Kansas groups halt voter registration drives to avoid being jailed under new law

[zuul]

https://kansasreflector.com/2021/07/01/kansas-groups-halt-voter-registration-drives-to-avoid-being-j

TOPEKA — The League of Women Voters of Kansas and other nonprofits are suspending voter registration drives for fear of criminal prosecution under a new state law.

The groups filed a lawsuit over new election-related restrictions enacted by the Legislature this session, and a judge has yet to act on a request for a temporary injunction to block enforcement of the laws until the case is resolved. One of the provisions makes it a crime to engage in activity that “gives the appearance of being an election official.”

Without clarity from the court, the organizations argue in court filings, there is a “serious risk” that someone will mistake people who are knowledgeable about voter registration as election officials.

Jacqueline Lightcap, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Kansas, says she has asked the organization’s nine local leaders to temporarily suspend their voter education and registration efforts.

[aeromanKC]

1. Toto, we're not in America anymore.

[Guilded Lilly]

2. My thoughts, too.

[RainCaster]

3. This is the reason to register MORE voters

Put a number of innocent retired volunteers in jail, and the courts will have no choice but to side with democracy.

[rickford66]

4. Carry a large sign "I am not an elected official"

[Bettie]

5. Have it on a button

that everyone wears while working.

I am not an election official.

[gratuitous]

6. Would it be okay to require the same hoop-jumping for all civil rights?

I mean, if you can go to jail for registering people to vote (a right guaranteed by the Constitution), can we throw people in jail if they're helping people exercise other constitutional rights?

[benfranklin1776]

7. Good point!

Alas, that is the ultimate intent of these fascist bastards 😡 no constitutional rights for We The (little) People, rights are only for those who serve the neoconfederate Reich they’re so slavishly devoted to building.

[Probatim]

11. It's the slippery slope gun owners wail about all the time.

If I can't have a rail gun that launches fetuses into outer space, I won't be able to own a handgun for personal protection!!!!

If it's illegal to vote, record the police murdering people, or to protest, why wouldn't it be illegal to own a gun?

P.S. I currently have 7 hunting rifles in the house, so don't troll me about not being a gun owner.

[flying_wahini]

8. This strikes fear in my heart as much as anything in the last 5 years.

When we can’t even register people to vote without fear of going to jail, we
Are In BIG trouble.

[pwb]

9. Start with, I am not an election official.

Now get back to registering.

[NoMoreRepugs]

10. Wear a MAGA hat and everyone will know you aren't "knowledgeable" about ANYTHING.

[crickets]

12. K&R for visibility.

[Solly Mack]

13. K&R

So fucked up.