Another nail in the coffin, 6 votes per hispanic (long)

[bigvalkriefan]

A certain person that lives overseas will probably like this one.
Our founding fathers would not recognize this country now.

PORT CHESTER, N.Y. – Arthur Furano voted early — five days before Election Day. And he voted often, flipping the lever six times for his favorite candidate. Furano cast multiple votes on the instructions of a federal judge and the U.S. Department of Justice as part of a new election system crafted to help boost Hispanic representation.

Voters in Port Chester, 25 miles northeast of New York City, are electing village trustees for the first time since the federal government alleged in 2006 that the existing election system was unfair. The election ends Tuesday and results are expected late Tuesday.

Although the village of about 30,000 residents is nearly half Hispanic, no Latino had ever been elected to any of the six trustee seats, which until now were chosen in a conventional at-large election. Most voters were white, and white candidates always won.

Federal Judge Stephen Robinson said that violated the Voting Rights Act, and he approved a remedy suggested by village officials: a system called cumulative voting, in which residents get six votes each to apportion as they wish among the candidates. He rejected a government proposal to break the village into six districts, including one that took in heavily Hispanic areas.

Furano and his wife, Gloria Furano, voted Thursday.

"That was very strange," Arthur Furano, 80, said after voting. "I'm not sure I liked it. All my life, I've heard, `one man, one vote.'"

It's the first time any municipality in New York has used cumulative voting, said Amy Ngai, a director at FairVote, a nonprofit election research and reform group that has been hired to consult. The system is used to elect the school board in Amarillo, Texas, the county commission in Chilton County, Ala., and the City Council in Peoria, Ill.

The judge also ordered Port Chester to implement in-person early voting, allowing residents to show up on any of five days to cast ballots. That, too, is a first in New York, Ngai said.

Village clerk Joan Mancuso said Monday that 604 residents voted early.

Gloria Furano gave one vote each to six candidates. Aaron Conetta gave two votes each to three candidates.

Frances Nurena talked to the inspectors about the new system, grabbed some educational material and went home to study. After all, it was only Thursday. She could vote on Friday, Saturday or Tuesday.

"I understand the voting," she said. "But since I have time, I'm going to learn more about the candidates."

On Tuesday, Candida Sandoval voted at the Don Bosco Center, where a soup kitchen and day-laborer hiring center added to the activity, and where federal observers watched the voting from a table in the corner.

"I hope that if Hispanics get in, they do something for all the Hispanic people," Sandoval said in Spanish. "I don't know, but I hope so."

FairVote said cumulative voting allows a political minority to gain representation if it organizes and focuses its voting strength on specific candidates. Two of the 13 Port Chester trustee candidates — one Democrat and one Republican — are Hispanic. A third Hispanic is running a write-in campaign after being taken off the ballot on a technicality.

Campaigning was generally low key, and the election itself was less of an issue than housing density and taxes.

Hispanic candidates Fabiola Montoya and Luis Marino emphasized their volunteer work and said they would represent all residents if elected.

Gregg Gregory gave all his votes to one candidate, then said: "I think this is terrific. It's good for Port Chester. It opens it up to a lot more people, not just Hispanics but independents, too."

Vote coordinator Martha Lopez said that if turnout is higher than in recent years, when it hovered around 25 percent, the election would be a success — regardless of whether a Hispanic was elected.

"I think we'll make it," she said. "I'm happy to report the people seem very interested."

But Randolph McLaughlin, who represented a plaintiff in the lawsuit, said the goal was not merely to encourage more Hispanics to vote but "to create a system whereby the Hispanic community would be able to nominate and elect a candidate of their choice."

That could be a non-Hispanic, he acknowledged, and until exit polling is done, "it won't be known for sure whether the winners were Hispanic-preferred."

The village held 12 forums — six each in English and Spanish — to let voters know about the new system and to practice voting. The bilingual ballot lists each candidate across the top row — some of them twice if they have two party lines — and then the same candidates are listed five more times. In all, there are 114 levers; voters can flip any six.

Besides the forums, bright yellow T-shirts, tote bags and lawn signs declared "Your voice, your vote, your village," part of the educational materials also mandated in the government agreement. Announcements were made on cable TV in each language.

