Readers React: It’s the quality of voters that counts, not necessarily the quantity

To the editor: In response to political science professor Thad Kousser lamenting low voter turnout, registering to vote and voting in California could not be made any simpler, especially considering online and same-day registration, as well as absentee voting. And when people register, they also have the option of requesting that all election materials be provided to them in their preferred language, despite the fact that our political discourse in America is conducted in English. (“Want to increase voter turnout? Here’s how,” Op-Ed, Oct. 26)

In one of my political science classes, I recall learning that apathy is part of any democratic political process. And while Kousser seeks to “create an electorate that is more representative of our state’s diverse population” by continuously having to coax people into voting, my preference would be for a more interested, better informed electorate — even if that means a smaller voter turnout.

Jim Redhead, San Diego

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To the editor: Kousser addresses one of the more pernicious issues plaguing our democracy: that “voters in low-turnout elections are significantly older, more affluent and more likely to be white.”

Kousser’s survey-supported hand-wringing seems to ignore recent proposals intended to encourage higher turnout. Why not induce us older white voters to stay away from the polling place — say, by enrolling us in a lottery offering prizes? I tend to vote liberal-progressive, but, heck, I’d forfeit that if I had a chance roll away in a new wheelchair or snag a year’s supply of Depends.

Kousser might profit from acknowledging the oversized elephant (and the donkey) in the room: that voters — old, young, white, black and brown — refrain from voting because they feel they’ve nothing at stake in the process.

Gene Sculatti, Northridge

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