Does bad weather hurt turnout equally across both parties? nt

[LLStarks]

[ddeclue]

1. In my experience it hurts Democrats much more than Republicans.

Considering that Dems tend to have to work more than Republicans and tend to own cars less it is harder for them to get out and vote especially in bad weather. Our experience in FL in 2006 was that bad weather hurt us.

[dflprincess]

2. In Minnesota it's generally assumed that it hurts the DFL more

as it makes it more difficult for elderly and disabled people to get to the polls.

I don't know if that's the "conventional wisdom" in Massachusetts as well or not.

[SharonAnn]

3. It hurts the part whose voters are less motivated or have a harder time traveling.

[timeforpeace]

4. Which party would you guess has more GoreTex outerwear? There you go.

[NYC_SKP]

17. And late-model Mercedes SUVs in top running condition. Or just cars, for that matter.

Or who have jobs that they can find time away from to go vote...

[tekisui]

5. Bad weather is more likely to keep the disinterested home.

And, those who cannot stand in bad weather, such as the elderly. The party actives will still come out. The 'undecideds' may stay home. The 'independents' will matter only if they are so against the incumbent they will endure bad weather.

In Mass, I think it doesn't really matter. Same as anywhere else.

[FreeJG]

6. It depends...It doesn't rain everywhere at once usually....an example is below, how it can hurt

If the dems need a certain region of the state to turn out heavily....let's say the area where most of the dems are, then you don't want a monsoon storm in that area on voting day.

In Florida, the north is conservative. The central part of the state is considered the "swing vote" and south florida is the democratic bastion. So in a statewide race, it hurts the dems if we have a bad storm in south florida. And, repubs vote better numbers in the rain. So, you don't want any storms or bad weather in dem areas of the state, it will hurt turnout.

[ddeclue]

12. As someone who follows these things in Florida you don't want rain at all!

The Northern part of the state is more red but the rain effect is so predominant that it will still hurt us even if it only rains up there.

[MiniMe]

7. It depends on which party is motivated

In November, I would have crawled on my hands and knees to get to the voting booth.

[JVS]

8. It hurts a lot of groups in different ways

1. Hurts urban areas where people are more likely to rely on public transportation and/or walking or where precincts are likely to be in areas so densely populated that there is a line to vote stretching outside.

2. Hurts parties that don't have as organized a base. A lot of people here think that bad weather is always bad for the leftist parties. This is not true. I remember researching Germany's social democratic party (I forget which book), and one of the bits of information I read there was that in the elections leading up to 1912 the party had developed such a reliable base that bad weather actually helped it out. Of course this was also back in the time before weather was something that the middle class could afford to avoid. As a result the working class SPD liked rain, while the petit bourgeois National Liberals didn't do well in it.

3. Hurts the elderly vote.

4. Hurts the vote of people who have children to collect from school.

[onehandle]

9. Hurts us more universally and anyone who claims otherwise is wrong. nt

[Quantess]

11. It does, and it has to do with several reasons.

One reason: People who rely on public transportation or bicycles are more likely Dems. And who wants to take public transportation or ride the bike out in yucky weather if you can help it?

That's why I think every state should be like Oregon and have Vote By Mail!

[ddeclue]

13. You can vote by mail in FL too but you aren't forced to do so and they still call it "absentee"

which causes a stigma with Dem voters who tend not to vote absentee. We also have early vote but we need to convince our voters to sign up for absentee and vote them - it's by far the best answer.

[Quantess]

19. Here in OR I don't know if anyone still votes in a traditional ballot box anymore.

As far as I know, every registered voter receives their ballot in the mail. They fill it out, and either mail it in a special double envelope with a stamp, or they can bring ballot to a county location and drop it into the ballot box anytime during the weeks allowed.

(edit wording)

[Captain Hilts]

10. No. If it rains, Dems stay home. nt

[liberal N proud]

14. Republicans want to suppress voting

The fewer voters, the better for the republicans.

That is why they always raise hell when the Democrats or any other progressive organization is registering voters.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

20. What does that have to do with the weather?

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

21. What does that have to do with the weather?

[liberal N proud]

26. See post below

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7502373&mesg_id=7503666

[emilyg]

23. So the republicans make it rain?

[liberal N proud]

25. The OP asked who benefited from in climate weather

This just backs up the fact that republicans benefit.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

29. Are the Repugs seeding the clouds above Boston?

Damn them!

[liberal N proud]

33. See above post

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7502373&mesg_id=7503666

[CK_John]

15. In our town you can tell how many gop have pasted away since the last election. It varies only

6 or 8 out of 1600 no matter the weather or if they are in Florida or out west for the winter. They get their absentees ballots, they hire drivers, they get to the polls.

[Orangepeel]

16. everything that reduces turnout hurts us more.

for a variety of possible reasons, republicans are more likely to vote than democrats. The more people vote, the better we do.

[quiller4]

35. That is just one of the reasons that Democratic candidates have

been performing better in Washington and Oregon since we dramatically expanded vote by mail. Now Oregon is vote by mail only and only two counties in Washington have an in-person voting option.

[Edwin Edwards Fan]

18. Voting

To me it depends on how bad the weather is. We tend to flood alot here in Louisiana.

[Quantess]

24. That's fantastic, newbie!

Your state should have it as good as Oregon, where we vote by mail!

HAHA!

[leftygolfer]

22. unless worst weather is in certain areas

that happen to be republican leaning...like is predicted tomorrow. i hope and hope and hope.

[NuttyFluffers]

27. in my 11 years of polling experience it hurts Democrats more than Republicans

Democrats are like fickle, finicky cats whereas Republicans are disciplined, obedient dogs. drives me up a wall -- i wish Democrats and other progressives were more organized and disciplined. but if they were, then they'd stop being Democrats, i guess.

i've mentioned this frustration before about the difference between the parties and my voting booth experience. Republicans are organized and know how to get stuff done. Democrats get easily confused, flustered, ask for exceptions, cannot follow directions, and then after heated discussions everywhere get frustrated or distracted by the next shiny object. but that's just my experience while stationed at the voting booths. wish it was different, wish it was different...

[tblue37]

28. We are the ADD party, while they are the OCD party. nt

[Motown_Johnny]

30. Is this specific to today's vote?

Because if it is then MSNBC's Chuck Todd was speculating earlier that the snow could suppress the "Suburban Vote" and that would hurt Brown's turnout.

[undeterred]

31. Depends on the state.

[Tim01]

32. Republicans are always more consistent. That includes weather. nt

[AlinPA]

34. I've always thought that republicans do better in bad weather because they are more

passionate and consistent about voting. I hope I'm wrong.