voting

During Tuesday's primary, WXXI News heard from voters across Monroe County about issues at the polls: they expressed confusion over polling locations changing, multiple ballots, challenges with technology, and more. Some candidates have shared concerns about possible voter suppression. So what happened?

This hour, our guests talk about what they saw on Primary Day, and what needs to change heading into November's election. We hear from local voters as well. Our guests:

• Dana Cieslinski, site chair
• Anthony Plonczynski, co-founder of La Cumbre
• Assemblymember Harry Bronson, candidate seeking re-election for the 138th Assembly District seat

Long lines and malfunctioning voting machines in Georgia's primary election renewed conversations about voting rights, especially those for disenfranchised voters. The New York Times called the issues a "full-scale meltdown of new voting systems." Those systems were put in place after claims of voter suppression in 2018.

Discussions about voter suppression are happening throughout the country, with concerns about what could happen in November. This hour, we're joined by RIT professor Donathan Brown to discuss voting rights and policies. His research focuses on race and public policy, and he's the co-author of "Voting Rights Under Fire: The Continuing Struggle for People of Color." He helps us understand voting issues throughout the country, both past and present. Our guest:

• Donathan Brown, assistant provost and assistant vice president for faculty diversity and recruitment, and professor in the School of Communication at RIT

Can we hold reliable elections during a pandemic? In June, New York State will hold primary and special elections. November is, of course, the general election. The pandemic means there will be voting from home, voting by mail, and new ways of trying to get out the vote. But will voting be truly accessible to all?

Our guests discuss this vital issue:

• Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York
• Dustin Czarny, commissioner of the Onondaga County Board of Elections
• Jesse Lenney, state committee member of the Working Families Party
  

This week in 1872, suffragist Susan B. Anthony illegally voted in the presidential election. Two weeks later, she was arrested and fined $100.

On this Election Day, we reexamine this moment in history and ask ourselves what lessons we can learn. What would Susan B. Anthony say to people not planning to exercise their right to vote? Our guests:

• Deborah Hughes, executive director of the Susan B. Anthony Museum and House
• Autumn Haag, special collections librarian and archivist for research and collections at the University of Rochester River Campus Libraries

The turnout rate for young voters is typically far lower than overall turnout, with turnout for midterm elections having been particularly low. In 2014, for instance, census data shows that less than 20 percent of young people voted, compared to about 40 percent of the general population. What will we see tomorrow when voters head to the polls?

This hour, we sit down with young people who are passionate about voting. They discuss their tactics and recommendations for getting out the vote. In studio:

• Jamal Holtz, vice president of the Students’ Association at the University of Rochester
• Iman Abid, chapter director of the Genesee Valley Region of the ACLU
• Nick Nevinger, actor
• Audrey Sample, volunteer chapter lead for Students Demand Action Rochester
  

What are the most important issues facing children and families in our community? A local nonprofit -- The Children's Agenda -- has a list of legislative priorities for candidates this election season. They join us to discuss K-12 funding, special education, child care, and more. It's a preview to an upcoming forum hosted by the League of Women Voters.

In studio:

• Brigit Hurley, director of advocacy for The Children's Agenda
• Eamonn Scanlon, education policy analyst for The Children's Agenda
• Mary Hussong-Kallen, communications director for the League of Women Voters of the Rochester Metropolitan Area 
  

Will 2018 be the year of young voters? November’s election season is projected to be the first in which millennials will outnumber baby boomers as the largest voter-eligible age group. But will young voters go to the polls?

A new survey shows that only 28 percent of voters ages 18 to 29 say they are “absolutely certain” they’ll vote in the midterms. Why? We sit down with young voters to discuss it.

• Patrick Coyle, graduate assistant at SUNY Brockport
• Tom Hebert, communications director for Dr. Jim Maxwell for Congress
• Marykatherine Woodson, assistant director for residence life at RIT