2020 Congressional Elections
California GOP Just Putting Up Fake Ballot Drop Boxes Everywhere, Totally Normal
Nothing suspicious about that!
October 12, 2020 01:43 PM
For months, Republicans have been screaming and crying about how they think Democrats are gonna rig the election through mail-in ballots, even though the Democrats are not really the ones with the reputation for doing that. But it's not because they actually think that's going to happen, but because it's a well-worn bit of political wisdom that the more people vote, the more likely a Democrat is to win. Also because it's a safe bet that Democrats are more likely to take COVID-19 seriously, and thus less likely to put themselves or others at risk by voting in person.
Judges have shot down Republican attempts at limiting ballot drop boxes in both Ohio and Texas, but a slate of Trump appointees on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals stayed the lower court's ruling this weekend in Texas, allowing GOP Governor Greg Abbott's attempt to drastically reduce the number of ballot drop boxes to stand for now. Likewise the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has stayed the district court ruling in Ohio. (It's almost like Trump's GOP is the one doing the court-packing!)
But over in California — where pulling something like that off is far less likely — the GOP went the other way entirely. They decided instead to put up drop boxes everywhere. Unofficial drop boxes, that is. Unofficial drop boxes that, according to the state of California, are quite illegal.
<blockquote>"Operating unofficial ballot drop boxes — especially those misrepresented as official drop boxes — is not just misleading to voters, it's a violation of state law," California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, a Democrat, told The Post in an email. "My office is coordinating with local officials to address the multiple reports of unauthorized ballot drop boxes. Californians should only use official ballot drop boxes that have been deployed and secured by their county elections office."</blockquote><p>California GOP Regional Field Director Jordan Tygh, in a now deleted tweet, shared a picture of himself "voting early" by dropping his ballot in one of the unofficial ballot boxes, what fun! </p>
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<p><br></p><p>The California GOP claims it's simply taking advantage of a law passed by Democrats allowing for what Republicans call "ballot harvesting" — <em>i.e.</em>, allowing for designated persons to collect and submit ballots.<br></p><div id="e2e2a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="42419b1d16efb0c3c385373f966fa040"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1315401052166909952" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@CBSLA California Democrats wrote the law (Assembly Bill 1921). Democrats voted for the legislation and Governor Je… https://t.co/Ndt2do6vT5</div> — CAGOP (@CAGOP)<a href="https://twitter.com/CAGOP/statuses/1315401052166909952">1602451024.0</a></blockquote></div><p>What this law does is allow for designated people to go door-to-door collecting ballots, or to have "ballot parties" where everyone fills out their ballot and the ballots are then brought in by a designated official. Republicans, who have previously sued the state over this statute, say their fake ballot boxes are the same as doing this.</p><p>However, the law does <em>not</em> allow for people to just put out their own unattended ballot boxes anywhere they like — boxes that could be tampered with or not even handed over. They could very easily just put the boxes in liberal areas and then never actually take them in to be counted. </p><blockquote>Padilla's office <a href="https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ccrov/pdf/2020/october/20240jl.pdf" target="_blank">said on Sunday</a> that the boxes are not legal under the 2016 law, because that statute requires a voter to designate a "person" to return the ballot, and there is no person present at the unofficial drop-off boxes. Official drop-off boxes, meanwhile, must satisfy a long list of requirements to secure the boxes and ensure ballots cannot be tampered with. The GOP's containers do not meet those requirements, Padilla said.</blockquote><p>Putting them out could even lead to up to two years in prison for vote tampering. </p><p>This is one of the problems that arises from Republicans constantly lying about what Democrats are actually doing. Sure, a portion of the GOP will understand that it's just rhetorical shitposting, but others will sincerely believe it. They will think doing something like this is totally legal when it is not, and they could end up in prison for it. </p><p>And then we'd all feel really, really sad for them. </p><p>[<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/10/12/california-illegal-ballot-boxes/" target="_blank">Washington Post</a>] </p><p><strong>Wonkette is fully funded by readers like you! If you are a reader, hit the donate button below to fully fund Wonkette!</strong><br></p><p></p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/33mKzZe" target="_blank">Do your Amazon shopping through this link, because reasons</a>.</p><p></p><p></p><form name="donation" method="post" class="donation-form"><p class="subheadline">How often would you like to donate?</p><div class="form-row row--plan"><label class="plan-type__label"><input type="radio" name="plan_type" value="once" class="plan-type" required="" checked> Just once
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News
Federal Judge Halts Ohio Voter Suppression Scheme
Secretary of State tried to limit the ability of city dwellers to vote. It ... didn't work.
October 10, 2020 01:00 PM
For decades, Republicans have made it clear that they don't give a flying fuck about the principles underpinning our democratic system. To the GOP, the will of the people doesn't matter; the only thing that actually matters is gaining and holding onto power.
As part of the Republican Party's plan to steal the 2020 elections by any means necessary, earlier this week, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose issued a directive limiting every county in the state — with no regard for geography, population, or feasibility — to just one drop box each to collect absentee ballots.
After initially dismissing the case, Ohio federal Judge Dan Aaron Polster reversed course on Friday, reinstating the lawsuit filed by civil rights organizations and individual voters alike, and striking down LaRose's one Dropbox per county rule. Finding that LaRose's ratfucking violates the rights of voters under the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the US Constitution, the court held that the directive “significantly burdens the right to vote, and, ultimately, may have the effect of deterring many people from voting or forcing them to risk their health by voting in-person." As such,
The Secretary is enjoined from enforcing that portion of Directive 2020-16 that prohibits a county board of elections from installing a secure drop box at a location other than the board of elections office, and the Secretary is also enjoined from prohibiting a board from deploying its staff for off-site ballot delivery.
Suck it, LaRose.
<h2>Here's the deal</h2><p>
Like most states, Ohio is dealing with an unprecedented number of people voting absentee because of the pandemic. In addition to allowing absentee ballots to be mailed in, Ohio law allows county election boards to set up drop boxes for voters to return their ballots.
</p><p>
The main job of the Ohio Secretary of State is to facilitate voting statewide. Rather than using his position as the state's top election official to protect the voting rights of Ohioans, LaRose instead decided to use his power to try to disenfranchise as many people of color as he possibly can.
</p><p>
Ohio has 88 counties, with populations ranging from under 10,000 to over 1 million residents. Obviously, with the huge differences in the makeup and geography of these counties, they are all going to have different needs when it comes to procedures for receiving ballots. That's why each county in the state has its own county election board to determine the needs of its voters.
</p><p>
Purposefully Ignoring the fact that Vinson County, population 13,000, has different needs from Cuyahoga County, population 1.28 million, LaRose limited every county in the state to just one ballot drop box each. If LaRose's directive were to remain in place, it would have the clear and obvious effect of disenfranchising people in the state's most populous cities and counties. While we are <em>totally sure </em>that this is entirely incidental and not at all the entire purpose of LaRose's order, these counties are where most of the state's Black, LatinX, and Democratic voters are located.
</p><p>
As the court found,
</p><blockquote>
<em>The burden that the Directive imposes on large counties is exhibited by the fact that it may be said that the 7,903 registered voters in Noble County may find a single drop box location sufficient, the record demonstrates that the 858,041 registered voters in Cuyahoga County will likely not.</em>
</blockquote><p>
Multiple lawsuits challenging this bullshit were filed almost immediately. In a parallel case filed in state court, the Ohio Court of Appeals ruled that state law did not require completed ballots to be dropped off to the physical locations of election boards and that off-site drop boxes were totally fine. Despite that order, LaRose was like, "Nah, I think we're just gonna make it as hard as we can for people in urban areas to drop off their ballots" and refused to accommodate requests from large counties to set up additional drop box locations.
</p><p>
Earlier this week, Judge Polster had dismissed the lawsuit without prejudice (meaning it could be re-filed by the same plaintiffs), believing the state court order would result in LaRose allowing counties to set up more drop boxes. After it became clear that LaRose had no intention of changing his directive the judge reversed his earlier ruling, saying it was based on his "incorrect interpretation" of LaRose's action.
</p><p>
And Judge Polster pulled no punches, noting at the beginning of his order that:
</p><blockquote>
The power of a federal judge to enjoin an order of a duly elected state official should be exercised only when it is essential to vindicate a vital constitutional right, and when all methods short of doing so have been tried. That is the case here.
