Ineligible to Vote?

@worldwise1 (14885)
United States
November 7, 2007 12:09am CST
I was browsing Yahoo News a while ago and got a shock when I came across an article which said that in some states people who live in RVs are deemed ineligible to vote. I don't get it. People are people no matter what type of dwelling they reside in. I think this is just another ploy to prevent some people from voicing their opinions. What do you think of this?
5 people like this
13 responses
@4ftfingers (1310)
7 Nov 07
We have council tax here, do you have that over there? It's probably called something else but it's a local tax that depends on the size of your house. But if you don't live in a home you don't have to pay it ofcourse. Maybe it is an insentive to encourage people who live in RVs to move into homes and therefore pay tax? That's the only thing I can think of.
1 person likes this
21 Nov 07
I know. We live in democracies, and they tell us that living in our democratic nations is the best way to live, and are the best countries to live in. I agree, I would not like to live in a country with a dictatorship. But at the same time, there are many flaws in our democratic nations. It is only the best if you fit the mold that is set out by the certain few, ie the government. For example, since the second world war, the western nations have seen a very sharp increase in the rate of depression. There are many reasons for this, such as the break down of the extended family and the break down of the community spirit. It may be paradise for many people, but at the same time there are loads of people who don't enjoy living in this way.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
8 Nov 07
Well, 4ftfingers, I think that is just wrong! It should not matter what kind of dwelling people choose to live in. Many people who have retired like to travel in their RVs, and they shouldn't lose their right to vote because of it. After all, it's not like they are sleeping under a bridge or on a park bench.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
22 Nov 07
Yes, I can attest to the fact that the family unit has broken down considerably, 4ftfingers. The post-War era has developed into a very different world than it used to be.
@pismeof (855)
• United States
7 Nov 07
The reason people who live in Recreation Vehicles are not allowed to vote is to prevent voter fraud.Unless you have a permanent residential address you can't vote.It would be a simple matter for someone to drive to a number of states in a day and vote multiple times.
@pismeof (855)
• United States
8 Nov 07
It is one thing if you are talking about a Mobile home with a regular mailing address.It's quite another to refer to an R.V.that can be moved anywhere anytime with no mailing address.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
8 Nov 07
These people have to park their RVs somewhere, pismeof! They should have some kind of address. How would they receive their mail and deliveries?
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
8 Nov 07
I'm kind of mixed on this one. Yes, any U.S. citizen of age has the right to vote. However when a person votes for a Senator or House member, they are helping to choose the person who will represent their district or state in Congress. If they don't live in a district or state, why should they have a say in choosing the representative. The same goes for mayors, governors..etc. See what I mean?
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
22 Nov 07
I do see what you mean, ParaTed, but I still think these people are being unlawfully denied their right to vote. There should be a reasonable way to address this problem.
• United States
7 Nov 07
It sounds like a way to stop poor people from voting.this will backfire.They can make it so only white, rich, men vote, but the rest of us will just ignore the officials that get voted in. These days only half of us vote anyway.And after Florida in 2000, there are some that believe that their vote won't be counted.And there are so many new Americans that don't know English yet.So if the officials don't connect with all the people, we will simply ignore them.
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Nov 07
Brava! Let you voice be heard.Suggestion, if you can, you should contact your local news too. With the presidential elections around the corner, it would make a great story.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
8 Nov 07
I plan to contact a couple of my representatives about this matter, sarah, because it is unfair to everyone. They are blatantly denying every eligible person the right to voice their opinion.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 Nov 07
Could it be that people who live in RVs are not considered living in a "permanent" address?? As most people who do live in RVs often do travel from one trailer park to another. My aunt who lives in CA does a lot of RVing around, and has one residence where she and her husband will stay for x-amount of months in one trailer park, but that is just a temporary thing, as they do have a permanent home as well. Maybe such people who live in RVs aren't considered "reliable" voters?? Who knows with this government's way of thinking
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
22 Nov 07
That's one more thing we have to hold against the government, pyewacket. What about inalienable rights? These people deserve the same privileges as anyone else.
@lancingboy (1385)
• United States
7 Nov 07
I agree, that is totally messed up! My grandparents go RVing a lot of time to visit relatives and friends. That isn't fair for them not to be able to vote in the national elections at least. I know the local elections would be difficult to vote in if you are away from your town. National elections are a different matter though, because as long as you're a citizen, you should be able to vote.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
8 Nov 07
That is the purpose of Absentee ballots, lancingboy, so that anyone who is unable to go to the polls will still have the right to cast their votes.
• United States
8 Nov 07
Thank you for the absentee vote thing. I am still new to all this political business, but at least I have something new to research and learn new things about. It's always great to learn new things isn't it? =)
@kareng (53375)
• United States
7 Nov 07
That would depend on if they had a permanent address or not. I can see the reasoning if they don't have a home address and move around the country every few months. Now if they live in an RV and in a park year round, that is another story.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
8 Nov 07
I still think it is quibbling, kareng. No matter where these people park their RVs, they must get mail and deliveries somehow. And, voting is so boring, who would want to vote more than once, LOL?
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
7 Nov 07
I think that is weird. I was under the assumption that if you were an American citizen and you registered you could vote. I think that is something that needs to be fixed. Everyone deserves the right to vote and have their opinion heard in this country whether they are living in a million dollar house or living on the streets. They are still part of this country and deserve to have their voices heard.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
22 Nov 07
That is so true, Aurone. I wouldn't be at all surprised if many of the people who live on the streets are more well-informed on the issues than solid citizens. This does need to be fixed.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
7 Nov 07
That is just plain outrageous! I'm absolutely sure you're 100% correct that it's just a ploy to prevent some people from voting. What happened to our rights, to the constitution? There has been so much voter fraud since the 2000 election it just gets me fired up. Annie
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
8 Nov 07
I'm afraid it is going to get much worse, anniepa. They did find a flimsy excuse to disallow the absentee ballots that were cast during the last Presidential election locally. I can't imagine what they found to be wrong with them. Many seniors choose to vote this way due to physical limitations.
@mummymo (23706)
1 Feb 08
I think that is absolutely awful! How disgusting - what does it matter where a person lives and why should that affect their right to vote? What a crock! xxx
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
7 Nov 07
Alright, I definitely have to look into that one. On one hand voter fraud is being accepted, planned and plotted out, but now we've got another case of suppressing real people and their opinion. I'm just speechless.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
8 Nov 07
They are using many kinds of discrimination, progamer. I think they even went so far as to throw out the absentee votes in my state during the last big election. It seems they change the laws to suit themselves whenever they wish.
@angemac23 (2003)
• Canada
7 Nov 07
This is insane! Everyone has a right to vote!
1 person likes this
@Unl3ashed (110)
• Belgium
7 Nov 07
well, think that that has something to do with the fact that they do not reside in an fix place. they can drive around the country... to be honest i do think that it is a very silly rule and i also think all people have the right to vote. it's in all constitutions
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
8 Nov 07
I agree, Unl3ashed. Just because they choose to live in a mobile dwelling shouldn't be cause to strip them of their right to vote.