illegal to give food or water to waiting voters in Georgia

Captain_Swoop · 20th March 2021, 03:46 PM

The Republicans in Georgia have passed bill HB 531 making it illegal to give anyone food or water as they wait in line to vote.

Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger objected to the law because, he said, his office had already ruled that pizza at the polls is a crime. Before the Georgia US Senate run-offs, Raffensperger threatened groups, stating that:

“offering food, drinks, or other items of value to voters waiting in line or those who have already voted is forbidden under Georgia law (OCGA § 21-2-570).”

Anyone handing pizza to a voter, according to Raffensperger, “shall be guilty of a felony.”

acbytesla · 20th March 2021, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop

The Republicans in Georgia have passed bill HB 531 making it illegal to give anyone food or water as they wait in line to vote.

Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger objected to the law because, he said, his office had already ruled that pizza at the polls is a crime. Before the Georgia US Senate run-offs, Raffensperger threatened groups, stating that:

“offering food, drinks, or other items of value to voters waiting in line or those who have already voted is forbidden under Georgia law (OCGA § 21-2-570).”

Anyone handing pizza to a voter, according to Raffensperger, “shall be guilty of a felony.”

Seriously? Is it also a crime to feed people in line to buy Rolling Stones concert tickets?

bruto · 20th March 2021, 04:17 PM

Even if it were illegal to feed people before they vote, a law against feeding them after seems outrageously excessive. I mean, how long after they have voted, and how far from the voting place, is it still going to be a felony? Will selected minority voters be arrested for feeding their spouses lunch when they get home?

If a couple comes to vote, will one of them be guilty of a felony if they share a bottle of water? Give your husband a bite of your candy bar, go to prison and never get to vote again!

Seriously, though, here in our little Vermont town, it's traditional to have some donuts or cookies or something to grab as you exit the polling place. I think it's safe to say that this does not have any political clout.

Of course we know what the point is. The state will create the maximum inconvenience and difficulty for the people they don't want voting at all.

I continue to be amazed at how malleable the envelope of stupidity is.

Captain_Swoop · 20th March 2021, 04:18 PM

It also outlaws voting on all but one Sunday, knowing that African-Americans and Hispanics have long organized to vote after Sunday church in “Souls to the Polls” events.
Requires a verified excuse to receive an absentee ballot, outlawing most mail-in balloting, the vote method used this year principally by Democrats.
Eliminates mobile voting stations and curtails ballot dropboxes.
Requires submitting ID with a mail-in ballot.

acbytesla · 20th March 2021, 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by bruto

Even if it were illegal to feed people before they vote, a law against feeding them after seems outrageously excessive. I mean, how long after they have voted, and how far from the voting place, is it still going to be a felony? Will selected minority voters be arrested for feeding their spouses lunch when they get home?

If a couple comes to vote, will one of them be guilty of a felony if they share a bottle of water? Give your husband a bite of your candy bar, go to prison and never get to vote again!

Seriously, though, here in our little Vermont town, it's traditional to have some donuts or cookies or something to grab as you exit the polling place. I think it's safe to say that this does not have any political clout.

Of course we know what the point is. The state will create the maximum inconvenience and difficulty for the people they don't want voting at all.

I continue to be amazed at how malleable the envelope of stupidity is.

Some polling places in Washington State use to be churches. I use to vote a block away at IIRC in the basement of a Lutheran Church. The poll workers would have coffee and sometimes donuts/cookies there.

Lurch · 20th March 2021, 05:12 PM

Looking from the outside, in a country where wait times at the polls are measured in minutes and not hours... That there exist such excessive wait times that food and drink might be necessary in the first place bespeaks of a rather dysfunctional system. To have allowed it to come to such a pass is already a sad indictment. And now to add insult to injury like this is despicable. A set up to invite the commission of this new 'crime.' It's like watching a same-but-different, American flavor of the debasement of politics that precedes a descent to madness.

Sideroxylon · 20th March 2021, 05:25 PM

Why do they hate freedoms?

acbytesla · 20th March 2021, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by Lurch

Looking from the outside, in a country where wait times at the polls are measured in minutes and not hours... That there exist such excessive wait times that food and drink might be necessary in the first place bespeaks of a rather dysfunctional system. To have allowed it to come to such a pass is already a sad indictment. And now to add insult to injury like this is despicable. A set up to invite the commission of this new 'crime.' It's like watching a same-but-different, American flavor of the debasement of politics that precedes a descent to madness.

This seems to be limited to certain States and sometimes to specific locations in those states.. I've been voting for more than 40 years mostly in the State of Washington I think the longest time I had to wait during that period was maybe 60 to 90 minutes. Both were Presidential elections where voter participation is at its its highest and during peak voting hours late in the day. This isn't a problem anymore.

