The voting fiasco in Florida reached truly farcical levels yesterday, with Dan Smith, a political science professor at the University of Florida, explaining, "We're looking at an election meltdown that is eerily similar to 2000, minus the hanging chads."
I think that's exactly right, but there's something Rachel explained last night on the show that warrants repeating: "This is a man-made phenomenon.... Those lines are long on purpose."
Given Florida's tragic reputation and history, I saw quite a bit of commentary yesterday questioning why the oft-ridiculed state "can't get its act together." There's been ample talk about "gross incompetence" and Florida's "inability to run a simple election."
These reactions are understandable, but they're mistaken. The early-voting debacle in the Sunshine State is deliberate. To treat this as the unfortunate result of ineptitude is to miss the point -- Florida Republicans designed the system to work this way.
For Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) and GOP policymakers in the state, this is a feature, not a bug. Republicans cut the number of early-voting days in half, on purpose. They prevented early voting on the Sunday before the election, on purpose. Scott, unlike the previous two Republican governors, ignored calls to expand voting hours, on purpose.
GOP policymakers want long lines; they want to make it very difficult for voters to participate in their own democracy; they want Americans to get discouraged and walk away. As one Republican state lawmaker argued after the 2010 election, "I want the people in the State of Florida to want to vote as bad as that person in Africa who is willing to walk 200 miles for that opportunity he's never had before in his life. This should not be easy."
This should not be easy.
This affects every voter, regardless of party or ideology, but because Republicans benefit more from lower turnout and higher disenfranchisement, this is a purely partisan scheme to rig an election in the GOP's favor.
OK, you're thinking, early voting in Florida has been disgraceful, but at least voting on Election Day itself will be smoother, right? Wrong -- due to Republican budget cuts, there will be fewer polling precincts this year than four years ago, meaning more long lines.
I'll just conclude with Rachel's conclusion: "[I]t is frankly an outrage that there are forces at work in our politics right now that not only make this type of situation possible, but that make it inevitable -- who see problems like this and go out of their way to try to make it worse.... If you are one of those people being forced to stand in those long lines tonight or tomorrow or on Election Day, honestly, your country needs you to do it. Your country needs you to do it, not only because it's your civic responsibility, but also because there are people trying to profit politically off of you not doing it."
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So, Republicans want Florida to be a third world country?
No. Republicans want America to be a third world country. We are reaping the whirlwind created when the Obama adminstration decided to let by-gones be by-gones and didn't criminally prosecute the Bush era justice department voter suppression squad.
I get the importance to allow people to vote as conveniently as possible but there are many, very large population states like Pennsylvania that vote only on election day.
How is this cutting down the amount of early voting a big Republican conspiracy to not allow Democrats to vote when other states don't offer early voting at all? Do we think all those states are trying to suppress the Democratic vote also?
Dang, maybe it's a much larger conspiracy than we ever imagined!
Guess you missed the part where the Teahadists and hacks who run the state also slashed the number of precincts that will be open on Election Day.
No, in PA, they (Republicans in office) decided to make it difficult for certain demographic classes to vote at all by trying to make a Voter ID law. Which for some people is absolutely impossible to get! There have been many horror stories on the news (and yes, even on Faux News) about the Voter ID law.
Thankfully, it was stalled for this election. However, on the next presidential election, there will be the Voter ID law in effect, so that's just another way to disenfranchise a certain group of people
Which is therefore a Good Thing?
Voting only during bankers' hours on a weekday is a great way to stack the deck against people who have to work set hours (not a problem for people like me, who have flexible hours or can work from home.) It's an additional problem for people who live more than a short distance from their polling place, who have to get to work by public transportation, etc.
However, this time around it's even more flagrant because of the moves to reduce the number of polling places, reduce the number of poll workers, increase the lengths of the ballots, and increase the time required by each voter to get a ballot. All of which make the lines longer and increase the time required to vote. Which, as above, disproportionately impacts some groups relative to others.
Of course, if you look at the map of polling places relative to population, you may also notice that the distance to "your" polling place favors some communities over others, too.
didn't criminally prosecute the Bush era justice department voter suppression squad.
We voted of Friday night then went out for steaks and Champagne to celebrate Mitt's future victory. No voter suppression here!!!
This is also an excellent time to point out that the people that chose not to vote in 2008 and 2010 must also share this responsibility! Whether or not you voted or whether you voted for rethuniCons these are the people on local levels that are controlling (destroying) our rights to vote, because they are evil and addicted to power and control!
These people need to go to jail for voter suppression, intimidation, and for having the brass cojones to steal our votes! These people at the local levels need to be removed from office, they are an anathema to our democracy, and they are a threat to US all! And let's be real honest, the only instances of "voter fraud" that's been happening is coming from the GOTP side of the aisle - NO democrats don't do this!
They prevented early voting on the Sunday before the election, on purpose.
Early voting begins 10 days before an election and ends on the 3rd day before any election in which there is a state or federal office race.
Seriously? They are being chastized for following the Florida voting regulations? I suppose if the situation were turned aound, Scott would be chastized for NOT following the regulations in place.I remember when voting used to bring about an incredible sense of PRIDE, not anger. We stood in lines on Election DAY and proudly switched the lever for our choice. We actually felt that we mattered. We have come a long way to accommodate the voting public, but it never seems to be enough for people. You can early vote, you can vote by mail, and if you choose, you can go and stand in the line on Election Day.
rethuniCons
Only a liberal could misspell an insult.....lol
Pasco - Scott and the Florida Republicans changed the Florida voting regulations to what you have quoted. It was not that way before and it was intentionally changed to reduce voter turnout. It's great that you feel proud to have voted; but any anger generated is at the intentional obstacles placed by the GOP to vote. Did you read all of the article? Do you agree that voting "...should not be easy?"
An ID is impossible to get????????????
Only in liberland. Try telling a Conservative Republican he can't have an ID!!!!!
The 2012 presidential election will be the third presidential election and sixth state-wide election overall since the hanging-chad fiasco of 2000. Voter suppression and disenfranchisement have become the norm in the Sunshine State, and voters have developed a callus to the election shenanigans.
Although frustrating and inconvenient, it will take more than hours of waiting in line to dissuade voters from voting.
No problem -- membership in the NRA will do.
Good idea, Walt. Because deep down, you know you'll have nothing to celebrate on Wednesday.
No, that statement is nonsensical. Voting should be made as easy as possible, but there also has to be SOME sort of semblance of order. But I also do not like it when people throw around buzz words like "war on voting", "scheme", "gross incompetence". It seems as if the underlying current of this topic is that somehow people are being told that they are not going to be allowed to vote in this election. This is just simply untrue. People with a resolve WILL cast a ballot, under any circumstance. Voting regulations should be the same everywhere, it shouldn't be up to a particular state or county.
Pasco 1.15,
I'm glad you agree it is nonsensical. People with a resolve will cast a ballot, yes, however deliberate attempts to test that resolve are being made; hence a "war on voting." It is known that predominantly democratic voters vote early, especially on the Sunday prior to the election as many churches will bring their congregants to vote early - so, many Republican states have chosen to not have early voting on that day (and in FL, also have reduced the number of days). Both Rep. and Dem. leaning voters are affected, but the Republicans are willing to sacrifice some of their voters if it means a proportionately larger amount of Democratic voters will be disenfranchised. As it turns out, more lower-income voters also tend to vote Democrat, so voting on election day itself becomes a burden. Should voting be left to people with resolve, or people with resolve and the time and/or money needed to afford to vote (voting on election day may mean voters need to choose between losing pay (if they must take time off from work), making arrangements for children (if voting takes several hours), etc.).
pascoguy,
See my post #18.1 below. I'd like to see how much of it you agree with.
I want to agree that everyone who wants to vote will be able to. But I'm withholding judgment on that until I see how the True the Vote people act. There's a reason the Obama team has literally hundreds of lawyers on standby in many states.
I have always agreed that Election Day should be a national holiday. We can have the day off for Santa Claus but not to vote? Doesn't make sense. Although I feel badly that people may have to take the day off or lose money, but they can apply for an absentee ballot well before the election. I received my ballot in the mail a few weeks ago. Although it is very long, it is very clear that early voting starts on oct 27 and ends on nov 3. Their website has wait times at each of the precincts. I like the idea of voter ID if it is somehow provded at no charge. As to Citizens United, I can not comment because i have not heard of them. Like I said, no matter what we do and how easy we try to make it, someone will complain that it is not good enough.
Well, I find it particularly suspicious that this happened on Sunday. Sunday is traditionally a big day for black voters to get out and vote with the "Souls to the Polls" movement where churches bus their parishoners to the polls after service. That is important to many of these people who may not be able to get time off of work on Tuesday and/or may not otherwise have access to reliable transportation to get to the polls and vote. Since Romney polls terribly among black voters, it is not exactly surprising that the GOP would want to restrict those people from voting.
