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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCalifornia Republican Party says it won't take down illegal 'ballot boxes' despite state orders
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/10/13/1986163/-California-orders-Republican-Party-to-remove-illegal-ballot-boxes-party-says-it-won-t-complyCalifornia Republican Party says it won't take down illegal 'ballot boxes' despite state orders
Hunter
Daily Kos Staff
Tuesday October 13, 2020 · 12:38 PM EDT
On Monday, it came to light that the California Republican Party was placing what they called "official ballot drop off boxes" in locations deemed to be Republican-friendly (such as, no kidding, "gun stores" in apparent efforts to make it easier for Republican voters to vote than not-Republican voters.
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California officials have now warned the state Republican Party that what they're doing is illegal and may even result in prison time. The Republican Party has responded in the expected way: They don't care, and won't be complying with state demands to remove the boxes.
More specifically, the California Republican Party intends to continue the operation while daring state officials to do anything about it. Party spokesperson Hector Barajas noted that a 2018 state law prohibits election officials from rejecting a ballot solely because it was returned without the required designee signature or relationship to the voter, signaling that the party intends to collect ballots however they want, handle and turn them in however they want, and dare election officials to throw those votes away. Election officials will almost certainly not do that, so here we are.
It's another case of the party's all-encompassing insistence that laws don't matter if bending the law would benefit the party. See also: Dinesh D'Whateverguy, and literally every member of Donald Trump's inner circles, past and present, indicted and not, and the Republican gutting of the Federal Election Commission, and the nullification of election-related impeachment charges against Dear Leader, and take your pick.
And yes, everyone involved is aware of the dichotomy of the Republican Party going to furious lengths to restrict voting access in Texas and other Republican-led states while bending restrictions that they believe are harmful to their own voters. It's not irony, it's fascism.
What California voters need to know right now, however: Do not use those boxes. Don't. California is mailing ballots to all voters; follow the instructions provided to the letter and mail them back. Do not put your ballot in a cardboard box, or a burlap sack, or into the mouth of a large wooden horse that has appeared, overnight, in the empty parking lot of an abandoned mall. Just mail them in, or turn them in where the state itself tells you to.
There's no guarantee that the local Chuckles' Gun Club and Shoebox Votin' Booth will be handling your vote, as America decides between authoritarian rule and democracy, with anything resembling care. The Republican Party is playing fast and loose with the votes of their own most loyal supporters, and that is not something you want to get involved in.
Lars39
(26,110 posts)Roisin Ni Fiachra
(2,574 posts)and it's high time that they are taught that they are not above the law
Arrest them all on Friday night so they can't get out until Monday at the earliest. Give them all jail sentences instead of fines.
Lars39
(26,110 posts)Put them all away for 18 months in a federal pen, and let them "reconsider."
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)The boxes are being put at popular GOPer locations campaign headquarters, party offices, churches with GOPer ties, gun stores, etc.
Refuse to accept any ballots from unofficial sources.
whistler162
(11,155 posts)with that attitude!
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)But you keep pounding away at your keyboard anyway.
idziak4ever1234
(1,257 posts)Dem2theMax
(9,653 posts)FakeNoose
(32,713 posts)They're determined to lose, I guess.
Pacifist Patriot
(24,654 posts)PatSeg
(47,563 posts)Are they on public property?
Nevilledog
(51,172 posts)aquamarina
(1,865 posts)www.ocvote.com
For a list of official drop box locations
dchill
(38,516 posts)MyOwnPeace
(16,937 posts)and who's gonna' hold them "accountable" - the courts?
Qutzupalotl
(14,322 posts)denying Biden a quick win until their complaint is resolved, as others here have suggested.
Weird that they have to use their own perfidy to do it, but whatever.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)etc., aint gonna fly in court decisions. Its obvious who is doing it.
rockfordfile
(8,704 posts)Awsi Dooger
(14,565 posts)We're dealing with desperate lowlifes
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)Liberal In Texas
(13,570 posts)If they contain ballots they need to be taken to wherever they're supposed to go.
TheBlackAdder
(28,211 posts)TheBlackAdder
(28,211 posts)58Sunliner
(4,391 posts)chriscan64
(1,789 posts)one could destroy the box, right? What are they going to do, call a cop?
Obviously, do not do anything like that. You shouldn't have to, and I should not have to think of such things. We are past the sternly written letter phase of this bullshit. Put them in jail, tonight.
bluestarone
(17,017 posts)Just DO NOT accept the ballots.
whistler162
(11,155 posts)A lot of you ASSume that the ballots are all Republican.
bluestarone
(17,017 posts)Not a LEGAL drop box! I suppose YOU would let them do it in any state? I say ONLY legal drop boxes PERIOD!!!
rockfordfile
(8,704 posts)Why would a person knowingly put their ballot in a illegal ballot box created by corrupt gop?
Wanderlust988
(509 posts)The SOS and Gov should send the CHP and physically remove the boxes? Why are they dithering around with silly cease and desist orders and getting on TV?! Go out and freaking remove the damn boxes....period. This is California, not Georgia. Take the ballots out and get them to the right places. No one has time to go to court!
Baitball Blogger
(46,755 posts)You aw-scare us.