New GOP efforts to make it harder to vote

[mark46]

Oh, I'd agree, for me it's definitely NOT "terrible" but it could be for others.
However, I also think that the "problem" they are trying to solve doesn't exist and I see, personally, no reason for instituting these changes.

Yes there needs to be SOME reasonable restrictions (ie....you can't be voting for 4 months before election day; polls can't be open until 11pm).

Let be more clear.

I favor the restrictions passed. However, I would want to be sure that there are sufficient voting places during Early Voting and on Election Day, that everyone on line at the closing time is allowed to vote, and that Early Voting dates include SAT and SUN.

As an aside, I suspect that folks will find out that absentee voting Republicans not Democrats (as was the case in the past).

 

[Nithavela]

Let be more clear.

I favor the restrictions passed. However, I would want to be sure that there are sufficient voting places during Early Voting and on Election Day, that everyone on line at the closing time is allowed to vote, and that Early Voting dates include SAT and SUN.

As an aside, I suspect that folks will find out that absentee voting Republicans not Democrats (as was the case in the past).

Is there any evidence of people being turned away from voting after being in the voting line before closing time?

 

[rambot]

I feel like there should be a "feedback system" in place. If there is a line up greater than 30 minutes, in the next election cycle MORE polling stations should be set up in that district.

If you want to make democracy fair, you'd do something like this, I think....

 

[mark46]

Is there any evidence of people being turned away from voting after being in the voting line before closing time?

I don't know. I would NOT expect that behavior in Iowa.

However, I suspect that GA might do that, after keeping folks on line for 2-3 hours with no water or food (per the law).

 

[Nithavela]

I don't know. I would NOT expect that behavior in Iowa.

However, I suspect that GA might do that, after keeping folks on line for 2-3 hours with no water or food (per the law).

They don't have to go without food or water, they just have to bring it themselves.

 

[iluvatar5150]

https://arxiv.org/pdf/1909.00024.pdf

Why do Republicans find way to force black folks into a 2nd class roll?

Somebody's gotta do it. Right?

 

[essentialsaltes]

Georgia Senate approves sweeping election bill that would repeal no-excuse absentee voting

 

[rambot]

Somebody's gotta do it. Right?

Weeell....not definitely....

 

[essentialsaltes]

The GOP’s national push to enact hundreds of new election restrictions could strain every available method of voting for tens of millions of Americans, potentially amounting to the most sweeping contraction of ballot access in the United States since the end of Reconstruction, when Southern states curtailed the voting rights of formerly enslaved Black men, a Washington Post analysis has found.

In 43 states across the country, Republican lawmakers have proposed at least 250 laws that would limit mail, early in-person and Election Day voting with such constraints as stricter ID requirements, limited hours or narrower eligibility to vote absentee, according to data compiled as of Feb. 19 by the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice. Even more proposals have been introduced since then.

One extraordinary proposal in Arizona would require mail ballots to be postmarked by the Thursday before Election Day, even if they arrive at election offices before polls close.

Georgia Republicans have also proposed banning “line-warming” activities such as passing out water and blankets to voters standing in long lines. Supporters of the measure, including Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R), say the practice encourages illegal campaign activity if volunteers are advocating for their preferred candidate and handing out free goodies in the process. Opponents say such activities are necessary to ease the discomfort that many voters face in cities that regularly struggle with long lines.

 

[mark46]

One extraordinary proposal in Arizona would require mail ballots to be postmarked by the Thursday before Election Day, even if they arrive at election offices before polls close.
.

I want as many to vote as possible, preferably in person.

I see absolutely nothing wrong with putting a firm date limit on mail in ballots. The issue should not be guessing whether the post office will deliver the ballots. I would put the postmark date back a full week before the election. Of course, there should be places to drop off ballots.

 

[stevil]

I want as many to vote as possible, preferably in person.

Why in person?
Why in person during a pandemic?
Why, if in person, does USA force people to vote on a work day?
In this day and age, who goes to the bank? We all do this securely and safely over the internet.

I can understand that the Republican party, the members without scruples, like this stuff, it gives them the ability to squeeze the poorer and low income people (who typically vote Democratic party). Just reduce the amount of polling booths in poorer areas forcing queue times to be hours and then people will be worried about loosing their jobs. Or during the global pandemic, just start a conspiracy that the pandemic is not real and many of the Republican voters will believe it and not worry, but the Democratic party voters who listen to scientists more that politicians, they will be nervous to go in person.

I see absolutely nothing wrong with putting a firm date limit on mail in ballots. The issue should not be guessing whether the post office will deliver the ballots. I would put the postmark date back a full week before the election. Of course, there should be places to drop off ballots.

