Voting Law Proposals and Voting Rights Efforts (1 Viewer)

[MT15]

This is, IMO, going to be a big topic in the coming year. Republicans have stated their aim to make voting more restrictive in just about every state where they have the means to do so. Democrats would like to pass the Voting Rights Bill named after John Lewis. I’m going to go look up the map of all the states which have pending legislation to restrict voting. Now that we have the election in the rear view, I thought we could try to make this a general discussion thread, where people who have concerns about voting abuses can post as well and we can discuss it from both sides. Please keep memes out of this thread and put them in the boards where we go to talk about the other side, lol.

 

[Farb]

I would rather lower the voting age to 15 and have a cut off at 75. Why should people who are going to be dead in 20 years shape the world for people that will have to live in it?

Why 15? Why not 12? What about 15 makes that your desired voting age?

Because they (in theory) earned the right to vote. They have paid their taxes, been a productive member of society. They more than not have a family and that they should have a say about how their legacy and whatever wealth they have accumulated is distributed to their children.

Depends on the poster person...

Ouch. You got me good!

 

[samiam5211]

Why 15? Why not 12? What about 15 makes that your desired voting age?

Because they (in theory) earned the right to vote. They have paid their taxes, been a productive member of society. They more than not have a family and that they should have a say about how their legacy and whatever wealth they have accumulated is distributed to their children.

I was just throwing around arbitrary numbers like you were in the post i quoted.

No one earns the right to vote. What a weird way to phrase it.

 

[DaveXA]

Man, can't we just leave the voting ages as is and focus on other more important issues. The voting age is settled law. Not sure why we're debating that tbh.

 

[cuddlemonkey]

Why 15? Why not 12? What about 15 makes that your desired voting age?

Because they (in theory) earned the right to vote. They have paid their taxes, been a productive member of society. They more than not have a family and that they should have a say about how their legacy and whatever wealth they have accumulated is distributed to their children.

That's what the living descendants of legal voting age are voting for. Who cares what the dead think?

 

[MT15]

I was just throwing around arbitrary numbers like you were in the post i quoted.

No one earns the right to vote. What a weird way to phrase it.

Exactly, and here we were thinking it was some kind of right or something. How silly of us.

 

[Optimus Prime]

So Powell may have royally screwed herself

Her statement thinking that it would help get the case dismissed may have made the case against her even stronger
===================================

Sidney Powell, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, filed an eye-popping brief this week that could potentially doom her chances of dismissing a $1.3 billion defamation suit and provide ammunition in a separate lawsuit seeking her disbarment.

Powell, who repeatedly pressed unfounded claims of voter fraud on the airwaves and in court, now says that "reasonable" people would not accept her statements as "fact" because the legal process hadn't yet played out. It was a stunning admission from a woman who served for a time as one of Trump's top legal lieutenants.

It could also put her in real legal jeopardy as she fights the defamation suit brought by Dominion Voting Systems -- a manufacturer that provides election equipment used by more than 40% of US voters -- as well as a motion for sanctions in Michigan as a part of a case she brought there alleging election fraud.

First Amendment expert Ted Boutrous of Gibson Dunn said that the legal implications for Powell could be dire.

"The First Amendment provides strong protections for statements of opinion," he said. "But what Dominion is pointing to is the fact that Ms. Powell was declaring that she had evidence of this fraud and this election malfeasance and she was declaring that as a matter of fact."

"The First Amendment doesn't protect knowingly false statements of fact," Boutrous added.................

Sidney Powell's defense in defamation suit could put her in legal jeopardy (msn.com)

 

[DaveXA]

So Powell may have royally screwed herself

Her statement thinking that it would help get the case dismissed may have made the case against her even stronger
===================================

Sidney Powell, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, filed an eye-popping brief this week that could potentially doom her chances of dismissing a $1.3 billion defamation suit and provide ammunition in a separate lawsuit seeking her disbarment.

Powell, who repeatedly pressed unfounded claims of voter fraud on the airwaves and in court, now says that "reasonable" people would not accept her statements as "fact" because the legal process hadn't yet played out. It was a stunning admission from a woman who served for a time as one of Trump's top legal lieutenants.

It could also put her in real legal jeopardy as she fights the defamation suit brought by Dominion Voting Systems -- a manufacturer that provides election equipment used by more than 40% of US voters -- as well as a motion for sanctions in Michigan as a part of a case she brought there alleging election fraud.

