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StevieM

(10,500 posts)
Sun Nov 26, 2017, 11:02 PM Nov 2017

Robert Reich: The poor are being barred from voting. And that's unconstitutional.

~snip~

Hundreds of thousands of Americans are being denied the right to vote because they are poor.

In nine states, Republican legislators have enacted laws that disenfranchise anyone with outstanding legal fees or court fines.

For example, in Alabama more than 100,000 people who owe money – roughly 3 percent of the state’s voting-age population – have been struck from voting rolls.

This is unconstitutional. In 1964, the 24th amendment abolished the poll tax, a Jim Crow tactic used to bar poor blacks from voting.


Read More: http://www.newsweek.com/robert-reich-poor-are-being-barred-voting-and-thats-unconstitutional-718117

17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Robert Reich: The poor are being barred from voting. And that's unconstitutional. (Original Post) StevieM Nov 2017 OP
Absolutely. dalton99a Nov 2017 #1
There's still time for the DNC, ACLU,PFAW to sue, but it has to be now. hedda_foil Nov 2017 #2
I think you meant to write "sue," not "use." (eom) StevieM Nov 2017 #4
Thanks for the catch. Fixed. It. hedda_foil Nov 2017 #16
WTF ??? pangaia Nov 2017 #3
Surprised? elleng Nov 2017 #5
You know, almost nothing surprises me about it all. pangaia Nov 2017 #7
I agree about All these comments, elleng Nov 2017 #9
K&R Solly Mack Nov 2017 #6
The GOP is the party of voter suppression Gothmog Nov 2017 #8
Article explaining the issue in Alabama in greater detail... PoliticAverse Nov 2017 #10
If it was the Dems doing this the right would be raising bloody hell. But... Binkie The Clown Nov 2017 #11
What is constitutional NotASurfer Nov 2017 #12
That would make a great lawsuit, reduce their representation proportionate to suppression. L. Coyote Nov 2017 #17
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the President of the United States pecosbob Nov 2017 #13
They're pulling out all the stops for the 2018 election. It's going to be ugly. C Moon Nov 2017 #14
Constismooshin shadowmayor Nov 2017 #15

hedda_foil

(16,379 posts)
2. There's still time for the DNC, ACLU,PFAW to sue, but it has to be now.
Sun Nov 26, 2017, 11:27 PM
Nov 2017

Last edited Mon Nov 27, 2017, 02:39 AM - Edit history (1)

Let's see if it happens.

pangaia

(24,324 posts)
7. You know, almost nothing surprises me about it all.
Mon Nov 27, 2017, 12:00 AM
Nov 2017

All these comments for months about, "I never thought he would stoop so low." "I can't believe they are doing this." Etc etc.

Get over it. Its real foljs.

But, this one did kinda surprise me..maybe surprise is the wrong word.

I'm going back to FIDELIO.



Binkie The Clown

(7,911 posts)
11. If it was the Dems doing this the right would be raising bloody hell. But...
Mon Nov 27, 2017, 12:26 AM
Nov 2017

...since it's the right doing it, the left is shrugging and saying "oh well".

NotASurfer

(2,157 posts)
12. What is constitutional
Mon Nov 27, 2017, 12:48 AM
Nov 2017

14th Amendment, note that subsequent amendments extended voting to women and lowered voting age:

when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the executive and judicial officers of a state, or the members of the legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such state, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such state.


Think disenfranchisement is widespread enough to dock these states a couple of Representatives (and thus Electors)?

L. Coyote

(51,129 posts)
17. That would make a great lawsuit, reduce their representation proportionate to suppression.
Mon Nov 27, 2017, 02:42 AM
Nov 2017

Likewise for Jim Crow felony disenfranchisement.

C Moon

(12,226 posts)
14. They're pulling out all the stops for the 2018 election. It's going to be ugly.
Mon Nov 27, 2017, 01:19 AM
Nov 2017

The GOP (who would not back a Trump candidate), now will do ANYTHING to stop him from being impeached.
We ALL KNOW TRUMP WAS AIDED BY RUSSIA. But the GOP doesn't care.
I hope we can get rid of that party.

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