Voter suppression and disenfranchisement
Those are terms used when lefties can't get a grip on the fact that their guy lost. That's what makes you guys so much fun.
Good idea, Walt. Because deep down, you know you'll have nothing to celebrate on Wednesday.
It looks to me that Obama just might win, in fact I'd say he's a slight favorite.
Since I'm a Conservative Republican, I can ride out the storm of 4 more years. I'm prepared financially for a failing economy, most liberals aren't. Good luck to all of you that think Obama is going to save the day for you guys. He told you the same crud 4 years ago as he's spewing today.
The Republicans will spend the next 4 years obstructing everything he proposes. Is that a good thing??? I don't now.
The cognitive dissonance is strong in this one...
Walt, rethugniCons wasn't "misspelled" - it's actually a contraction of re-thug+Con (as in con-job) - you idiots have been conned into voting against your own best economic interests! And maybe if you sheeple turned off FAUX NOOZ, and did your own research - ok just google - and got real facts maybe you all wouldn't continue to be led around by the nose!
Don't you so-called conservatives even pay attention to what is going on on your side of the aisle? Your "republican" representatives aren't representing you or your views either. 2 wars on the credit card - GOTP check, 2 massive tax cuts for the rich - GOTP check, a prescription drug benefit - GOTP check again! All on the credit card, none of which was paid for or put onto the books until this President took office.
And by your statements I surely hope that your 1% trust fund keeps you warm at night....
Walt, rethugniCons wasn't "misspelled"
Like I said it was misspelled.
btw...No trust fund, not a 1 percenter either. Just a non hyphenated American that took advantage of the opportunities we have here. Someday liberals might get the message. All that anger you guys carry around isn't healthy.
Shhhh no one point out the irony in these two sentences either
Or these
The projection is also strong in this one. Two for two. That's unhealthy.
The projection is also strong
Sonny
When I want to project I hire someone to do it for me then head for Maui.....lol
One advantage of being particularly comfortable is the ability to cultivate the acceptance of a , peculiar , higher state of mind . It is in these sacrosanct precincts , high above the babbling barbarians , that the satisfactions that accompany complete confidence permits a focus with a prayer rooms solitude . This is where the perfection is found in excluding those unfortunates for whom the zeal and commitment are as hallucinatory as the promise of a chicken in every pot , while a Dickensian dichotomy flourishes in the view of the blinded quite appropriately .
So why accomodate the enervation of thought when excluding the consequences of imperial actions , aside from the sweet vengeance of order is possible ?
WOW even I'm not that verbose. Still nicely done Johnathan Swift would be proud.
Babbitt , Sinclair Lewis , has got me all humored , and riled up .
I loved Rachel's closing comments on this last night. She is absolutely right. Many thanks and loads of respect to the voters who are willing to run the gauntlet that voting has become. Don't let the bastards win.
Husted, Scott - names of infamy for future generations yet to come!
Dastards despicably deciding to be the Anti-Christs of democracy! They give lip service to God and country, but they are villains to a free and liberty-minded people!
Husted is an enemy to democracy, and Scott seems merely to be a psychopath! -Kevo
Why don't we just reinstate poll taxes and literacy tests then, or even better just go back to the original constitutional set up. You know the stuff that goes along with the 3/5ths rule...but then I guess justice Thomas would have to step down but being a strict constructionist I am sure he wouldn't mind
What do you think all of that stuff about "States' Rights" is about, for crying out loud?
It was a "Behold Plato's Man!" statment
1) It's a feature, not a bug.
2) For the media in general to ignor it is a strategy, not incompetence.
I think this election will bring it home to a lot of people exactly what the Republican voter suppression is about.
If Obama loses through voter suppression it is going to get very very ugly this time around .
Before they could have written it off to incompetence, but when you have willful restrictions and Rick Scott unwilling to do what every Republican legislator before him has done , it is outright treason .
It is long past time for national voting standards instead of leaving it up to the local Mayberry Machavellis
If the memory of Georgie Bush , decider , is of any value , the bruising of eight going on forty years decadence with the celebratory triumphilism underlining the superiority of ignorance in the face of calamity , should bring about an appropriate catalyst .
I don't know if it will peak at the crescendo you indicate but the wrinkles are getting a bit deeply creased to pretend the smoothness of plutocracy is anything other than suicide .