</blockquote><p>
Judge Polster's ruling also makes it clear that he gave LaRose plenty of occasions to stop fucking up before issuing an injunction.
</p><blockquote>
The Court has given the Secretary every opportunity to address the problem identified at the September 23 hearing, and he has been unwilling or unable to do so. At this late date, with voting already underway, the Court has no alternative but to address the constitutionality of Directive 2020-16, and any subsequent directives which emanate from it. The right to vote guaranteed by the First and Fourteenth Amendments is without question one of the most important rights guaranteed by our Constitution. The COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the anxiety over whether the U.S. Postal Service will be able to handle the unprecedented number of ballots being returned by mail, is posing unprecedented challenges to voters and boards of election. Under these unprecedented circumstances, Plaintiffs have made a substantial showing that Secretary LaRose's prohibitions on off-site drop boxes and ballot delivery are unconstitutional, and Plaintiffs have demonstrated all the other conditions necessary to warrant the Court issuing a preliminary injunction.
</blockquote><p>
As anyone with a tinge of common sense who is not drinking the GOP kool-aid can see, the only purpose of LaRose's limit on ballot drop boxes had nothing to do with anything other than trying to fix the election and keep his party in power.
</p><blockquote>
The record reflects that, absent injunctive relief, registered voters who reside in larger counties will be forced to spend an unreasonable amount of time traveling to a single drop box location at the board – ultimately 1) leading voters to forgo their fundamental right to vote or 2) substantially burdening voters with long commutes and long lines leading to a form of voter suppression. Voting began on October 6, and absent injunctive relief, registered voters will be deprived of a fair election.
</blockquote><h2>Let's lawsplain this</h2><p>
Here in the United States, we have this handy little thing called a constitution. And while the US Constitution is far from perfect, it nonetheless clearly prohibits these kinds of blatant attempts to fix elections (at least until <a href="https://www.wonkette.com/if-amy-coney-barrett-writes-an-opinion-her-husband-doesnt-like-will-he-cut-off-her-finger" target="_blank">Justice Handmaiden Barrett</a> is on the bench).
</p><p>
As Judge Polster noted, "it is beyond dispute that federal courts have jurisdiction over suits to enjoin state officials from interfering with federal rights." And that is pretty clearly what LaRose is trying to do, here. Like the court summarized,
</p><blockquote>
<em>The state's procedures must be fair. [...] </em><em>They must not place any burden upon voting beyond what is necessary to ensure a fair election, and they may not impose an undue burden upon any suspect class of citizens. [...] Even facially neutral procedures may have a disparate adverse impact upon certain groups of voters. And that impact must be analyzed in the context of the unprecedented conditions surrounding the November 3, 2020 election.</em>
</blockquote><p>
In examining the effect of the state's ratfucking on voters, the court found that LaRose's directive “particularly burdens the right to vote of Ohio residents who are poor and people of color." Judge Polster also noted that LaRose had “gloss[ed] over the risks and obstacles that those options present under today's unprecedented conditions[,]" and recognized that COVID-19, like LaRose's actions, “particularly burdens the right to vote of Ohio residents who are poor and people of color."
</p><p>
The judge also recognized that Donald Trump and Louis DeJoy's attempts to destroy the Post Office make ballot drop boxes even more important for voters this year.
</p><blockquote>
It is also indisputable that we are living in the unprecedented juxtaposition of the worst pandemic in a century coupled with reasonable concern and anxiety over the ability of the U.S. Postal Service to handle what will undoubtedly be the largest number of absentee voters in Ohio's history[.] This year, the drastic procedural changes recently implemented by the Postal Service and the resulting disruption and delay in delivery has created reasonable anxiety over the ability of the Postal Service to get ballots delivered to voters in a timely fashion, and then to deliver those ballots to the Board of Elections in each county. The obstacles that voters face if they chose to vote by mail is evident by the fact that, as stated above, two federal judges have recently enjoined the U.S. Postal Service from implementing procedural changes which they found would adversely impact the delivery of ballots leading to disenfranchisement.
</blockquote><p>
The challengers presented a ton of evidence showing how LaRose's plan would disenfranchise voters, particularly non-white voters in the state's most populous counties.
</p><blockquote>
Plaintiffs introduced testimony that approximately 15% of Cincinnati and Cleveland's voting population (who are primarily poor and person of color), will have to travel more than 90 minutes to and from their single drop box location.
</blockquote><p>
LaRose had the audacity to claim that his order disenfranchising voters was necessary to equal the playing field for voters across the state. The court roundly rejected that ridiculous argument.
</p><blockquote>
Secretary LaRose contends that the Directive is necessary to ensure that all Ohioans have the same opportunity to securely cast their votes in drop boxes. The problem with this rationale is that all counties are not equal in population or in geographic size. Giving all voters an equal opportunity would require multiple drop boxes in heavily populated counties to account for their population. The federal guidelines in fact call for one drop box for every 15,000–20,000 voters. The Secretary offers the rationale that the prohibition promotes uniformity. However, uniformity without a valid underlying reason for the chosen rule is not a justification. While voters have no right to a drop box, "[h]aving once granted the right to vote on equal terms, the State may not, by later arbitrary and disparate treatment, value one person's vote over that of another."
</blockquote><p>
As for LaRose's claim that drop box limits are necessary to stop voter fraud?<br>
</p><blockquote>
It is even easier to reject the Secretary's second justification. No evidence was introduced at the hearing to support the conclusory reference to fraud in the Secretary's brief.
</blockquote><p>
And that's not all!
</p><blockquote>
The Secretary's justifications for the Directive are further undercut by his own recent public statements that his preference was for multiple drop boxes, assuming they were permitted under the law or ordered by a court. Specifically, in late August, the Secretary stated "I think it would be a great thing if we could if the state legislature were to authorize it, or a judge's order. I would be happy to see more drop boxes in more places throughout the state. As long as it had the bipartisan support of those boards of elections, and as long as those drop boxes were secure and under video surveillance." The Secretary said nothing about uniformity, security, or fraud.
</blockquote><h2>Suck it, LaRose</h2><p>
At a court hearing, LaRose asked the court to stay the order if it issued a preliminary injunction, which would stop the order from going into effect while he appealed. Judge Polster gave LaRose a firm LOLNOPE to that request, writing:
</p><blockquote>
The Court will not issue a stay. As stated above, we are in the middle of the worst pandemic in a century coupled with reasonable concern over the ability of the U.S. Postal Service to handle what will undoubtedly be the largest number of absentee voters in Ohio's history. The Secretary has not advanced any legitimate reason to prohibit a county board of elections from utilizing off-site drop boxes and/or off-site delivery of ballots to staff. Voting began October 6, the Cuyahoga County board voted to begin collecting ballots at public libraries on October 13, other county boards may now vote to implement plans for off-site collection, and it is time for this litigation to end.
</blockquote><p>
Republicans have shown, time and time again, that they have absolutely no qualms with using every tool at their disposal to steal elections, the will of the people be damned. Although LaRose has already stated his intent to appeal the decision, we sincerely hope the Sixth Circuit joins Judge Polster in telling him to go to hell.
</p><p>
Here's the order:
</p><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="null" data-auto-height="true" data-rm-shortcode-id="1992dbf19088465768513cde11c119f6" frameborder="0" height="600" scrolling="no" src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/479370397/content?start_page=1&show_recommendations=true" width="100%">
</iframe><p>
<br>
</p><p>
[ <a href="https://www.ohiosos.gov/globalassets/elections/directives/2020/dir2020-22.pdf" target="_blank">LaRose Directive</a> ]
</p><p>
<br>
</p><p>
Follow Jamie on <a href="http://twitter.com/jamielynncrofts" target="_blank">Twitter</a>!
</p><p>
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Right Wing Extremism
Why Won't Gretchen Whitmer Thank Trump For Siccing His Lunatic Militias On Her?
What was she wearing?