But in the South and Midwest the attempts to limit voter participation has been a Republican strategy for decades. And in the Deep South it was clearly done to prevent minority voting.

acbytesla · 20th March 2021, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by Sideroxylon

Why do they hate freedoms?

They're afraid of what people will do with them.

Mumbles · 20th March 2021, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by Lurch

Looking from the outside, in a country where wait times at the polls are measured in minutes and not hours... That there exist such excessive wait times that food and drink might be necessary in the first place bespeaks of a rather dysfunctional system. To have allowed it to come to such a pass is already a sad indictment. And now to add insult to injury like this is despicable. A set up to invite the commission of this new 'crime.' It's like watching a same-but-different, American flavor of the debasement of politics that precedes a descent to madness.

Nah, just the long-running practice of suppressing black and Native voters as usual. Much like when they pass strict voter ID laws, whine about how racist it is to say that black people are too dumb to get ID...and then shut down every state office that issues ID in a black town or neighborhood.

It’s interesting, though, that the GOP prefers this to the oft-repeated suggestion from black conservatives that they act like black people are actual people, rather than Birth of a Nation stereotypes.

gabeygoat · 20th March 2021, 06:00 PM

Oregon has been vote by mail for a couple decades now. I used to work the polls when we still voted in person. Juice,, coffee and donuts gave it a real sense of community. The GOP is the party of the Grinch

JoeMorgue · 20th March 2021, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop

The Republicans in Georgia have passed bill HB 531 making it illegal to give anyone food or water as they wait in line to vote.

Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger objected to the law because, he said, his office had already ruled that pizza at the polls is a crime. Before the Georgia US Senate run-offs, Raffensperger threatened groups, stating that:

“offering food, drinks, or other items of value to voters waiting in line or those who have already voted is forbidden under Georgia law (OCGA § 21-2-570).”

Anyone handing pizza to a voter, according to Raffensperger, “shall be guilty of a felony.”

So did Raggensperger offer even the pretense of a reason or excuse?

Skeptic Ginger · 20th March 2021, 07:18 PM

Just as an aside, this may be true elsewhere, it's considered campaigning at the polling place even if you had no campaign buttons or logos on you.

A few years back when I was working on my local Congresswoman's campaign we got notice there was a huge line to vote at city hall. Even though WA is all mail-in there are a few places you can vote in person if you didn't get a ballot. So a group of us went down there to pass out water. We even resupplied and included snacks and juice. Some people were waiting with young kids in tow and most had nat had dinner yet.

So as we were doing this we got word from the campaign HQ who had heard from the lawyer that it was illegal because it could be construed as campaigning at the polling place and we had to stop. Most of the line was inside the building. Apparently we were OK as long as we stayed outside the building.

It sucked considering the circumstances but at least we got a lot of snacks and drinks passed out before we had to stop.

Norman Alexander · 20th March 2021, 07:21 PM

What a bunch of pikers! A food-fair including a sausage sizzle at a polling place is one of our bright spots about Australian voting. We measure our balloting attendance in "democracy sausages".

Solitaire · 20th March 2021, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by Sideroxylon

Why do they hate freedoms?

And why do they have a Freedom Caucus?

Gord_in_Toronto · 20th March 2021, 07:24 PM

But surely people have not been banned from selling food and drink to those standing in line because that would be anti-capitalistic?

Norman Alexander · 20th March 2021, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by Gord_in_Toronto

But surely people have not been banned from selling food and drink to those standing in line because that would be anti-capitalistic?

And what about people who bring their own food while they are standing in line? And then sharing it with their friends?

Captain_Swoop · 20th March 2021, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by JoeMorgue

So did Raggensperger offer even the pretense of a reason or excuse?

giving food or a drink is offering something of value so is an 'inducement'

JoeMorgue · 20th March 2021, 07:39 PM

So

- Make voting harder on the people you're openly pretty much declared a culture war on.
- Make it illegal to do anything that makes them voting easier because it's an "inducement."

Yeah sounds pretty Republican to me.

Regnad Kcin · 20th March 2021, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by Sideroxylon

Why do they hate freedoms?

Hand out bags of Freedom Fries™ to voters in line and watch Republican heads asplode.

Norman Alexander · 20th March 2021, 07:48 PM

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop

giving food or a drink is offering something of value so is an 'inducement'

To do what? Eat?

JoeMorgue · 20th March 2021, 07:51 PM

Also no voting site should be able to have a bathroom or a roof, and should all be on top of hills or surrounded by moats.

Beelzebuddy · 20th March 2021, 07:52 PM

They're just doing what they think is white.

Modified · 20th March 2021, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop

Requires a verified excuse to receive an absentee ballot, outlawing most mail-in balloting, the vote method used this year principally by Democrats.

