Republicans rewriting state election laws in ways that could hurt Democrats

[alp227]

Looking to capitalize on their historic gains last year, Republican lawmakers in several states are rewriting their election laws in ways that could make it more difficult for Democrats to win.

They have curbed early voting, rolled back voting rights for ex-felons and passed stricter voter ID laws. Taken together, the measures could have a significant and negative effect on President Obama’s reelection efforts if they keep young people and minorities away from the polls.

“It all hits at the groups that had higher turnout and higher registration in 2008,” said Judith Browne-Dianis, a civil rights lawyer who co-directs the Advancement Project, which has been tracking the new regulations.

Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering the latest, and perhaps most potent, legislation, a measure that would divvy up electoral votes by congressional district rather than use the winner-takes-all approach. The change would almost ensure a net gain of 20 to 24 GOP electoral votes in the 2012 presidential election.

full: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republicans-rewriting-state-election-laws-in-ways-that-could-hurt-democrat/2011/09/15/gIQApcuhVK_singlePage.html

[msongs]

1. and what are democrats doing about it? being bipartisan? nt

[teddy51]

3. Thats the point, they are doing nothing about stolen elections, period.

We still have a huge number of e-vote machines in the country that do not provide any kind of paper trail backup. It almost seems like Dems want to be disenfranchised.

[OnyxCollie]

4. Why do you think the DoJ hasn't enforced its order for ES&S to divest?

Diebold Sells U.S. Elections Systems Business to ES&S
http://news.diebold.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=5006

NORTH CANTON, Ohio, Sept. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Diebold, Incorporated (NYSE: DBD) announced today that it has sold its U.S. election systems business, primarily consisting of its Allen, Texas-based subsidiary, Premier Election Solutions, Inc., to Election Systems & Software, Inc. (ES&S), a leading company in the election systems industry. The sale was consummated on September 2.

HART INTERCIVIC, INC.,
Plaintiff,
v.
DIEBOLD, INCORPORATED and
ELECTION SYSTEMS & SOFTWARE, INC.
Defendants.
http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/statesman/pdf/09/0916hart.pdf

The transaction also poses a significant and imminent threat of irreparable harm to the other vendors like Hart serving less than 20% of voting precincts, harm to the political subdivisions that constitute the jurisdictions that must purchase voting machines and election systems, and, ultimately, harm to the voters of the United States, in the form of loss of confidence in the integrity and security of the means by which elections are performed.

Justice Department Requires Key Divestiture in Election Systems & Software/Premier Election Solutions Merger
http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/March/10-at-235.html

WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice announced today that it will require Election Systems & Software (ES&S) to divest voting equipment systems assets it purchased in September 2009 from Premier Election Solutions Inc. in order to restore competition. The assets to be divested include the means to produce all versions of Premier’s hardware, software and firmware used to record, tabulate, transmit or report votes, including the Assure 1.2 system, and a license to better serve disabled voters. The department said that today’s settlement will restore competition in voting equipment systems in the United States and that, without the divestiture, the acquisition would result in higher prices, lower quality and a reduced incentive to innovate.

[KamaAina]

2. Democrats want more people to vote. Repukes want fewer people to vote.

If it were up to them, only white male property owners could vote. :eyes: