#VoterSuppression With the State Seal of Approval and #RollEagle!

The Alabama Secretary of State's Office is kicking off their voter suppression, EYE mean, registration and identification efforts, Nod Nod Wink Wink, with a campaign that features Alabama head football coach Nick Saban and Auburn University head football coach Guz Malzan.

Stay Classy  #SweetHomeAlabama where We Dare Defend Our Right to Suppress the Vote

"But wait, can’t you just get a state photo ID? Sure…But you still have to haul your sorry ass to the non-existent DMV."

The curious case of the Alabama Ballot Security Manual, A practical guide for Poll Watchers

This is a follow up to my June 5, 2014 cross-post via Warm Southern Breezes 

Alabama Secretary of State Errs in Poll Watcher Guide: Photo Voter ID Law Disenfranchises Elderly Voters in June Primaries

 

The Alabama Secretary of State’s office produced this “Practical guide for Poll Watchers” for the 2014 statewide Primaries (held June 3, 2014), which mistakenly cites the OLD law, which allows numerous types of non-photographic voter identification, instead of the NEW law which MANDATES ALL VOTERS produce “valid” photographic identification. “Alabama Ballot Security Manual: A Practical guide for Poll Watchers, Alabama Primary Election, June 3, 2014“

There's just one problem, via his Deputy Chief of Staff, the Alabama Secretary of State said his office does not produce the manual.

Adam Thompson said

Tuesday, June 10, 2014, at 4:40 PM To Whom It May Concern,
The Alabama Secretary of State’s Office does NOT produce any document titled “Alabama Ballot Security Manual: A practical guide for Poll Watchers, Alabama Primary Election, June 3, 2014.” The only documents we produce are the 2014 Alabama Voter Guide and the Alabama Photo Voter ID Guide. Please update your article.
Sincerely,
Adam Thompson
Deputy Chief of Staff
Office of Secretary of State Jim Bennett

Hmmm... was it used during the June 3rd primary?

In a document entitled “Alabama Photo Voter ID Guide” available on the Alabama Secretary of State’s website - http://www.alabamavoterid.com/downloads/AlabamaPhotoVoterIDGuide.pdf – it states in a letter from the Secretary of State Jim Bennett (a Republican), that “Beginning with the 2014 primary election, the State Legislature has mandated that a voter present photo ID prior to voting.”

As well, on page 6 in that document it further states that: “Beginning with the June 3, 2014 primary election, Act 2011-673 requires an Alabama voter to have a specific type of photo identification at the polls in order to vote. If a voter does not have one of the approved forms of photo ID as stated in the law, then he or she may receive a free Alabama photo voter ID card from various locations.”
That information is contradicted, however, in a separate document also prepared by the Alabama Secretary of State’s office (as seen herein) which is entitled “Alabama Ballot Security Manual: A practical guide for Poll Watchers, Alabama Primary Election, June 3, 2014“
On page 19 (as seen herein above) it asserts to cite Code of Alabama 17-9-30 which, up to this year (2014) has allowed voters to produce various forms of non-photographic identification. However, it cites the OLD LAW, instead of the NEW LAW.  Why and how the Secretary of State could screw up in such grand fashion is unimaginable.

If the Alabama SOS didn't produce this guide who did?

"Alabama Secretary of State Errs in Poll Watcher Guide: Photo Voter ID Law Disenfranchises Elderly Voters in June Primaries"

H/T Warm Southern Breeze

The Alabama Secretary of State’s office produced this “Practical guide for Poll Watchers” for the 2014 statewide Primaries (held June 3, 2014), which mistakenly cites the OLD law, which allows numerous types of non-photographic voter identification, instead of the NEW law which MANDATES ALL VOTERS produce “valid” photographic identification. “Alabama Ballot Security Manual: A Practical Guide for Poll Watchers, Alabama Primary Election, June 3, 2014“

In a document entitled “Alabama Photo Voter ID Guide” available on the Alabama Secretary of State’s website - http://www.alabamavoterid.com/downloads/AlabamaPhotoVoterIDGuide.pdf – it states in a letter from the Secretary of State Jim Bennett (a Republican), that “Beginning with the 2014 primary election, the State Legislature has mandated that a voter present photo ID prior to voting.”

