Missouri and at least 19 other states are considering passing laws that would force people to prove their citizenship before they can vote. These bills are not a sincere effort to prevent noncitizens from voting; that is a made-up problem. The real aim is to reduce turnout by eligible voters. Republicans seem to think that laws of this kind will help them win elections, but burdensome rules like these — and others cropping up around the country — pose a serious threat to democracy and should be stopped. (my emphasis)
The real aim is to reduce turnout by eligible voters...
In an Op-Ed today, the NYT is calling out the repugs' sleazy attempts across the country to prevent the so-called problem of non-citizens (read illegal immigrants) voting. The NYT titles its Op-Ed "The Myth of Voter Fraud" and points out there is no evidence to suggest voting by non-citizens is a problem. It goes even further
As with Missouri’s proposed amendment, the driving force behind strict voter ID requirements in general is not a genuine effort to prevent fraud, since there is virtually no evidence that in-person voter fraud is occurring. It is, rather, the Republican Party’s electoral calculations...
With democrats in Indiana pitching fits about how it would prevent eligible voters from voting, the legislature passed "a tough new photo ID requirement." We all know one consequence of that law and exactly how it disenfranchised a group of about 12 nuns in their 80s and 90s who couldn't vote because they lacked acceptable ID. Everyone should be concerned about nuns (or any eligible group of voters) being prevented from voting because they can't show a picture ID. I don't care if they're republican, democrat, libertarian, independent, green or any other political persuasion that is out there. These attempts by republican legislative bodies to fix something that isn't broken are dangerous for a number of reasons, but these 2 come to mind prominently: they make a mockery of our democracy (maybe there's a poem in there somewhere?) AND it works quite well to prevent eligible voters from voting. And we all know from previous elections that the repugs will stop at nothing to disenfranchise voters for its own political gains. In point of fact,
The Missouri legislature is, as Ian Urbina reported in The Times on Monday, on the verge of passing an amendment to the State Constitution that would require proof of citizenship from anyone registering to vote. In addition to the Missouri amendment, which would require voter approval, Florida, Kansas, South Carolina and other states are considering similar rules. (my emphasis)
The article ends pointing out "...The current conservative Supreme Court showed last month, in its ruling upholding the Indiana ID law, that it will not perform its historical role of protecting voters. That puts the burden on state legislators, governors, state courts and ordinary citizens to ensure that the right to vote is not taken away for partisan political gain."
Yup, that's you - the ordinary citizen. And that means the burden is on us to galvanize ourselves and others into action, particularly in MO, to stop state legislators from passing Voter ID laws that we all know are being passed for one reason, and one reason only: the Republican Party’s electoral calculations.
So if you live in MO, it's imperative you contact your legislative critters NOW and tell them you expect them to protect our democracy and not throw up hurdles that prevent eligible voters from voting. You can help because all eyes are on MO right now. The legislature is under scrutiny and you can help make sure that scrutiny doesn't wane until we are successful in stopping these Voter ID laws that, in fact, work to disenfranchise eligible voters.
The battle over voting rights will expand this week as lawmakers in Missouri are expected to support a proposed constitutional amendment to enable election officials to require proof of citizenship from anyone registering to vote.
The measure would allow far more rigorous demands than the voter ID requirement recently upheld by the Supreme Court, in which voters had to prove their identity with a government-issued card.
Voting experts say the Missouri amendment represents the next logical step for those who have supported stronger voter ID requirements and the next battleground in how elections are conducted. Similar measures requiring proof of citizenship are being considered in at least 19 state legislatures. Bills in Florida, Kansas, Oklahoma and South Carolina have strong support. But only in Missouri does the requirement have a chance of taking effect before the presidential election. (my emphasis)
If MO is successful (and it's clear, as the other NYT Op-Ed points out, that we'll get no help from the SCOTUS), other states will follow suit emboldend by the success of Arizona, Indiana and Missouri. These attempts to address an issue that doesn't exist MUST BE STOPPED. Our democracy depends on it.
And remember
In Arizona, the only state that requires proof of citizenship to register to vote, more than 38,000 voter registration applications have been thrown out since the state adopted its measure in 2004. That number was included in election data obtained through a lawsuit filed by voting rights advocates and provided to The New York Times. More than 70 percent of those registrations came from people who stated under oath that they were born in the United States, the data showed. (my emphasis)
And if you live in Florida, Kansas, Oklahoma or South Carolina, you know what to do. There ain't no time to waste.