It seems they are counting on COVID continuing forever, as otherwise mail-in voting should very slightly favor Republicans.

shemp · 20th March 2021, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by Sideroxylon

Why do they hate freedoms?

Freedom hates them.

portlandatheist · 20th March 2021, 08:24 PM

Reminds me of this Borowitz Report "Georgia to Allow Some Voting in Certain Situations"

Quote:

Dorrinson said that the bill would prevent a repeat of what happened during the January runoffs, when “voting was allowed to spiral out of control.”

“People were voting as if it were their right,” he said.

TheGoldcountry · 20th March 2021, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by JoeMorgue

Also no voting site should be able to have a bathroom or a roof, and should all be on top of hills or surrounded by moats.

This was exactly my first thought. Just be honest and set up sniper's nests and mine fields, you know that's what they want.

smartcooky · 20th March 2021, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by Sideroxylon

Why do they hate freedoms?

Repugnicans don't hate their people having freedoms, they they only hate "others" having freedoms. Repugnicans would be really happy if only Repugnicans were allowed to vote - and I'm quite sure that they would pass laws to make it so if they thought they could get away with it.

bruto · 20th March 2021, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by Skeptic Ginger

Just as an aside, this may be true elsewhere, it's considered campaigning at the polling place even if you had no campaign buttons or logos on you.

A few years back when I was working on my local Congresswoman's campaign we got notice there was a huge line to vote at city hall. Even though WA is all mail-in there are a few places you can vote in person if you didn't get a ballot. So a group of us went down there to pass out water. We even resupplied and included snacks and juice. Some people were waiting with young kids in tow and most had nat had dinner yet.

So as we were doing this we got word from the campaign HQ who had heard from the lawyer that it was illegal because it could be construed as campaigning at the polling place and we had to stop. Most of the line was inside the building. Apparently we were OK as long as we stayed outside the building.

It sucked considering the circumstances but at least we got a lot of snacks and drinks passed out before we had to stop.

Thats the kicker there, I think. I haven't seen what the Georgia law actually says, but it's not such an outrage if it regulates activities within the polling place, which is usually defined by some perimeter. It is, though, if it regulates activity outside the polling place, because it could be enforced arbitrarily. How far away is far enough away?

Here in Vermont the perimeter is up to the local authorities, but you can always tell where they've established it, because there will be a bunch of signs right at it. I'm guessing in our town it's about 50 feet from the town building where voting occurs.

It may be unfair, but I'm surmising that the law is extending polling place regulations beyond that perimeter, while likely also making sure that minority voters have to line up and wait for long periods in order to vote. But I hope I'm wrong.

Norman Alexander · 20th March 2021, 09:47 PM

Originally Posted by smartcooky

Repugnicans don't hate their people having freedoms, they they only hate "others" having freedoms. Repugnicans would be really happy if only Repugnicans were allowed to vote - and I'm quite sure that they would pass laws to make it so if they thought they could get away with it.

That's easy to work with.

1. Everyone register as Republican.
2. Turn up and be allowed a ballot, as is your right as a registered Republican.
3. Vote for somebody else.

bruto · 20th March 2021, 09:52 PM

Originally Posted by Norman Alexander

That's easy to work with.

1. Everyone register as Republican.
2. Turn up and be allowed a ballot, as is your right as a registered Republican.
3. Vote for somebody else.

It's kind of a long game, but of course one of the advantages, if enough people did this, would be that, being members, caucus participants etc., they might even be able to reform the party.

Ladewig · 21st March 2021, 12:51 AM

Originally Posted by Norman Alexander

That's easy to work with.

1. Everyone register as Republican.
2. Turn up and be allowed a ballot, as is your right as a registered Republican.
3. Vote for somebody else.

Really?
You don’t thing the ‘holes would say, “if 90% of the people who showed up to vote were Republican and 52% of the votes cast were for Democrats, then the voting machines are switching votes, therefore all votes for Democrats should be thrown away.” And all the Kool-Aid drinkers would say, “Yes! Yes! Throw those votes away.”

Between the National Debt, gerrymandering, the anti-science attitudes, the refusal to allow alternative voting systems like instant runoff, and the Republican efforts to stop people from voting America is so very, very ******. If I had kids I’d tell them to emigrate.

The Great Zaganza · 21st March 2021, 01:33 AM

look, it's all about incentives - if you don't make it a total misery for certain people to vote, they might do it again - and who would want that?

Jim_MDP · 21st March 2021, 04:09 AM

Originally Posted by bruto

Even if it were illegal to feed people before they vote, a law against feeding them after seems outrageously excessive. I mean, how long after they have voted, and how far from the voting place, is it still going to be a felony? Will selected minority voters be arrested for feeding their spouses lunch when they get home?

