Sneaky……..

We all know about the Right's endless battle to disenfranchise whole swatches of potential voters….."those people."

We have heard ad infinitum about about the rampant "voter fraud' being committed by those same people, with the help of the Dems, of course. 

We cringe at the mention of the SCOTUS vote on Citizens United, which undoubtedly had a major influence on the midterm elections…even though a scant 35 percent of our eligible voters bothered to even do so, probably disgusted with the whole thing. ( http://tinyurl.com/p9ovqrc )

But here in Tennessee where the color red is as vibrant as Volunteer Orange to UT in my city of Knoxville, the Religious Right has found a NEW way to influence election outcomes in their usual covert way. Well, it's really more like FOX Folks telling women and young people not to vote. 

According to Tennessee's constitution, the number of votes for passage of an amendment to said constitution must equal half of the total votes cast for the governor. Voting just for the amendment itself doesn't cut it, and the outcome was might close. This should be really interesting.

"Essentially, the plaintiffs charge, only the votes of people who voted in the gubernatorial election should be tabulated in the amendment referendum. The lawsuit cites several sources, including a website and a Nashville Catholic church’s Oct. 12 Sunday program, in which supporters of Amendment 1 inform fellow supporters that not voting in the governor’s race and casting a “Yes” vote for the amendment will effectively “double” their vote by lowering the number of votes cast in the governor’s race."

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/state/opponents-file-challenge-to-amendment-1_62168976

Does this remind you of anything?

"We don't want everyone to vote, because when everyone votes…we lose."

Same BS, different day.

Information

Since the GOP is intent on making it hard….if not impossible…for lots of folks to vote, we have to be extra vigilant and knowledgable on the subject. FOX and many other media outlets are reinforcing this nonsense about "voter fraud" like the good little paid corporatists they are. 

Along with the tried-and-true gerrymandering, shortening of hours and locations, the GOP is going full-tilt on voter ID. For good information on the topic….if you can get your Uncle Harry or your Tea Party mother-in-law to listen….start here:

"Questions for American Leftists on the subject of voter ID"

While I can't speak for "American Leftists", I'll try to answer your questions as an American.

"1. Can you name countries where ID is not required to vote?"

Can you name countries where ID is required to vote, but NOT supplied to every voter in the nation, as is the case in the U.S.?

Moreover, you do realize that ID is required for registration by every voter in the U.S. in all 50 states under federal law (HAVA), right? ID is also required for voting in a majority of states without a problem. It's only those Republican-run states where they have implemented very strict types of state-issued Photo ID (which they know millions of largely Dem-leaning voters don't have) where it is a problem.

You knew all of that right? If you did, why would you be asking these silly questions?

"2. Why is the requirement to show ID an impediment to voting?"

It isn't. The requirement to show a very specific TYPE of state-issued Photo ID that many largely Dem-leaning voters don't have is, however, an impediment to some 21 million legally registered voters who do not own that type of very narrow, state-issued Photo ID. That, of course, is exactly why Republicans are attempting to require it. (For example, a state-issued gun license is fine for voting in many states where the GOP is trying to suppress the vote with these laws. But a state-issued student ID is not fine for voting in those same states. Now why would that be the case?)

More on http://www.bradblog.com/?p=10838

This is a must read if you find yourself involved in such an "debate". Maybe it will help….