We were thinking the same thing here , there are 5 constitutional amendments addressing voting rights , and they are still messing with peoples ability to cast a vote , time to fedralize it and put a 10 year prison sentence for anyone limiting the ability for people to vote
Gov. Scott was involved with Medicare fraud while a ceo of HCA. The people did not care enough to research their vote or sat at home and let the GOP continue to run the state. The legislature has put all the amendment proposals on the ballot, one of which is to give public funding to religious organizations. It is a teaparty state with the added benefit of its usual gop corruption. Another push is to get rid of 3 supreme court justices that do not rubber-stamp the gops agenda, and an amendment for the legislature to be able to overturn supreme court decisions. It is shameful.
I am in Florida and I voted last week with no problems. There may be areas where it has been difficult but where I am it was easy. I asked how many had already voted and was told 1100...out of a total of about 11000 in my county. Unfortunately this county may be voting for Romney! But I continue to have hope that not every one here is racist and stupid!
Sounds like that it's in a nutshell. If you're in a county that's leaning Romney, 'nuff said about why there was no hindrance to your voting.
In a perfect world every government official that participated in voter suppression should have treason charges brought against them, then just maybe in the future a person might think before trying such ridiculous acts.
"Sherman, set the Wayback machine to the year 1904. That was the first instance of 'Jim Crow Law' which was a way to deny..."
"Gee Mr. Peabody, I think we're already there, er, here".
GOP POV:
It ain't the right vote, if it ain't a WHITE vote!_________________________________________________
And never mind, PolitiCLOWN, if President Obama has a HIGHER percentage of WHITE males and females, than Romey does Blacks, Hispanic, Asians, Native Americans, Gays, and any, and EVERY, other minority group - MAYBE, COMBINED!!!!
Note to Republicans:
If your going to cheat, do two things:
1: admit it
2: have a decent plan when you steal the election.
I get that cheating is wrong but if your gonna do it, have a plan that works.
If so many people had not waited to the last minute to vote early maybe there wouldn't be a problem. Maybe the problem is with the democrats not getting out the vote for their own party. Now these people are going to have to vote on Election Day, how unfair. Early voting isn't for only for democrats, Republicans face the same time line. I’m so glad to hear Rachael Maddow was whining on her show about voter suppression, it demonstrates what a fool she truly is.
My sister in law, a died in the wool Republican and a bigger Romney supporter than you, lives in Palm Beach County. She was one of the people in the early voting line and complained bitterly about standing around for hours. I don't think Rachel was wrong to complain about what Scott has done in Florida. It is teason to deliberately make voting hard regardless of party. In my sister-in-laws case Scott's plan worked against a Romney voter, but I am sure it has worked against more Democrats than Republicans.
Amazing comment from one that probably believes Limbaugh is an intellectual. Yes, the lines are long regardless of party affiliation. I would like to see where these long lines occur. Seems from the comments above, there is at least some anecdotal evidence that certain precincts are targeted. Did you happen to see the comments yesterday by the Virginia state attorney general. He was bragging about how low early voter turnout "benefits us." Guess who "us" entails. You can make excuses all you want, but the evidence of intentional voter suppression is there for anyone to see - if you can remove your partisan glasses.
It just proves a point . This is not a 50/50 country . There are more rational people than irrational . We have been sold a bill of goods by the Librul MSM.
Scott intentionally has made it more inconvenient to vote. Say what you will, I have to say this is not serving the citizens. What are the reasons he gives for doing this? What problem did he solve? Obama winning the state he hopes.
I am amazed that any voter of any party defends this action. Why was it a good thing to do? There is only one reason and it is not right to use legislation to sway the outcome of an election.
How does changeing the amount of time/long lines change the ratio of voters voteing one way or another? I can understand if it's directed at one party's stronghold districts but not if it's statewide...
I'm guessing it's a red herring to allow for other suppression tatics, but I'd really like to think that this is just a lucky consequence from an otherwise really stupid republican idea.
And please, please tell me that the "fix" can't be done in Penn.
Actually reducing early voting days in Florida makes it difficult for Democrats to work their plan to turn out sporatics before the election. The Democratic ground game is very much superior to the Republican ground game. Democrats identify voters who only vote sporatically and then they do everything they can to help them vote before election day. On election day the poll workers will be busy working the polls. it could be the difference in the election.
Encourageing liberals to poll watch seems like a good idea. Film the evil righty poll watchers to be then arrested.. Get liscense plates,, get any voter intimidation on film,, etc. etc..
Can they be arrested immediately if they cross the "too close to the poll" statute?
