As I reflect on the recent events surrounding Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and his appalling raids on the homes of Latino civil rights members, I am filled with a mixture of anger, frustration, and disbelief. The reports of an 87-year-old woman being interrogated in her nightgown in her front yard for two hours are not just disturbing, but downright shameful. This elderly woman, who has been diligently registering folks to vote for decades, was subjected to humiliation and intimidation by authorities under the guise of investigating election law violations.
The warrant to search for evidence related to alleged violations of election laws regarding vote harvesting and identity fraud seems flimsy at best.… Continue reading
Living in Texas, I have always taken my civic duty seriously. Voting in every election since I moved here in 2018, I was shocked to find out that my voter registration was on the suspense list, set to be purged. It was only through proactively checking my status that I discovered this issue. This experience highlighted the importance of checking voter registration status before it’s too late. The truth is, polls and forecasts mean nothing if we’re unable to exercise our right to vote.
It’s concerning to see that voter rolls are being purged in some states, potentially disenfranchising eligible voters.… Continue reading
As an American citizen and a staunch advocate for democracy, the recent comments made by former President Donald Trump during the Turning Point Believers’ Summit in Florida have left me feeling deeply troubled and disheartened. Trump’s brazen statement that Americans ‘won’t have to vote anymore’ if he wins the presidency is nothing short of a direct assault on the core principles of democracy that our nation was founded upon. The idea that a major party’s presidential candidate would openly express a desire to render elections meaningless is a chilling reminder of the autocratic tendencies that threaten our democratic institutions.
It is bewildering to witness, in real-time, the unfolding of what appears to be a slow descent into delusion and megalomania on the part of Trump.… Continue reading
Lara Trump’s recent announcement of building an army of ‘100,000 poll watchers and over 500 lawyers’ does not sit well with many Americans, including myself. The idea of deploying such a massive force across the country in November raises concerns about potential voter intimidation and interference in the electoral process. The notion that these individuals could be used to target certain demographics or disrupt polling places is alarming, to say the least.
The tactics being proposed by Lara Trump and her team give off strong authoritarian vibes. The idea of sending in ‘poll watchers’ who may not have any real authority but could still cause chaos and confusion at polling sites is deeply concerning.… Continue reading
As a citizen of the United States, the news that the Kansas Supreme Court has ruled that voting is not a fundamental right hits hard. Voting is not just a simple action of checking a box on a ballot; it is the cornerstone of our democracy. It is the way we, as individuals, have a say in how our society is shaped and governed. It is the way we hold our leaders accountable and ensure that our voices are heard. To have this fundamental right questioned and potentially stripped away is a grave injustice.
The fact that some are actively trying to suppress the right to vote is deeply troubling.… Continue reading
As a resident of Texas, I am deeply disturbed by the recent GOP amendment that aims to change the way officials are elected in the state. The proposal suggests that officials should be elected based on the majority of counties, not the majority of voters. This scheme essentially hands over control of the entire state to the unpopulated red areas on the map, disenfranchising the majority of Texans who reside in the more populated urban centers.
It is evident that the GOP’s strategy is to tilt the playing field in their favor, ensuring that Democrats have virtually no chance of winning any state election.… Continue reading
As I sit here and reflect on the state of our nation, the fear among some swing-state voters that Trump would refuse to leave office could help Biden, according to recent reports. But come on, let’s be real here, Trump has already made it abundantly clear that he has no intention of gracefully accepting defeat. The man still refuses to acknowledge he lost in 2020, despite all evidence pointing to the contrary. So, why would we expect him to act any differently in 2024 if given the chance to reclaim the presidency?
The alarming reality is that Trump has openly stated that he believes he is owed a third term, based on his false claims of election fraud in 2020.… Continue reading
As an individual deeply invested in the democratic process, the recent news of an Ohio elections official stating his intent to exclude President Joe Biden from the ballot is nothing short of alarming. The notion that such a critical decision could be made, threatening the integrity of our elections, is a direct attack on the very foundation of our democracy.
It is disheartening to see partisan politics take precedence over the will of the people and the principles of fairness and transparency in our electoral system. This move reeks of political manipulation and a blatant disregard for the democratic rights of the citizens of Ohio.… Continue reading
As an American citizen living in California, the idea of not voting in such a crucial election is absolutely mind-boggling to me. I am a former Republican who will be casting my vote for Joe Biden, despite not agreeing with all of his policies. Why? Because a Trump presidency would be catastrophic in my opinion, and I am deeply concerned about the impact it could have on marginalized communities. The words of Paul Weyrich, a conservative activist who openly stated that he does not want everyone to vote, ring in my ears. This sentiment of suppressing votes has been a cornerstone of conservatism for almost half a century.… Continue reading
As I read about the Alabama secretary of state stating that the Democratic convention would be too late to get Joe Biden on the ballot this fall, I can’t help but feel frustrated by the blatant attempts at voter suppression. The deadline of August 15 has been in place since 1975, and while the Republican National Conventions in recent years have taken place after this date, Alabama is now enforcing it strictly when it comes to the Democratic nominee.
The argument that the Democrats could nominate Biden officially in time and have the convention as a formality seems like a weak attempt to justify this voter suppression tactic.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood