Mitch McConnell's Opposition to Federal Election Security Is Hitting Home

[babylonsister]

6 hours ago
Mitch McConnell’s Opposition to Federal Election Security Is Hitting Home
Kentucky officials say local voting systems are “one emergency away from disaster.”
AJ Vincens


Don Blevins, Jr., has a lot to think about. In his job as the clerk of Fayette County, home to Lexington, the University of Kentucky, and more than 240,000 registered voters, he’s in charge of making sure elections happen securely and accurately. “There’s a lot of hand wringing over the Russians, there’s hand wringing from the far right about illegal immigrants voting and all that,” but Blevins says he’s more worried “about Americans cheating than anybody.”

Blevins cites a range of possible disruptions—from bomb threats to jamming the internet connections used to verify voter registration—that could cause long lines or deflate public confidence in the accuracy of the tally. While Blevins, a Democratic elected official, insists Fayette, the state’s second-largest county, is well resourced and equipped to securely conduct balloting, he worries about less populated regions.

“The smaller counties are in dire straits, and Kentucky for a combination of reasons,” Blevins said. “They are chronically underfunded for just basic government services, much less elections related expenses.”

Meanwhile in Washington, DC, Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky senator for the last 34 years and, as senate majority leader, Congress’ most powerful Republican, has steadfastly refused to allow meaningful election security legislation to reach the Senate floor while stymieing most related funding, arguing new laws or mandates would be an overstep of federal power.

“Mitch’s inaction is directly harming his home state,” Blevins said. “There’s no question in my mind.”

more...

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/11/mitch-mcconnell-kentucky-election-security/

[FeelingBlue]

1. But, but, but

Is it not virtually always in favor of the GOP? Why would he care that the Russians want to ensure that he gets re-elected?!

[Hermit-The-Prog]

2. Moscow Mitch knows free and fair elections would kick him out

[DFW]

3. Most Republicans know that

I think few are so naïve as to think that fair and free elections would produce the same results as 2016.

[DBoon]

4. They don't need elections

If you believe Trump is appointed by god to rule, then who cares about elections?

[OhNo-Really]

5. This story scares me hugely

‪Coup 101 - All 4 Military Branch Secretaries Replaced Since July, 2019‬

‪https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212728232‬

[aggiesal]

7. Your link produces 404 - Page Not Found ...

Can you supply a more accurate link?
Thanks.

[Texin]

6. So...Blevins said he was more worried about "Americans cheating than anybody."

The actual fuck?!!! Now if he means tRump and his buddies in Russia and in the Moscow Mitch-controlled Senate, I can understand. But this wanker names disrupters among American citizens bombing polling places and messing with the count, etc., etc., ad nauseum. This is one of the most egregiously risible arguments I believe I've heard to date. After everything we've been hearing over the past year on now, along with what we know happened in 2016, to the fact that there is virtually no vote fraud going on - or at least a nominal amount that usually get exposed pretty quickly. This is just a ludicrous thing to say, but he is indeed correct that the security of the vote count is in serious jeopardy. But then tRump and Moscow Mitch approve, so I guess he's down with that.

[randr]

8. Election security is an issue we should be hitting on big time

We NEED to stay on the issues that show a difference from Repugs instead of from each other.