All such materials — the ballot, the brochures, the TV spots, the reminders sent home in schoolkids' backpacks — had to be approved in advance, in English and Spanish versions, by the Department of Justice.

Conetta said the voter education effort was so thorough he found voting easier than usual.

"It was very different but actually quite simple," he said. "No problem."

[Chrisj CMA]

Hey at least they are admitting the strategy of multiple votes.  Its a proven effective way to get a relitively unknown minority candidate elected

[bigvalkriefan]

Chris Chris Chris, I was hoping for more from you.
What happened to one man one vote? This is an direct assault on the constitution. Why is there no court challenge to this? Sure it's a small town of 30,000 people but if it goes unchallenged there where will it happen next? Nothing good can come of this.

[Bobbo]

Before everyone gets in a tizzy, you need to read the article to find out that EVERYONE in the town gets 6 votes, not just Hispanics.  The idea is that you can have weighted votes, that is, if you LOVE a candidate, you can give all votes to them.  If you like two, you can split them up.  I agree it’s an unorthodox system, but it was apparently used in the past legally.

[Big Rig]

Sorry Bobbo...

read it...disagree with it...I am but one citizen...i should get only one vote. Also, why do we continually consider our society "bilingual"??

When your ancestors came over, did they speak English? Mine did not, it was difficult for them to learn the language, but did it, so they would be able to work and live here.

I ask the native american members to chime in, but when the settlers showed up, what happened. The settlers were univited and over time, took the nation away from the native people. History repeats itself...it is happening now.

I know I will get a lot of Krap about this...bring it...I have thick skin and can take it...

Promise...

Sincerely,
Doody Head...

[BF]

Un-constitutional......period.  

They don't like the results that they think they MIGHT get, so they're changing the rules to sway the outcome of an election to elect the canditates that they think should be elected.....pure and simple.  

If this doesn't stink like a certain animal's waste by-product, I don't know what does.  

[Mickey Runie]

A certain person that lives overseas will probably like this one.

Queen Elizabeth?   

 
Elton John?   
 

Who then?  The suspense is killing me!   

[Clark]

A certain person that lives overseas will probably like this one.

Queen Elizabeth?   

 
Elton John?   
 

Who then?  The suspense is killing me!   

KING RICHARD... and I dont mean Petty

[Oss]

port chester is near gman and myself

In principle and in application I think its BS

Dealing with corporate elections I see the use of bullet votes all the time.

I vote for doodyhead with my 6 votes but everyone else votes for refrigerator girl cause lets face it boys, she really can hold a beer well  JOE I/S will you please post your beer girl I cant find that one.

  net result is exactly the same

In reality I betya the spanish dude or other "minority" which is a joke because everyone knows white male is the true minority around here, aint not gonna be able to vote 6 times cause he has to work to pay the bills and less hispanics and "minority" will get elected  

Lets see how screwed up they can make it

For every action there is an opposite reaction and result

[Chrisj CMA]

Chris Chris Chris, I was hoping for more from you.
What happened to one man one vote? This is an direct assault on the constitution. Why is there no court challenge to this? Sure it's a small town of 30,000 people but if it goes unchallenged there where will it happen next? Nothing good can come of this.

LOL ya...youd think.  All I can say is some think the constitution is an old outdated piece of history that as long as we dont remember what it says we dont need to follow it.  and some of those people are paid by us to remember what it says and follow it!!!!!!

[Clark]

port chester is near gman and myself

In principle and in application I think its BS

Dealing with corporate elections I see the use of bullet votes all the time.

I vote for doodyhead with my 6 votes but everyone else votes for refrigerator girl cause lets face it boys, she really can hold a beer well  JOE I/S will you please post your beer girl I cant find that one.

  net result is exactly the same

In reality I betya the spanish dude or other "minority" which is a joke because everyone knows white male is the true minority around here, aint not gonna be able to vote 6 times cause he has to work to pay the bills and less hispanics and "minority" will get elected  

Lets see how screwed up they can make it

For every action there is an opposite reaction and result

I would just like to see things turn around 

[Gear Jammer]

I'd like to see fridge girl turn around      

[Chrisj CMA]

I'd like to see fridge girl turn around      

Shed look better not all photoshopped.....those legs are horribly distorted

[Big Rig]

Ok, who snuck in my house and took a picture of my beer fridge???

