Democratic Sen. Chris Coons says he's 'gravely concerned' about the 'abundant evidence' of nationwid

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

As tensions over voting rights escalate, Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware said he is "gravely concerned" about nationwide voter suppression efforts.

Speaking to Martha Raddatz on ABC News "This Week" on Sunday, Coons warned that "tricks and moves are being used at the local level to suppress the vote and to make it harder for working people, for seniors, for those who are medically vulnerable during a pandemic to vote."

Coons specifically cited a new Texas voting law that has caused a massive spike in rejected absentee ballot applications: "We're seeing laws like SB1 in Texas passed in a dozen states across the country that are clearly designed to accomplish voter suppression," Coons said on "This Week."

Senate Republicans unanimously voted down a major Democratic voting rights bill last week, simply by refusing to bring the bill to a vote. The move instigated a showdown over the Senate's filibuster rules as Democrats call to change the rules while Republicans resist.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/democratic-sen-chris-coons-says-he-s-gravely-concerned-about-the-abundant-evidence-of-nationwide-voter-suppression/ar-AAT42v7

[DFW]

1. He's right. For the first time ever, my application in Dallas was rejected.

They said my electronic application needed to be signed in ink!

Now THAT is really being blatant!

[stopdiggin]

3. I'll bite. How does one .. ?

I think this needs a little follow up. ----- -----

[DFW]

7. They forgot to include instructions for that

I was curious, myself. Welcome to Republicanistan

[Alexander Of Assyria]

12. Yes, sir. That's the kind of thing they do. Long lines on voting day is tip of iceberg.

Happy to see ABC News permitting the topic to be discussed from the side of democrats and the side of fact and reason and people who love democracy.

ABC News has come around to truth?

[Nevilledog]

17. They're also slowing down registration cuz they say they're out of paper.

[Lonestarblue]

16. Evidently, the instructions are both confusing and contradictory.

Last week, one of my local stations in Austin, KVUE, had an entire segment on how to fill out the form just to request an absentee ballot because so many were being rejected. If the actual ballot is as confusing, no mail ballots may be deemed accurate enough to count. And the Secretary of State, a former Trump lawyer, is now claiming that supply chain issues have increased the price of paper, and the state can’t afford to print enough forms for voter registration or for forms to request mail ballots. Texas Republicans are actually hurting some of their own voters, as it is the elderly and the disabled who often vote by mail, a group that in Texas tends to be more conservative. What a bunch of jerks.

[ShazzieB]

22. Sounds like they were in too big of a hurry to enact their draconian voter suppression laws.

And they were so excited about stopping all those pesky black and brown people from voting that the legislation they rushed through ended up being a sloppy, confusing, and contradictory mess. What a bunch of blithering idiots!

[FakeNoose]

4. In Pennsylvania, we can request the mailed ballot online

I did that about 18 months ago when it first became available. I'm already a registered voter and I haven't moved or changed my name, and everything is current on my voting record. I needed to include a digital scan of my signature - which is no problem for me because I own a scanner. (For those who don't, there are easy alternatives.)

When I voted by mail and sent my ballot in, the signature on my ballot was compared to the scanned signature that I submitted earlier. Voila - piece of cake.

However, you have been an absentee voter for a LOT of years! The state of Texas must have several copies of your signature on file. I can't believe they flagged your application.

[Tommymac]

6. In PA signature mismatch is not a reason to deny a ballot. Yet.

This was well reported in November 2020.

[DFW]

8. I used to get my absentee ballot automatically mailed to Germany

Maybe they had secret instructions to reject all primary ballots marking Democratic as party preference?

[FakeNoose]

10. But ... THAT would be illegal!

[Ligyron]

11. This is what I think may actually be going on.

And when they make you vote in a particular precinct only, they have you coming and going.

[Hekate]

20. Keep us posted

Jeez louise

[DFW]

26. Well, I called to the number they gave for help

After being shunted from desk to desk, I got a sympathetic voice on the phone, who told me, "honey, you know what? Just sign it, date it, and scan it, and send it to me, and I'll take care of it." I did as she told me, and got my confirmation within 24 hours!

They aren't allowed to say, of course, but I think I got a Democrat on the phone, and it made all the difference in the world. She knew of the odd wording they were sending out, and I probably wasn't the only one posing the question. Beaming up physical ballot applications is not yet SOP in Dallas.

[aocommunalpunch]

2. Welcome to the party.

Anything stronger than grave concern? That’s been on tap for a while.

[Srkdqltr]

5. I really think these Dems need new stronger words. Gravely concerned sounds so namby pamby .

[Alexander Of Assyria]

13. Yes, agree. How about the fascists want a fascist government, r you pro fascist or pro democracy?

If pro democracy how come didn’t impeach President Fascists when had the chance…twice?

Precisely what is wrong with making voting as easy as eating pizza pie?

And how many times were u all warned, and the evidence of the warning so clear President Fascist might as well been goose stepping to the illegally closed church who could hold a Bible upside… down while looking both mean and spiritual?

Lol.

[ShazzieB]

23. And we make fun of Susan Collins when she uses that language!

Oh, wait. She usually just says she's "concerned," not "gravely concerned." BIG difference there!

[Emile]

9. Tell Manchin and Sinema

[AllaN01Bear]

14. they dont want a landslide victory like with kennedy , bill, obama and biden

to ever happen again. and they will do anything to stop it ,even a failed attempt to overthrow the duly elected government and deny a smooth transfer of power .

[DENVERPOPS]

15. Another sly method

used for several years in my county was to make the mail in or Absentee Ballot more weight than allowed by first class postage stamps.
Several counties printed in the area of the postage stamp a note: AdditionalPostage required, and the amount needed.
Not in my county.........LOL So, if you waited until the last days to vote, the ballot would come back to you after several days for "insufficient postage", quite often not allowing you enough time to put the correct postage on the letter and mail it in time to be counted.......

Cute, huh!

I often wondered about the additional requirement that the voters signature was required on the OUTSIDE of the mail in ballot.
That might allow someone? to look up the name/signature on the voter registration lists, ascertain if the voter was of a particular party, and toss the ones that weren't the party they favored/????????? An added bonus is if the authorities passed a law that if you didn't vote in the last election, you were taken off the voting polls...?????? What if your mail in vote was tossed before it ever reached them????

Sorry that I am such a skeptic..................

[Lonestarblue]

18. I'm just as skeptical as you. If there's a way to cheat, Republicans will find it.

For a party that claims to be all about family and religion, this party does its best to lie, cheat, and steal their way to power. Somehow, my Bible doesn’t contain the verse, “Thou shalt win at all costs. Thou shalt feel free to lie, cheat, and steal to win—so sayeth the Lord.”

[edhopper]

19. It's too late

Democracy is already lost. It's just a matter of holding the rigged elections. There was a chance to stop this, but that was stop by two Senators who didn't care about the death of Democracy.

[twodogsbarking]

21. Anything but "one person, one vote" is unamerican to me.

Without it I am not sure we have squat.

[ck4829]

24. If we feel this election's not going to be fair, we need to say it

[luvallpeeps]

25. They brag openly about their plans.😡

I think their big money think tanks have already gamed this out. They now know where our weaknesses are. I”VE been “gravely concerned” since Bush vs Gore.https://www.thedailybeast.com/steve-bannon-threatens-to-take-over-entire-us-election-apparatus