Too Cruel to be Kind
Jennifer Rubin has a good piece in the Washington Post today addressing the GOP’s ham handed election integrity Jim Crow 2.0 bill signed in a secret ceremony last week. The bill, which is a solution in search of a problem, is one of the most cruel bills introduced this year intended not for security but to make it harder to vote. Why make it harder to vote? To trim off a few points by reducing turnout. Ironically, one of the cruelest provisions in the bill may cause its undoing. This provision makes it illegal to bring food or water to anyone standing in line. Really? Illegal to serve water to people standing in long lines (caused by Republicans, too)? Rubin suggests, and I agree with her, that this provision, which has NOTHING to do with “election integrity” and everything to do with the Georgia GOP just being assholes. There’s already a lawsuit filed to stop the bill, and hopefully it will be struck down because of this blatant attempt at voter suppression. Fingers crossed.
You do realize it is called Georgastan???
1I noticed that the State Rep who was arrested for knocking on the door during the bill signing was charge with two felonies. Can felons vote in Ga? I wonder if someone distributes water to those in line they will be charged with felonies. That’s a quick way to get rid of voters!
2Wonder what the justification will be in court for making it illegal to offer voters water? Illegal voter influence? Unfortunately, these voter suppression laws will be a reality for 2022 and the only way to counter will be voter information and get out the vote efforts. Hopefully in states like Georgia, these laws will be a call to arms- arms used in registering and filling out ballots.
3I heard part of an interview between a PBS correspondent and the governor of Georgeastan (love that) wherein he said the reason they want to end distribution of food and water is because “they” KNOW FOR A FACT that some people distributing said supplies were talking to voters trying to influence their votes. And furthermore, Biden’s own home state of Delaware has a similar law prohibiting distribution of food and water in election lines for the very same reasons. And not just Delaware either, but [name 1 or 2 other states]. So there!!!! The young correspondent did her best to keep her face and voice under control, but you could see fleeting skepticism and brief hint of incredulity in her voice. I call BS on all this GOP crap. I just hope those of color in these states will go out in DROVES the next election in spite of the crap the GOP does and vote these SOBs out.
4“Yea, though I walk through the empty valley of the shadow of voter fraud, I will fear no evil: for thou art not to be found, with thy rod, thy caning, flogging thy election staff… they comfort me.”
5***********************************
Headline: NC GOP torched after its latest voter fraud probe comes up ‘nearly empty’ in scathing newspaper Edit: op-ed An editorial published by the Raleigh News & Observer this week scorched the state GOP for continuing to hype up mass voter fraud claims even after multiple investigations into these claims have come up “nearly empty.”
https://www.alternet.org
Treehugger- I hope Democrats of every color, creed, etc. come out in droves to support each other. Bring your own water bottle if hot and bothered by all this bull.
6From your keyboard to God’s ears, EJ.
7So now, Major League Baseball is thinking of canceling the All Star Game in Atlanta in July. It’s a big money maker.
8Maybe that will get the Georgestan GQP’s attention.
The parts will be severable, so the courts are not going to throw it all out over water deliveries.
If the act was really about integrity, it would do something about reducing/eliminating lines. That it does not proves the lack of integrity of the Legislature, but that is not something the courts will take cognizance of.
9OK! Ban against giving water to anyone in line at the polls. Does that include the EMTs called to care for anyone who has gone down from dehydration or any medical issue? If so, that could be seen as a crime. However, only if such a crime is on the books in Georgia.I’m rubbing my crystal ball and I see the Attorney for the State of Georgia standing before the bench at the Supreme Court, sweating like a herd of pigs.
10I still don’t see how you get felonies out of knocking on a door. She wasn’t pounding, screaming, kicking, and it was damned rude of the Governor and cronies.
Also that “probable cause” thing looked fake as a three dollar bill.
Georgia richly deserves to be put under federal supervision again. So does Texas.
The thing about the food/water ban is that it’s based on hearsay evidence (just like the whole “gotta fix the fraud” attitude.) ARE people handing out water and food electioneering if they say “You need some water?” States already have laws against electioneering at the polls…can’t wear my Texas Democrat T-shirt (but I sure saw MAGA hats!), or buttons, or get into a discussion of issues or candidates while standing in line…and if police are near enough to notice a shirt slogan they’re near enough to hear “You really should vote for/not vote for X” and they could record it and play it in court when that person’s charged with electioneering at the polls.
Without evidence, it’s just hearsay and should be dismissed by the legislators as well as the courts.
Besides, three major religions–including the one most of those Georgians claim to belong to–have foundational statements *requiring* their adherents to give water to the thirsty and food to the hungry. Though we have (or should have) a secular legal system, it’s been interpreted that freedom of religion includes the non-regulation of religious requirements that do not harm non-members or cause a health hazard: even in a dry county, a Catholic or Episcopal church can use wine in its ceremonies, and traditional methods of slaughter & processing can be used for kosher and halal meats.
The provision of water and food in situations where people are likely to become dehydrated or suffer dangerous blood-sugar events is primarily a health-promoting activity. It keeps people from suffering adverse health events. The only rational ways to bar providing water and food are 1) having the state government provide such resources at every polling site during every voting day or 2) ensuring that there are enough polling places for every voter to make it from arrival to completed vote in less than 15 minutes, and to have shelter from inclement weather, whether heat, cold, or precipitation.
It would of course be possible for a state to include such provisions in its voting laws, and provide the resources to ensure that no one suffered a heat or cold injury or dehydration, or depleted blood sugar at any voting site, and that enough polling places were open enough days and hours to ensure that every legal voter got to vote. But the chance that Georgia, Alabama, North and South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas (to mention just a few) would do so is…miniscule.
11Elizabeth Moon @11 … The standard of “can’t wear a Democratic t-shirt but can wear a MAGA hat” was explained this way to our election judges:
Anything specifically referring to something that is on THIS ballot is electioneering. Democrat / Republican / Libertarian, names of candidates, and indications of being for or against an amendment, initiative, or referendum would all need to be taken off or covered up.
Anything which is NOT on the ballot is allowed. So, people can
12* wear their Whig or Know-Nothing party swag,
* put on hats that say MAGA or BLM,
* stretch the McGovern or Nixon tee-shirts to cover personal expansion,
* wear all-red, all-blue, or all-green clothes,
* have any letters or numbers not clearly tied to candidates or issues, OR
* wear American flag pins or decals in any direction they wish.
Elizabeth @ 11 & John @ 12
13For years when I vote I have worn my “I Am An enemy Of The State” and “Does Not Play Well With Stupid People” buttons when I vote.
I figure those make a statement without actually mentioning any candidate or issues.
Mike @13 …
14I should have mentioned: “I’m with Stupid” tee-shirts are not considered electioneering, either.