It can't be that easy: group behind voter suppression laws
May 14, 2021 1:25 AM Subscribe
From Ari Berman and Nick Surgey in Mother Jones, a leaked video and investigation into Heritage Action and US voter suppression laws. In a private meeting last month with big-money donors, the head of a top conservative group boasted that her outfit had crafted the new voter suppression law in Georgia and was doing the same with similar bills for Republican state legislators across the country. “In some cases, we actually draft them for them,” she said, “or we have a sentinel on our behalf give them the model legislation so it has that grassroots, from-the-bottom-up type of vibe.”
The Georgia law had “eight key provisions that Heritage recommended,” Jessica Anderson, the executive director of Heritage Action for America, a sister organization of the Heritage Foundation, told the foundation’s donors at an April 22 gathering in Tucson, in a recording obtained by the watchdog group Documented and shared with Mother Jones. Those included policies severely restricting mail ballot drop boxes, preventing election officials from sending absentee ballot request forms to voters, making it easier for partisan workers to monitor the polls, preventing the collection of mail ballots, and restricting the ability of counties to accept donations from nonprofit groups seeking to aid in election administration.
...Heritage is spending $24 million over two years in eight battleground states—Arizona, Michigan, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, Texas, and Wisconsin—to pass and defend restrictive voting legislation. Every Tuesday, the group leads a call with right-wing advocacy groups like the Susan B. Anthony List, Tea Party Patriots, and FreedomWorks to coordinate these efforts at the highest levels of the conservative movement. “We literally give marching orders for the week ahead,” Anderson said. “All so we’re singing from the same song sheet of the goals for that week and where the state bills are across the country.”
The Georgia law had “eight key provisions that Heritage recommended,” Jessica Anderson, the executive director of Heritage Action for America, a sister organization of the Heritage Foundation, told the foundation’s donors at an April 22 gathering in Tucson, in a recording obtained by the watchdog group Documented and shared with Mother Jones. Those included policies severely restricting mail ballot drop boxes, preventing election officials from sending absentee ballot request forms to voters, making it easier for partisan workers to monitor the polls, preventing the collection of mail ballots, and restricting the ability of counties to accept donations from nonprofit groups seeking to aid in election administration.
...Heritage is spending $24 million over two years in eight battleground states—Arizona, Michigan, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, Texas, and Wisconsin—to pass and defend restrictive voting legislation. Every Tuesday, the group leads a call with right-wing advocacy groups like the Susan B. Anthony List, Tea Party Patriots, and FreedomWorks to coordinate these efforts at the highest levels of the conservative movement. “We literally give marching orders for the week ahead,” Anderson said. “All so we’re singing from the same song sheet of the goals for that week and where the state bills are across the country.”
This can't possibly come as a surprise to anyone. Right wing groups and thinktanks have been doing exactly this for ages.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:15 AM on May 14, 2021 [13 favorites]
posted by Thorzdad at 4:15 AM on May 14, 2021 [13 favorites]
It's not a surpise but it's nice to have hard evidence that this isn't some grass-roots movement, that this is a handful of scared wealthy people (and the larger groups of people down the pyramid) who need to disenfranchise people in order to feel safe.
posted by kokaku at 4:28 AM on May 14, 2021 [35 favorites]
posted by kokaku at 4:28 AM on May 14, 2021 [35 favorites]
Democracy in action!
No system is perfect, but the way governments are elected in the US is maybe among the least 'democratic,' giving rise to shenanigans like this. Because this clearly is not the will of the majority of the people.
That in mind, what's to stop the same thing from happening from the left? that's a bit of a trick question, isn't it...
posted by From Bklyn at 4:42 AM on May 14, 2021
No system is perfect, but the way governments are elected in the US is maybe among the least 'democratic,' giving rise to shenanigans like this. Because this clearly is not the will of the majority of the people.
