Nevada and Disenfrancisement of Religious Voters

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 11:10:14 AM EST
Tags: Nevada 08 (all tags)

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The Washington Post in an editorial today castigates Nevada for choosing Saturday morning to hold caucuses when religious conservative and observant Jewish people and 7th Day Adventists will have to choose between their faith and their desire to participate in caucuses.

Last week, Just Engage, the official blog of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs weighed in with Separation of Shul and State. [More..]

Nevada has one of the fastest growing Jewish populations in the country, and its 65,000-80,000 Jewish community members are expected to have a disproportionate impact on the results. I do not know how many of these Jews are observant enough to be effectively barred from participating in the caucus. I do not know how many of these Jews will be pushed into the uncomfortable position of choosing between attending synagogue and participating in a cherished American civic tradition. I DO know that it is highly unlikely that the state's political parties would choose to hold these caucuses on a Sunday morning during church services.

< Nevada Predictions and Caucus Open Thread | Rezko A Non-Issue >

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Nevada and Disenfrancisement of Religious Voters | 6 comments (6 topical)

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I find it absolutely (none / 0) (#1)
by masslib on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 11:39:53 AM EST

unconscionable that they would hold the caucuses at a time when many religious voters would be disenfranchised. Can you imagine the uproar if they held caucuses at 10am on a Sunday?

I doubt (none / 0) (#2)
by Judith on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 12:12:22 PM EST

they meant to harm observant Jews. They simply wanted to make it easier for the bulk of people who work during the week. But it is a valid point and it should be addressed for next time.
They will just have to do it at night between M-Th and see if people will make the effort.

What they should do is to have a PRIMARY (none / 0) (#3)
by andgarden on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 02:05:13 PM EST

Catering to superstitions.... (none / 0) (#4)
by kdog on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 02:08:01 PM EST

is not something the govt. should be in the business of doing.

If you've got something that's more important in your mind to do than vote, by all means feel free not to vote.... be it a religous observacnce, a social engagement, or a marathon of your favorite sitcom.

: Correct me if I am wrong, caucuses are party run, (none / 0) (#5)
by Molly Bloom on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 02:57:45 PM EST

not government run.

An east fix (none / 0) (#6)
by jimakaPPJ on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 08:40:14 AM EST

Have Saturday and Sunday.

But that's probably too complicated.