DefinitelyNotAFae's recent activity

  1. Comment on Babylon 5 S2E22: "The Fall of Night" - Episode Discussion in ~tv

    DefinitelyNotAFae
    Link
    I think a season post would work, I always want to talk but can't quite keep up

    I think a season post would work, I always want to talk but can't quite keep up

    1 vote

  2. Comment on Historic voter turnout powered US Democrats’ blue wave in ~society

    DefinitelyNotAFae
    Link Parent
    I don't really think it's helpful to punish people harshly, that's not the model in Australia for example and punishing individuals is inevitably going to hurt the people who are most vulnerable....

    I don't really think it's helpful to punish people harshly, that's not the model in Australia for example and punishing individuals is inevitably going to hurt the people who are most vulnerable. It's like $20 bucks in AU I believe. Annoying. Not major, but people vote.

  3. Comment on Historic voter turnout powered US Democrats’ blue wave in ~society

    DefinitelyNotAFae
    Link Parent
    None do. I am genuinely not sure where mandatory voting would have to come from or if it could come at either federal or state level. States direct the elections, with counties/similar sub-state...

    None do. I am genuinely not sure where mandatory voting would have to come from or if it could come at either federal or state level. States direct the elections, with counties/similar sub-state units doing the on the ground work under their standards. But I could see a first amendment challenge to a state law or a 10th amendment challenge to a federal law. And I have no idea what lawyers think about the constitutionality of it.

    IMO making it mandatory without fixing the access barriers would be unconstitutional (potentially at both levels depending on the state constitution)

    None of that overcomes the "you can't tell me what to do" mindset of Americans either though. And I just don't see us getting past that childishness.

  4. Comment on Historic voter turnout powered US Democrats’ blue wave in ~society

    DefinitelyNotAFae
    Link Parent
    I don't find the way this conversation is going to be productive. So we're done.

    I don't find the way this conversation is going to be productive. So we're done.

    1 vote

  5. Comment on Historic voter turnout powered US Democrats’ blue wave in ~society

    DefinitelyNotAFae
    Link Parent
    Oh I don't find that ideal much at all, and local counties don't have that kind of software either. Paying for it would bankrupt folks I think. I also think disabled people would get flagged more...

    Oh I don't find that ideal much at all, and local counties don't have that kind of software either. Paying for it would bankrupt folks I think.

    I also think disabled people would get flagged more often.

    3 votes

  6. Comment on Historic voter turnout powered US Democrats’ blue wave in ~society

    DefinitelyNotAFae
    Link Parent
    Ah very cool. I get though that it can be a hassle/barrier in the moment. Partner was voting in person and it wasn't a big deal for him thankfully but I have not had to look into alternative...

    Ah very cool. I get though that it can be a hassle/barrier in the moment. Partner was voting in person and it wasn't a big deal for him thankfully but I have not had to look into alternative accommodations in IL so I wasn't aware of options!

    1 vote

  7. Comment on Tesla to wind down Cybertruck production in Texas next year in ~transport

    DefinitelyNotAFae
    Link Parent
    I mean iirc the trunk will take off your fingers too. So the safety concerns are for everyone!

    I mean iirc the trunk will take off your fingers too. So the safety concerns are for everyone!

    3 votes

  8. Comment on Historic voter turnout powered US Democrats’ blue wave in ~society

    DefinitelyNotAFae
    Link Parent
    That's fair, I'm curious if you have alternative ideas without wanting to require an ID? My partner's signature on the screen was definitely not ideal, but him knowing his address and being...

    That's fair, I'm curious if you have alternative ideas without wanting to require an ID? My partner's signature on the screen was definitely not ideal, but him knowing his address and being registered (and voting) in the correct area was also considered I believe. But he had ID in case there was an issue and not everyone does

    2 votes

  9. Comment on Historic voter turnout powered US Democrats’ blue wave in ~society

    DefinitelyNotAFae
    Link Parent
    I mean I encourage you to become an illinois lawmaker if you find it so simple. I support the expansion of mail in voting, regardless of whether it turns into increased turnout, but your question...

