{"id":12319,"date":"2022-01-16T09:53:36","date_gmt":"2022-01-16T14:53:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=12319"},"modified":"2022-01-16T09:53:40","modified_gmt":"2022-01-16T14:53:40","slug":"voting-rights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=12319","title":{"rendered":"voting rights"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the causes of the current, clearly adverse political divide is that we don\u2019t necessarily understand all issues and incidents. In fact, we don\u2019t even know<\/em> what we don\u2019t know. That\u2019s true for you. Me. Pretty much all of us. I wish that truth kept us humble. Sometimes it does; sometimes it doesn\u2019t. We unfortunately each error.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the current issues pushed by some is the focus on voting rights. So let’s examine and make today\u2019s post primarily informative. My goal is not to promote any perspective; my goal is to eradicate the rhetoric and sift through fact. Know, too, that it is completely valid to have different opinions regarding different ballot\/voting provisions. But it\u2019s difficult to discuss when we are unknowingly ill-informed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Voting rights are \u201ca set of legal and constitutional protections designed to ensure the opportunity to vote in local, state, and federal elections.\u201d1<\/sup> In order to ensure \u201cconsent of the governed\u201d \u2014 that government\u2019s authority is derived from the will of the people, as expressed in the Declaration of Independence \u2014 two equal priorities exist: every eligible voter should have access to vote and no ineligible vote should be cast. If either priority is diminished, \u201cconsent of the governed\u201d is potentially negated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part of ensuring said consent was setting a single date to appoint presidential electors. In 1792, the 2nd Congress decided there would exist 34 days to vote. However, \u201cas travel and communication methods became faster in the 19th century, potential manipulation and fraud concerns grew.\u201d2<\/sup> The 1844 election \u2014 in which Democrat James K. Polk defeated Whig Henry Clay \u2014 was rife with fraud allegations. Hence, when debating a bill that would set a uniform presidential Election Day, House members declared the goal was \u201cto guard against frauds in the elections of President and Vice President.\u201d3<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Noting that states have made various, legitimate exceptions in the years since, changes were necessary to the voting process in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 in order to make it easier to maintain the distancing and isolation that the health crisis necessitated. The state-led efforts, though, prioritized voter access. Now that the pandemic is evolving into an endemic, states have made efforts to again adhere to both priorities: access and<\/em> eligibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recorrecting after the pandemic\u2019s climax, some states are perceived to have expanded their approach; some are perceived to have restricted it \u2014 each learning from the pandemic provisions. The state of Georgia enacted SB 202, a 98 page bill entitled the “Election Integrity Act of 2021.\u201d One can agree or disagree as to which parts are good or bad; remember our goal today is not to advocate or reject. Here, no less, is a brief synopsis of the bill with context included \u2014 as speeches absent of context often promote the ill-informed nature of which we speak. As authored primarily by Declan Garvey, associate editor at The Dispatch,<\/em> which strives to produce \u201cfactually grounded journalism\u201d4<\/sup>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor starters, the bill actually expands voting access for most Georgians, mandating precincts hold at least 17 days of early voting\u2014including two Saturdays, with Sundays optional\u2014leading up to the election. Voting locations during this period must be open for at least eight hours, and can operate between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Several states (including Biden\u2019s home state of Delaware, which will not implement it until 2022) do not currently allow <\/em>any<\/em><\/strong> in-person early voting, and plenty, like New Jersey, offer far fewer than 17 days.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite Biden saying the bill implements absentee voting restrictions that \u2018effectively deny\u2019 the franchise to \u2018countless\u2019 voters, SB 202 leaves in place no-excuse absentee voting with a few tweaks. It tightens the window to apply for an absentee ballot to \u2018just\u2019 67 days, and mandates applications\u2014which can now be completed online\u2014be received by election officials at least 11 days before an election to ensure a ballot can be mailed and returned by Election Day. The bill requires Georgia\u2019s secretary of state to make a blank absentee ballot application available online, but prohibits government agencies from mailing one to voters unsolicited\u2014and requires third-party groups doing so to include a variety of disclaimers.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than signature matching\u2014which is time-intensive for election officials\u2014voters will verify their identity in absentee ballot applications by including the identification number on their driver\u2019s license or voter identification card, which is free. If a Georgian has neither, he or she can, pursuant to Georgia Code Section 21-2-417, include a photocopy or digital picture of a \u2018current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document\u2019 that includes his or her name and address. When mailing back their ballots, voters must print their driver\u2019s license number (or the last four digits of their social security number) on an inner envelope. (An August 2016 Gallup survey found photo ID requirements for voting were overwhelmingly popular: 80 percent of voters supported them, including 77 percent of nonwhite voters.) SB 202 also codifies ballot drop boxes into law; Georgia added them for the first time in 2020 as a pandemic measure, and the law now stipulates that there be one for every 100,000 registered voters or advance voting locations in a county, whichever is smaller.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the Georgia law was crafted, a few state lawmakers proposed ending all<\/em> no-excuse absentee voting and early voting on Sundays, the latter seemingly targeting voter drives at black churches. Those provisions, however, were cut from the final bill. One restriction that was not cut prohibits outside groups from distributing money, gifts, food, or drinks within 25 feet of voters standing in line to vote. Polling places may still provide self-serving water receptacles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s the primary significance of the law in my opinion. (Sorry for the length; I tried to be as brief as necessary.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note, nonetheless, that our two most recent Presidents have travelled to Georgia in successive Januarys to focus on the state election process. (Note: it was really tempting to find a creative way to quote the Charlie Daniels classic here). <\/em>Both tried to convince us in sensationalized, (and in this encourager of respectful dialogue\u2019s opinion) <\/em>divisive rhetoric that something was\/is deeply wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let me suggest that both \u2014 us, too \u2014 are entitled to their opinions, but not to their own facts. One can believe what\u2019s happening in Georgia and other states is good, bad, necessary or unnecessary. But after (1) studying the law, (2) recognizing allowances were made solely for the pandemic, and (3) prioritizing equally both<\/em> voter access and eligibility, one can logically question whether claims of illegality, inaccuracy, or worse are based on fact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can legitimately disagree, friends. But it\u2019s also important to be accurately informed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AR<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1<\/sup> Britannica, Brian Duignan, www.britannica.com\/topic\/voting-rights, December 17, 2021)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2<\/sup> Ben Leubsdorf, Election Day: Frequently Asked Questions,<\/em> Congressional Research Service report prepared for Members and Committees of Congress, January 6,2021, p. 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 <\/sup>\u201cElection Bill,\u201d Congressional Globe,<\/em> December 13, 1844, p. 29.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4<\/sup> Coppins, McKay (January 31, 2020). “The Conservatives Trying to Ditch Fake News”. <\/em>The Atlantic. Retrieved 12 April 2021.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the causes of the current, clearly adverse political divide is that we don\u2019t necessarily understand all issues and incidents. In fact, we don\u2019t even know what we don\u2019t know. That\u2019s true for you. Me. Pretty much all of us. I wish that truth kept us humble. Sometimes it does; sometimes it doesn\u2019t. We … <\/p>\n

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