# The Republican War on Voting Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 11, 2021, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723 "2021-03-11T17:30:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![mistymage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mistymage/32/459_2.png) [@mistymage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mistymage)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/81 "2021-03-26T14:21:35Z")
A Georgia state representative was arrested for knocking on the Governor’s door at their state capitol while he was signing repugnant legislation into law. [Various news articles at google.news](https://news.google.com/stories/CAAqjQEICiKGAUNCSVNYam9KYzNSdmNua3RNell3U2xFS0VRajQ4WmFqa29BTUVTMEVzN2l1ZkZkSkVqeEhaVzl5WjJsaElITjBZWFJsSUZKbGNDNGdVR0Z5YXlCRFlXNXViMjRnWVhKeVpYTjBaV1FzSUhKbGJXOTJaV1FnWm5KdmJTQnZabVpwWTJVb0FBUAE?hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US%3Aen) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/82 "2021-03-26T14:27:16Z")
And those babies would be registered to vote at birth. Even if they only have hooves and will need help in the voting booth. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/83 "2021-03-26T14:28:10Z")
Georgia has gone full-on 19th Century, and I’ve no doubt that other red states will soon use that template, just as they tend to copy each other on gun rights and abortion bans. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/84 "2021-03-26T14:35:31Z")
How fucking sick is it that in the world’s oldest democracy, it is now a crime in one state to give food and water to people waiting in line to vote? Like the DJT immigration policies, the cruelty is the point. The Democrats have a big advantage in 2022, DJT is not on the ballot. He wasn’t on the ballot in 2018, Democrats won big. What Donnie did was motivate huge numbers of otherwise disinterested white nationalists to come out and vote. Without him at the top of the ballot, that turnout will decrease. Because of these insane laws, Democratic activists are going to work even harder in voter registration and get out the vote campaigns. This is going to backfire. Can anyone point to any Republican initiative in the past decade that actually helped anyone? Right now all they stand for is cutting taxes for the rich and putting barriers in the way of minority voting. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/85 "2021-03-26T14:37:51Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > How fucking sick is it that in the world’s oldest democracy, it is now a crime in one state to give food and water to people waiting in line to vote? Like the DJT immigration policies, the cruelty is the point. I’m curious: if a person waiting in line gave another person waiting in line a Tic Tac, would that be illegal? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/86 "2021-03-26T14:39:22Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I’m curious: if a person waiting in line gave another person waiting in line a Tic Tac, would that be illegal? That would entirely depend on the pigmentation of those involved. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/87 "2021-03-26T14:52:04Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > The Democrats have a big advantage in 2022, DJT is not on the ballot. He wasn’t on the ballot in 2018, Democrats won big. What Donnie did was motivate huge numbers of otherwise disinterested white nationalists to come out and vote. Without him at the top of the ballot, that turnout will decrease. Unfortunately, that works both ways. Trump also brought out many otherwise disinterested voters to vote against him. That was true even in 2018, even though he was not on the ballot. His was in office and people wanted to send him a message. In 2022 he won’t be in office, so not so many of them will turn out. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/88 "2021-03-26T14:56:31Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Unfortunately, that works both ways. Trump also brought out many otherwise disinterested voters to vote against him. That was true even in 2018, even though he was not on the ballot. His was in office and people wanted to send him a message. In 2022 he won’t be in office, so not so many of them will turn out. As much of a killjoy as that is, you have a point. He certainly motivated people on both sides of the chasm. I’m hoping the end of covid and the coming economic boom will be enough good news for Democrats to actually improve their standing in the midterms. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/89 "2021-03-26T17:41:49Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Because the Republican accusation that Democrats use widespread voter fraud to win is a _ **genuine** _ belief. It’s not idle talk, as some Democrats would think; the belief is _ **dead serious** _ within Republican circles. The R’s truly believe they are battling a threat to election integrity, hence the push for voter ID and restrictions. Many of the rank and file do, but I dont think the leadership or elected reps do. They know that the less votes, the better for the GOP. The higher to voter turnout, the better for the dems. There is no widespread fraud, (except by republicans) and the idea that throngs of illegals are eager to vote and vote Dems is totally wrong. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/90 "2021-03-26T17:58:11Z")
