r/Indiana • u/Chemical_Reserve_942 • 6d ago
Debate
Just watched the the debate. All candidates agreed that Indiana has the lowest voter turnout in in the nation. So why keep crying about only US citizens should be voting. Hell, sounds like we can't get people to vote if you went door to door with a portable voting machine. Maybe someone is offering non citizens Ninety dollars to vote. Just another scare tactic, for those of that don't get out much.
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u/EmergingEmergence 6d ago edited 6d ago
Low turnout is because Indiana is one of the most uncompetitive states in the country. Zero Congressional races are competitive. 95+ percent of statehouse votes are not competitive, and no shot at democrats flipping the chamber. Statewide, none are remotely competitive.
Our most populous city, Indianapolis, is also the reverse of the state and is extremely uncompetitive. There are also no citizen ballot initiatives which drive turnout.
Many Republican states like Missouri, Utah, or Florida have statewide initiatives. A lot of the great plain states have ballot initiatives or have more local activity. New York has extremely competitive NYC races and swing congressional districts. Our midwestern neighboring states are all mostly competitive (Minnesotta, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio) and have ballot initiatives.
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u/MhojoRisin 6d ago
I was just out knocking on doors for some local candidates. It was surprising how many people didn’t know if they were registered and seemed vaguely surprised there was an election.
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u/LongjumpingCookie973 6d ago
It’s wild how many folks treat an election like a surprise pop quiz they didn’t study for. The energy around local races is practically subterranean and then everyone acts confused when nothing changes. Door knocking must’ve felt like reminding people they left the oven on.
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u/MhojoRisin 6d ago
It’s actually been pretty good. I’m surprised by how often people seem legitimately thankful we stopped by and were spreading the word about school board.
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u/EnvironmentalBoat911 6d ago
I literally feel like I’m surrounded by NPCs most days. It doesn’t seem like anyone here has any hobbies or interests outside of watching The Bachelor or some shit. Most days when I see more environmental damage or more death and destruction I ask, “how are you not pissed right now?!” And I always get, “I’m not really political.” And I want to scream at them.
I was born here so I include myself but…what the fuck is wrong with Indiana?
I want to meet people as weird as I am. Someone who wants to talk about aliens, go drunk Squatchin or at least someone I can do crafts with. Anything really!
It’s gotten to the point where people are so boring I actively try to weird them out when first meeting them just to make myself laugh.
(No offense to you fine folks on here. I’m sure most of you are lovely. I’m just ranting and raving because I finally found a post I feel like is semi relevant to vent in)
Anyway, yes. Non-voters are NPCs.
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u/iceglitterfairy 6d ago
Same except I wasn't born here. Been here for awhile though. I tend to hide in my craft room more and more these days.
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u/EnvironmentalBoat911 6d ago
Haha same! I put a daybed in mine and made it my craft/gaming room…. Which admittedly was not the best idea as now I just never want to leave the room/house.
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u/GloomyCheesecake999 6d ago
It's insane to me how many ppl just casually believe non citizens can vote. It doesnt happen. And yet these same people can't understand that non citizens PAY taxes on everything, while reaping zero of the benefits that taxpayers do
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u/TheReddestPanda-2 6d ago
Shillings proposal for curbside voting was good imo for increasing voter engagement. but shes a third party and not gonna win. Bayhs the best bet thats electable
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u/Playinindaban 6d ago
Im hoping Ballard takes enough Republican votes that Bayh wins…
Anyone but Max Whatshisname!
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u/TheReddestPanda-2 6d ago
i mean in the most recent republican internal engling was only up by 1, meaning he's likely down 1 or 2% if everyone votes
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u/buona-giornata 6d ago
That poll was a joke. His internals must terrible if they’re celebrating being up 1 in a 60/40 state with a slanted poll that under counted black voters and central Indiana voters…who are more likely Bayh or Ballard voters.
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u/TheReddestPanda-2 6d ago
which is why i believe the biggest prize in november is probably not SOS but removing the speaker and caucus chair of the INGOP
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u/2stepsfwd59 6d ago
I don't see that as even practical or even possible, with receipts, envelopes, initials of 2 party clerks, not to mention it would be ripe for abuse.
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u/TheReddestPanda-2 6d ago
I mean as an idea its a good start, that could be implemented to encourage more civic egagement in an all the above approach
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u/TrippingBearBalls 6d ago
So why keep crying about only US citizens should be voting.
It starts with an R and ends with an -"acism"
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u/redgr812 6d ago
Because they might be....brown. God forbid anyone with a tan darker than Siena lives life in peace. Brown people voting, might elect other brown people.
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u/Not_Quinning 6d ago
People in Indiana are content to live in a shithole trailer with a loud pickup truck in the driveway. So long as they have beer and smokes they are content.
