Said Griswold, Trump is corrupting democracy; VBM is popular and he and his postmaster general are doing everything they can to slow down the mechanisms used to sort the mail. Just two weeks ago, Nevada passed legislation supporting VBM. We're fighting for votes, not Democrats, she said. VBM has increased voting in her state by 9 percent, including 13 percent among blacks, 10 percent among Latino Americans, 11 percent among Asian Americans, and 16 percent among youth.
For this prerogative to be taken up by more states, we must pressure legislatures and SoSs for change.
"It looks bad, but we are winning."
"2020 is Plan B in all ways," said Benson. Public education is vital, on how to fill out ballots and drop them off and so much more. We must tell the truth about the obstruction of democracy. She agreed with Griswold that "we are winning." Citizens, once educated, are demanding change.
Partnerships with businesses, employers, and sports teams, etc., are important. Our involvement is essential. We must keep looking ahead to anticipate what will happen.
Minority voters distrust VBM, lack much experience with them, and prefer voting in person, said Merrill. Previously they had to be convinced that their votes count. There must be enough polling places in cities to accommodate all of them. The GOP is largely responsible for sowing distrust in elections; add to this the intervention by domestic and foreign "bad actors."
Said Benson, in Georgia and Wisconsin lines were long because a huge number of polling places were closed because of Covid and the consequent shortage of poll workers. In Michigan 7,000 poll workers were recruited.
Griswold blamed gerrymandering, voter suppression, and money in politics for all of our electoral problems. "We must elect true representatives of the people," she said. In Colorado, 97.3 percent of voters used VBM in the most recent election. 34 percent of the voters were young people. All voters should automatically receive VBM, she said.
Colorado has the most voting options, said Connecticut's Merrill, and this should be a national priority. Many SoSs don't want federal interference [but it is necessary, it was added later, where civil rights are obstructed]. Minorities are more worked up than ever, willing to risk their lives to vote despite their numbers so decimated by Covid. Litigation is in progress in every state over election issues.
Warren asked what can be done in red states to further democratic elections.
Griswold answered that accessible elections are of key importance. In Colorado every public university and tribal land has a drop box and 75 percent of state voters use them--this must be true if not better in all states. We must pass HR 1 (the For the People Act of 2019) or accomplish the equivalent at state levels.
Said Merrill, advocacy groups are vital, confronting all representation with our demands for democratic voting. "Organizing is the best way to do things." Fully 82 percent of her population want the option to avoid the polls, both Democrats and Republicans. Registration drives are being conducted by minority women reaching out to their peers.
Benson advised advocacy for voter registration and get out the vote (GOTV) efforts. And voter education. This is the era of disinformation. Strong messaging is required from trusted voices to marginalized groups. The election will be decided by big cities in swing states. The opposition is working to discourage voters from voting at all.
Further important information was shared during the Q&A session of this enlightened panel. Griswold has worked with protest leaders, having organized a march to the polls through African American neighborhoods. She is also working to organize homeless populations, whose votes are of course of vital importance.
In Michigan Benson said that she searched for areas that yielded the lowest number of votes. She is also reaching out to ex-felons, who must be educated by trusted voices that they can vote right out of prison.
Of course the gutting of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) in 2013 and the rank disenfranchisement that immediately followed in the form of the voter ID requirement and then registration list purging was another vital topic discussed and lamented. Section two is still in place, said Benson, so that private citizens may litigate. Congress must intervene to reinstate the law in its fullest capacity. Vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris has wanted a comprehensive review of election law. VBM originated to accommodate military personnel and military should definitely become involved in the fight for democracy, including veterans.
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