This election, the leader of the Republican party replaced the leader of the postal service in the lead up to the election. This new postal service leader remove many sorting machines, put in restrictions on work hours etc. It is as if the intent was to slow down the postal system in the lead up to the election which was expected to have high numbers of mail in votes.

 

[mark46]

Why in person?
Why in person during a pandemic?
..

So you expect us to be in a pandemic in 2022?
2020 rules were proper, and they were enacted in an emergency situation. There is no reason for the federal government to force states to a federal standard, a major change for our democarcy.

 

[stevil]

So you expect us to be in a pandemic in 2022?
2020 rules were proper, and they were enacted in an emergency situation. There is no reason for the federal government to force states to a federal standard, a major change for our democarcy.

I don't know how long it will take for the pandemic to be over. I can't read the future.

Personally I would think there is much benefit in having a national standard for voting for the president of USA.

If mail-in voting is (at least) as secure as in person voting I don't see any reason to go back to in person voting.

 

[essentialsaltes]

LINK

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office spent 22,000 hours looking for voter fraud and uncovered just 16 cases of false addresses on registration forms, according to The Houston Chronicle. Nearly 17 million voters are registered in Texas.

(so literally 1 in a million.)

More than two dozen GOP-sponsored elections bills are under consideration in the [Texas] Legislature as lawmakers seek to tighten ID requirements and voter rolls, limit early voting and up the penalties for errors.

More new election laws than false addresses.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Georgia Republicans have also proposed banning “line-warming” activities such as passing out water and blankets to voters standing in long lines.

Georgia's suddenly expanded omnibus law was signed into law today.

Georgia Republicans speed sweeping elections bill restricting voting access into law

The law he signed Thursday imposes new voter identification requirements for absentee ballots, empowers state officials to take over local elections boards, limits the use of ballot drop boxes and makes it a crime to approach voters in line to give them food and water.

"It's like the Christmas tree of goodies for voter suppression," Democratic state Sen. Jen Jordan said on the Senate floor as lawmakers prepared to vote on the nearly 100-page bill Thursday.

The Georgia bill underwent major change in recent days -- growing from a narrow, two-page bill into a sweeping omnibus package to becoming law in a little over week.

Advocates said they were alarmed by measures that will allow any Georgian to lodge an unlimited number of challenges to voter registrations and eligibility, saying it could put a target on voters of color. And Democrats in the Georgia Senate on Thursday lambasted measures that boot the secretary of state as chairman of the state elections board and allow lawmakers to install his replacement

 

[wing2000]

Georgia's suddenly expanded omnibus law was signed into law today.

Georgia Republicans speed sweeping elections bill restricting voting access into law

The law he signed Thursday imposes new voter identification requirements for absentee ballots, empowers state officials to take over local elections boards, limits the use of ballot drop boxes and makes it a crime to approach voters in line to give them food and water.

"It's like the Christmas tree of goodies for voter suppression," Democratic state Sen. Jen Jordan said on the Senate floor as lawmakers prepared to vote on the nearly 100-page bill Thursday.

The Georgia bill underwent major change in recent days -- growing from a narrow, two-page bill into a sweeping omnibus package to becoming law in a little over week.

Advocates said they were alarmed by measures that will allow any Georgian to lodge an unlimited number of challenges to voter registrations and eligibility, saying it could put a target on voters of color. And Democrats in the Georgia Senate on Thursday lambasted measures that boot the secretary of state as chairman of the state elections board and allow lawmakers to install his replacement

Gee, I wonder what their objective could possibly be?

 

[Speedwell]

Gee, I wonder what their objective could possibly be?

Free and fair elections, of course.

 

[KCfromNC]

Free and fair elections, of course.

"You can have any candidate you want, as long as they are GOP".

 

[mark46]

Gee, I wonder what their objective could possibly be?

There is no need for sarcasm.

The GA party and the national party have made the goals quite clear. They want fewer Democratic votes, and if Democrats win, they want the legislature to be able to overrule the voters. This is what Trump wanted this time. They are making sure that if there is a repeat, that they will be able to deliver the state to the Republican candidate.

 

[wing2000]

There is no need for sarcasm.

The GA party and the national party have made the goals quite clear. They want fewer Democratic votes, and if Democrats win, they want the legislature to be able to overrule the voters. This is what Trump wanted this time. They are making sure that if there is a repeat, that they will be able to deliver the state to the Republican candidate.

Sorry. It's challenging to stay non-sarcastic when Republicans have introduced more than 250 similar measures in 43 states to restrict one of our most basic rights.

Do Republicans fear democracy?