Read on Twitter
For those who follow me for news about voter suppression in TN, you might be interested in two bills filed this week in the TN legislature.
The TN GOP is always coming up with new ways to suppress voters.
As usual, I have some thoughts...
1/x
The TN GOP is always coming up with new ways to suppress voters.
As usual, I have some thoughts...
1/x
1) Abolish early voting. So predictable. Just as early & absentee voting has become popular, we should, of course, ABOLISH it. 
Not content to be one of the hardest places in the US to vote absentee, the TN GOP wants to rid itself of early vote too.
2/x
Not content to be one of the hardest places in the US to vote absentee, the TN GOP wants to rid itself of early vote too.
2/x
Yâall want to go back to long lines on Election Day, w/ no opportunity to vote early in what has become our treasured voting âseasonâ? That will be awesome for sr citizens, busy parents, travellers on Election Day, & we will all just LOVE standing in the heat & pouring rain.
3/x
3/x
2) No machines!
I know the arguments, but these have largely been answered w/ machines that produce paper trails. Counts on the machines are confirmed by the scans. This technology was used all over the US to produce the most reliable natl election in our recent history.
4/x
I know the arguments, but these have largely been answered w/ machines that produce paper trails. Counts on the machines are confirmed by the scans. This technology was used all over the US to produce the most reliable natl election in our recent history.
4/x
The problem would be solved except most TN counties donât have machines that provide paper trails, & the state refuses to make it a priority for them (rural, smaller, w/ fewer resources). 
The state actually has federal $ to help accomplish this, but they havenât done it.
5/x
The state actually has federal $ to help accomplish this, but they havenât done it.5/x
3) Now letâs talk about the party that always warns of government control. Well, apparently the TN GOP wants all of our fingerprints in order to vote.
Whatâs next? Eye scans?
Setting aside the intrusion factor to exercise our RIGHT to vote, this sounds expensive!
6/x
Whatâs next? Eye scans?
Setting aside the intrusion factor to exercise our RIGHT to vote, this sounds expensive!
6/x
TN wonât pay for industry-standard voting machines to ensure a paper trail for our vote, but they want to launch a program to get every person who has a RIGHT to vote be subjected to a fingerprinting program that would be held in a state system?
Cool.
7/x
Cool.
7/x
What does the GOP Sec of State think about these proposals? Is he behind them? Opposed? What about our Governor? Iâd like to know.
Final note. Hereâs what TN voters need to know about their elections even without these crazy-town proposals:
8/x
Final note. Hereâs what TN voters need to know about their elections even without these crazy-town proposals:
8/x
First, we are still 47th in voter participation because our laws are so suppressive â even after our record year of voting. We still lag way behind & hover around last place.
Second, we LOVE absentee and early vote! We embraced them both in 2020 like never before...
9/x
Second, we LOVE absentee and early vote! We embraced them both in 2020 like never before...
9/x
And even though we can still vote EARLY (unless 
bill passes!), we have already reverted to a âvalid excuse onlyâ in the ABSENTEE voting environment. Restrictions were loosened because of fear of risk of illness due to COVID, but once COVID is in rear view, itâs over.
10/x
bill passes!), we have already reverted to a âvalid excuse onlyâ in the ABSENTEE voting environment. Restrictions were loosened because of fear of risk of illness due to COVID, but once COVID is in rear view, itâs over.10/x
What this means: Look at Aug elections in 2016 and 2020. In â16, 1% of voters voted absentee, but in 2020 11% did. State hasnât released Nov data yet, but it will similarly track. And while we didnât have record turnout (it was close) in August, we did in Nov. Voters 
it.
11/x
it.11/x
So, if Sec of State & TN GOP wanted to keep that party going, they would change our state law to allow âno excuseâ absentee voting, just like the majority of states. @washingtonpost had a good headline & graphic on this.
But they wonât. And TN voters are going to be
.
12/12
But they wonât. And TN voters are going to be
.12/12