October 09, 2020 11:31 AM
Now that 13 members of a militia group have been charged in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and put her on trial for "treason" — and maybe execute her, who can say — wingnuts are scrambling to explain that the plot miraculously had nothing to do with Donald Trump's call to "LIBERATE MICHIGAN" or his frequent rhetorical attacks on Whitmer and other Democratic governors during the coronavirus pandemic. The Dear Leader himself took to Twitter to say he's never encouraged extremist violence, and to accuse Whitmer of being insufficiently grateful that Trump's very own Justice Department and FBI saved her from the plot. And then he went right back to accusing her and all Democrats of being in cahoots with dangerous radicals. We'll just transcribe his three-tweet rant here:
Governor Whitmer of Michigan has done a terrible job. She locked down her state for everyone, except her husband's boating activities. The Federal Government provided tremendous help to the Great People of Michigan. My Justice Department and Federal Law Enforcement announced...
...today that they foiled a dangerous plot against the Governor of Michigan. Rather than say thank you, she calls me a White Supremacist—while Biden and Democrats refuse to condemn Antifa, Anarchists, Looters and Mobs that burn down Democrat run cities...
...I do not tolerate ANY extreme violence. Defending ALL Americans, even those who oppose and attack me, is what I will always do as your President! Governor Whitmer—open up your state, open up your schools, and open up your churches!
Thoughts and prayers! Remember, when armed militia guys — including some of those arrested yesterday — were protesting Whitmer's coronavirus lockdown and calling her a Nazi, Trump was supporting them, calling them excellent folks, and urging Whitmer to compromise with them.
<p>Trump campaign official Jason Miller was less equivocal in blaming the victim: </p><div id="8f36f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="afaa40df4d8b60217d2dce17e1a3be82"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1314282762271158275" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Trump campaign official Jason Miller is on Fox News attacking Gretchen Whitmer, the victim of a kidnapping plot: "I… https://t.co/AA25jOdtN3</div> — Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar)<a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/statuses/1314282762271158275">1602184403.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Laura Ingraham also had special thoughts, <a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/laura-ingraham-says-militia-planned-kidnap-gov-gretchen-whitmer-look-theyre-anarchists-and" target="_blank">per Media Matters:</a> </p><blockquote><strong>LAURA INGRAHAM (HOST):</strong> Now they're trying to blame Trump for a handful of Michigan militiamen who were allegedly planning to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer? Listen to this. This is a nut nut nuts situation. Never mind the fact that these lunatics look like they're anarchists and not right-wingers. These folks somehow managed to skirt any culpability for stoking the violence and the riots that destroyed our cities. But now Trump is to blame for a couple of fools, criminals in Michigan? That's like if Biden is responsible for this assault that we've seen on cops. The left has encouraged the disrespect of any and all authority, especially the President. </blockquote><p>No, the <a href="https://www.adl.org/blog/extremist-related-shootouts-with-police-soar-in-first-half-of-2020" target="_blank">Right's responsible for the assaults on cops too.</a> You're welcome! We're just going to ignore "the disrespect" of "the President," because we only have one brain, and it'd be a shame if a stroke happened to it. </p><p>In Michigan, elected Republicans were <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2020/10/08/governor-gretchen-whitmer-kidnap-plot-mike-shirkey/5926732002/" target="_blank">quick to condemn</a> the plot, so good for them, a little bit. State Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R) said, "A threat against our Governor is a threat against us all," and said the guys who plotted to kidnap Whitmer "are not patriots. [...] There is no honor in their actions. They are criminals and traitors, and they should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."</p><p>But Democratic State Rep. Mari Manoogian noted that things were a little different earlier this year when those very fine people were storming the Michigan Capitol and yelling in cops' faces: </p><blockquote>When armed militia members were out of control screaming at the threshold of the chambers of the Michigan House, GOP members embraced them. This is utterly terrifying.