Revolutionizing Voter Registration

The following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of New Jersey, in which I examine Hillary Clinton’s proposal which calls for the automatic voter registration of every United States citizen on his or her 18th birthday:

REVOLUTIONIZING VOTER REGISTRATION

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

With a burgeoning Democratic field vying for the 2016 presidential nomination and a crowded Republican field that is already bursting at the seams, each of the presidential hopefuls are desperately trying to stand out and distinguish themselves from their rivals.

One of the most effective ways for the candidates to differentiate themselves is through innovative and attention-grabbing policy proposals. Whether it be a novel foreign policy proposition or a unique idea affecting programs on the domestic front, the growing list of folks running for president are actively and aggressively courting the press and seeking that big headline.

Even Hillary Clinton, the presumed frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, is not immune to the never-ending pursuit of a good policy-related headline. In fact, I think it is Hillary that has put forth the one policy proposal thus far that has a great degree of substance and the opportunity to impact this country in a significant fashion.

During a recent address at Houston’s Texan Southern University, in which she discussed the dangers associated with disenfranchising voters, Hillary called for the automatic voter registration of every United States citizen on his or her 18th birthday.

“Every citizen in every state in the union, everyone, every young man or young woman, should be automatically registered to vote when they turn 18,” she declared. “I think this would have a profound impact on our elections and our democracy.”

Hillary Clinton and I are on the same page on this one. Putting aside politics for a moment, the reality is that our electoral system is in desperate need of an overhaul. Voting may be one of the fundamental privileges that we enjoy as U.S. citizens, but it has sadly become somewhat of a forgotten right that too many people fail to exercise.

Approximately one-third to one-quarter of Americans who are eligible to vote are unable to do so because they never registered. Whether they simply forgot to register or simply chose not to, the fact is that there are far too many Americans who simply do not have a voice in our democratic system of government.

In February 2012, the Pew Charitable Trusts published a report that had been commissioned by the Pew Center on the States, which found that the voter registration system in the U.S. is inaccurate, costly and inefficient, and in need of an upgrade. The report noted a number of staggering statistics, including the fact that approximately 24 million, or one of every eight, voter registrations are no longer valid or wholly inaccurate, over 1.8 million Americans who are deceased are still listed as voters, and nearly 3 million Americans have voter registrations in more than one state. In addition, at least 51 million eligible United States citizens, or more than 24 percent of the eligible population, are not registered to vote.

There is no question that we have a problem. When it comes to voter registration and ensuring the integrity of the process, we are severely lacking. While countries such as France, England, Germany, and Canada enjoy exceptionally high voter registration rates, the United States stands out for its ineptitude in this critical area. We need to do something to fix what has become an archaic and broken system.

Will Hillary Clinton’s plan of automatic voter registration completely solve the problem? The answer is probably not, although it is estimated that her proposal could lead to 50 million new registrants, which is a noteworthy figure. However, it will definitely enhance our electoral system and bring much needed reform to the process.

The concept of automatic voter registration, whereby the government would register all eligible citizens on their 18th birthday unless they exert their right to opt out, is not so different from the current practice in Oregon, where residents are automatically registered to vote when they obtain a driver’s license. It is a model that is rooted in common sense, with an eye towards encouraging and enhancing the civic participation of American citizens.

Hillary’s transformative proposal has the ability to infuse new life into our electoral system and imbue a degree of excitement into a process that has long been defined by voter apathy. If we can get the past the politics and the partisanship and come together to explore the implementation of what I believe is a sound policy proposal, we might be able to effectuate real change in an area that very much needs a makeover.

N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler

Noam Boys Soccer Team Enjoying a Stellar Inaugural Season

The following article, which appears in the current edition of The Jewish Link of Bergen County, marks my first foray into the wonderful world of sports reporting:

NOAM BOYS SOCCER TEAM ENJOYING A STELLAR INAUGURAL SEASON

By: N. Aaron Troodler

It may be the first time in its history that Yeshivat Noam has fielded a boys’ soccer team, but this group of 6th, 7th and 8th graders are playing like a bunch of seasoned veterans.

Under the tutelage of Coaches Benjamin Book and Ehud Adler, both of whom are Yeshivat Noam graduates, the Noam boys’ soccer team is having an inaugural season for the ages. They began the season a perfect 6-0, with wins over Yavneh, Kushner, Ben Porat Yosef, and Hillel. After a 4-2 win over Yavneh to open the season, the Noam boys’ soccer team went on a remarkable run over the next five games, during which they outscored their opponents by a combined score of 30-0.

During that incredible stretch, they benefitted from the outstanding play of goalkeeper Avraham Kahan, who has quickly proven to be among the elite goalies in the league. Spectacular play from the starters Yonadav Rimberg, Natan Neugroschl, Dylan Breen, and Natan Rifkind, and from the second line of Yechiel Keiser, Joe Baron, Ozzie Jeselsohn, and Zachary Wolf, helped propel the team to its historic start. Key contributions were also made by Noam Troodler, Yonatan Naor, Daniel Dresdner, Eitan Weisrose, Uli Weisrose, Ehud Meir, and backup goalie Jake Rothenberg.

On Tuesday night, May 19, the Noam boys’ soccer team welcomed a formidable Moriah team into their home gym in Paramus. It was evident from the outset that it was going to be a highly competitive contest. The game was scoreless though most of the 1st period, until Moriah struck first by scoring a goal with 1:26 left in the period. Noam came back to tie the game at 1-1 when Yonadav Rimberg scored off an assist from Natan Neugroschl with just 16 seconds left in the 1st period. After a scoreless 2nd period, which featured terrific play from Noam goalie Avraham Kahan and Moriah goalie Isaac Froman, the two teams entered the locker room at halftime with the score knotted at 1 goal apiece.

The 3rd period featured some superb play from Moriah, which was led by Benny Matheson and Zali Tollinsky. With 6:34 left in the 3rd period, Moriah’s goalie got the ball to Matheson, who put it in the net with a nice header to give Moriah a 2-1 lead. Just two minutes later, with 4:37 left in the period, Moriah scored again to increase its lead to 3-1. With 2:26 left in the 3rd period, Matheson struck again and scored to extend the Moriah lead to 4-1.

Despite facing a 3-goal deficit, the Noam boys were not ready to go down without a fight. With just 18 seconds left in the 3rd period, Yechiel Keiser scored for Noam to make it a 4-2 game. Keiser scored his second goal of the game off of an assist from Joe Baron with 3:24 left in the 4th period to trim the Moriah lead to 4-3. During the final moments of the game, Noam tried to capitalize on several opportunities and tie the game, but solid play by the Moriah defense and stellar goalkeeping by Froman sealed Moriah’s 4-3 win.

Just two nights after its first loss of the season, Noam traveled to Yavneh and bounced back with a big 7-1 win. With a record of 7-1, Noam remains atop the standings in first place. With its high-powered offense, strong defense, and extraordinary goalkeeping, the Noam boys’ soccer team is going to be a force to be reckoned with as it prepares for its playoff run.