Democrats are traditionally working class and can ill afford to take time off to vote as they won't get paid . Therefore , make it more inconvenient , they won't vote.
There are two main ways that long lines can be used to skew the results:
As mentioned, the impact can be disproportionate. If those who will have a hard time taking the time to vote tend to vote one way, then more of those voters will be turned away.
Also, you can vary the impact of the long lines. Give enough resources to poling places in areas that support you, or at least less of a shortage. If 'Green'ville has 30 minute lines and 'Orange'town 3 hour ones, it looks good for for the Greenies to decide the winner.
Rachel, Illinois is mostly out of the election news as it is strongly for Obama. However, at least one of our county clerks seems to be changing Illinois voting law all on her own. Illinois does not require a voter produce identification on election day, except in very specific circumstances, but the Lake County, IL election judges manual states:
"In an even year election during heavy voter turnout periods, one judge may ask for ID to quickly move voters to correct alpha station at table. A voter is not required to show ID to check in. Explain that requests for identification ensures accurate spelling and that the correct application is located."
The provision does not state that the election judge is supposed to explain to the voters that they do not need ID. Current Illinois law only requires ID in very specific circumstances and not generally for all voters. So, election judges will be asking for ID in long lines and not telling voters without ID in the back of the line that they really don't need it.
It should also be noted that the Lake County Clerk was named in a complaint for voter intimidation in Racine, Wisconsin during the recall election: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-06-17/news/ct-met-wisconsin-election-complaint-20120617_1_polling-site-local-poll-workers-polling-place
People didn't wait til the last minute to vote early. Some of the people interviewed for the stories and news clips have been trying to vote for 3 or more days! However, after standing in line up to 5 hours, they either got sick or had to go to work, so they tried it the next day and still had to stand in line for hours!
Granted, this isn't happening in every precinct. If you look at the numbers and demographics, it's rather revealing that only precincts with the majority voters being Democrat or in one or another race/class etc are the ones with the waiting.
That tells me, that it is specifically aimed at disenfranchising a particular group. Just like in TX with that voter ID law that got overturned by the higher court. The court's ruling stated that having that ID law would disapportionately disenfranchise certain groups. (Obviously I didn't quote the entire ruling, I just shortened it down some, lol)
This kind of voter suppression is happening in several states. It's either time for the people to speak up and possibly file a class action civil suit, or for there to be FEDERAL guidelines for elections! And it wouldn't hurt if the UN came in and watched a few of our elections for a while. I know, Texas already said if the UN came into "his" state, he wouldn't let them stay. Hello, you can't tell the UN to go away, lol!!!
What don't you understand about voting on Election Day. Don't be so stupid to confuse voting Early and voting on Election Day.
You really don't comprehend well, do you. The issue here is what seems to be attempts at discouraging voters. Maybe your "stupid" comment is misdirected.
I think it's time for the voters to demand change in the voting system. First we need to do away with the electoral college. Then we need to demand change in the way we vote. The republicans have always tried to make it difficult for people to vote and it has helped them get elected. I voted in GA a couple of weeks ago. GA is controlled by republicans. The voting process was long, unnecessarily so. There was a long line to fill out unnecessary paperwork. We had to fill out a form and sign twice. We had to give them information that was already in the computer. The voting machines were about a quarter in use, yet there was a long line that went out on the sidewalk because we had to fill out redundant paperwork. GA cuts off voter registration about a month prior to election. There's no good reason for that. We as citizens should start demanding change in the system. Do away with the electoral college, so that all votes have the same value and involve all the states in the elections.
Election Day needs to be a national holiday, so that everyone can get to the polls that day.
States should not have control over the process when the election includes candidates for national office.
I'm okay with having to show ID, but there need to be exceptions for those who are elderly and do not have access to birth records required to get the ID. Eventually this will cease to be a problem as that generation passes on, but if they've been allowed to vote in past years without it, let them continue to vote.
I would also support getting rid of the electoral college. In fact, it would not surprise me if at some point (or even this year) several thousand people temporarily move to another state just to vote because it will carry more weight there. Popular vote truly gives every single vote equal weight.
Reverse Citizens United. Corporations are not people; their interests (and those of the super wealthy) are counter to the interests of common people. I'll accept a corporation as a person when I see one come home in a bodybag from defending our freedom in a war.