If a couple comes to vote, will one of them be guilty of a felony if they share a bottle of water? Give your husband a bite of your candy bar, go to prison and never get to vote again!

Seriously, though, here in our little Vermont town, it's traditional to have some donuts or cookies or something to grab as you exit the polling place. I think it's safe to say that this does not have any political clout.

Of course we know what the point is. The state will create the maximum inconvenience and difficulty for the people they don't want voting at all.

I continue to be amazed at how malleable the envelope of stupidity is.

I guess only the poor... and liberal... are suseptible to this sort of influence.

I was shocked to see a pic of a 2020 voting station in one of the ultra wealthy, very GOP, enclaves near Beverly Hills, CA.
There was food and drink for the folks to nibble on... looked like a freaking banquet.
I'd guess the local chamber of congress dropped at least $60,000 on the catering.

Jim_MDP · 21st March 2021, 04:16 AM

Originally Posted by Norman Alexander

What a bunch of pikers! A food-fair including a sausage sizzle at a polling place is one of our bright spots about Australian voting. We measure our balloting attendance in "democracy sausages".

My first thought when I opened the thread.

They dont give CMOT's cousins the supply contracts I hope.

Jim_MDP · 21st March 2021, 04:26 AM

Originally Posted by Modified

It seems they are counting on COVID continuing forever, as otherwise mail-in voting should very slightly favor Republicans.

Really?
I had thought, and think I've read, that it would be the opposite.
The right's "all the time" outrage machine is just better at getting people to come out and vote. Or so I gather.

Norman Alexander · 21st March 2021, 05:04 AM

Originally Posted by Ladewig

Really?
You don’t thing the ‘holes would say, “if 90% of the people who showed up to vote were Republican and 52% of the votes cast were for Democrats, then the voting machines are switching votes, therefore all votes for Democrats should be thrown away.” And all the Kool-Aid drinkers would say, “Yes! Yes! Throw those votes away.”

They do that anyway, when it's not 100%. And the last election has shown that any such attempts will get rejected by courts, to the tune of 60-plus to 1.

Quote:

Between the National Debt, gerrymandering, the anti-science attitudes, the refusal to allow alternative voting systems like instant runoff, and the Republican efforts to stop people from voting America is so very, very ******. If I had kids I’d tell them to emigrate.

Some parts are that bad. Many other parts are not. The solution lies in enforcing the same election rules across all states, i.e. a proper federal voting system. If they can do it for the rules of baseball and gridiron, they can surely do it for voting.

smartcooky · 21st March 2021, 08:36 PM

It has not gone unnoticed that none of the forum's usual suspects or other assorted Trump sycophants have shown up in this thread to defend this disgrace. Perhaps even they realize this is indefensible, or perhaps they cannot bring themselves to criticise their tribe.

Shame, really. I would enjoy watching them have to twist themselves into pretzels as they attempt to justify the the unjustifiable.

HoverBoarder · 21st March 2021, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by smartcooky

Repugnicans don't hate their people having freedoms, they they only hate "others" having freedoms. Repugnicans would be really happy if only Repugnicans were allowed to vote - and I'm quite sure that they would pass laws to make it so if they thought they could get away with it.

The Republicans are definitely tempting a federal voting rights response, so they can point to the wild overreach of the Democrats.

If history is any guide, they will most likely be able to successfully suppress legal voters and face no repercussions for it.

Mongrel · 22nd March 2021, 04:24 AM

Originally Posted by smartcooky

It has not gone unnoticed that none of the forum's usual suspects or other assorted Trump sycophants have shown up in this thread to defend this disgrace. Perhaps even they realize this is indefensible, or perhaps they cannot bring themselves to criticise their tribe.

Shame, really. I would enjoy watching them have to twist themselves into pretzels as they attempt to justify the the unjustifiable.

They have yet to find an even marginally relevant "Whatabout..."?

20th March 2021, 03:46 PM	#1
Captain_Swoop Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 32,723	illegal to give food or water to waiting voters in Georgia The Republicans in Georgia have passed bill HB 531 making it illegal to give anyone food or water as they wait in line to vote. Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger objected to the law because, he said, his office had already ruled that pizza at the polls is a crime. Before the Georgia US Senate run-offs, Raffensperger threatened groups, stating that: “offering food, drinks, or other items of value to voters waiting in line or those who have already voted is forbidden under Georgia law (OCGA § 21-2-570).” Anyone handing pizza to a voter, according to Raffensperger, “shall be guilty of a felony.”