First Amendment expert Ted Boutrous of Gibson Dunn said that the legal implications for Powell could be dire.

"The First Amendment provides strong protections for statements of opinion," he said. "But what Dominion is pointing to is the fact that Ms. Powell was declaring that she had evidence of this fraud and this election malfeasance and she was declaring that as a matter of fact."

"The First Amendment doesn't protect knowingly false statements of fact," Boutrous added.................

Sidney Powell's defense in defamation suit could put her in legal jeopardy (msn.com)

Couldn't happen to a nicer woman. If she loses everything, won't shed a tear.

 

[zztop]

Fight Over Landmark Voting Rights Bill Begins As Republicans Say Voter Suppression Isn't A Problem

"States are not engaging in trying to suppress voters whatsoever," Sen. Mitch McConnell said at the first hearing on the For The People Act.

www.huffpost.com

(meanwhile)

Republicans in state legislatures have introduced 253-plus bills to restrict voting access

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

GA GOP 1 Americans 0

Georgia just completed step 1 of their voter suppression efforts to regain their power in the Senate.

Georgia G.O.P. Passes Major Law to Limit Voting Amid Nationwide Push (Published 2021)

The law, which has been denounced by Democrats and voting rights groups, comes as Republican-controlled legislatures across the country mount the most extensive contraction of ballot access in generations.

www.nytimes.com

Georgia Republicans on Thursday passed a sweeping law to restrict voting access in the state, introducing more rigid voter identification requirements for absentee balloting, limiting drop boxes and expanding the Legislature’s power over elections. The new measures make Georgia the first major battleground to overhaul its election system since the turmoil of last year’s presidential contest.

The legislation, which followed Democratic victories that flipped the state at the presidential and Senate levels, comes amid a national movement among Republican-controlled state legislatures to mount the most extensive contraction of voting access in generations. Seeking to appease a conservative base that remains incensed about the results of the 2020 election, Republicans have already passed a similar law in Iowa, and are moving forward with efforts to restrict voting in states including Arizona, Florida and Texas.

The obvious next step will be closing polling stations in densely populated areas to really make those voting lines really long. Once they have voters waiting hours to vote, they will be able to arrest other potential voters the may come out to provide refreshments to those in line. Brilliant!!!

 

[Roofgardener]

GA GOP 1 Americans 0

Georgia just completed step 1 of their voter suppression efforts to regain their power in the Senate.

Georgia G.O.P. Passes Major Law to Limit Voting Amid Nationwide Push (Published 2021)

The law, which has been denounced by Democrats and voting rights groups, comes as Republican-controlled legislatures across the country mount the most extensive contraction of ballot access in generations.

www.nytimes.com

The obvious next step will be closing polling stations in densely populated areas to really make those voting lines really long. Once they have voters waiting hours to vote, they will be able to arrest other potential voters the may come out to provide refreshments to those in line. Brilliant!!!

Well, the Democrats, plus various special interest groups, have already filed a lawsuite in Georgia challenging these new laws, so it will all be settled in front of a Judge. (and conceivably, it could go all the way to the Supreme Court).

One would have hoped that if there WAS anything unfair or racist in the laws, they would be rejected during this scrutiny ?

 

[Optimus Prime]

I thought that this had already been filed
========================

WASHINGTON (AP) — Dominion Voting Systems on Friday filed a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News, arguing the cable news giant falsely claimed in an effort to boost faltering ratings that the voting company had rigged the 2020 election.

It’s the first defamation suit filed against a media outlet by the voting company, which was a target of misleading, false and bizarre claims spread by President Donald Trump and his allies in the aftermath of Trump’s election loss to Joe Biden. Those claims helped spur on rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 in a violent siege that left five people dead, including a police officer. The siege led to Trump’s historic second impeachment.


Dominion argues that Fox News, which amplified inaccurate assertions that Dominion altered votes, “sold a false story of election fraud in order to serve its own commercial purposes, severely injuring Dominion in the process,” according to a copy of the lawsuit obtained by The Associated Press.

 

[FullMonte]

I thought that this had already been filed
========================

WASHINGTON (AP) — Dominion Voting Systems on Friday filed a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News, arguing the cable news giant falsely claimed in an effort to boost faltering ratings that the voting company had rigged the 2020 election.

It’s the first defamation suit filed against a media outlet by the voting company, which was a target of misleading, false and bizarre claims spread by President Donald Trump and his allies in the aftermath of Trump’s election loss to Joe Biden. Those claims helped spur on rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 in a violent siege that left five people dead, including a police officer. The siege led to Trump’s historic second impeachment.


Dominion argues that Fox News, which amplified inaccurate assertions that Dominion altered votes, “sold a false story of election fraud in order to serve its own commercial purposes, severely injuring Dominion in the process,” according to a copy of the lawsuit obtained by The Associated Press.

I don't think it was. Dominion sent a cease and decist letter demanding a retraction, and Fox did issue such a retraction. I'm wondering what happened to cause Dominion to go ahead and file.

 

[DaveXA]

I don't think it was. Dominion sent a cease and decist letter demanding a retraction, and Fox did issue such a retraction. I'm wondering what happened to cause Dominion to go ahead and file.

That's easy, money.

 

[BayouSAINTJoe]

GA GOP 1 Americans 0

Georgia just completed step 1 of their voter suppression efforts to regain their power in the Senate.

Georgia G.O.P. Passes Major Law to Limit Voting Amid Nationwide Push (Published 2021)

The law, which has been denounced by Democrats and voting rights groups, comes as Republican-controlled legislatures across the country mount the most extensive contraction of ballot access in generations.

www.nytimes.com

The obvious next step will be closing polling stations in densely populated areas to really make those voting lines really long. Once they have voters waiting hours to vote, they will be able to arrest other potential voters the may come out to provide refreshments to those in line. Brilliant!!!

Bruh, I just read the article....they seriously made it illegal to provide food and drinks to folks in line. They're not even hiding it anymore, so instead of trying to figure out why minorities don't vote Republican, they double down on the behaviors that drive minorities away.

TBH at this point the whole damn thing needs to be blown up (not literally), the system is broken and can't be repaired under its current construct. Too much power has been given to the voting power of "land"...IMO, each representative's voting power, from city districts all the way up to US Senate, needs to have a direct correlation to the amount of people each represents (call it electoral mills or something). I'm bleeping sick of this country's policies being driven/held up by a Senator from BF Kentucky and the policies of Georgia being driven by the Jim Crow loving scumbags of rural Georgia. /rant

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

Bruh, I just read the article....they seriously made it illegal to provide food and drinks to folks in line. They're not even hiding it anymore, so instead of trying to figure out why minorities don't vote Republican, they double down on the behaviors that drive minorities away.

TBH at this point the whole damn thing needs to be blown up (not literally), the system is broken and can't be repaired under its current construct. Too much power has been given to the voting power of "land"...IMO, each representative's voting power, from city districts all the way up to US Senate, needs to have a direct correlation to the amount of people each represents (call it electoral mills or something). I'm bleeping sick of this country's policies being driven/held up by a Senator from BF Kentucky and the policies of Georgia being driven by the Jim Crow loving scumbags of rural Georgia. /rant

The laws they are enacting are also being designed to give state legislators the ability to overturn election results if they don't like them. Of course, they don't explicitly say so, but they have provisions that will allow them to remove and replace local certification officials and also has stripped authority from state Secretary of State.

 

[BayouSAINTJoe]

The laws they are enacting are also being designed to give state legislators the ability to overturn election results if they don't like them. Of course, they don't explicitly say so, but they have provisions that will allow them to remove and replace local certification officials and also has stripped authority from state Secretary of State.

Great! Sounds like a perfect setup for 2024 where Georgia votes blue, ends up being what puts Biden (or Harris) over 270, but the Georgia state legislature steps in and puts trump (yikes) or deSantis (double yikes) or Trump/deSantis (blow it all up yikes) in.

It's not even about governing anymore, maybe it stopped being a long time ago, its all about staying in power.

To crib lines from Gladiator..."George Washington dreamed of an America where It's leaders ceded power to prove that democracy works...this is not it BigTymer!!! This is not IT!!!"

 

[SaulGoodmanEsq]

The no water/food handouts is absurd and I fully expect hope it will be stricken.

 

[DaveXA]

The no water/food handouts is absurd and I fully expect hope it will be stricken.

Yeah, that's one of the dumber rules I've seen. Reeks of desperation.