[Clark]

I'd like to see fridge girl turn around      

THATS WHAT I MEANT DOODOO HEAD

[Big Rig]

I may need to change my handle again to Booby Head

[Serk]

I'd like to see fridge girl turn around      

Shed look better not all photoshopped.....those legs are horribly distorted

Now that this thread has gone ALL over the place...

...ask, and you shall receive...



Even found another picture of the young lady in question:



(Found a lot more of her, but those are the only ones I can post here... )

[Chrisj CMA]

Hey thanks serk.........OSS, can you see the difference...look at at the waist, the legs......your pic on file has been poorly tampered with and it needs to go....heres your opportunity to replace it 

[Clark]

Hey thanks serk.........OSS, can you see the difference...look at at the waist, the legs......your pic on file has been poorly tampered with and it needs to go....heres your opportunity to replace it 

B.S.  DONT LISTEN TO EM OSS.. I LOVE THAT GIRL ???

[G-Man]

I love'm all!!!

I also love the direction this thread went in 

[G-Man]

BTW, I agree with the one vote thingy.  This Portchester thing burns me up.  Another Liberal judge trying to promote a social injustice agenda.

[3fan4life]

Hey,

Don't leave out this beer girl.................

[Clark]

Hey,

Don't leave out this beer girl.................

HEY 3FAN...IS THAT ALL YOU GOT???

[¿spoom]

So sad, I lived in Port Chester in the early/middle 60's. Glad I've got better memories of the place than the current realities.

[Clark]

So sad, I lived in Port Chester in the early/middle 60's. Glad I've got better memories of the place than the current realities.

WTH... does that have to do with the beer girls.. dont hijack the thread

[x]

A certain person that lives overseas will probably like this one.
Our founding fathers would not recognize this country now.

What's the point in commenting when you don't even have the fact situation correct, and you obviously have no idea of various voting proposals intended to preserve one man, one vote, in the face of extreme party politics, something John Adams warned of way back when.  And, it sounds like you don't have enough background to actually understand the issues.

By the very title of your post, you show that you are a) bigoted, and b) more interested in raising a stink than reaching compromise and understanding.  We need a lot less of you and lot more of folks interested in finding practical solutions to today's problems.
 
The founding fathers would recognize this country just fine... it's just your BS... and that of others... that say they wouldn't.  John Adams would celebrate this move... he was opposed to party politics throughout his days of service to the United States.  You could read his biography... then again it's more than 700 pages, and perhaps more than you are used to.

[¿spoom]

So sad, I lived in Port Chester in the early/middle 60's. Glad I've got better memories of the place than the current realities.

WTH... does that have to do with the beer girls.. dont hijack the thread

I don't see a smiley face, so are you being serious?

[CISE]

(I have to refrain from commenting on the beer girl(s) as I am at a client site) .... Just to make everyone feel content - Gwinnett County (just north of Atlanta) has announced it now has a minority majorty - more than 50% of its residents are non-Americans.

(BTW - I live in Gwinnett - but really am studying for citzenship)

[RoadKill]

(I have to refrain from commenting on the beer girl(s) as I am at a client site) .... Just to make everyone feel content - Gwinnett County (just north of Atlanta) has announced it now has a minority majorty - more than 50% of its residents are non-Americans.

(BTW - I live in Gwinnett - but really am studying for citzenship)

As a Non-citizen, your input and point of view would not only be welcomed but possibly give those of us at total opposite sides of the debate new things to consider . I am sure you can do it with out the disturbing and counter productive arrogance coming from SE .   Please, I would love to hear your thoughts.  

[Bobbo]

(I have to refrain from commenting on the beer girl(s) as I am at a client site) .... Just to make everyone feel content - Gwinnett County (just north of Atlanta) has announced it now has a minority majorty - more than 50% of its residents are non-Americans.

(BTW - I live in Gwinnett - but really am studying for citzenship)

That's common for areas with colleges and other educational institutes.  Some areas here in St. Louis are probably 75% foreign students and people with work visas.

[bigvalkriefan]

Hey SE, you are so predictable.  I'm heading over to Captiva so I don't have time to respond to your Inane comments. I'll wait til I get back. I think I'll sit on the beach and read a couple of Dr. Seuss books. Maybe I'll get the Overton Window, mmmm.

[BF]

Back on topic.........

The perfect beer girl.