That in mind, what's to stop the same thing from happening from the left? that's a bit of a trick question, isn't it...
posted by From Bklyn at 4:42 AM on May 14, 2021
"It can't be that easy" sums up the bills themselves, too.
posted by emelenjr at 4:48 AM on May 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by emelenjr at 4:48 AM on May 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
Heritage Action ... living up to their name. Renamable as: Entitled assholes doing shitty things because.
posted by Nanukthedog at 4:53 AM on May 14, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by Nanukthedog at 4:53 AM on May 14, 2021 [3 favorites]
No system is perfect, but the way governments are elected in the US is maybe among the least 'democratic,' giving rise to shenanigans like this. Because this clearly is not the will of the majority of the people.
Democrats should respond to every Republican voter suppression initiative with "so you admit you have no hope of appealing to a majority of voters."
posted by Gelatin at 4:56 AM on May 14, 2021 [15 favorites]
Democrats should respond to every Republican voter suppression initiative with "so you admit you have no hope of appealing to a majority of voters."
posted by Gelatin at 4:56 AM on May 14, 2021 [15 favorites]
As much as I'd turn a blind eye to Jessica Anderson and those of her ilk being taken into the streets and beaten to a pulp, I know that's not legal (and to many, not ethical).
What is legal is for every person who ever sees or encounters her to shun her. Own the corner store she gets her morning muffin? Refuse her service. Own the gas station close to her work? Deny her the pump. Own the airline she frequently flies on? Ban her. Etc. Etc.
In short, hound these monsters to their graves. Anything less is a blessing.
posted by dobbs at 5:01 AM on May 14, 2021 [11 favorites]
What is legal is for every person who ever sees or encounters her to shun her. Own the corner store she gets her morning muffin? Refuse her service. Own the gas station close to her work? Deny her the pump. Own the airline she frequently flies on? Ban her. Etc. Etc.
In short, hound these monsters to their graves. Anything less is a blessing.
posted by dobbs at 5:01 AM on May 14, 2021 [11 favorites]
Boris Johnson's government here in the UK has just announced proposals to require a photo ID for anyone hoping to vote in a national Election. It's being justified on exactly the same spurious voter fraud terms used to introduce similar legislation in some American states.
What always gets me is that if you're actually worried about voter fraud, fine -- but then there are two sides to the coin. If you want to require photo IDs, that should mean you're also taking on the responsibility of putting those IDs in people's hands: going to people's neighborhoods or houses if need be, subsidizing a universal a paid day off work and childcare to enable people to go get their IDs -- whatever is necessary, at whatever cost.
If you actually want restrictive measures for the sake of ensuring the legitimacy of the vote and not for the sake of making legitimate but undesired voters jump through hoops, then you have to accept it as your own responsibility to eliminate those hoops.
I wish that were the debate: "Okay, you want these voter requirements? Show us how you're going to do this without placing a burden on legit voters. Otherwise it's a nonstarter."
posted by trig at 5:17 AM on May 14, 2021 [15 favorites]
What always gets me is that if you're actually worried about voter fraud, fine -- but then there are two sides to the coin. If you want to require photo IDs, that should mean you're also taking on the responsibility of putting those IDs in people's hands: going to people's neighborhoods or houses if need be, subsidizing a universal a paid day off work and childcare to enable people to go get their IDs -- whatever is necessary, at whatever cost.
If you actually want restrictive measures for the sake of ensuring the legitimacy of the vote and not for the sake of making legitimate but undesired voters jump through hoops, then you have to accept it as your own responsibility to eliminate those hoops.
I wish that were the debate: "Okay, you want these voter requirements? Show us how you're going to do this without placing a burden on legit voters. Otherwise it's a nonstarter."
posted by trig at 5:17 AM on May 14, 2021 [15 favorites]
What always gets me is that if you're actually worried about voter fraud, fine -- but then there are two sides to the coin.
