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Hoping this will be a catch-all thread for voter intimidation/suppression/disenfranchisement efforts in every state. 59 million Americans live in a state in which one or both chambers of the state legislature is controlled by the party that won fewer statewide votes in 2016 and 2018 (thanks to gerrymandering.) By now we all know that the Trump campaign and the RNC has filed a number of lawsuits in states with conservative leaning courts and legislatures, primarily to disenfranchise voters and ensure low turnout in the election. Trump and the RNC are pulling ads due to their funding crunch, but have poured $20 million into lawsuits targeting swing states. The campaign has been aided by conservative activist groups and GOP governors and legislatures with single-party control running voter interference of their own accord. Here are but a few examples (by no means is this list exhaustive):
Nationwide:
- Shelby SCOTUS decision has gutted the Voting Rights Act, leading to widespread voter suppression efforts in states that were once subject to federal preclearance. Over 1000 polling locations have been closed and 16 million voters purged from rolls since.
- President Trump continues to attack Vote by Mail, citing "widespread fraud" without evidence. His words/tweets alone will suppress many from exercising the safest voting option during a pandemic.
- DeJoy's USPS has slowed down mail processing ahead of the election, which may lead to many ballots being postmarked or collected after state election deadlines.
- USPS also sent pre-election mailers with vote by mail guidance that doesn't align with state-by-state requirements, which may lead some to think their ballots won't be valid if mailed outside the USPS-recommended dates.
- The 1982 RNC DNC consent decree that limited voter intimidation efforts nationwide (resulting from lawsuits filed in NJ) has expired and not been renewed. 2020 will be the first general election without this decree in place. The RNC is free to coordinate national "observer" networks and is recruiting 50,000 people for Election Day ops. Prepare to see armed militia, off-duty police and "patriots" in lifted pickup trucks patrolling minority polling precincts. Some states even allow "observers" to watch votes be counted by clerks and challenge any ballots for any reason (remember the Brooks Brothers Riot?)
- Nearly 8% of all black men in America cannot vote due to felony convictions (closer to 20% in Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia.)
- 35 states have some form of Voter ID requirement--9 of these will not allow ballots to be cast in person without ID (including battleground states like Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin and Arizona.)
Alabama:
- Many DMV offices in majority black counties have been permanently shuttered following Voter ID requirements.
- In July, SCOTUS blocked a district judge's order that would have made it easier for voters to vote absentee in 3 counties--reinstating photo ID copy and witness requirements.
- Madison County clerk's office won't be open to receive absentee ballots in-person until 12 days AFTER voting starts
Florida:
- Gov DeSantis and GOP leg have successfully blocked Amendment 4--former felons must pay all fines, fees and restitution imposed at sentencing, regardless of the state's ability to account for what's owed.
- State GOP is suing to block efforts to have the state pay for postage on mailed ballots missing stamps.
Georgia:
- Over 500,000 Georgians purged from rolls ahead of 2018 elections
- Closed polling locations in urban centers and majority black neighborhoods--80 fewer precincts in Fulton County alone vs. last election (arguably due to Covid but disproportionally affecting registered Dems.)
Iowa:
- After Iowa's Republican Sec State extended early voting and sent absentee ballots to all registered voters ahead of the June primary (leading to massive turnout) the GOP legislature responded by limiting his authority to enact such measures for the general election
- Trump campaign and RNC successfully sued to prevent county officials from mailing pre-populated ballots with voter info on file. Those ballots were invalidated and counties had to rush to send blank ballots out. Officials may also be blocked from using information on file to fill-in any missing information on received ballots.
Kentucky:
- Polling locations closed around urban centers like Louisville--only one polling location open for 700,000 residents in Jefferson County during the primary.
- Kentucky requires a copy of a photo ID be included with all absentee ballot applications, or else to physically sign an affidavit in front of an election officer.
Michigan:
- Trump/RNC are actively recruiting poll observers in key Dem turnout areas
- Robocalls are attempting to deter Detroit residents from voting by mail, threatening that their ballot will allow "the man" to "track down old warrants, collect on debts, and enroll you for mandatory vaccines."
Ohio:
- Trump and RNC have joined a lawsuit seeking to limit the number of secure drop boxes for mailed ballots.
- RNC/Trump campaign have successfully blocked implementation of clearer signature match requirements (and allowing corrected signatures) sought by voting rights groups.
Pennsylvania:
- Trump campaign successfully sued to have "naked ballots" (mailed ballots without an inner security envelope) invalidated, which could lead to 100,000+ ballots being tossed out (30-40k from Philly alone)
- RNC has sued state elections board and all 67 counties to ban or limit the use of secure drop boxes for mailed ballots.
- RNC is suing to ensure poll watchers don't have to live in the county where they are deployed (i.e. voter intimidation)
- RNC/Trump are suing to prevent county officials from allowing voters to correct a mis-matched signature on mailed ballots, but the state likely won't hear it without a local party to the suit.
- Judicial Watch is suing to purge 800,000 voters marked 'inactive' from voter rolls in Bucks, Chester and Delaware counties.
Texas:
- Texas AG successfully blocked COVID-19 elevated risk factors as an acceptable qualification for absentee ballots for voters under 65; Gov Abbott blocked expansion of vote-by-mail to all registered voters.