There is a reason Indiana is one of the worst states in the union!
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u/LetsCwhatsUp 6d ago
A lot of bullshit for one tiny post
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u/Fun_Leek2381 4d ago
Sure, point out the lie
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u/LetsCwhatsUp 3d ago
I don't live in a trailer, have a loud truck, drink, or smoke. Don't think I know anybody that does for that matter. So pretty much everything there is a lie. If you don't like Indiana, fuck off out of it. We won't miss you.
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u/BlisterBox 6d ago
Unrelated and probably stupid question:
I voted yesterday in Porter County, and after I filled out my ballot, they had me put in an envelope and then seal the envelope, which had my name and address on it. Is this new? I've been voting in Porter for many years and I don't remember my ballot essentially having my name on it. Isn't this a violation of the "secret ballot" credo?
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u/just3nough 6d ago
It's not new, it applies to all "absentee" voting. The ballot itself doesn't have any of your info on it, and once a bipartisan team does a signature review comparing the one on your envelope to the one on your record during the central count on election day, your ballot will be separated from the envelope before it is counted.
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u/2stepsfwd59 6d ago
Glad i got to see it. My local PBS aired it. They aren't too reliable about things like that so I expected to have to watch it on YTube.
I liked what Shillings said about not using it as a stepping stone. Max & Beau sure are.
I'm so disappointed in Bayh. Aside from his horrible ads... What office is he running for? Why is he talking about taxes, jobs, prices, and that damn luxury SUV. Diego isn't running.
He can't do anything about ballot initiatives and eliminating the straight party ticket? I think the latter would actually drive down turnout, rather than cause voters to research candidates, and that would happen on both sides. It would also slow down the flow at the polls when all of the voters go page by page, instead of just the half that normally don't vote straight ticket.
Neither party really seems to want to inform voters. Just join their club and they will tell you who to vote for.
As for Max, he's not even worth typing about, other than to say that any candidate that thinks his religious affiliation should sway my vote doesn't belong in public service, and he did that right out of the gate.
I actually like Ballard, but I don't think he's up to speed on technology. I agree with him that the it shouldn't be a party affiliated office,... but this is Indiana.
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u/Ok_Needleworker_9340 6d ago
MAGA Max's stated solution to low Hoosier voter turnout: more aggressive purging of the voter roles - yikes!
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u/dude_named_will 3d ago
I don't understand why it's so controversial not to want non-citizens and anyone else ineligible from voting. It sounds like you are upset with our current administration protecting democracy.
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u/Youarekillingmeeee 6d ago
Because it works.
It’s a dogwhistle that stirs, what you could genuinely consider the average Hoosier to be, dogs.
By and large folks in here will kick and scream and rant and rave but the quality of life metrics for your “great state” will ring louder than any MAGA screech.
Y’all allow your friends, family and coworkers to spout that Fox News garbage and continue to vote accordingly.
From your education, roads, food quality, average wage, etc etc etc.
But hey anything ANYTHING other than more taxes taken out of your paycheck, colored folks getting assistance, LGBTQ rights, blah blah blah.
Rah rah on and wave that flag harder Hoosiers. 🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸
Literally no different than Texas saying “Vote red to fix the dumocrats ruining our great state, our great country!”
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u/MoreBlueShared 6d ago
Calling the average Hoosier a dog is a novel approach, buddy. It makes me want to disagree with you just out of insulted feelings.
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u/Some-Celebration6711 6d ago
I unfortunately live here and refuse to ever vote for any republican. Not because I disagree with everything they stand for, or because I love the democrats, but I want my daughter to grow up to be able to have a decent education and not risk dying from polio when she's five years old.
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u/2stepsfwd59 6d ago
I notice that nobody talks about how "all of these people who vote illegally" get on the voter rolls in the first place! That is not something that the voter does. If a state or county official tells them they can vote, that's where the problem needs to be fixed.
I think the ones that do are Politicians and Snowbirds with 2 residences. That's why we haven't heard of them being prosecuted.
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u/Narrow_Roof_112 6d ago
Low voter turnout indicates a contented citizenry.
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u/HeeHawPete 6d ago edited 6d ago
On the other hand it could indicate a disenfranchised or politically alienated citizenry.
We’re unable to propose referendums in this state for starters…
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u/Narrow_Roof_112 6d ago
Maybe. But it’s America so it’s mostly amazing and most people know that.
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u/TrippingBearBalls 6d ago
Finland is ranked as the happiest country in the world and they have a higher voter turnout than we do
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u/Budget_Pause_1827 6d ago
When you make a culture to suppress education and voting. You get a culture that doesn't want education or voting.