If congress manages to pass HR-1, what will be the effect on all these Republican bills being passed to restrict voting at state level? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/91 "2021-03-26T18:29:59Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I’m curious: if a person waiting in line gave another person waiting in line a Tic Tac, would that be illegal? Yes. As I noted in another thread, the law prohibits anyone from giving someone in line food or water. The rationale is that it constitutes undue influence, or a bribe, or something. As I noted there, there’s nothing against _selling_ water or (Tic Tacs) to someone in line. But selling looks an awful lot like giving, and you still might get arrested. > **[Would Georgia Bill Expand Ban On Free Food, Water For Voters Waiting in Line?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/georgia-food-water-voters-line/)** > > The Secretary of State calls the so-called "line warming" a form of illegal voter intimidation. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/92 "2021-03-26T20:20:23Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > But they insist on shooting themselves in their own feet with all this voter repression stuff. ``` I don't think they are shooting themselves, they want to win the Senate back, and restricting voting will help them do that. The way things are, they may continue to lose seats in Congress. ``` ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/93 "2021-03-26T21:43:33Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > ``` > I don't think they are shooting themselves, they want to win the Senate back, and restricting voting will help them do that. The way things are, they may continue to lose seats in Congress. > > ``` [aside] (Note: The strange formatting in the above happens because you have some blank spaces at the beginning of the paragraph.) [/aside] ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2021, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/94 "2021-03-26T21:50:34Z")
Yeah it’s far from clear if they’re really shooting themselves in the foot; if you do the math, what they’re doing makes sense. They lost some tight elections, and the outcomes are largely attributable to voter registration drives. The outrage machine is now out of office. Whatever happens is something that Biden and the Dems own. ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2021, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/95 "2021-03-27T03:30:43Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Yeah. The American right wing believes wholeheartedly that liberals are literally the enemies of democracy and freedom who are trying to destroy their country and civilization itself. It’s fucking madness. Not quite correct. The right wing eschews any reference to democracy. They refer to The Republic, and insist that our government is NOT a democracy. It’s a Constitutional Republic! ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2021, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/96 "2021-03-27T03:40:22Z")
Yeah republicans believe in majoritarian democracy, flawed democracy, ethno-nationalist democracy. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2021, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/97 "2021-03-27T15:06:23Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > "If conservatives become convinced that they can not win democratically, they will not _abandon_ conservatism. The will reject _democracy_ .” ― David Frum > > So prophetic Meh. They abandoned conservatism (in favor of reactionary radicalism) a couple of generations ago. That said, they HAVE ALSO rejected democracy. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2021, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/98 "2021-03-27T15:27:01Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > As I noted in another thread, the law prohibits anyone from giving someone in line food or water. Is there a Bible verse for that? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2021, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/99 "2021-03-27T15:27:13Z")
Some of the comments in the thread are making me contemplate the concept of “consent of the governed.” I guess the way the Republicans see it, the role of non-whites and non-landowners isn’t “governed,” it’s “ruled.” So the question of whether their “consent” is necessary is moot, just so the panems and circensems carry on. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2021, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723/100 "2021-03-27T19:09:17Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > If congress manages to pass HR-1, what will be the effect on all these Republican bills being passed to restrict voting at state level? Here are my assumptions / guesses on how it could go down. 1. If it passes, that means that Manchin and Sinema joined the other 48 D+I senators + Harris in getting rid of the filibuster. 2. The Republican state AGs will likely challenge the law in court. 3. SCOTUS will rule HR1 / The Voting Rights Act of 2021 unconstitutional and uphold Georgia’s new law as constitutional. 4A. Manchin and Sinema agree to pack the SCOTUS and then pass the Voting Rights Act of 2021 a second time with the new SCOTUS in place. This would be the end of the Republican Party as it currently exists. The alternative is that they continue being the current Republican party but never win federal elections again. 4B. Manchin and Sinema don’t agree to the above. Republican legislatures in PA, WI, AZ, FL, and TX follow Georgia’s lead and de facto bring back Jim Crow. The Democratic Party continues to exist as the current party, but never wins federal elections again. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-war-on-voting-thread/937723.md?page=6)