Original article from: The Hill
A Michigan court overturned an extension that allowed absentee ballots to be received two weeks after Election Day, ruling that the votes must instead be received by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.
The ruling by the Michigan Court of Appeals marks a reversal of a lower court decision and hands a win to Republicans in a crucial swing state, undercutting Democrats’ efforts to ease restrictions on voting in a cycle when the coronavirus pandemic is expected to cause a spike in mail-in ballots.
LEFT VIEWPOINTS
More Republican voter suppression? Shocker.
- Voter Suppression is very much on the ballot this year. Following the 2013 Supreme Court case, Shelby vs. Holder, voter suppression tactics have been on the rise.
- Vote-by-mail wasn’t as divisive in the past. Five states — Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, and Utah — all used vote-by-mail before the pandemic. Additionally, 29 states and Washington D.C. allow “no excuse” absentee voting.
- If there is any question which Party is committing voter suppression, realize that it is the Republican Party suing to prevent mail-in votes, the Republican Party is slowing the mail, and the Republican Party is attempting to reduce ballot dropoff locations. It’s a desperate act by a failed Party, and it appears to be backfiring. Each case they win only brings more attention to what they are doing. This could drive more and more people to reject the Republican Party.
- Voter Suppression isn’t new. Before 1965, voter suppression was widespread. The 1965 Voting Rights Act significantly reduced voter suppression. In 2013, the Supreme Court overturned Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act in Shelby vs Holder, which led to most of the voter suppression tactics we are experiencing today.
What was Shelby vs Holder?
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed to prevent state and local governments from creating laws or policies that deny American citizens the equal right to vote based on race. The Supreme Court undid a key provision in Shelby County v. Holder, clearing the way for Republican voter suppression.
What does voter suppression look like?
Voter suppression involves an array of techniques: purging voter rolls, disinformation, slowing the mail, creating unreasonable friction in the voting process, more.