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Surreal to keep seeing headlines & videos (even on @LastWeekTonight) from Detroit’s TCF Center, where I heard “Stop the Count” while opening absentee ballots inside. Like @juliecmoroney, the memories are “seared onto my brain”
3 observations from my work at the polls
A thread https://twitter.com/juliecmoroney/status/1324558603961991169
3 observations from my work at the polls
A thread https://twitter.com/juliecmoroney/status/1324558603961991169
1. There was no fraud! This was supposed to be boring & undramatic work. We worked in teams of 5 verifying ballots against a poll book of voters, opening, and unfurling ballots to be counted by the machines. One person’s job was just to tear off tabs all day…
(2/n)
(2/n)
We followed existing protocols for every scenario. Checks and balances existed at every step. You think we could somehow trick the machines? Dump ballots for one party over the other with eyes everywhere? Our only goal was to ensure #EveryVoteCounts. Because, democracy.
(3/n)
(3/n)
2. The GOP had access! A week ago, Trump said on national tv “Our campaign has been denied access to observe any counting in Detroit.” Utter nonsense! Equal numbers of GOP & democratic challengers were inside, one from each party at all 135 tables
(4/n)
(4/n)
The majority of challengers from BOTH parties behaved respectfully and observed the rules. Did a small minority get thrown out? Yes, after intimidating inspectors (“Are YOU Republican?”) and disregarding warnings from supervisors.
(5/n)
(5/n)
When Biden overtook Trump in MI, the tension in TCF ballooned. GOP challengers resorted to desperate measures. They began challenging individual ballots, claiming a “lack of access” (of all things!) despite staring over our shoulders the whole time!
(6/n)
(6/n)
At my table, the GOP representative challenged all 13 mail-in ballots from overseas military who voted for Biden. Her reason? “Lack of access.” She hovered over me as she said it. The ballots that went to Trump? Curiously, no challenge.
(7/n)
(7/n)
Was she implying that it would be impossible for our soldiers to vote Democrat? What more access could she have? “Just doing my job,” she said. Challenging military ballots that went to Biden seemed a new low, until…
(8/n)
(8/n)
Chants of “Stop the Count!” poured into the room. Protestors banged on windows. Right-wing news sent out pictures of cardboard barriers taped to the windows, but neglected to mention that (a) GOP challengers remained inside, & (b) protesters were illegally filming our work
(9/n)
(9/n)
3. This. Is. What. Racism. Looks. Like. White protestors chanting “Stop the Count!” at a group of mostly Black poll workers tabulating ballots in a mostly Black city. Lawsuits claiming “lack of access” & “fraud” used as thinly veiled attempts to silence the Black vote
(10/n)
(10/n)
Reminds me of GOP strategist Lee Atwater’s famous quote in ’81: “and you’re getting so abstract…and all these things you’re talking about are totally economic things and a byproduct of them is, blacks get hurt worse than whites…” This is not rocket science!
(11/n)
(11/n)
Also recall NYTimes running the headline “Racial barrier falls in decisive victory” when Obama won in ’08. So much for that. Here we are in 2020, trying to toss Black votes. When will a post-racial America truly arrive?
(12/n)
(12/n)
To Review:
1. No fraud.
2. Ample access.
3. Call it what it is. Racism.
@realDonaldTrump only one of the two of us was in the room where it happened. Cease & Desist.
Give the mic to Americans who actually worked to protect our democracy.
Fin
1. No fraud.
2. Ample access.
3. Call it what it is. Racism.
@realDonaldTrump only one of the two of us was in the room where it happened. Cease & Desist.
Give the mic to Americans who actually worked to protect our democracy.
Fin
