According to clerks, there were more problems with redistricting, which changed the voting place for many voters. They were sent to their new polling spots — which should last them for another decade until the next census.
But the quiet first test of voter ID here hasn’t quelled the opposition to it — the lawsuit to overturn it continues and there is a Milwaukee rally this weekend with the title: “Own Your Vote.” In testimony for a temporary injunction last week, a University of Wisconsin political scientist testified the voter ID law could block as many as 220,000 potential voters from casting ballots in the coming spring elections.
Like other dire warnings over past hot-button issues in the state — concealed carry, for instance — we don’t see that happening. It may take a little getting used to, but those who want to vote will be able to and those who shouldn’t, won’t.
This is my other least favorite journalism thing: I personally did not see anyone inconvenienced so it is all okay. Violations of voting rights are not a problem only if there are riots at the polls. You don’t know, for example, how many people stayed home for fear of not being allowed to vote, or how many people figured eh, if they really don’t want my vote then fuck ’em (or how many people are so depressed about the Assclown PIcnic that is our politics these days that they just would rather watch MASH re-runs).
News media shouldn’t be a monolith, but there are a few things everybody operating by the grace of freedom should be able together on, and one of them is that making it harder for people to vote in order to solve a problem that doesn’t exist is not only stupid, it’s dangerous. So there weren’t riots at the polling places. Doesn’t make it right.
A.