NEWS AND OPINION:
The 2024 election is already dominating news coverage and is the source of much discussion both in the news media and at the dinner tables of America. Voter turnout could be brisk and millions of dollars will be spent by the political parties crafting their public messages and talking points to suit the ever-present news media.
All that said, consider that Tuesday is “Help America Vote Day.” This is actually an official occasion.
It’s supported by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission — an independent, bipartisan federal commission whose mission is “to help election officials improve the administration of elections and help Americans participate in the voting process,” according to a written statement.
And the designated day itself?
“Help America Vote Day is a day of action to encourage people across the U.S. to get involved in the electoral process by signing up to be a poll worker and an opportunity to share information on how to register and cast a ballot,” the commission advised.
“By encouraging more people to become poll workers in their communities, Help America Vote Day is addressing the critical shortage of poll workers, strengthening our republic, inspiring greater civic engagement and volunteerism, and helping to ensure election offices have the staff they need throughout 2024,” the commission said.
To bolster these efforts, it has created what it calls a “highly customizable social media toolkit that election officials can use throughout their voter education and poll worker recruitment processes.”
Curious? Visit EAC.gov for more information.
THEY SIDE WITH TEXAS
Voters are keeping an eye on the southern border — and they have some opinions about the ongoing arrival of thousands of hopeful would-be future citizens.
“Border battle: Texas should stand their ground, most voters say,” a Rasmussen Reports survey released Monday advises.
It found that 69% of likely U.S. voters support the Lone Star State and the idea of installing effective barriers at the southern U.S. border to prevent illegal immigrants from crossing.
“Only 27% oppose Texas taking action to prevent illegal immigration,” a brief analysis that accompanied the poll findings noted.
The survey of 940 likely U.S. voters was conducted Jan. 23-25.
REASSURING NEWS
Valentine’s Day is still centered on those heartfelt traditions, according to a new survey and analysis by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.
“Over half of consumers (53%) plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, on par with 52% last year. Overall, consumers plan to spend a total of $25.8 billion to celebrate Valentine’s Day, on par with last year’s spending and the third highest in the survey’s history,” the organization said in the analysis.
Sweethearts will benefit.
Consumers also expect to spend $185.81 each on average, nearly $8 more than the average Valentine’s Day spending over the last five years, according to the findings.
The findings are based on a survey of 8,329 U.S. adults who specifically inquired about their Valentine’s Day shopping plans. It was conducted Jan. 2-8 and released Monday.
New spending records are expected to emerge for jewelry, flowers, clothing and that special evening out, the research found.
“Retailers are ready to help customers this Valentine’s Day with meaningful and memorable gifts. With consumers prioritizing their spouse or significant other this year, retailers expect to see a shift in spending for certain gifting categories,” Federation President Matthew Shay said in a written statement shared with Inside the Beltway.
Heart-shaped boxes of chocolate and those little candy hearts embellished with romantic sayings are sure to be a mainstay on the big day.
The federation also revealed that the most popular Valentine’s Day gift is indeed candy — followed by greeting cards, flowers, an evening out, jewelry, clothing and gift cards.
A REALITY CHECK
Build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico to lessen illegal immigration? Some wonder why the nation’s leaders don’t appear particularly interested in this idea at the moment.
“Back in 2017, the United States Government Accountability Office and Customs and Border Patrol estimated that average cost per mile for primary pedestrian fencing was $6.5 million, and $1.8 million per mile for vehicular fencing. In today’s dollars, that comes out to $8.21 and $2.27 million per mile,” wrote Jim Geraghty, a National Review columnist.
It would cost about $2.4 billion to complete 300 additional miles of the primary fencing now in place — a move that would assist the federal border agency.
“For perspective, the federal government spent $3.3 billion on office furniture during the pandemic. In the last three years, the U.S. government provided $3 billion in subsidies to one company to provide internet service to low-income households. This December, Nancy Pelosi boasted that she had secured $3.07 billion in federal funding to support construction of ‘a two-track electrified high-speed passenger rail line connecting the cities of Merced, Fresno, and Bakersfield’,” Mr. Geraghty said.
“It’s not that we don’t have the money to build additional border fencing; it’s that Congress and the federal government choose to spend that money on other things they deem more important,” he noted.
POLL DU JOUR
• 93% of U.S. adults say they would vote for a woman for U.S. president.
• 93% would vote for a Hispanic for president.
• 92% would vote for a Catholic for president.
• 92% would vote for a Black candidate for president.
• 88% would vote for a Jewish candidate.
• 74% would vote for a gay or lesbian person.
• 71% would vote for a Muslim.
• 63% would vote for a person over age 70.
• 60% would vote for an atheist.
• 42% would vote for a socialist.
• 31% would vote for a person over age 80.
• 29% would vote for a person charged with a felony crime.
• 23% would vote for a person convicted of a felony crime by a jury.
SOURCE: A Gallup poll of 1,011 U.S. adults conducted Jan. 2-22.
• Follow Jennifer Harper on X @HarperBulletin, and on Facebook @HarperUniverse.