This piece is part of our weekly Prime series on voting rights, but it has been moved outside of the paywall while we cover COVID-19.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1309605
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1309605
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This is my shocked face. 
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but the state Supreme Court on Friday said it was putting the lower state court rulings on hold while it considers the case on its merit.
Let me guess, the hold will be just long enough to make it impossible for Texas to print and plan to handle the additional mail in ballots expected by the change.
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What’s really awful about a decision like this is that the alternative in some states to a court decision regarding absentee voting is to put it on the ballot as an initiative or proposal so that if not this time, at least the next time expanding the electorate is up for a vote. It may not be a solution for the next election but its an alternative. That’s what was done in MI before this pandemic hit, we got no excuse absentee voting passed because it was on the ballot, and it passed overwhelmingly.
But in order to do that today, people have to be approached and petitions have to be signed (same as always), which means getting those done might break social distancing protocols and approaching people who may not have masks on or would be more guarded about their personal space. That all becomes a little harder without some creative remedy. I suppose it can be done, but how many people would want to take on that responsibility now considering the dangers of exposure to others?
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The GOP has finally taken voter suppression to its ultimate conclusion.
By killing the voters.
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No, they’ll just outright rule that being deathly allergic of the coronavirus is not a “disability” within the meaning of the absentee voting statute. The Texas Supreme Court is 9-0 GOP elected officials. They’re not shy when it comes time to commit political hackery.
Texas has no procedure for ballot initiatives. Everything has to go through the legislature.
Periodic reminder that we need to flip just 10 seats in the Texas House of Representatives, thereby preventing another historically awful gerrymander next year. Think about how much easier it will be to hold onto the US House for the next decade if the Texas delegation goes from 23R-13D to something closer to 20-20 after this year’s census.
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Cant have people voting…that would be too much like democracy…
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… but even if a very concise, straightforward proposal was overwhelmingly passed - the legislature would mutilate it with modifications so as to make it as impossibly awkward and cumbersome - beyond all imagination.
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Allowing absentee voting is akin to enforcing food safety laws at restaurants — if you don’t have the opportunity to kill the voters or diners, where’s the fun?
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Well face it, another of many signs that Republicans are done. They are trying to push all the buttons, turn all the dials in their attempt to suppress a vote, that under normal circumstances would see them cashiered out of office lock, stock and barrel.
Dangerous people, but very telling of their current state. They are afraid it is over.
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God forbid people should be allowed to vote easily. They know they’re losing their grip on Texas. The only way they still have the state legislature and the majority in the House is through massive gerrymandering.
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You can hear their screams of “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain” echoing through the empty canyons of their tiny minds.
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When I was young to stand four square against the right to vote would have been the kiss of death for any politician. Now being anti-democracy is an issue Republicans are prepared to die for.
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Funny how putting something on the ballot in Missouri, and having it pass by 62% of voters, means that the pols don’t think we knew what we were voting for.
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Maybe I am a fool, but that is my take.
The balancing act Trump is playing with the Virus is a last chance. He is betting that things will get better, even if a little, to push him over the line. He is fixated on the market, but I suspect he is not capable of understanding what really is going on in the minds of voters.
Junior is spouting off that the liberal/democratic discussion on the virus will die the day after the election. Almost 90K dead, 1.5M people infected, The medical community alone is one solid block of reality nd Junior is flogging the idea that the virus is a will-o-the-wisp? Man, I would take on opposition if they were walking that path of non-reality, even if it is just propaganda. I would do a Hardway bet considering the odds that the virus will blow up in their face, despite the “promising” news of a vaccine that might work.
[Since I wrote that, I ran into this]
and this
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I don’t think you’re a fool I think that’s a smart take on the whole thing.
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As long as Indicted-Attorney-General Paxton was at the Texas Supreme Court, did he get them to put off his trial permanently? I think “Indicted” should be used whenever he is referred to.
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In Ohio, you currently don’t need to give a reason for requesting a mail-in-ballot. A few years ago when you did, a valid excuse was being out of the county on business during election day. If that is a valid excuse in TX (or wherever), why don’t voters just say that and request a MIB?
You’re predicting the future, who knows where you’ll be on that date? And how can they contradict you? What are they going to do? Send the Gestapo to everyone’s house to make sure they’re out of the county on business? You can just say your business deal fell through.
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It may only last until the INDICTED Texas AG takes it to Fed appellate court, but at least there’s still hope that the Texan Anti-Democratic Party will be forced to deal with every blue vote in their state.
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