I'm a rationale conservative - can you convince me voting rights legislation is needed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think this issue is very important either way. I don't think it is a "crisis" (seriously?!) as the democrats claim and I don't think it is important as a security measure for our elections. It's a big yawn all around.

I work for a center right think tank and we are pretty worried about the election. It's important to people who want to vote and can't. You have elections officials in many states (including red ones) who are facing serious violence for doing their jobs. You have Rs running for Secretary of State positions who believe (or say they believe) that the election was stolen (even though it wasn't) and you have state legislators who are passing laws that allow their commissions to overturn results (GA). Voting is a right and we should be concerned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^Biden's comments about Republicans previously voting for voting rights simply illuminates how horrible the current "voting rights" bill is.
It isn't "voting rights." It is federalizing the elections.

Republicans don't want ballot harvesting and taxpayer money going to political campaigns.

It's the same effing bill. It shows how morally corrupt the GOP has become.

No. You are conflating two different bills.

[Anonymous]

In 2006, the Voting Rights Act passed with a vote of 390 to 33 in the House and 98 to 0 in the Senate.

16 Rs who voted in favor are still in the Senate, but now won't engage at all in any voting rights issues. Why is that? Did something change?

In 2013 Shelby v Holder, the Supreme Court gutted the provision of the law requiring that states with histories of voter discrimination get approval from the Department of Justice before they changed their voting laws. Immediately, legislatures in those states, now dominated by Republicans, began to pass measures to suppress the vote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In 2006, the Voting Rights Act passed with a vote of 390 to 33 in the House and 98 to 0 in the Senate.

16 Rs who voted in favor are still in the Senate, but now won't engage at all in any voting rights issues. Why is that? Did something change?

In 2013 Shelby v Holder, the Supreme Court gutted the provision of the law requiring that states with histories of voter discrimination get approval from the Department of Justice before they changed their voting laws. Immediately, legislatures in those states, now dominated by Republicans, began to pass measures to suppress the vote.

One man's "voter suppression" is another man's "voter integrity."

What is wrong with Georgia having requirements similar to Delaware's which are much, much tougher?

What is wrong with requiring ID with absentee ballot? Just giving last four digits?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Republicans have closed tens of thousands of polling locations across the country, primarily in Democrat voting counties and cities. You wouldn't need drive-thru voting or mail-in voting if Republicans didn't shut down the physical polls.

Similarly, multiple states have now passed legislation that allows the state legislature to overturn any election results they don't like, including the state's Presidential results. Why are political elites overriding the voters?

This is a Republican-generated crisis.

Exactly. A simple google search will tell you this. I’m disgusted that so many conservatives who claim they’re for democracy want to play willfully obtuse regarding this subject. Smh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In 2006, the Voting Rights Act passed with a vote of 390 to 33 in the House and 98 to 0 in the Senate.

16 Rs who voted in favor are still in the Senate, but now won't engage at all in any voting rights issues. Why is that? Did something change?

In 2013 Shelby v Holder, the Supreme Court gutted the provision of the law requiring that states with histories of voter discrimination get approval from the Department of Justice before they changed their voting laws. Immediately, legislatures in those states, now dominated by Republicans, began to pass measures to suppress the vote.

One man's "voter suppression" is another man's "voter integrity."

What is wrong with Georgia having requirements similar to Delaware's which are much, much tougher?

What is wrong with requiring ID with absentee ballot? Just giving last four digits?

What is the impetus for Georgia making it harder to vote? Seriously, what is it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Voting for citizens should be as easy and convenient as possible. Everyone should be granted time off from work to vote. I believe voting days should be national holidays. It's also more important to vote in local elections because it impacts you more. Polling places should be secure and near your home.

Last year polling places were closed in minority communities where constituents have no access to transportation. Long lines to vote discourage people who are poor from voting because they can't afford to spend so much time away from work.

I believe elections should be secure and ID should be required. Ids shouldn't have so many regulatory hurdles to to get. A free id card should be given to every citizen of a state upon reaching 18. A driver's license is different. I think your constitutional right to vote shouldn't be taken away for petty offenses. There are some offenses against humanity and the state that are worthy of losing your right to vote.

Voting is very important and should be protected. This county has a history of bombing polling places to prevent minorities from voting. There has also been disenfranchisement of women.