    I mean I encourage you to become an illinois lawmaker if you find it so simple.

    I support the expansion of mail in voting, regardless of whether it turns into increased turnout, but your question about why there was a difference turned into the idea that it's an easy fix. Despite the state you're comparing it to having worse turnout.

    I don't know why you're pressing this as I am also not a lawmaker, not supporting mandatory voting as the ideal step and have outlined a much longer and more thorough list of access barriers that need addressed as well as some of the systemic issues we have as a country. Mail in voting does not solve all of those issues and it can raise others.

    So idk what you want. Yes, we should expand it. But it's certainly not an "easy fix" and it's not a single alternative to mandatory voting.

    7 votes

  10. Comment on Historic voter turnout powered US Democrats’ blue wave in ~society

    DefinitelyNotAFae
    Link Parent
    This is generally how a lot of provisional ballots and other sorts of "there might be an issue here" ballots work too. It's part of the count in Mississippi - the Republican candidate has demanded...

    This is generally how a lot of provisional ballots and other sorts of "there might be an issue here" ballots work too. It's part of the count in Mississippi - the Republican candidate has demanded that those provisional ballots be kept with the envelopes. The Democrat has pointed out that this would threaten vote secrecy and violates how they're supposed to be handled (as you describe once cured, etc.)
    Just in case that helps folks curious about that process too.

    4 votes

  11. Comment on Historic voter turnout powered US Democrats’ blue wave in ~society

    DefinitelyNotAFae
    Link Parent
    Illinois turnout was higher than California's in 2024.

    Illinois turnout was higher than California's in 2024.

    4 votes

  12. Comment on Tesla to wind down Cybertruck production in Texas next year in ~transport

    DefinitelyNotAFae
    Link Parent
    I was behind a truck that had a sticker that said "my truck identifies as a Tesla" or something. I strongly considered a saccharine sweet "I love to see someone supporting trans rights." But as...

    I was behind a truck that had a sticker that said "my truck identifies as a Tesla" or something.

    I strongly considered a saccharine sweet "I love to see someone supporting trans rights." But as the rest of the stickers were about hunting and firearm season is around the corner I decided I would not go for it. Because probably they'd just be confused but possibly ...

    2 votes

  13. Comment on Historic voter turnout powered US Democrats’ blue wave in ~society

    DefinitelyNotAFae
    Link Parent
    Short version is that minority parties exist and function and individual vote has more impact* because of not having fptp. Longer version is beyond my capacity and I'd suggest watching Crash...

    Short version is that minority parties exist and function and individual vote has more impact* because of not having fptp. Longer version is beyond my capacity and I'd suggest watching Crash Course or something equivalent if you are interested in how the US system works and why we can struggle to feel heard amidst everything.

    *Or at least feels this way. I don't have the math. But feel is important

    7 votes

  14. Comment on Historic voter turnout powered US Democrats’ blue wave in ~society

    DefinitelyNotAFae
    Link Parent
    We just don't agree on the approach, I think we have a bunch of things that need fixed, systemically and mandatory voting vs an ethos of removing barriers rather than placing them, are miles apart...

    We just don't agree on the approach, I think we have a bunch of things that need fixed, systemically and mandatory voting vs an ethos of removing barriers rather than placing them, are miles apart in the ability to "sell" it to the people.

    I also don't believe there's congressional will for it, but I think you can get the majority of people on board with "remove voting barriers". Even as it'll have to happen state by state, legally speaking.

    I get your opinion, I just think the approach is wrong and will lead to backlash at best.

    3 votes

  15. Comment on Historic voter turnout powered US Democrats’ blue wave in ~society

    DefinitelyNotAFae
    Link Parent
    Believing everyone should vote is not just about wanting my team to win. That line of thinking is explicitly why the Republicans disenfranchise black voters and threaten polling places with ICE...