20th March 2021, 03:50 PM	#2
acbytesla Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 28,590	Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop The Republicans in Georgia have passed bill HB 531 making it illegal to give anyone food or water as they wait in line to vote. Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger objected to the law because, he said, his office had already ruled that pizza at the polls is a crime. Before the Georgia US Senate run-offs, Raffensperger threatened groups, stating that: “offering food, drinks, or other items of value to voters waiting in line or those who have already voted is forbidden under Georgia law (OCGA § 21-2-570).” Anyone handing pizza to a voter, according to Raffensperger, “shall be guilty of a felony.” Seriously? Is it also a crime to feed people in line to buy Rolling Stones concert tickets?
	__________________ Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get to me. .

20th March 2021, 04:17 PM	#3
bruto Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Way way north of Diddy Wah Diddy Posts: 28,220	Even if it were illegal to feed people before they vote, a law against feeding them after seems outrageously excessive. I mean, how long after they have voted, and how far from the voting place, is it still going to be a felony? Will selected minority voters be arrested for feeding their spouses lunch when they get home? If a couple comes to vote, will one of them be guilty of a felony if they share a bottle of water? Give your husband a bite of your candy bar, go to prison and never get to vote again! Seriously, though, here in our little Vermont town, it's traditional to have some donuts or cookies or something to grab as you exit the polling place. I think it's safe to say that this does not have any political clout. Of course we know what the point is. The state will create the maximum inconvenience and difficulty for the people they don't want voting at all. I continue to be amazed at how malleable the envelope of stupidity is.
	__________________ I love this world, but not for its answers. (Mary Oliver) Quand il dit "cuic" le moineau croit tout dire. (When he's tweeted the sparrow thinks he's said it all. (Jules Renard)

20th March 2021, 04:18 PM	#4
Captain_Swoop Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 32,723	It also outlaws voting on all but one Sunday, knowing that African-Americans and Hispanics have long organized to vote after Sunday church in “Souls to the Polls” events. Requires a verified excuse to receive an absentee ballot, outlawing most mail-in balloting, the vote method used this year principally by Democrats. Eliminates mobile voting stations and curtails ballot dropboxes. Requires submitting ID with a mail-in ballot.
	Last edited by Captain_Swoop; 20th March 2021 at 04:21 PM.

20th March 2021, 04:27 PM	#5
acbytesla Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 28,590	Originally Posted by bruto Even if it were illegal to feed people before they vote, a law against feeding them after seems outrageously excessive. I mean, how long after they have voted, and how far from the voting place, is it still going to be a felony? Will selected minority voters be arrested for feeding their spouses lunch when they get home? If a couple comes to vote, will one of them be guilty of a felony if they share a bottle of water? Give your husband a bite of your candy bar, go to prison and never get to vote again! Seriously, though, here in our little Vermont town, it's traditional to have some donuts or cookies or something to grab as you exit the polling place. I think it's safe to say that this does not have any political clout. Of course we know what the point is. The state will create the maximum inconvenience and difficulty for the people they don't want voting at all. I continue to be amazed at how malleable the envelope of stupidity is. Some polling places in Washington State use to be churches. I use to vote a block away at IIRC in the basement of a Lutheran Church. The poll workers would have coffee and sometimes donuts/cookies there.
	__________________ Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get to me. .

20th March 2021, 05:12 PM	#6
Lurch Graduate Poster Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Ottawa Posts: 1,666	Looking from the outside, in a country where wait times at the polls are measured in minutes and not hours... That there exist such excessive wait times that food and drink might be necessary in the first place bespeaks of a rather dysfunctional system. To have allowed it to come to such a pass is already a sad indictment. And now to add insult to injury like this is despicable. A set up to invite the commission of this new 'crime.' It's like watching a same-but-different, American flavor of the debasement of politics that precedes a descent to madness.

20th March 2021, 05:25 PM	#7
Sideroxylon Featherless biped Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Aporia Posts: 24,460	Why do they hate freedoms?

20th March 2021, 05:26 PM	#8
acbytesla Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 28,590	Originally Posted by Lurch Looking from the outside, in a country where wait times at the polls are measured in minutes and not hours... That there exist such excessive wait times that food and drink might be necessary in the first place bespeaks of a rather dysfunctional system. To have allowed it to come to such a pass is already a sad indictment. And now to add insult to injury like this is despicable. A set up to invite the commission of this new 'crime.' It's like watching a same-but-different, American flavor of the debasement of politics that precedes a descent to madness. This seems to be limited to certain States and sometimes to specific locations in those states.. I've been voting for more than 40 years mostly in the State of Washington I think the longest time I had to wait during that period was maybe 60 to 90 minutes. Both were Presidential elections where voter participation is at its its highest and during peak voting hours late in the day. This isn't a problem anymore. But in the South and Midwest the attempts to limit voter participation has been a Republican strategy for decades. And in the Deep South it was clearly done to prevent minority voting.
	__________________ Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get to me. .

