Someone’s priorities are way screwed up not to mention unpatriotic and dangerous.

And if their argument is that by requiring a birth certificate we make it more difficult to exercise a basic Constitutional right, then why doesn’t that logic apply to all Constitutional rights?

Today the House Elections Subcommittee will hear HB0270 (by Rep. Eric Watson, R-Cleveland, the vice-chair of the committee), the bill that would require one of the following to register to vote if you have recently moved to Tennessee or if you move from one county to another:

(1) Driver license, driver certificate, or other ID issued by the department of safety or equivalent governmental agency of another state if proof of United States citizenship is evident;
(2) A legible photocopy your birth certificate;
(3) A legible photocopy of a United States passport;
(4) Naturalization documents
(5) Other documents or methods of proof that are established pursuant to the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; or
(6) The applicant’s federal Bureau of Indian Affairs card number, tribal treaty card number, or tribal enrollment number.

Nothing new, we saw the same bill last year and discussed the barriers to participation in the democratic process this would put in place on the elderly and working poor.

What is new, interestingly, is the last line of the summary of this bill:

“This bill requires voters to present one form of identification that bears the name, address and photograph of the voter to the registrar in order to vote.”

I wonder if legislators know that they will actually be voting on two voter suppression bills in one? Both of which would, as Senator Thelma Harper stated last year, put “an awful lot of stumbling blocks in folks way in order for them to register to vote, change their voter registration, just to move from other states and cities here to register to vote.”

The Elections Subcommittee will hear HB270 today immediately following the State and Local Government Committee which meets at noon.

More on HB270 from WPLN’s Capitol Hill correspondent Joe White.

Their decision, along with recently made comments about Tennessee General Assembly rules and the committee system certainly has been illuminating.

In a story by Andy Scher in the Chattanooga Free, Republican Rep. Glen Casada said, “Subcommittees are good, they just shouldn’t be the end-all, say-all. I hate for six members to decide public policy for 99.”

In another story in the Tennessean about Speaker Kent Williams performance this session, Republican Rep. Debra Maggart said she was disappointed that Williams did not choose to break a tie on the photo ID bill in committee because, she said, “The Republican Caucus needed his support on this bill.”

McCormick circumventing the committee process. Casada believing that public policy is decided for the benefit of House members. Maggart disappointed that the Republican Caucus didn’t get their way.

Where’s the discussion about what’s best for the people? Where’s the discussion about what’s best for voters? Where’s the discussion about what’s best for democracy?

• Part 1 Get Your Boo On – It’s our annual Halloween Spooktacular and Mary and Freddie dress up as each others worst nightmare. (21:43 34.8MB)
• Part 2 – Interview with Juan Villaseñor – The president of the Nashville chapter of the American Constitution Society tell us a little bit about the American Constitution Society, including who would win in a rugby match against the Federalist Society, and an event they’re having on Wednesday. (28:03 44.9MB)
• Part 3 Early Voting A Go We love to talk about what to do to protect your right to vote and, it turns out, our listeners do too! And there’s nothing scarier than that guy on that other station who, we hear, would rather tear down our precious democracy with divisiveness than celebrate it. Way to go, other guy. (32:56 52.8MB)
• Part 4 Protect Your Vote – Our voting love fest continues – with instructions on what you can do to protect your vote. (20:39 33.1MB)

First, I’d like to thank you all for your interest in the democratic process. As you know, it’s so important that as voters and American citizens we can count on our news media and elected officials to ensure that in every election our votes will be counted and counted as cast.

Since the story broke of potential recount challenges by both candidate Barnes and Rep. Davis, a couple of things have happened.

First, Nashville Public Radio, you ran a news story in which you interviewed Tennessee Election Coordinator Brook Thompson about the process for initiating a recount. In the report, Mr. Thompson made it very clear that, because this was a primary election, the responsibility for deciding to go forward with a recount challenge was up to an individual party and their committees:

“The party really sits as judge and jury in an election contest. And so the losing candidate will contest the election. They will be given time, I presume, to make their case. The winning candidate will also be given time to make their case, and the party has to determine what it wants to do.”

