Great column from Jack Spillane on the repercussions of the “Show ID to Vote” presence in the polls.
The two used-ncar salesmen-types had bamboozled Elections Commission Chairman Maria Tomasia into believing they had the Secretary of State’s permission to be in the Parker Street School voting precinct as observers. To say the duo are masters of word games and language twisting would be to vastly underestimate their finely tuned skills.
and
Underneath their “Show ID to Vote” sign was a “Rule” that said “Voluntary Compliance.”
But as Mayor Scott Lang said, at that point, the voter suppression effort was complete.
“I want this to be investigated,” he said Monday, adding that he has instructed City Solicitor Irene Schall to ask for an inquiry to be conducted by both the Secretary of State’s office and the U.S. Justice Department.
and
She said Secretary of State William Galvin’s office has now informed her that the “Show ID to Vote” sign was illegal. The secretary’s office says it is taking “remedial” steps to make sure the group never displays a similar sign inside a precinct.
Glad to see some action is being taken. More on Show ID to Vote and their next plans later today.
Discuss
15 Comments . Comments are closed.Remedial action isn't enough.
Prosecute. Using loose language, it’s a kind of voter fraud. I’d like to see something akin to the punishment for illegal voting — $10k fine, 5 years in jail, prohibition from participating in an election in MA ever again.
A conviction (or plea with admission of guilt) is really important. We hear all kinds of voter fraud claims from those who want to reduce the number of voters… without much evidence or guilt in a courtroom. To have a conviction on “this side” of voter fraud helps establish the reality-based narrative that the real threat to elections isn’t ineligible voters voting; it’s voter suppression.
Prosecute.
Legal travails
would create a necessary chilling effect on these shenanigans.
And the bonus side effect
of wiping those toothy grins from their faces… :D
I want those smug bastards to be nailed to the barn door.
Really, I do.
This will go national if it happens
The right wing has been pushing these voter fraud schemes nationwide, hoping that pandering to racism and xenophobia will trump evidence and reality.
These two clowns have, perhaps unknowingly, unmasked the actual fraud. They should and hopefully will be prosecuted. If and when they are, the implications will be national and so will the story.
I think there’s every likelihood that we can claim our own chrismath as a national hero. Kudos on a job well-done!
Wouldn't that be great!
But what legal remedies are there? Criminal or civil?
I think voter intimidation is a criminal offence.
Heip me out, cyberlawyers…
It robs us all.
Whether they are likely to vote for our candidate or the opposition. The beauty of our society is it’s a fabric of all our voices. Losing any diminishes us all.
I have had the local clerk laugh at me when I’ve brought Republican voter registrations in, and I believe most of the local Republicans would do the same thing for a Dem. Although we have differing views, but we’re out there volunteering because we love our community. Doing rides to the polls on election days, I’ve been pretty sure a few times that I’m driving a supporter of the other candidate. Democracy is more important than any one vote or any one election.
For What It's Worth
Looks like New Bedford has been cut out of 12th Bristol:
Check out the new map
Thanks for the link.
The proposed legislative district splits my community of 6,300 (about 4,000 registered voters) in two. It would seem to make more sense to keep us all together, though as a selectman, I’d have two reps I could call.
In Cambridge, we made out like bandits!
We went from 6 Reps and 3 Senators to 5 and three under the new proposal. Likely has to do w/the presumption that two of our Reps will probably run for the Tolman Sen seat. Nothing new here.
And by the way,
we’re similar in population to New Bedford…
Yep
Seems they’ve used it as a Republican vote dump.
Thumbs down?
I don’t comment, much, nor do I rate others’ comments often…but why a thumbs down? I didn’t even express an opinion. Lame.
Out of curiosity...
…in your judgment, what effect does splitting the town in two have on your chances of getting a call back?
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