20th March 2021, 05:28 PM	#9
acbytesla Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 28,590	Originally Posted by Sideroxylon Why do they hate freedoms? They're afraid of what people will do with them.
	__________________ Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get to me. .

20th March 2021, 05:44 PM	#10
Mumbles Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 8,519	Originally Posted by Lurch Looking from the outside, in a country where wait times at the polls are measured in minutes and not hours... That there exist such excessive wait times that food and drink might be necessary in the first place bespeaks of a rather dysfunctional system. To have allowed it to come to such a pass is already a sad indictment. And now to add insult to injury like this is despicable. A set up to invite the commission of this new 'crime.' It's like watching a same-but-different, American flavor of the debasement of politics that precedes a descent to madness. Nah, just the long-running practice of suppressing black and Native voters as usual. Much like when they pass strict voter ID laws, whine about how racist it is to say that black people are too dumb to get ID...and then shut down every state office that issues ID in a black town or neighborhood. It’s interesting, though, that the GOP prefers this to the oft-repeated suggestion from black conservatives that they act like black people are actual people, rather than Birth of a Nation stereotypes.
Mumbles Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 8,519

20th March 2021, 06:00 PM	#11
gabeygoat Graduate Poster Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Hard Corvallis Oregon Posts: 1,316	Oregon has been vote by mail for a couple decades now. I used to work the polls when we still voted in person. Juice,, coffee and donuts gave it a real sense of community. The GOP is the party of the Grinch
	__________________ "May I interest you in some coconut milk?" ~Akhenaten Wallabe Esq

20th March 2021, 06:58 PM	#12
JoeMorgue Self Employed Remittance Man Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 31,524	Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop The Republicans in Georgia have passed bill HB 531 making it illegal to give anyone food or water as they wait in line to vote. Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger objected to the law because, he said, his office had already ruled that pizza at the polls is a crime. Before the Georgia US Senate run-offs, Raffensperger threatened groups, stating that: “offering food, drinks, or other items of value to voters waiting in line or those who have already voted is forbidden under Georgia law (OCGA § 21-2-570).” Anyone handing pizza to a voter, according to Raffensperger, “shall be guilty of a felony.” So did Raggensperger offer even the pretense of a reason or excuse?
	__________________ Yahtzee: "You're doing that thing again where when asked a question you just discuss the philosophy of the question instead of answering the bloody question." Gabriel: "Well yeah, you see..." Yahtzee: "No. When you are asked a Yes or No question the first word out of your mouth needs to be Yes or No. Only after that have you earned the right to elaborate."

20th March 2021, 07:18 PM	#13
Skeptic Ginger Nasty Woman Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 87,828	Just as an aside, this may be true elsewhere, it's considered campaigning at the polling place even if you had no campaign buttons or logos on you. A few years back when I was working on my local Congresswoman's campaign we got notice there was a huge line to vote at city hall. Even though WA is all mail-in there are a few places you can vote in person if you didn't get a ballot. So a group of us went down there to pass out water. We even resupplied and included snacks and juice. Some people were waiting with young kids in tow and most had nat had dinner yet. So as we were doing this we got word from the campaign HQ who had heard from the lawyer that it was illegal because it could be construed as campaigning at the polling place and we had to stop. Most of the line was inside the building. Apparently we were OK as long as we stayed outside the building. It sucked considering the circumstances but at least we got a lot of snacks and drinks passed out before we had to stop.
	Last edited by Skeptic Ginger; 20th March 2021 at 07:19 PM.

20th March 2021, 07:21 PM	#14
Norman Alexander Philosopher Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Gundungurra Posts: 9,163	What a bunch of pikers! A food-fair including a sausage sizzle at a polling place is one of our bright spots about Australian voting. We measure our balloting attendance in "democracy sausages".
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20th March 2021, 07:22 PM	#15
Solitaire Neoclinus blanchardi Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 2,522	Originally Posted by Sideroxylon Why do they hate freedoms? And why do they have a Freedom Caucus?
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20th March 2021, 07:24 PM	#16
Gord_in_Toronto Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 20,589	But surely people have not been banned from selling food and drink to those standing in line because that would be anti-capitalistic?
	__________________ "Reality is what's left when you cease to believe." Philip K. Dick

20th March 2021, 07:27 PM	#17
Norman Alexander Philosopher Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Gundungurra Posts: 9,163	Originally Posted by Gord_in_Toronto But surely people have not been banned from selling food and drink to those standing in line because that would be anti-capitalistic? And what about people who bring their own food while they are standing in line? And then sharing it with their friends?
	__________________ _{...our governments are just trying to protect us from terror. In the same way that someone banging a hornets’ nest with a stick is trying to protect us from hornets. Frankie Boyle, Guardian, July 2015}

