Mollis gauges popularity of Saturday elections
9:50 AM Tue, Nov 13, 2007 | Permalink
Email this author | Email this entry |
 |
Projo Politics Blog |
The secretary of state’s office had a particular interest in Saturday’s nonbinding referendum on expanding gambling operations in Lincoln. No, the office isn’t planning an all-night slot session to build office unity. Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis is considering expanding the use of Saturday elections as part of an election reform package he will introduce in the coming session. His office had several volunteers at Lincoln’s four polling places on Saturday to gauge the public’s feelings on Saturday voting. The moderator at Lincoln Middle School, Eleanore Kelley, told Political Scene that people generally liked it. “Nobody’s rushing here from work,” she said as the voters poured through the door Saturday afternoon. Turnout was considered heavy for an off-year non-binding referendum with no candidates on the ballot. What else is Mollis considering in his 2008 legislative package? Spokesman Chris Barnett says legislation may include requiring photo identification and expanding the 50-foot “no-canvassing” zoning around at polling places that is off-limits to campaign workers. Improvements are critical, Barnett said, noting that less than half of Rhode Island’s 677,000 registered voters participated in the 2006 elections. 
CommentsLeave a comment |
New comments
New photos
Authors
New posts
Projo blogs
Archives
Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis reports that 95 percent of the voters who responded to the exit poll liked Saturday voting. More than half of those who liked Saturday voting, said they liked it because they did not have to take time away from work. The second most common reason given for liking the opportunity to vote on a Saturday was "more convenient." 733 voters participated in the exit poll. 546 liked Saturday voting. 27 disliked Saturday voting. 160 had no opinion. While Secretary Mollis' exit poll did collect data on the reasons voters selected no opinion, many of those with no opinion volunteered that they were retired and did not have a preference when it came to weekdays or weekends.
Report Abuse
How many people were polled that did *not* go to the polls on Saturday? Otherwise, the numbers are useless. That's like going to Gillette Stadium on a Patriots' game day and polling people whether they feel favorably toward the Patriots. You'd probably get a 95% "yes" rate on that one too.
Both the vote itself, which means nothing and is nothing more than an official poll in itself, and the exit poll were another waste of taxpayer money.
Report Abuse
Saturday voting makes too much sense for the majority of voters who have to work on election day. Those that benefit from the present day arrangements would of course be against it.
Report Abuse