Thinking about VOTER SUPPRESSION in CORAL GABLES and similar Municipalities
February 26, 2021 Leave a comment
Voter participation in many municipalities is weak and the voting systems lead to voter suppression. There is an insufficient 25% voter participation in local government elections. Coral Gables is a clear example low voter turnout that could be easily fixed. South Miami recency moved the dates of its elections with the approval of the voters.
Many municipal government elections for key positions of commissioners and mayors in Coral Gables are elected by a total vote of 20% to 25% register voters, essentially because the elections are held on off-year national and state election years when the public is not paying attention. The winners may accumulate no more than one-half of actual voters, which is only 10% to 15% of the registered voters.
A great example is the forthcoming election in Coral Gables for mayor and commissioners on April 13, 2021. Be assured that only about 25% of registered voters will even know and care about the election. We know that active participants are driven by their commercial or personal interests in the coming election–donors, attorneys, contractors, builders and developers, large real estate investors, architects, local activists and land owners.
It has been proven that changing the date of the election to national and state voting dates in November will easily double voter participation to 50%.
Let’s make Coral Gables a strong, active democracy, but none of the candidates are interested.
About Stephen E. McGaughey
Coral Gables Watch 