20th March 2021, 07:32 PM	#18
Captain_Swoop Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 32,723	Originally Posted by JoeMorgue So did Raggensperger offer even the pretense of a reason or excuse? giving food or a drink is offering something of value so is an 'inducement'

20th March 2021, 07:39 PM	#19
JoeMorgue Self Employed Remittance Man Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 31,524	So - Make voting harder on the people you're openly pretty much declared a culture war on. - Make it illegal to do anything that makes them voting easier because it's an "inducement." Yeah sounds pretty Republican to me.
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20th March 2021, 07:45 PM	#20
Regnad Kcin Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: New York Posts: 10,266	Originally Posted by Sideroxylon Why do they hate freedoms? Hand out bags of Freedom Fries™ to voters in line and watch Republican heads asplode.
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20th March 2021, 07:48 PM	#21
Norman Alexander Philosopher Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Gundungurra Posts: 9,163	Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop giving food or a drink is offering something of value so is an 'inducement' To do what? Eat?
	__________________ _{...our governments are just trying to protect us from terror. In the same way that someone banging a hornets’ nest with a stick is trying to protect us from hornets. Frankie Boyle, Guardian, July 2015}

20th March 2021, 07:51 PM	#22
JoeMorgue Self Employed Remittance Man Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 31,524	Also no voting site should be able to have a bathroom or a roof, and should all be on top of hills or surrounded by moats.
	__________________ Yahtzee: "You're doing that thing again where when asked a question you just discuss the philosophy of the question instead of answering the bloody question." Gabriel: "Well yeah, you see..." Yahtzee: "No. When you are asked a Yes or No question the first word out of your mouth needs to be Yes or No. Only after that have you earned the right to elaborate."

20th March 2021, 07:52 PM	#23
Beelzebuddy Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 8,098	They're just doing what they think is white.
Beelzebuddy Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 8,098

20th March 2021, 08:00 PM	#24
Modified Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 6,928	Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop Requires a verified excuse to receive an absentee ballot, outlawing most mail-in balloting, the vote method used this year principally by Democrats. It seems they are counting on COVID continuing forever, as otherwise mail-in voting should very slightly favor Republicans.
Modified Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 6,928

20th March 2021, 08:17 PM	#25
shemp a flimsy character...perfidious and despised Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: People's Democratic Republic of Planet X Posts: 40,805	Originally Posted by Sideroxylon Why do they hate freedoms? Freedom hates them.
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20th March 2021, 08:24 PM	#26
portlandatheist Illuminator Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,635	Reminds me of this Borowitz Report "Georgia to Allow Some Voting in Certain Situations" Quote: Dorrinson said that the bill would prevent a repeat of what happened during the January runoffs, when “voting was allowed to spiral out of control.” “People were voting as if it were their right,” he said.

20th March 2021, 09:18 PM	#27
TheGoldcountry Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 5,954	Originally Posted by JoeMorgue Also no voting site should be able to have a bathroom or a roof, and should all be on top of hills or surrounded by moats. This was exactly my first thought. Just be honest and set up sniper's nests and mine fields, you know that's what they want.
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20th March 2021, 09:27 PM	#28
smartcooky Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Nelson, New Zealand Posts: 17,187	Originally Posted by Sideroxylon Why do they hate freedoms? Repugnicans don't hate their people having freedoms, they they only hate "others" having freedoms. Repugnicans would be really happy if only Repugnicans were allowed to vote - and I'm quite sure that they would pass laws to make it so if they thought they could get away with it.
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20th March 2021, 09:45 PM	#29
bruto Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Way way north of Diddy Wah Diddy Posts: 28,220	Originally Posted by Skeptic Ginger Just as an aside, this may be true elsewhere, it's considered campaigning at the polling place even if you had no campaign buttons or logos on you. A few years back when I was working on my local Congresswoman's campaign we got notice there was a huge line to vote at city hall. Even though WA is all mail-in there are a few places you can vote in person if you didn't get a ballot. So a group of us went down there to pass out water. We even resupplied and included snacks and juice. Some people were waiting with young kids in tow and most had nat had dinner yet. So as we were doing this we got word from the campaign HQ who had heard from the lawyer that it was illegal because it could be construed as campaigning at the polling place and we had to stop. Most of the line was inside the building. Apparently we were OK as long as we stayed outside the building. It sucked considering the circumstances but at least we got a lot of snacks and drinks passed out before we had to stop. Thats the kicker there, I think. I haven't seen what the Georgia law actually says, but it's not such an outrage if it regulates activities within the polling place, which is usually defined by some perimeter. It is, though, if it regulates activity outside the polling place, because it could be enforced arbitrarily. How far away is far enough away? Here in Vermont the perimeter is up to the local authorities, but you can always tell where they've established it, because there will be a bunch of signs right at it. I'm guessing in our town it's about 50 feet from the town building where voting occurs. It may be unfair, but I'm surmising that the law is extending polling place regulations beyond that perimeter, while likely also making sure that minority voters have to line up and wait for long periods in order to vote. But I hope I'm wrong.
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20th March 2021, 09:47 PM	#30
Norman Alexander Philosopher Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Gundungurra Posts: 9,163	Originally Posted by smartcooky Repugnicans don't hate their people having freedoms, they they only hate "others" having freedoms. Repugnicans would be really happy if only Repugnicans were allowed to vote - and I'm quite sure that they would pass laws to make it so if they thought they could get away with it. That's easy to work with. 1. Everyone register as Republican. 2. Turn up and be allowed a ballot, as is your right as a registered Republican. 3. Vote for somebody else.
	__________________ _{...our governments are just trying to protect us from terror. In the same way that someone banging a hornets’ nest with a stick is trying to protect us from hornets. Frankie Boyle, Guardian, July 2015}