You’re fooling yourself if you think any sort of moral consistency is at all relevant here. The entire point of this exercise is retaining power in order to exercise power. That’s the conservative view of what power is. That the rules constrain you, but not them isn’t a failure or an error, it’s the whole point of the exercise.
posted by mhoye at 5:36 AM on May 14, 2021 [38 favorites]
You’re fooling yourself if you think any sort of moral consistency is at all relevant here. The entire point of this exercise is retaining power in order to exercise power. That’s the conservative view of what power is. That the rules constrain you, but not them isn’t a failure or an error, it’s the whole point of the exercise.
posted by mhoye at 5:36 AM on May 14, 2021 [38 favorites]
Of course. But we should be calling them on it, instead of letting the debate be "voter fraud exists" vs "no it doesn't".
posted by trig at 5:49 AM on May 14, 2021 [9 favorites]
posted by trig at 5:49 AM on May 14, 2021 [9 favorites]
"we have a sentinel on our behalf give them the model legislation"
Sentinel is an interesting word choice. I haven't seen it used much.
Note that it implies watching and guarding.
posted by doctornemo at 5:49 AM on May 14, 2021 [10 favorites]
Sentinel is an interesting word choice. I haven't seen it used much.
Note that it implies watching and guarding.
posted by doctornemo at 5:49 AM on May 14, 2021 [10 favorites]
This is in no way surprising but it is satisfying to have video that confirms what those of us paying attention already knew but that many other Americans know nothing about. That is what makes it valuable and worth sharing. And it’s also a good reminder that people who support democracy really need to focus on states, counties, and municipalities when it comes to the US and whatever regions make sense for other nations. Ultimately, if we’re going to strengthen and/or improve democracy in the US (and that’s a big if), we have to focus on state and local elections.
That isn’t news either but not nearly enough people are investing in that critical need, according to me, a non-expert. But I’m pretty sure there are experts who agree.
posted by Bella Donna at 5:51 AM on May 14, 2021 [11 favorites]
That isn’t news either but not nearly enough people are investing in that critical need, according to me, a non-expert. But I’m pretty sure there are experts who agree.
posted by Bella Donna at 5:51 AM on May 14, 2021 [11 favorites]
Are these the same psychopaths who are pushing bills in various states allowing motorists to use their cars as weapons against groups of protestors? Because...jesus christ.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:45 AM on May 14, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by Thorzdad at 6:45 AM on May 14, 2021 [5 favorites]
what's to stop the same thing from happening from the left?
A belief in democracy, I hope.
posted by Bee'sWing at 6:55 AM on May 14, 2021 [6 favorites]
A belief in democracy, I hope.
posted by Bee'sWing at 6:55 AM on May 14, 2021 [6 favorites]
I was going to go with "a lack of the giant gobs of money going the other direction."
posted by aspersioncast at 7:35 AM on May 14, 2021 [9 favorites]
posted by aspersioncast at 7:35 AM on May 14, 2021 [9 favorites]
Democrats should respond to every Republican voter suppression initiative with "so you admit you have no hope of appealing to a majority of voters."
Yeah, that's not going to do anything. They admit it. What little of this that is done in the public eye is done with a sneer and a little head-nod to the base who already believes it should be illegal* for anyone but landowning white men to vote.
*In fact, lots of white people believe it IS illegal in the way that white people have always treated things they don't like as illegal. Voter suppression is just a means of enforcing what they believe is natural law.
Voter fraud, even in the (deliberate AND accidental) fucked-up chaos of most states' voting systems, is microscopic. It is the least issue. Real things like the lack of disability accommodation in voting places and the operating hours at most locations affects far more votes than fraud or accidents. There is no "both sides" there.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:42 AM on May 14, 2021 [21 favorites]
Yeah, that's not going to do anything. They admit it. What little of this that is done in the public eye is done with a sneer and a little head-nod to the base who already believes it should be illegal* for anyone but landowning white men to vote.
*In fact, lots of white people believe it IS illegal in the way that white people have always treated things they don't like as illegal. Voter suppression is just a means of enforcing what they believe is natural law.
