Stopping GOP Voter Suppression and Election Theft
The threat of GOP voter suppression and election theft is as great as ever this election year, and perhaps even greater as Republicans grow desperate to head off what appears likely to be a crushing defeat on Nov. 4. While Republicans hurl baseless accusations of voter fraud at Democrats and progressives who seek to build turnout, the fact remains that it is the GOP which has repeatedly sought to suppress voting in order to win elections. Republicans have used and continue to use a variety of methods to disenfranchise likely Democratic voters, including disqualification, deception, and intimidation.
Methods of voter suppression used by Republicans and the threat they pose this election year were recently discussed by Andrew Gumbel at The Nation as well as by Peter Rothberg. Meanwhile, Roberto Lovato discusses what we can all do to protect our votes on Election Day and after. The Brennan Center for Justice documents and reports incidents of voter suppression nationwide for public information. Reports on voter suppression activities have also recently appeared in the New York Times and at CNN.
The Election Protection coalition (1-866-OUR-VOTE) is a nonpartisan organization formed to ensure that all voters have an equal opportunity to participate in the political process. Through their website and voter hotline Election Protection provides live, up-to-the-minute information and advice on voting conditions nationwide as well as taking reports of irregularities from voters. No Voter Left Behind (NVLB) is a Democratic organization founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to fight GOP efforts at voter suppression and election theft. NVLB also provides extensive information on GOP voter suppression methods and on how Democrats can protect their votes as well as taking reports of irregularities. In addition to offering direct assistance to voters, Election Protection and NVLB seek donors and volunteers to support their efforts.
Mark C. Eades
http://www.mceades.com
I recall Robert Turley (sp?) saying that he thought general voter suppression efforts could be a crime if it were a conspiracy, and that a conspiracy could be teased out by common patterns. I would love to see a special investigator appointed by President Obama or Attorney General Fitzgerald to go over the entire election process -- voter registration fraud, voter fraud, voter suppression, voter databases -- so that President Obama can recommend a bill to Congress to clean up this mess.
We have enough evidence that the election process is a mess -- partly because of partisan philosophies, partly because of lobbyists for voting machines, and partly because of legitimate objections from non-sighted voters, states righters, advocates for the homeless, etc. The federal government can certainly constrain and shape federal elections.
Our most fundamental right is the right to vote. We don't have a three-way form of government. We have a fourth branch, by far the most important, which is all of us.
October 30, 2008 9:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
EX, did you mean Johnathan Turley?, he's the constitutional expert/law professor, I think Robert is a musician.
There is no statute of limitations for federal crimes, there sure will be a lot to investigate from the last 8 yrs. I sure hope Obama has some appetite for justice, but I see the pitfalls too.
October 30, 2008 12:20 PM | Reply | Permalink