20th March 2021, 09:52 PM	#31
bruto Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Way way north of Diddy Wah Diddy Posts: 28,220	Originally Posted by Norman Alexander That's easy to work with. 1. Everyone register as Republican. 2. Turn up and be allowed a ballot, as is your right as a registered Republican. 3. Vote for somebody else. It's kind of a long game, but of course one of the advantages, if enough people did this, would be that, being members, caucus participants etc., they might even be able to reform the party.
	__________________ I love this world, but not for its answers. (Mary Oliver) Quand il dit "cuic" le moineau croit tout dire. (When he's tweeted the sparrow thinks he's said it all. (Jules Renard)

21st March 2021, 12:51 AM	#32
Ladewig I lost an avatar bet. Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 28,094	Originally Posted by Norman Alexander That's easy to work with. 1. Everyone register as Republican. 2. Turn up and be allowed a ballot, as is your right as a registered Republican. 3. Vote for somebody else. Really? You don’t thing the ‘holes would say, “if 90% of the people who showed up to vote were Republican and 52% of the votes cast were for Democrats, then the voting machines are switching votes, therefore all votes for Democrats should be thrown away.” And all the Kool-Aid drinkers would say, “Yes! Yes! Throw those votes away.” Between the National Debt, gerrymandering, the anti-science attitudes, the refusal to allow alternative voting systems like instant runoff, and the Republican efforts to stop people from voting America is so very, very ******. If I had kids I’d tell them to emigrate.
	__________________ I lost an avatar bet to Doghouse Reilly. Last edited by Ladewig; 21st March 2021 at 12:56 AM.

21st March 2021, 01:33 AM	#33
The Great Zaganza Maledictorian Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 14,867	look, it's all about incentives - if you don't make it a total misery for certain people to vote, they might do it again - and who would want that?
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21st March 2021, 04:09 AM	#34
Jim_MDP Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: N.Cal/S.Or Posts: 8,111	Originally Posted by bruto Even if it were illegal to feed people before they vote, a law against feeding them after seems outrageously excessive. I mean, how long after they have voted, and how far from the voting place, is it still going to be a felony? Will selected minority voters be arrested for feeding their spouses lunch when they get home? If a couple comes to vote, will one of them be guilty of a felony if they share a bottle of water? Give your husband a bite of your candy bar, go to prison and never get to vote again! Seriously, though, here in our little Vermont town, it's traditional to have some donuts or cookies or something to grab as you exit the polling place. I think it's safe to say that this does not have any political clout. Of course we know what the point is. The state will create the maximum inconvenience and difficulty for the people they don't want voting at all. I continue to be amazed at how malleable the envelope of stupidity is. I guess only the poor... and liberal... are suseptible to this sort of influence. I was shocked to see a pic of a 2020 voting station in one of the ultra wealthy, very GOP, enclaves near Beverly Hills, CA. There was food and drink for the folks to nibble on... looked like a freaking banquet. I'd guess the local chamber of congress dropped at least $60,000 on the catering.
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21st March 2021, 04:16 AM	#35
Jim_MDP Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: N.Cal/S.Or Posts: 8,111	Originally Posted by Norman Alexander What a bunch of pikers! A food-fair including a sausage sizzle at a polling place is one of our bright spots about Australian voting. We measure our balloting attendance in "democracy sausages". My first thought when I opened the thread. They dont give CMOT's cousins the supply contracts I hope.
	__________________ ---------------------- Anything goes in the Goblin hut... anything. "Suggesting spurious explanations isn't relevant to my work." -- WTC Dust. "Both cannot be simultaneously true, and so one may conclude neither is true, and if neither is true, then Apollo is fraudulent." -- Patrick1000.