Voter fraud, even in the (deliberate AND accidental) fucked-up chaos of most states' voting systems, is microscopic. It is the least issue. Real things like the lack of disability accommodation in voting places and the operating hours at most locations affects far more votes than fraud or accidents. There is no "both sides" there.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:42 AM on May 14, 2021 [21 favorites]
Another point of evidence showing that these bills are completely unprincipled power grabs: The same assholes whinging about how it is imperative we require a photo ID to vote are largely the same people who whinge about IDs in general being the mark of the beast or government gone mad. Might as well be the USSR in here, they say.
Funny, that.
posted by wierdo at 8:15 AM on May 14, 2021 [3 favorites]
Funny, that.
posted by wierdo at 8:15 AM on May 14, 2021 [3 favorites]
The same assholes whinging about how it is imperative we require a photo ID to vote are largely the same people who whinge about IDs in general being the mark of the beast or government gone mad.
I just had to replace my drivers license early with a REAL ID* drivers license, so that ship actually sailed years ago.
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:57 AM on May 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
I just had to replace my drivers license early with a REAL ID* drivers license, so that ship actually sailed years ago.
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:57 AM on May 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
They're also the same people who don't think they should have to show ID when buying a gun.
posted by aspersioncast at 9:13 AM on May 14, 2021 [13 favorites]
posted by aspersioncast at 9:13 AM on May 14, 2021 [13 favorites]
Calling out Republicans for their hypocrisy, and even waving evidence of it under their noses, is a waste of effort. Their entire world view revolves around it. "We are entitled to do the thing, and the people we don't like are not entitled to do the thing." Institutional privilege. You can't shame them for it because they don't recognize it as shameful.
posted by Flexagon at 9:23 AM on May 14, 2021 [16 favorites]
posted by Flexagon at 9:23 AM on May 14, 2021 [16 favorites]
They're also the same people who don't think they should have to show ID when buying a gun.
"If you don't have to register a gun in Georgia, why do you have to register to vote? They're both Constitutional rights."
posted by mikelieman at 9:52 AM on May 14, 2021 [13 favorites]
"If you don't have to register a gun in Georgia, why do you have to register to vote? They're both Constitutional rights."
posted by mikelieman at 9:52 AM on May 14, 2021 [13 favorites]
Because this clearly is not the will of the majority of the people.
Even the will of the people is disregarded by the politicians who will face no consequence for their thumbing the nose at the people. See the latest shenanigans in the State of Missouri. The people voted for Medicaid expansion; but the legislature and the Governor vetoed that anyway.
ETA: This has been going on since 2008 with the so called Red State project. A Republican operative realized after the 2008 election that the party was heading into some pretty bad demographic headwinds and set about changing the ground rules. Looks like they have succeeded. Look at Wisconsin where in the last election the Democrats got 52 percent of the vote but control about 33 percent of the chambers. This is going on in pretty much most states where the Republican party is competitive.
posted by indianbadger1 at 9:53 AM on May 14, 2021 [5 favorites]
Even the will of the people is disregarded by the politicians who will face no consequence for their thumbing the nose at the people. See the latest shenanigans in the State of Missouri. The people voted for Medicaid expansion; but the legislature and the Governor vetoed that anyway.
ETA: This has been going on since 2008 with the so called Red State project. A Republican operative realized after the 2008 election that the party was heading into some pretty bad demographic headwinds and set about changing the ground rules. Looks like they have succeeded. Look at Wisconsin where in the last election the Democrats got 52 percent of the vote but control about 33 percent of the chambers. This is going on in pretty much most states where the Republican party is competitive.
posted by indianbadger1 at 9:53 AM on May 14, 2021 [5 favorites]
Centrist and liberal thinktanks exist, but do any of them have this kind of leglislation-writing side hustle going, or is it just Heritage Action and ALEC and other right-wing groups doing this kind of work?
posted by box at 11:38 AM on May 14, 2021
posted by box at 11:38 AM on May 14, 2021
Maybe they are being less cynical about it, but it's allowed and the other guys are doing it - I would be very surprised if they aren't.
posted by each day we work at 11:50 AM on May 14, 2021
posted by each day we work at 11:50 AM on May 14, 2021
Part of the problem is that places which vote Democratic tend to try to be genuinely fair.
