Thanks to ashling for cluing us in about this:

[tblue37]

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10181373966


https://forums.roadbikereview.com/politics-only/church-universal-suffrage-373529.html

The Church of Universal Suffrage

Tennessee, a state run by Republicans, doesn’t want to make it easier for everyone to vote.
Unlike some states that are sending out absentee ballots to all registered voters in light of the pandemic, Tennessee officials require residents to give a reason if they want an absentee ballot. Maybe they’re older, or have a disability, or decided it’s “impossible or unreasonable” to vote in person due to COVID. But if you’re someone who just wants to vote early, that doesn’t work.

Why do all that? Perhaps because Republicans are worried that making voting easier will benefit Democrats. (Which isn’t even true.) The hurdle of requiring an excuse would disproportionately affect people who can’t take the day off work, or who don’t have cars, or who are more likely to have something come up unexpectedly on Election Day. If you believe those people are more likely to vote for Democrats, then there’s an incentive to keep this particular hurdle in place.

But one 27-year-old man is now using a loophole in the law to make it easier for any Tennessee citizen to obtain an absentee ballot and vote early.

State law says one reason you may obtain an absentee ballot is if “You are observing a religious holiday that prevents you from voting in person during the early voting period and on Election Day.”

So if there was a religion that simply declared Election Day — for any election — a holiday, it would serve as a legitimate reason to request a ballot no matter who you are…
Introducing: The Church of Universal Suffrage, an officially registered non-profit religious organization that exists purely to circumvent Republican voter suppression in Tennessee.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. It's a great idea, but I expect a court challenge to this. n/t

[kurtcagle]

2. Sweet

Its nice to see freedom of religion used by our side for once

[Generic Brad]

3. We have early voting available for three weeks

I have found it easier to vote here than in TN any other states I’ve ever lived in. And this is the fifth state I’ve lived in.

If I wanted to get a mail in ballot I’d have to get it from the same county office where I vote. I’m just going to mask up and vote on a week day when there are few people there.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. If mail-in ballots are going to be sent to every voter, then

all of the voting should be by mail.

There could be a real problem with people voting twice, once with the mail-in and then also at the physical polling place. Make it easy for voters to request mail-in ballot, and have that information noted in the voter lists they have at the polling place. I don't think very many people would deliberately vote twice, but it could happen. Actually, I'd expect more Republicans to try that than Democrats.

If the corona virus really ramps up, or doesn't go away, there's no vaccine, no effective treatment, then universal vote by mail might come about. Several states already do that and don't seem to have problems.

[calimary]

5. Agreed! Mail-in voting is so easy!

Every eligible voter in every state should have it.

[bringthePaine]

6. good ol' American ingenuity rocks the house again! brilliant! link below

https://www.universalsuffragechurch.org/