Online Voter Registration
Republicans are determined to bring back the good old days of Jim Crow and poll taxes. Five million eligible voters could lose their voting rights because of countless new Voter Suppression laws — written by ALEC and rubber-stamped by state legislators. Other states (e.g. Florida) are even cracking down on voter registration drives.
What ever will we do?
Yesterday House Democrats introduced the Voter Empowerment Act, which would allow online voter registration for all U.S. citizens. People could register online and update their information online as needed (change of address, etc.). Citizens would also be able to receive voting information via e-mail instead of snail mail.
The Voter Empowerment Act was sponsored by Rep. John Lewis (D—Georgia), who said:
“The ability to vote should be easy, accessible and simple. Yet there are practices and laws in place that make it harder to vote today than it was even one year ago. The sponsors of this act believe we need to take action or risk losing the liberties we have enjoyed. We should be moving toward a more inclusive democracy, not one that locks people out…In this age of technology, our country is moving backward, not forward. People died for the right to vote, and some of them were people I knew. I hope and pray we do not return to the days of overt discrimination before we decide to do something about it.”
One of the bill’s co-sponsors, Robert Brady (D—PA) said:
“This bill ensures that everyone — seniors, the disabled, working families, students and our military can register to vote. It makes registering to vote simpler, faster, and more secure for each and every American. The Voter Empowerment Act reaffirms the basic principle our democracy: one person, one vote.”
This proposed law also establishes a national hotline where people can report registration or voting problems.
If Republicans try to defeat this bill, President Obama should issue an executive order to get this done.
Labels: John Lewis, online voter registration, Robert Brady, Voter Empowerment Act
posted by Tom Harper @ 10:33 AM
18 Comments:
The democrats biggest issue with Voter Supression is SB1070
Does it defeat the purpose to give easier access to these poor, senior, disabled, people of color to register as long as they have a computer?
Erik
Some Democrats are pushing new legislation in the House of Representatives to ensure that there continues to be voter fraud so as to help get President Obama get re-elected this November. It will also help Democratic candidates nationwide.
The Voter Empowerment Act, as the deceptively titled federal legislation is known, would circumvent new voter identification laws in 16 states and approved by the people. These state laws were enacted to prevent the same widespread voter fraud mostly perpetuated by Obama activists in A.C.O.R.N. during the 2008 presidential elections.
The bill approves same day voter registration which makes it impossible for states to verify whether a person who goes to vote in Georgia actually lives in Georgia. Georgia’s new law, for instance, provides voters with free ID cards.
Rep. John Lewis, D-Georgia, said in a press conference in opposition to state voter verification laws, “I hope and pray that we will not return to the days of overt discrimination.”
Being from Georgia, Lewis, a southern black, should know the history of racism and discrimination better. Between 1889 and 1910 it was his Democratic Party that kept blacks from voting after the 15th amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed giving them the right to vote.
The question then is, “Why was the Democratic Party trying to keep blacks from voting?” The answer is because they were voting for Republicans. Since Abraham Lincoln, the Republicans have largely only wanted fair elections. Something the brainwashed Democrats have a hard time wrapping their heads around since it is only by voter fraud and Justice Department frivolous lawsuits can they get what the rest of us don’t want.
Anonymous: Why don't you go back to your day job of writing fairy tales for Breitbart or scripts for FAUX news?
Oh look, Lisa brought some minions here to leave anon messages that are just drawn out stupid, instead of one, two lines. Oh and anon last time there was any mention of voter fraud guess who are the perps? Yep, you guessed it the pugs. to the point they make these laws after saying, well we haven't really seen any frauds but they might happen as happened in Maine, look it up I don't do homework for people.
I'm with Erik though, how do we get those people that don't have access to the internet proper access? We'll still be able to go out and register the old fashioned way that I am used to, but online registration is a good thing coz once you're in there you are there forever in toob time.
The democrats biggest issue with Voter Supression is SB1070
The stupid never runs dry, does it?
Why aren't you in the kitchen? You are embarrassing your MAN with your constant stream of stupidity. It's getting to where he can't just pat you on the head and laugh you off anymore.
The question then is, “Why was the Democratic Party trying to keep blacks from voting?” The answer is because they were voting for Republicans. Since Abraham Lincoln, the Republicans have largely only wanted fair elections. Something the brainwashed Democrats have a hard time wrapping their heads around since it is only by voter fraud and Justice Department frivolous lawsuits can they get what the rest of us don’t want.