As well, on page 6 in that document it further states that: “Beginning with the June 3, 2014 primary election, Act 2011-673 requires an Alabama voter to have a specific type of photo identification at the polls in order to vote. If a voter does not have one of the approved forms of photo ID as stated in the law, then he or she may receive a free Alabama photo voter ID card from various locations.”
That information is contradicted, however, in a separate document also prepared by the Alabama Secretary of State’s office (as seen herein) which is entitled “Alabama Ballot Security Manual: A practical guide for Poll Watchers, Alabama Primary Election, June 3, 2014“
On page 19 (as seen herein above), it asserts to cite Code of Alabama 17-9-30 which, up to this year (2014) has allowed voters to produce various forms of non-photographic identification. However, it cites the OLD LAW, instead of the NEW LAW.
Why and how the Secretary of State could screw up in such grand fashion is unimaginable.

How and why indeed?

  Make it Viral

 My suggestion is that people start using a catchy hashtag, something like #nowimgonnavote, every time they see the Republicans do or say something outrageously stupid or insensitive. We need a viral campaign to turn people out to vote in November. If things play out the way they usually do, we're not going to be in a better place next year than we are in this year, and this year is pretty horrible.

People need to make the connection between stupid shit and the need to vote. If you see rampant hypocrisy or science-denial or racism or homophobia or a war on reproductive choice and contraception or a total lack of empathy for the poor or for a POW or for victims of crime and natural disasters, then note it with a #nowimgonnavote hashtag.
Maybe people will get the idea that the way to end this madness is to participate in the political process.

 #nowimgonnavote,

WAFF 48 tells voters to turn in "suspected voter fraud" to the GOP (RedEye Roll)

Today's primary is the test for the new voter suppression, I mean, voter ID law in Alabama, which republicans tout as a preemptive strike against imagined voter fraud.  So,  in addition to moving a lot of polling places from public facilities to churches and corporations , for good measure, the GOP, enabled by WAFF 48, offers voters some Last-minuet tips about Voter ID, Fraud.

While at the polls, it is important to remember that your vote is a representation of your voice - and you shouldn't let anyone take either away.
The Alabama Republican Party wants your help in preventing voter fraud at the polls Tuesday.
Voters are asked to be on alert and report any suspected fraudulent activity.
The Voter Fraud Hotline number is 1-844-253-7283. This number will also be on signs posted at various polling locations.
A $1,000 reward could be earned for tips that lead to a conviction.

 WRONG.  Report any "suspected fraudulent activity" to the Alabama Secretary State, Jim Bennet, not the GOP.  Since Bennett is a republican I guess you could say you are indirectly reporting "suspected fraudulent activity" to the GOP, but he's obligated to be non partisan when it comes to "suspected fraudulent activity".  

The Republican party is certain that U.S. elections are rife with voter fraud. How are they so sure of that? Apparently because Republican operatives are the source of most of it.

I think it's called projecting....  

Voter ID is not about fraud, it's about Voter Suppression.

Alabama Offering "Free" Voter ID cards? Well, Sorta, Kinda..

Nothing is free, taxpayers are funding this little folly.  Although voter fraud is rarer than a shark attack, in an attempt to make sure democrats don't get to exercise their right to vote, Alabama republicans changed the rules in the middle of game.  All of a sudden the state issued voter registration card voters have been using for years is required to include your photo.

Oh wait... the state issued voter registration card doesn't have your photo on it.  Here's an idea, why not re-issue those cards with photo's from the DMV,  those voters who don't have a drivers license can go have their picture made at the DMV, or better yet, by the the mobile vans they've promised to provide for people who can't get to the DMV?  Instead of making the voters come to them, the state of Alabama should go to voters.  After all, the Secretary of State should know who they are, and where they are.

I'm just saying..