I think it's time for the voters to demand change in the voting system. First we need to do away with the electoral college. Then we need to demand change in the way we vote. The republicans have always tried to make it difficult for people to vote and it has helped them get elected. I voted in GA a couple of weeks ago. GA is controlled by republicans. The voting process was long, unnecessarily so. There was a long line to fill out unnecessary paperwork. We had to fill out a form and sign twice. We had to give them information that was already in the computer. The voting machines were about a quarter in use, yet there was a long line that went out on the sidewalk because we had to fill out redundant paperwork. GA cuts off voter registration about a month prior to election. There's no good reason for that. We as citizens should start demanding change in the system. Do away with the electoral college, so that all votes have the same value and involve all the states in the elections.
And let's criminalize political libel.
I think we absolutely should change the way voter registration works. As it is now, the responsibility is on the voter to register. A lot of other countries apparently automatically register voters with no effort on the voters' part-- I think through the postal system. If everyone is automatically registered, then efforts to make registration harder become null, and you don't have to worry about not being registered when you want to vote; you could walk up on election day and just cast your ballot regardless. Then we can work on establishing a generous amount of early voting hours that are protected by law.
(Preferably, I think this should be a federal task, so individual state officials can't cut hours or otherwise screw with the system, but considering there would probably be hysterics over "big government" with this idea, well... that's probably wishful thinking.)
Canada does most of its voter registration through income tax returns. For most people, all you need to do is check a single box on your T1 or T1Special that says: "I give CCRA permission to forward my information to Elections Canada."
Were the US to do this, registration would jump from the ~65% it is now to over 90%.
Rachel, What is wrong with Chuck Todd? He is saying that the voter enthusiasm is on the side of GOP, this including crowd sizes greater than Obama's. Last night you said that Dems had the GOP 2-1. I tried to find a way to his show but did not see a way on msnbc.
Chuck Todd is in the bag for Republicans and his reporting barely suppresses his contempt for Democrats.
His is a two bit statistician who got a promotion due to the untimely passing of Tim Russert.
You can extend that to many of the other multimillionaire news readers and stenographers.
Seriously , whose team do you think they're on when they hit that class that can invest their wealth and live off the returns?
Chuck Todd is the Political Director for NBC. He would like nothing better than to see an electorial tie because it would give him a lot of air time to play with his electronic toys like his touch screen TV. John King on CNN loves his toys too. All the TV reporters want to make it seem like a close race because it gives them alot to talk about.
If you wait till the last minute to go to a movie to find it's sold out it means you'll have to come back for the next showing. And who's fault is it for waiting to the last minute, it's not the theaters fault, it's your fault. Grow up and take responsibility for your actions. No ones vote has been suppressed, they'll have to come back on election day, big deal.
Don't they put extremely popular films on multiple screens in the Multiplex making it easier to see the film?
I don't think the restrict it to one theater and reduce it to one showing a week.
so much for that analogy .....
You my friend are missing the point ...what part of THE HOURS OF ACCESS HAVE BEEN REDUCED can't you comprehend
Well, that meme proved to be selected out of existence. Stomp.
It's sad to see Jim Crow Laws are still alive and Working to brag on how great America is and tell other's they shot be like us, then pull something like this??? should be able to throw your tail in Jail
LONG LINES? Really? People have been threatened with death in countries trying to get a democratic system like ours in place, yes with long lines too. Voting isn't just a privilege, it is a duty, one that people, OUR people, are fighting for and dying for, a WORLD away. There is no option that due to an inconvenient line we don't cast our ballot. The inconvenient line waiting for the iphone 5 was being waited in for days, for die hard techno-geeks and the must haves. What we MUST have, is that same dedication to our country and our world. To do anything less whether democrat or republican, is a crime larger and more sickening than the ones being perpetrated against the voters in Florida!
So what is the penalty for "interference with a voter in the performance of her duty?"
I do like your vision of the United States as an oppressive regime where voting is an act of heroism though. I can see it now: college students at the University of Ohio dying on the barricades that keep them from getting to the one voting booth set up for 21,000 students.
We may end up at the Supreme Court again due to this nightmare in Florida, and other places. I hope we can encourage States to update their voting procedures before the next election. This should not be happening in this country. I think some of the GOP Govs, and State Secretaries belong in jail.
I can guarantee you that there hasn't been a Supreme Court in the history of the country that would set aside a major election based on voter registration issue or any of the means used to make voting difficult. Much less the current Court, which is well to the right of the Court of twelve years ago.
afairhope-Why not study why there is an Electoral College, it's to give States Equal representation in the election process. It's why we have the House and the Senate.