California, for example, responded to extreme partisan gerrymandering by Republicans in other states by.... instituting a neutral board to administer congressional districts thus making gerrymandering significantly more difficult if not actually impossible.
And that's the pattern across the country. Far from 'they put one ours in the hospital, we put one of theirs in the morgue" the Democrats have responded to aggression from the Republicans by unilateral disarmament.
I agree with the person here (can't remember their name, sorry) who says that basically the Democratic party has no policy it's entire constituency can rally around so instead it makes process the core of the party.
And the result of any game where one side cheats with no consequences and the other plays fair is that the cheater wins in the long run.
As far back as the Texas redistricting of 2003, when Democrats tried to stop it by breaking the quorum, there have been people like me who argued the Democratic Party must retaliate because distasteful as it is tit for tat retaliation is the only means of enforcing norms in a system with no outside rule enforcing agency.
And every time the argument happens the advocates of retaliation lose and the proponents of the high road win.
So here we are, approaching endgame, and we've kept our powder dry and held the high road, and we're going to get our asses kicked.
posted by sotonohito at 1:11 PM on May 14, 2021 [14 favorites]
California, for example, responded to extreme partisan gerrymandering by Republicans in other states by.... instituting a neutral board to administer congressional districts thus making gerrymandering significantly more difficult if not actually impossible.
And that's the pattern across the country. Far from 'they put one ours in the hospital, we put one of theirs in the morgue" the Democrats have responded to aggression from the Republicans by unilateral disarmament.
I agree with the person here (can't remember their name, sorry) who says that basically the Democratic party has no policy it's entire constituency can rally around so instead it makes process the core of the party.
And the result of any game where one side cheats with no consequences and the other plays fair is that the cheater wins in the long run.
As far back as the Texas redistricting of 2003, when Democrats tried to stop it by breaking the quorum, there have been people like me who argued the Democratic Party must retaliate because distasteful as it is tit for tat retaliation is the only means of enforcing norms in a system with no outside rule enforcing agency.
And every time the argument happens the advocates of retaliation lose and the proponents of the high road win.
So here we are, approaching endgame, and we've kept our powder dry and held the high road, and we're going to get our asses kicked.
posted by sotonohito at 1:11 PM on May 14, 2021 [14 favorites]
we're going to get our asses kicked.
I fear much worse but I’ll take an ass kicking.
posted by glaucon at 1:14 PM on May 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
I fear much worse but I’ll take an ass kicking.
posted by glaucon at 1:14 PM on May 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
Boris Johnson's government here in the UK has just announced proposals to require a photo ID for anyone hoping to vote in a national Election. It's being justified on exactly the same spurious voter fraud terms used to introduce similar legislation in some American states. The real purpose is crystal clear, though - to disenfranchise people likely to vote against the Tories.
Boris Johnson of course, notably opposed to ID cars as being un-British totalitarianism (correct) until they might be electorally useful.
posted by atrazine at 3:06 PM on May 14, 2021 [2 favorites]
Boris Johnson of course, notably opposed to ID cars as being un-British totalitarianism (correct) until they might be electorally useful.
posted by atrazine at 3:06 PM on May 14, 2021 [2 favorites]
Innuendo Studios - The Alt-Right Playbook: You Go High, We Go Low
posted by Quajek at 9:41 AM on May 15, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by Quajek at 9:41 AM on May 15, 2021 [5 favorites]
Thank you! I thought it was a mefite and instead it was Innuendo Studios. I watched all the alt right playbook videos back when they came out and I guess I got them mixed up with conversations I was having here.
posted by sotonohito at 4:31 PM on May 16, 2021
posted by sotonohito at 4:31 PM on May 16, 2021
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I've already contacted my MP to urge her to oppose these plans in the Commons, and I'd encourage any British Mefites reading this to do so too.
posted by Paul Slade at 4:04 AM on May 14, 2021 [16 favorites]