</blockquote><p>And during the anti-lockdown protests, as the <em>New Yorker</em> <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/08/24/the-militias-against-masks" target="_blank">reported</a>, Shirkey was all in agreement with the brave souls standing up to Tyranny. At a protest he attended, carrying a Bible and the Constitution, </p><blockquote> Shirkey took the microphone: "One book gives us our rights, assigns them to us, is inalienable. The other book is supposed to defend our rights." Sometimes politicians got it backward, he said. Gesturing at the armed men around the square, Shirkey concluded, "That's when these groups need to stand up and test that assertion of authority by the government. We need you now more than ever."</blockquote><p>In profiling those arrested, the <em>Detroit Free Press</em> <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2020/10/08/what-we-know-men-charged-michigan-kidnapping-plots/5924672002/" target="_blank">notes </a>that the home of one of the gents facing state charges, Shawn Fix, features two "Truckers for Trump" lawn signs, an American flag, and a yellow "Don't Tread on Me" Gadsden flag. Two of the founders of the "Wolverine Watchmen" militia, Pete Musico and Joseph Morrison, shared a house; out front, they flew a Confederate flag as well as a sort-of US flag with a circle of stars circling the words "Liberty or Death." And a leader of the plot, Adam Fox, talked all the time about "boogaloo," the loose rightwing movement seeking to start a new civil war — one of whom <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_boogaloo_killings" target="_blank">murdered a cop and a security guard in Oakland.</a><br></p><p>Maybe they just didn't get the memo that they're a leftwing anarchist cell.</p><p>[<a href="https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/president-trump-responds-after-failed-gov-whitmer-kidnap-plot/69-3a86c917-343a-431b-91b1-df5e72726a96" target="_blank">WZZM-TV</a> / <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/08/us/gretchen-whitmer-michigan-militia.html" target="_blank">NYT </a>/ <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2020/10/08/governor-gretchen-whitmer-kidnap-plot-mike-shirkey/5926732002/" target="_blank">Detroit Free Press</a> /<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/08/24/the-militias-against-masks" target="_blank"> New Yorke</a>r / <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2020/10/08/what-we-know-men-charged-michigan-kidnapping-plots/5924672002/" target="_blank">Free Press</a> / <a href="https://www.woodtv.com/news/michigan/boss-kidnapping-plot-suspect-is-anti-police-anti-government/" target="_blank">WOOD-TV</a> /<a href="https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/10/gov-whitmer-media-caught-another-lie-anarchist-arrested-plot-kidnap-kill-whitmer-hates-president-trump-trump-tyrant-video/" target="_blank"> Gateway Pundit</a>]</p><p>Yr Wonkette is supported entirely by your donations. Please help us keep the writers writing and the servers serving!</p><p></p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/33mKzZe" target="_blank">Do your Amazon shopping through this link, because reasons</a>.</p><p></p><p></p><form name="donation" method="post" class="donation-form"><p class="subheadline">How often would you like to donate?</p><div class="form-row row--plan"><label class="plan-type__label"><input type="radio" name="plan_type" value="once" class="plan-type" required="" checked> Just once
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Elections
Texas Gov Greg Abbott Shuts Down County Ballot Drop-Off Sites, Because F*ck It, He Can
You people want to vote, go someplace where it's allowed.
October 02, 2020 12:05 PM
In an astonishing display of naked assholery (like even worse than the yodeling vegan baby kind), Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered yesterday that each county in the state can have only one drop-off point for absentee ballots, effective today. Several large (and surprise! heavily Democratic) counties had already set up multiple ballot collection locations, to make voting easier during the pandemic. Those sites will be shuttered today, even though the counties have already begun collecting ballots, and had announced the locations to voters, so that's going to lead to all sorts of confusion. As intended.
Abbott's order will be especially tough on Harris County, Texas's most populous with 4.7 million people, and home to Houston, which had opened 11 absentee ballot collection offices. We're not talking drop-off boxes like many states have; these are staffed locations where people must show photo ID to drop off a ballot. And Travis County (Austin) has four sites, too. Despite that, Abbot's office claimed the restrictions were absolutely necessary to ensure "ballot security," even though voting fraud is extremely rare for both in-person and absentee voting.
And this is fun! In addition to limiting the number of ballot collection points, Abbott ordered that county clerks "allow poll watchers to observe any activity conducted at the early voting clerk's office location," including observing voters showing their ID to the poll workers. At this time, people dropping off their ballots will not yet be required to take a DNA test to prove they are who they claim to be.
Democratic groups may file a lawsuit as early as today to get the sites opened again.
