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Some Democratic-led states seek to bolster voter protections
The Associated Press ^ | February 25, 2023 | BY AYANNA ALEXANDER (D-AP)

Posted on 02/25/2023 7:10:18 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers in several Democratic-controlled states are advocating sweeping voter protections this year, reacting to what they view as a broad undermining of voting rights by the Supreme Court and Republican-led states as well as a failed effort in Congress to bolster access to the polls.

Legislators in Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey and New Mexico have introduced voting rights measures, while Michigan’s secretary of state is preparing a plan.

Among other things, the proposals would require state approval for local governments to change redistricting or voting procedures, ban voter suppression and intimidation, mandate that ballots are printed in more languages, increase protections for voters with disabilities, ensure the right to vote for those with previous felony convictions and instruct judges to prioritize voter access when hearing election-related challenges.

If the legislation is enacted, the states would join California, New York, Oregon, Washington and Virginia in having comprehensive voting rights laws.

“It’s up to states now to ensure that the right to vote is protected,” said Janai Nelson, president of the the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

Passing state voting rights legislation is only half the battle, said state Sen. Jennifer McClellan, a Virginia Democrat who introduced a state voting rights act that passed in 2021 when Democrats controlled both houses of the Legislature and the governor’s office.

McClellan noted that ensuring voting rights historically was a bipartisan issue, but said Republicans are now focused on “fighting phantom voter fraud” — making this year’s Virginia legislative elections all the more important.

(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California; US: Connecticut; US: Maryland; US: Michigan; US: Minnesota; US: New Jersey; US: New Mexico; US: New York; US: Oregon; US: Virginia; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: associatedpress; ayannaalexander; california; connecticut; democrats; fraud; jennifermcclellan; maryland; michigan; minnesota; newjersey; newmexico; newyork; oregon; virginia; vote; washington
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1 posted on 02/25/2023 7:10:18 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Republicans better wise up. If the Democrats can use these laws to their advantage so can Republicans. We can beat them at their own game. The game isn’t voter turn out. It’s vote collecting and counting.


2 posted on 02/25/2023 7:15:04 AM PST by ConservativeInPA (Stupidly is a moral problem, not an intellectual problem. )
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To: ConservativeInPA

When the entire game becomes about which side can outfraud the other..... this country is finished.


3 posted on 02/25/2023 7:19:44 AM PST by MachIV
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Orwellian doublespeak from the Democrats again.


4 posted on 02/25/2023 7:20:14 AM PST by nwrep
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; BraveMan; cardinal4; ...
...while Michigan’s secretary of state is preparing a plan.
IOW, no, they're not. They're going to impose stronger measures to ensure elections can easily be stolen. Naturally, the Ass-Press shill regurg's DNC talking points in The Party's latest PR offensive.

5 posted on 02/25/2023 7:22:12 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

They are trying to provide solutions without problems. When Democrats talk about voting reform, they’re really talking about institutional voting fraud. Every word and gesture they make is about power, and nothing else.


6 posted on 02/25/2023 7:23:41 AM PST by Spok
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

They are welding the door shut as predicted. In Mi they shoved through a ballot initiative that made it so any legal challenge to an election has to originate from those who ran the election


7 posted on 02/25/2023 7:25:52 AM PST by gibsonguy
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

They have to protect their mail order “ballots”.


8 posted on 02/25/2023 7:28:13 AM PST by FlingWingFlyer (Remember what FJB Brandon said, "...more than half of the women in my administration are women.")
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To: MachIV

While that is true, the only way to get ballot harvesting banned is to do it back - harder.


9 posted on 02/25/2023 7:29:11 AM PST by Mr. Jeeves ([CTRL]-[GALT]-[DELETE])
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To: SunkenCiv

would be a shame if Republicans fought fire with fire instead of just bending over


10 posted on 02/25/2023 7:29:24 AM PST by imabadboy99
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

“Bolster voter protections” - code for baking in fraud regarding election laws. Sure, it may be “legal”, but it definitely is not right.

What is assured are the virtues of ballot harvesting, and of extending and expanding the vote franchise to those who have, for one reason or another, never before were eligible to vote, on the basis of citizenship, or lost the eligibility to vote, as a convicted felon. Also, the power to control the vote is shifted to the state level, and the local level loses much of the autonomy they once had.


11 posted on 02/25/2023 7:30:39 AM PST by alloysteel (Never let your sense of morals get in the way of doing what's right. - Isaac Asimov)
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To: MachIV

It’s not out frauding. We can disagree with the laws, but we lack the legislatures, governors and conservative judges to do anything about it. It’s either beat them at their own game so we can put in place our laws or we can accept defeat. But you are almost right, America IS finished.


12 posted on 02/25/2023 7:40:04 AM PST by ConservativeInPA (Stupidly is a moral problem, not an intellectual problem. )
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

“…require state approval for local governments to change voting procedures”

But it was perfectly fine for the same states to do that at the state level in contravention of both state laws and state constitutions. Sounds like the state criminals don’t want any local interference.


13 posted on 02/25/2023 7:45:29 AM PST by ProtectOurFreedom (There is lots of money and power in Green Communism and we all know where Communism ends.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
ban voter suppression

I recall when Democrats were screaming that photo ID was “voter suppression”. Then blacks started asking: How stupid and lazy do you think we are? Then The polling data came out and blacks overwhelmingly said that photo was not suppression. Suddenly the Democrats were channeling Emily Latella: NEVERMIND!

14 posted on 02/25/2023 7:50:14 AM PST by Michael.SF. ( The problem today: people are more concerned about feelings than responsibility)
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To: MachIV
When the entire game becomes about which side can outfraud the other..... this country is finished.

This country is indeed finished.

The question now is what comes afterwards and who will run it. That question will not be answered by "elections".

15 posted on 02/25/2023 7:55:01 AM PST by flamberge (We don't get the government we vote for. We get the government we will tolerate.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

True democrats do not win elections the buy them.


16 posted on 02/25/2023 8:00:52 AM PST by Vaduz (LAWYERS )
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Democrats are relentless in keeping and strengthening their methods of vote fraud. The news media provides the cover.


17 posted on 02/25/2023 8:01:52 AM PST by robel
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To: flamberge

What comes after is going to probably look alot like Rhodesia in the 1980’s except a lot worse.

Having said that, what happens when a formerly 1st world country with the 2nd largest nuclear aresenol in the world and 92 nuclear power plants suddenly turns 3rd world immigrant majority?


18 posted on 02/25/2023 8:08:20 AM PST by MachIV
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Dems want all the voters they can acquire to make it easier to Socialize the Country.


19 posted on 02/25/2023 8:24:58 AM PST by chopperk ( )
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Among other things, the proposals would require state approval for local governments to change redistricting or voting procedures, ban voter suppression and intimidation, mandate that ballots are printed in more languages, increase protections for voters with disabilities, ensure the right to vote for those with previous felony convictions and instruct judges to prioritize voter access when hearing election-related challenges.

And that's a problem. 'Ban voter suppression ...' instead of 'be able to read and write English in script' so you can read the rules of our US Constitution' as a requirement to immigrate and vote. NO Foreign Languages on ballots!

Voters with disabilities should be able to be reimbursed for cab fare or call a state-run transportation to the polls.

20 posted on 02/25/2023 8:33:52 AM PST by RideForever (Damn, another dangling par .....)
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