingly, obstacles to registration result in fewer people who are registered to vote. Disparities in voter registration rates directly result in disparities in who votes in any given election, leaving many voices unheard."
http://www.demos.org/registering-millions-success-and-potential-national-voter-registration-act-20
George II
(67,782 posts)Yallow
(1,926 posts)I'm not kidding.
It took a total asshole to show America what "they" represent.
Instead of dog whistles, their party's sickness was broadcast with 1,000,000,000,000 megaphones.
And it ain't pretty.
lastlib
(23,233 posts)We need to turn some states blue this fall!
This is great news, though!
mountain grammy
(26,621 posts)and it feels good to do it.
Phlem
(6,323 posts)Who'd a guessed?
Grammy23
(5,810 posts)and they don't want to miss out on being a part of it. I know when our ballots arrive in the mail, my husband and I will sit at the kitchen table and gleefully fill them out! On election night, I plan to make a feast and will have a bottle of bubbly to drink while we watch Trump's ship go down, down, down to the bottom of the sea.
nolabels
(13,133 posts)But it was going to happen anyway eventually. In what is called the Inland Empire, we have many here that in some form or fashion that have careers that service and support the well-to-do from a distance. The current boom is warehouses and people to work in them. They all seem to be popping up faster than tumbleweeds round here.
Anyway, us people who don't fit into the upper-middle class society of L.A and O.C counties live out here (with much diversity, I might add). The area was kind of rural twenty or thirty years ago but it has changed much
sellitman
(11,606 posts)Sad it had to be a national emergency.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)An Omen Of Trump Doom As Democrats Surge In Formerly Deep Red Orange County, CA
By Jason Easley on Sat, Aug 6th, 2016 at 1:20 pm
For the first time since 1936, the former hotbed of California Republicans, Orange County, may vote for a Democrat for president.
http://www.politicususa.com/2016/08/06/trump-doom-democrats-surge-deep-red-orange-county-ca.html