<p>Texas's Republicans from Abbott on down have doggedly opposed most measures other states have taken to make voting easier, refusing to relax the state's already strict requirements for absentee voting. Abbott did allow a couple of small concessions to reduce crowding at the polls on Election Day: He added six days to the early-voting period, and he allowed early drop-off for absentee ballots, which normally can only be dropped off on Election Day. (And wouldn't you know it, a group of Houston wingnuts have <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/09/28/houston-republicans-lawsuit-voting/" target="_blank">sued to overturn even those accommodations,</a> claiming that Abbott had exceeded his authority.)</p><p>Otherwise, as the <em>Texas Tribune</em> <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/01/greg-abbott-texas-vote-mail/" target="_blank">explains</a>, the state's absentee voting remains as it had been, one of the strictest in the nation: </p><blockquote> Voters qualify only if they are 65 or older, are confined in jail but otherwise eligible, are outside of their county through the election period, or cite a disability or illness. The Texas Supreme Court has ruled that lack of immunity to the coronavirus does not itself constitute disability, but that voters must consider that alongside their own personal medical history to <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/09/18/texas-mail-in-voting-disabilities/" target="_blank">decide whether they are eligible</a>. Election administrators do not have the power to vet a voter's disability claims or demand documentation, but providing false information is a crime.</blockquote><p>In his press release, Abbott <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/01/greg-abbott-texas-vote-mail/" target="_blank">claimed</a> this was all for voters' own good, because the state "has a duty to voters to maintain the integrity of our elections," and that the restrictions "will ensure greater transparency and will help stop attempts at illegal voting."</p><p>The <em>Texas Tribune</em> <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/01/greg-abbott-texas-vote-mail/" target="_blank">notes,</a> with a perfectly straight face, that a spokesperson for Abbott "did not respond to questions about how allowing multiple drop-off locations might lead to fraud." It just would, duh. It only makes sense to have all the absentee voters in the Houston area (Harris County is roughly the size of Rhode Island) cram into a single location to drop off ballots. </p><p>Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins <a href="https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/texas-governor-limits-mail-in-ballot-drop-off-to-one-location-per-county" target="_blank">condemned </a>the move, accusing Abbott of "going back on his word" by adding restrictions to the small accommodation he'd made on early return of absentee ballots. </p><blockquote>Tuesday's proclamation "will result in widespread confusion and voter suppression," Hollis said, while noting that for weeks his county has advertised the multiple locations.<br><br>"Our office is more than willing to accommodate poll watchers at mail ballot drop-off locations," Hollins said. "But to force hundreds of thousands of seniors and voters with disabilities to use a single drop-off location in a county that stretches over nearly 2,000 square miles is prejudicial and dangerous."</blockquote><p>And then there's the potential for increasing the risk of COVID-19 transmission, since more voters will now have to use just one drop-off point per county. And whee, now they'll be watched over by partisan poll watchers, who are, like voters, <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/01/greg-abbott-texas-vote-mail/" target="_blank">exempt from having to wear masks.</a> We bet the volunteers manning the polls on Election Day, and the county workers at the ballot drop-off sites, will be really psyched about that. At least Texas law requires poll watchers not to speak to voters or follow them into voting booths, so the army of GOP poll watchers won't be allowed to literally breathe down voters' necks. </p><p>Good luck, Texas! Here's hoping this last minute attempt at voter suppression pisses off enough people to drive Democratic turnout way up. </p><p>[<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/01/greg-abbott-texas-vote-mail/" target="_blank">Texas Tribune</a> / <a href="https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-issues-proclamation-enhancing-ballot-security" target="_blank">Office of the Texas Governor</a> / <a href="https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/texas-governor-limits-mail-in-ballot-drop-off-to-one-location-per-county" target="_blank">Talking Points Memo</a> / <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/09/28/houston-republicans-lawsuit-voting/" target="_blank">Texas Tribune]</a></p><p>Yr Wonkette is entirely supported by reader donations. Please help us keep you pissed off — and motivated to do something about it! </p><p></p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/33mKzZe" target="_blank">Do your Amazon shopping through this link, because reasons</a>.</p><p></p><p></p><form name="donation" method="post" class="donation-form"><p class="subheadline">How often would you like to donate?</p><div class="form-row row--plan"><label class="plan-type__label"><input type="radio" name="plan_type" value="once" class="plan-type" required="" checked> Just once
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