Best comment in this thread. Succinct and well said!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Last year polling places were closed in minority communities where constituents have no access to transportation. Long lines to vote discourage people who are poor from voting because they can't afford to spend so much time away from work.

You need to check out where those lines were. Most of them were in Democrat run cities with Democrat run voting boards.

LOL, most of them were in suburban counties controlled by white GOP officials but with very heavy AA populations - texas, ohio and GA are the biggest culprits of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Last year polling places were closed in minority communities where constituents have no access to transportation. Long lines to vote discourage people who are poor from voting because they can't afford to spend so much time away from work.

You need to check out where those lines were. Most of them were in Democrat run cities with Democrat run voting boards.

LOL, most of them were in suburban counties controlled by white GOP officials but with very heavy AA populations - texas, ohio and GA are the biggest culprits of this.

No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In 2006, the Voting Rights Act passed with a vote of 390 to 33 in the House and 98 to 0 in the Senate.

16 Rs who voted in favor are still in the Senate, but now won't engage at all in any voting rights issues. Why is that? Did something change?

In 2013 Shelby v Holder, the Supreme Court gutted the provision of the law requiring that states with histories of voter discrimination get approval from the Department of Justice before they changed their voting laws. Immediately, legislatures in those states, now dominated by Republicans, began to pass measures to suppress the vote.

One man's "voter suppression" is another man's "voter integrity."

What is wrong with Georgia having requirements similar to Delaware's which are much, much tougher?

What is wrong with requiring ID with absentee ballot? Just giving last four digits?

What is the impetus for Georgia making it harder to vote? Seriously, what is it?

Concerns of voter fraud. Obviously.

[Anonymous]

Even though there was *checks notes* no voter fraud.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even though there was *checks notes* no voter fraud.

Don’t forget all the Republicans who used their dead dad’s or dead wife’s ballot to vote. But it’s important to point out that these votes were identified before being counted and the criminals were identified.

Republicans have to cheat to win. Things are getting dire now given that 95% of those dying from Covid are unvaccinated, and the unvaccinated are far, far more likely to be Republican. The GOP is killing off their base.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The current voting bill the Senate is considering requires and standardizes voter ID, please update your talking points.

Please document. I have searched and cannot find it. If you mean a "sworn written statement under penalty of perjury" along with same day registration, that is hardly a photo ID.

“The new bill permits states to decide whether to require voter identification, but broadens the list of acceptable IDs for states that choose to require them. Under the new bill, states must allow utility bills and leases as well as student IDs and virtually any identification issued by a governmental entity to serve as an acceptable ID. In effect, the bill would require states with stricter ID laws to accept these documents as well, thereby reducing the disenfranchisement caused by strict ID laws in many red states.”
https://www.democracydocket.com/news/my-thoughts-on-manchins-compromise-bill/

That is not the bill that passed the House. And, I'm pretty sure it is the House bill that Schumer is trying to pass.

But see with the bolded you need ID to hook up utilities and sign a lease. If people have utilities in their name and are renting an apartment they have had to show their ID along the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a Trumper here. I agree that Gerrymandering is bad and ideally would not happen. Clearly it's a problem with both parties.

Honestly, I don't buy the voter suppression and "democracy at stake" hyperbole. Anyone that wants to vote can vote, right? Yes, it might be inconvenient for some based on their work schedule, but that's always been the case. And In most places you can already vote by mail.

When I hear that democracy is at stake, I tune out because it's a huge exaggeration in my mind.

I'm open to argument, though. Can you change my mind?

I can't decide if this was posted in good faith or not, but the only real question you should ask yourself is why is the Republican party is spending time and energy enacting laws to make it harder to vote?

Supposedly these laws are about election security, but there's no problem with election security, so what is the reason?

If Republicans truly value freedom and democracy why would they not want every eligible citizen to be able to vote?

I think you can answer all of these questions for yourself.

[Anonymous]

Look at what Texas accepts for ID.


https://www.votetexas.gov/register-to-vote/need-id.html

So you can use a handgun license, but you can’t use a student ID, and honestly most of the other supporting documents aren’t likely to be something a college student has, either. The GOP’s whole raison d’etre is to keep the wrong people from voting.