Voter Suppression May Be the Most Important Issue of 2018

[L. Coyote]

https://whowhatwhy.org/2018/01/18/voter-suppression-may-important-issue-2018/

The Trump administration throws so many things at Americans every day that it is harder and harder to keep up with what’s important. However, according to writer and journalist Sarah Kendzior, in this week’s WhoWhatWhy podcast, voter suppression may well be the touchstone issue of 2018.

With irrefutable evidence of Russian efforts to influence US elections and President Donald Trump’s indifference toward the regime of Vladimir Putin, the fears of many seem well founded going into the 2018 elections. Add to this what Kendzior sees as the possibility of officials being threatened with lawsuits, a tactic that Trump has engaged in since the 1980s, and the danger is increased.

To make matters worse, the states have taken few steps to secure their voting systems. Gerrymandering remains rampant. States like Wisconsin, Ohio, and North Carolina are, in the eyes of many, something less than true democracies.

Voter intimidation at the polls is commonplace. Voter ID rules and requirements, especially for minority voters, are on the rise.

All of this takes on even greater significance, Kendzior reminds us, when we realize that the 2018 elections are perhaps the only way to slow the slide toward autocracy.

[DemocracyMouse]

1. Yes, I agree wholeheartedly!!!!!!!!!!!

Over a year ago the news was trickling in that voter suppression, especially in black and latino districts, was a very real thing. Only Rolling Stone and the BBC were willing to lift the topic into a mainstream context. I'm grateful that the issue is finally getting some traction. My girlfriend and I were, like, WTF is wrong with journalists??? They can't handle the technicalities? ... like the impact of voter ID laws and purging voters who haven't voted in 2 years? Is the actual removal of voting booths from black neighborhoods too hard to wrap your metaphors around? Does the booth have to double as a peep show to warrant a story? Isn't the slide towards one party rule and fascism a big enough story??? Needless to say, all last year my head and heart were exploding.

Frustratingly, the story referenced is a podcast. PLEASE MAINSTREAM PRESS, COVER THIS!!!

Thanks L. Coyote, for keeping the flame alive.

[Gothmog]

2. The GOP is the party of voter suppression and relies on voter suppression to win races

I volunteer on voter protection efforts for this reason

[Wounded Bear]

3. K & R...for truth...nt

[bluestarone]

4. no doubt about this

[L. Coyote]

5. kick for visibility

[oasis]

6. K and R