GOP Imposes Harsh New Voting Restrictions On Voters

[babylonsister]

http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/rachelwitkin/_gop_22_states_to_face_voting_restriction


by Rachel Witkin
October 04, 2014 1:55 PM
GOP Imposes Harsh New Voting Restrictions On Voters


This year, voters in 22 states will face harsher voting restrictions than they did during the 2012 midterms. In 15 of those states, the 2014 midterms will be the first major election with these new restrictions in place.

The American Prospect’s Wendy R. Weiser took a look at these restrictions, and concluded that, “The outcomes of some of the tightest races this year could turn on the application of controversial new voting rules. Strict voter ID laws have gotten most of the attention, but are only part of the story. Cutbacks to early voting and voter registration opportunities, and other idiosyncratic changes to voting rules, have the potential to do just as much damage.”

Weiser notes that 18 states that passed new voting obstacles had entirely Republican-controlled legislatures, and that many of these restrictions were incentivized by high minority voter turnout. States also pushed back on early voting, as eight states that saw increases in minority early voting slashed their access to early voting.

“The more a state saw increases in minority and low-income voter turnout, the more likely it was to push laws cutting back on voting rights,” Weiser wrote, citing a University of Massachusetts study.

snip//

Weiser lists a few “key states to watch” during the midterms, where “new restrictions and ongoing court cases could become major factors.” These states include North Carolina, Texas, Wisconsin, Kansas, Arizona, Florida, Ohio, and Arkansas.

Weiser warns that there will also be attacks on groups encouraging voter registration and voter harassment – basically anything to reduce the amount of people voting. For example, a Koch Brothers group is currently being investigated for sending mailers with incorrect information about how to vote. One of the mailers was even sent to a cat.

Clearly there are a lot of people out there who want to discourage voting. Should this be happening in a democracy?

[MineralMan]

1. They tried to pass a voter ID law in Minnesota.

In 2012, the voters of Minnesota rejected it and threw out the Republicans who had passed it and replaced them with a Democratic state legislature in both houses. The same year, they also defeated a state Constitutional Amendment that would have banned same-sex marriages. In 2013, Minnesota's new Democratic legislature majority passed a marriage equality bill that was signed by our Governor.

This is why GOTV is so important in every state. The voters can change things, but only if they go to the polls.

GOTV 2014 and Beyond!

[Gothmog]

2. The GOP can only win by cheating

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. anything to win