Interesting story – but it was missing something. Where were the questions about the process for a recount? Where was the mention that, because of the types of electronic voting machines used in 93 of 95 counties here, a “recount” in Tennessee means pressing the same button and getting the same totals? Where was the factual statement that when using this methodology there would be absolutely no difference at all in the numbers either candidate would get after a recount? Isn’t that news? Hell, isn’t that the story?!?!

You also recently reported that “As recently as last year, two Republican candidates challenged primary results” but that “State Republican Party officials says both matters were resolved without a full recount because either the candidate couldn’t pay for it or because the committee ruled it inappropriate.”

The real reason, of course, as Rep. Davis and candidate Barnes have now figured out, is because a recount would be futile.

Now, I hear, both you, Rep. Davis, and you, candidate Barnes, are looking into challenges based on “cross-over” voting instead. Good luck with that. But is that it? Does the story of why a recount isn’t possible when an election is close now simply just go away?

I urge you, Nashville Public Radio, the National Media, Rep. David Davis, and Candidate Tim Barnes, as you go on with your news stories and your challenges, please DO NOT LET THIS STORY DIE.

Electronic voting (not bears) is the number one threat to our democracy – and not just in Tennessee:

• 28 States still use Electronic Voting Machines and will in this critical presidential election.
• The U.S. Senate is proposing an Electronic Voting Machine bill that would exacerbate these bad voting practices, not fix them.

But yes, this threat does continue in Tennessee and will do so until 2010. Right now, in Davidson County a small group of committed volunteers and Metro Council folk are fighting to prevent the Election Commission from spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to rent more of the same useless and unverifiable machines instead of buying the type that will allow for paper ballots and that they are mandated to purchase, by law, before the 2010 election.

It’s clear, sirs and madams, by the work you do that you love our democracy. But do you love it enough to realize the importance of this story – your story – and shout it from the rooftops until the rest of the country stand ups and takes notice?

Your pal,

Mary

Congratulations on a well-fought race against Senator Kurita. The race was so close in Tennessee State Senate District 22 (the fightin’ 22nd!) and the fact that incumbent Rosalind Kurita beat you by only 19 votes is a testament to your hard work and dedication to your campaign.

Due to the closeness of the race, it is completely understandable that you would want a recount. It’s the smart – and right – thing to do.

But there is one thing you should know – a recount is an absolute waste of time.

You see, the machines used in both Montgomery and Houston counties are electronic. So, to get vote totals for each machines, an election official merely presses a button. A “recount” for these machines means pressing the same button and getting the same totals. There will be no difference at all in the numbers you get after the recount.

Now, if Tennesseans used paper ballots to vote (and they will in 2010) and those paper ballots were the lawful ballot of record, then you might actually be able to see exactly how the voters in The Fightin’ 22nd voted. And rather than rely on easily hackable electronic machines that spit out the same results no matter how many times you request a “recount,” you would have tangible pieces of paper that represent the real intent of the voter.

Congratulations again on a well-fought contest. And good luck in 2010.

Your pal,

Mary

BradBlog has the full story of Missouri Election Integrity Activist, Phil Lindsey, of ShowMeTheVote.org, the victim of needless intimidation and unlawful disenfranchisement, who was arrested for having the right form of ID while attempting to vote in his state’s primary on Tuesday:

This story is unfrickin’-believable. Or maybe it isn’t. It took place in Thor Hearne country, after all. And though she didn’t get arrested and thrown in jail, a similar incident happened to the Missouri Secretary of State during the 2006 election.

A voter in Kansas City on Tuesday — one I happen to know, because he’s an Election Integrity advocate in the Show Me State — was arrested and sent to jail after he refused to show a driver’s license at the polling place before attempting to vote during the state’s Primary Election.

As user “galloglas,” Phil posted the unnerving details at DemocraticUnderground.com.

Or course, the official charge couldn’t be, “He knew what kind of ID he needed to vote legally,” so they slapped him with “disturbance/disorderly conduct…acts in a violent or tumultuous manner toward another, placing such person(s) in fear of safety by refusing to show proper I.D. when voting.”

Also over at BradBlog, links to local news coverage of the incident and similar stories experienced by the Missouri Secretary of State and Brad’s dad – two very nice people.

“Show-me” State Missouri needs a new slogan: The “Show-Me the ID I want Regardless of the Law or Get Thrown in the Hoosegow” State. Wordy, I know, but if the slogan fits…