    Believing everyone should vote is not just about wanting my team to win. That line of thinking is explicitly why the Republicans disenfranchise black voters and threaten polling places with ICE presence and the like.

    5 votes

  16. Comment on Historic voter turnout powered US Democrats’ blue wave in ~society

    DefinitelyNotAFae
    Link Parent
    The broader worker rights and expectations of time off I think also play into the ease of voting. But I also think most parliamentary style systems lead people to feel like their vote matters more...

    The broader worker rights and expectations of time off I think also play into the ease of voting. But I also think most parliamentary style systems lead people to feel like their vote matters more than our 2 party, first past the post model

    11 votes

  17. Comment on Historic voter turnout powered US Democrats’ blue wave in ~society

    DefinitelyNotAFae
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    My point is these things should be addressed long before we get to mandatory voting. Because they'll help now, and they're countering ingrained issues with voting in the US. If everyone can vote...

    My point is these things should be addressed long before we get to mandatory voting. Because they'll help now, and they're countering ingrained issues with voting in the US. If everyone can vote the opposition to everyone must vote will be lessened (but still present because we have a strain of toddler-esque refusal to do something simply because we're told we must)

    We don't have strong enough workers' rights nor a pattern of holding institutions accountable for that to be the initial approach IMO. We tend to fine institutions far too little for violations and even when they are fined or settle it's usually years later. Too late for an election process.

    5 votes

  18. Comment on Historic voter turnout powered US Democrats’ blue wave in ~society

    DefinitelyNotAFae
    (edited )
    Link Parent
    It depends on the state! Some states let elections exist entirely by mail. Some send everyone a mail-in ballot. Some you have to ask for a mail-in ballot, but anyone can get it. Some you have to...

    It depends on the state! Some states let elections exist entirely by mail. Some send everyone a mail-in ballot. Some you have to ask for a mail-in ballot, but anyone can get it. Some you have to have a reason to "absentee vote" by mail, such as disability. I do not know how the option works for the homeless, especially those outside of shelters. But because our elections are state run, it's tricky.

    The federal government has more recently been pressuring states not to allow mail in voting. They have also attempted to sell a perspective that mail in voting is part of the voter fraud problem. This makes people distrust the process even more. I personally don't do it because I will absolutely lose a physical ballot at home, assuming I remember to apply for one. I just early vote in person so I can help my partner vote on a lower stress, non-work day.

    It is the nature of voting in the US that there are unnecessary barriers explicitly designed to disenfranchise entire groups of people. The Republicans have openly said that's their goal, and no one seems to want to give incarcerated people the vote at all.

    8 votes

  19. Comment on Historic voter turnout powered US Democrats’ blue wave in ~society

    DefinitelyNotAFae
    Link Parent
    California mails the ballot to all registered voters. IL voters have to apply for it.

    California mails the ballot to all registered voters. IL voters have to apply for it.

    14 votes

  20. Comment on Historic voter turnout powered US Democrats’ blue wave in ~society

    DefinitelyNotAFae
    Link Parent
    The issues with things like employer provisions is that, much like how servers must be paid minimum if they don't get tipped, often asking for one's rights leads to being fired. And people just...

    The issues with things like employer provisions is that, much like how servers must be paid minimum if they don't get tipped, often asking for one's rights leads to being fired. And people just can't afford the risk.

    I think we have to solve access first. In part because I'm not sure that mandatory voting holds up to court challenges without at least a federal law, and possibly even then. But because it's far too easy to do wrong by implementing it without removing barriers. But if you address those barriers you make things better under the existing system and the hypothetical future one. The other way around leads to, depending on how the fine is handled, a lot of harm done and potentially worse disenfranchisement and probably a reactionary protest against voting. If the goal is increased voting, we should focus on access first.

    8 votes