Voting in Texas...

Everyone knows that if a task has multiply steps to complete less people are likely to actually go all the way to the end with it. The simpler things are the more people will agree to do it. Like surveys, at first people used these long surveys to get people's opinion on things to possibly better their service or company. They found it was very difficult to get people to comply. Now to get people to do a survey they are considerately shorter, being 3-5 minutes long. Also they offer things like coupons and free food upon completion of these surveys. This is exactly what Griff was saying on the issue of voters needing a registration card to vote in his blog Government, The Texas Way. Having a lengthy process or additional steps lowers the number of voters. Making voting more difficult than necessary.

In Texas it is required that you register to vote and get a registration card. Then you must take this card and a state issued ID with you to be able to vote. The biggest argument Griff made was that the registration card should be able to be acquired right before voting (same day, same place) or dropped all together. I completely agree with him. I feel like if the process to vote was made as simple as taking your ID to the ballots, voting, then leaving more young people would turn out. A lot of politicians speak on how the youth is the future and how we could make a difference and I believe this is true. There is a count less number of college students and recent high school graduates able to vote who simply haven't. Whether its because of them missing the registration dead line or not having a registration card all together I feel that isn't a good reason to restrict someone from voting. As long as they are able to prove they are who they say they are with a state issued ID they should be able to vote.

I know there are people who do not have a state issued ID. I do not agree that these people should be completely left out of participating in voting. Maybe if we kept the registration card we could use it for the people who don't have the issued ID. That way it keeps track of them and their information so that eventually they can get one. This would also be a way of not hindering them from voting on a candidate thats gonna make decisions that will effect their future. If they live in the area (legally or not) I feel as though they should have some say on what goes on with what could change around them.

Overall voter registration cards are typically not what people think about when discussing what candidates or parties they're going for. Nor is it something thought about when deciding what time and day your off from work or school to go vote. Then to get there and find you didn't register and can not vote. This would be equally devastating as hearing you missed the date to do so and now its too late. This registration card is inconvenient, unnecessary, and just more trouble then its worth. If the card was done away with more votes would increase dramatically.      

Can Anyone Say....Public Transportation??

I'm from New York. Not just the state but the city where there is more than enough ways to travel and get around. Last year i got my first car and now realize why some many new yorkers rely on public transportation. Texas does have its buses and trains but it only covers certain areas leaving anyone outside those, like myself,  out of luck. If there was a few decent routes that covered the large populated areas surrounding Austin, it would cure some of the issues Texas has. For one it would create jobs for people who are without. There would have to be someone driving the bus, someone giving out tokens/passes, and of course someone to run the show. I know there has to be more people for this operation to work but you get the basics. Then this would generate money for the state because there is a large number of people in this bad economy who are without a car or reliable transportation. With the area growing it's only going to help the public transportation system grow with the new residents. And as stated in this article on chron.com with the more people we have moving the more we need to insure and improve the transportation system. Who knows these people could have potentially come from states with good public transportation. Taking buses or trains would take a lot of cars off the road helping with the traffic jams we all love to sit in daily. Not only does that put less cars on the road but it means less accidents and less police officers out helping with them. The police officers could be working on other needs the city/state has. While cars are at home, garages, and parking lots they aren't polluting the air and effecting the already damaged environment. The cars would not need as much gas in turn saving the owner money. There are so many advantages Texas as a whole could benefit from having a well distributed transportation system. It could open up jobs, clean the cities up and put an extra effort towards staying green, and ultimately make the state money to help tend to its other needs. Needs like education and women's health care are two other very important issues that need help.