The U.S. witnessed a voting debacle that has been repeated throughout history, and which threatens the general election.
Voting Wrongs
In name, the United States is a democracy, but in practice, many millions of people are disenfranchised — whether because of felony convictions, undocumented status, onerous state and local voting restrictions, or other structural barriers. Partisan, racist gerrymandering manipulates districts, stifling the voting power of whole communities. Meanwhile, archaic mechanisms like the Electoral College prevent the votes of all people from being truly counted. Fortunately, activists around the country are working hard to gain the ballot — and make it count — for everyone in this country. A critical election looms in 2020. At this historic moment, Truthout begins a new series, “Voting Wrongs,” to expose the injustices that disenfranchise vast numbers of people — and the bold efforts that seek to transform the way the United States does “democracy.”
As many as 775,000 residents could have been disenfranchised by a Republican-passed law restricting voting rights.
A lawsuit filed by blind voters exposes holes in Michigan’s absentee system for voting during the pandemic.
Voters with disabilities or needing language help can’t reliably complete a ballot anywhere besides a polling place.
As advocates of privatization, Republicans also have much to gain from disrupting the 2020 census and mail-in voting.
Voting by mail exclusively would preclude the need for poll workers during a pandemic.
The consequences from the 2013 evisceration of the Voting Rights Act came to full bloom in Texas this week.
The company plans to feed voters strategic “local” news based on their online activity.
Countless precincts are still opting for far more expensive electronic ballot-marking devices that can be hacked.
We can’t depend on the Democratic Party to fight back. We need a grassroots movement to protect the voter rolls.