Wisconsin:
- State Supreme Court ruled along partisan lines that counties cannot send out mail ballots until a decision is made regarding the Green Party candidate's qualifications.
- US court of appeals has ruled in favor of plaintiffs seeking to limit early voting and block absentee ballots returned by email or fax.
- While the state seems to have learned a lesson from the primary debacle, Milwaukee will still have fewer polling places than in previous elections.
Nationwide:
- Shelby SCOTUS decision has gutted the Voting Rights Act, leading to widespread voter suppression efforts in states that were once subject to federal preclearance. Over 1000 polling locations have been closed and 16 million voters purged from rolls since.
- President Trump continues to attack Vote by Mail, citing "widespread fraud" without evidence. His words/tweets alone will suppress many from exercising the safest voting option during a pandemic.
- DeJoy's USPS has slowed down mail processing ahead of the election, which may lead to many ballots being postmarked or collected after state election deadlines.
- USPS also sent pre-election mailers with vote by mail guidance that doesn't align with state-by-state requirements, which may lead some to think their ballots won't be valid if mailed outside the USPS-recommended dates.
- The 1982 RNC DNC consent decree that limited voter intimidation efforts nationwide (resulting from lawsuits filed in NJ) has expired and not been renewed. 2020 will be the first general election without this decree in place. The RNC is free to coordinate national "observer" networks and is recruiting 50,000 people for Election Day ops. Prepare to see armed militia, off-duty police and "patriots" in lifted pickup trucks patrolling minority polling precincts. Some states even allow "observers" to watch votes be counted by clerks and challenge any ballots for any reason (remember the Brooks Brothers Riot?)
- Nearly 8% of all black men in America cannot vote due to felony convictions (closer to 20% in Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia.)
- 35 states have some form of Voter ID requirement--9 of these will not allow ballots to be cast in person without ID (including battleground states like Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin and Arizona.)
Alabama:
- Many DMV offices in majority black counties have been permanently shuttered following Voter ID requirements.
- In July, SCOTUS blocked a district judge's order that would have made it easier for voters to vote absentee in 3 counties--reinstating photo ID copy and witness requirements.
- Madison County clerk's office won't be open to receive absentee ballots in-person until 12 days AFTER voting starts
Florida:
- Gov DeSantis and GOP leg have successfully blocked Amendment 4--former felons must pay all fines, fees and restitution imposed at sentencing, regardless of the state's ability to account for what's owed.
- State GOP is suing to block efforts to have the state pay for postage on mailed ballots missing stamps.
Georgia:
- Over 500,000 Georgians purged from rolls ahead of 2018 elections
- Closed polling locations in urban centers and majority black neighborhoods--80 fewer precincts in Fulton County alone vs. last election (arguably due to Covid but disproportionally affecting registered Dems.)
Iowa:
- After Iowa's Republican Sec State extended early voting and sent absentee ballots to all registered voters ahead of the June primary (leading to massive turnout) the GOP legislature responded by limiting his authority to enact such measures for the general election
- Trump campaign and RNC successfully sued to prevent county officials from mailing pre-populated ballots with voter info on file. Those ballots were invalidated and counties had to rush to send blank ballots out. Officials may also be blocked from using information on file to fill-in any missing information on received ballots.
Kentucky:
- Polling locations closed around urban centers like Louisville--only one polling location open for 700,000 residents in Jefferson County during the primary.
- Kentucky requires a copy of a photo ID be included with all absentee ballot applications, or else to physically sign an affidavit in front of an election officer.
Michigan:
- Trump/RNC are actively recruiting poll observers in key Dem turnout areas
- Robocalls are attempting to deter Detroit residents from voting by mail, threatening that their ballot will allow "the man" to "track down old warrants, collect on debts, and enroll you for mandatory vaccines."
Ohio:
- Trump and RNC have joined a lawsuit seeking to limit the number of secure drop boxes for mailed ballots.
- RNC/Trump campaign have successfully blocked implementation of clearer signature match requirements (and allowing corrected signatures) sought by voting rights groups.
Pennsylvania:
- Trump campaign successfully sued to have "naked ballots" (mailed ballots without an inner security envelope) invalidated, which could lead to 100,000+ ballots being tossed out (30-40k from Philly alone)
- RNC has sued state elections board and all 67 counties to ban or limit the use of secure drop boxes for mailed ballots.
- RNC is suing to ensure poll watchers don't have to live in the county where they are deployed (i.e. voter intimidation)
- RNC/Trump are suing to prevent county officials from allowing voters to correct a mis-matched signature on mailed ballots, but the state likely won't hear it without a local party to the suit.
- Judicial Watch is suing to purge 800,000 voters marked 'inactive' from voter rolls in Bucks, Chester and Delaware counties.
Texas:
- Texas AG successfully blocked COVID-19 elevated risk factors as an acceptable qualification for absentee ballots for voters under 65; Gov Abbott blocked expansion of vote-by-mail to all registered voters.
Wisconsin:
- State Supreme Court ruled along partisan lines that counties cannot send out mail ballots until a decision is made regarding the Green Party candidate's qualifications.
- US court of appeals has ruled in favor of plaintiffs seeking to limit early voting and block absentee ballots returned by email or fax.
- While the state seems to have learned a lesson from the primary debacle, Milwaukee will still have fewer polling places than in previous elections.
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