And only a complete and total idiot like you even dares to bring up such a profoundly, painfully stupid talking point. Anyone with a 2nd grade understanding of American history knows that the Dixiecrats all became Rushpubliscums some time ago.
Seriously, you have to be can't-wipe-yourself stupid to even try something like this.
It's an old Republican trick they remind us that is was the Democrats who passed all the Voter Suppression laws and not the Republicans. It misses the most important point - after the Voting Rights act was passed those Southern Democrats (and their descendants) went Republican.
The Black Republicans do this all the time - hoping you don't ask any questions.
But then we keep telling Lisa this and she never get's it either.
Erik
I still remember the tooth and nail fights over the Motor Voter Law, Republicans envisioned a flood of voters that would put them out of business.
We still remain the only major Democratic Nation that doesn't hold elections on a Saturday
Erik
I don't believe I have ever seen more misinformed drivel than most of these comments. Racist Democrats of the past ARE today's Republicans. Get it?
A routine check in Dade County, Florida (Miami) found over 3,000 illegal aliens registered to vote. It's in the best interest of an informed, literate electorate to enact minimum standards, regardless of which side "wins." In the end, the country wins.
At this point in time, online voter registration is a hair brained idea. If hackers can break into the Pentagon, just imagine how much fun they will have with a state-controlled voter registration database.
Erik: I assume any workplace or public computer (libraries, etc.) could be used for this.
Anonymous: Thank you for parroting Rush O'Hannity's talking points. Job well done.
Judi: LOL.
Jess: Hopefully libraries, senior centers, youth hangouts, etc. will have computers for online registering.
JR: LOL.
Erik: I remember the Republicans' mass tantrum over the Motor Voter Law.
Mr. C: I too have reservations about online registering, for the same reason I don't trust Diebold and other electronic voting devices. But in spite of the hazards, this seems like the best trump card the Democrats have come up with so far. Something needs to be done to counter the red states' voter suppression laws and crackdowns on voter registration, and this seems like the best idea so far. I hope better ideas will follow.
Here's a proposal that might increase the ratio of well-informed, thoughtful comments to the drivel dumps of trolls whose objective is to disrupt and discourage intelligent, meaningful discussions: No more anonymous comments. Provide a name and valid e-mail address or your comments get deleted.
This isn't perfect, but it would surely help.
Regarding voter suppression and Lewis' legislation, voter fraud of the kind Republicans are targeting is a negligible problem, in the extremely few places where it happens at all. Republicans know this very well.
What Republicans fear is an aroused, informed and united public voting their own best interests. Republicans know "the haves and the have mores," as George W. Bush referred to his people at a 2004 fund raiser, are vastly outnumbered by middle class, working class and poor people. Republicans and their wealthy backers will spend hundreds of millions on pro-resentment and wedge-issue propaganda to get just enough of the nonwealthy to vote against their own interests to put enough Republican candidates in office to maintain control.
That's been working pretty well for Republicans, but they fear it won't hold up. They're having to spend much more now than they did in the '80's and '90's. But, as happened in 2008, their overreach and blatant favoritism of the rich and disregard and disdain for everyone else, is becoming so obvious and so unacceptable to so many that even hundreds of millions spent on propaganda won't ensure them victories, especially in presidential races. Their situation is even more dicey when their candidates are duds like McCain and Romney.
So, there are two ways overcome having the majority of Americans they've screwed over even the score at election time. One is to rig electronic voting machines, when and where they can get away with that. The other is to reduce the number of likely Democratic voters by making it as hard for them to register and vote as they can get away with.
Lewis' bill is a good idea, but given that Republicans control the House, I seriously doubt it will even get a committee hearing, much less committee approval and a floor vote.
SW: Excellent diagnosis.
I found the Anonymous
Erik
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9atTGipRNI
Erik: Thanks for the link. "Wild Bill for America," LOL. Now I can see where Lisa -- and a bunch of other rightwing trolls who comment at other blogs, not this one -- are getting their talking points.
We should definitely accept this new bill, which is huge for America and making sure everyone has the right to vote. But even now, you can already get voting information online on sites like https://registertovote.org. Lets end Jim Crow once and for all
Thanks for that link. This is exactly what we need so we can make an end run around these crackdowns on voter registration drives (i.e. Rick Scott).
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