THE MAGA MOB DEEPENS ITS ATTACK ON ELECTIONS

Daily Action
Written By Barbara Isaacman

As Trump recently said: "Sometimes the vote-counter is more important than the candidate." 

QUICK READ: The radical Republicans’ war on democracy has come down to a battle over the ballot box. Their goal is to flatten the Black and Brown vote and ensure that white men control history, women’s bodies, and more. If you hold democracy dear, fight for the reintroduction and passage of the transformative Freedom to Vote Act. Fight like hell. Fight like Ukrainians. After all, America’s democracy inspired them.



TAKE ACTION NOW:

BACKGROUND

Ukrainians are fighting to preserve their democracy, again. Twice in the last two decades, Ukrainians have had two pro-democracy, anti-oligarchy, anti-corruption revolutions. For that, they face Putin’s wrath. 

In America, the white supremacists of the radical Republican wing are sabotaging our elections. Their goal is to flatten the Black and Brown vote and ensure that white men control government.

Last year, Republicans in state legislatures introduced 75 bills in 24 states to restrict voter access. This year, it’s 250 bills in 27 states. Some bills would:

  • Sharply cut or eliminate voting by mail.

  • Impose strict, new voter ID requirements.

  • Require proof of citizenship.

  • End same-day voter registration and more.

In case undesirable voters slip through, the MAGA mob is sabotaging vote counting. In 13 states, the GOP has filed 41 bills that will “enable partisan interference,” according to the Brennan Center for Justice.  

  • The most extreme bills would allow partisan officials to simply reject election results.

  • Others place partisans in charge of vote counting.

  • Florida just approved elections police, a move academics label as “fascist.” 

Another objective is to sow distrust about election outcomes.

Congress must reintroduce and pass the Freedom to Vote Act, which protects voting rights and secures the electoral process.

ACTION One: Call the Senate.

Script for Oregon Senators

SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753

My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

You must reintroduce and try to pass the Freedom to Vote Act. Please do this to educate people about the racist attacks on the vote and vote counting. Voter suppression bills have tripled in statehouses already this year. People in Ukraine are dying for democracy. America inspired them, and we can’t let our democracy die before their eyes. Further, please push DOJ to keep its pledge to protect election workers and Biden to act on his executive order from last year to register voters at government offices.

SEN. WYDEN:

Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244

(Messages and calls are most effective if they are personal. Scripts are here to help.)

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

You must reintroduce and try to pass the Freedom to Vote Act. Please do this to educate people about the racist attacks on the vote and vote counting. Voter suppression bills have tripled in statehouses already this year. People in Ukraine are dying for democracy. America inspired them, and we can’t let our democracy die before their eyes. Further, please push DOJ to keep its pledge to protect election workers and Biden to act on his executive order from last year to register voters at government offices.

Script for Republican Senators

D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].

Denying anyone the freedom to vote violates your oath of office and undermines your commitment to democracy. Please support voting rights.

ACTION TWO: Call the House.

Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)

Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

It is time to speak out publicly about the need for the Senate to pass the stalled Freedom to Vote Act. Please do this to educate people about the racist attacks on the vote and vote counting. Voter suppression bills have tripled in statehouses already this year. People in Ukraine are dying for democracy. America inspired them, and we can’t let our democracy die before their eyes. Further, please push DOJ to keep its pledge to protect election workers, push and Biden to act on his executive order from last year to register voters at government offices.

Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)

Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Denying anyone the freedom to vote violates your oath of office and undermines your commitment to democracy. Please support voting rights.

Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)

Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

It is time to speak out publicly about the need for the Senate to pass the stalled Freedom to Vote Act. Please do this to educate people about the racist attacks on the vote and vote counting. Voter suppression bills have tripled in statehouses already this year. People in Ukraine are dying for democracy. America inspired them, and we can’t let our democracy die before their eyes. Further, please push DOJ to keep its pledge to protect election workers, push and Biden to act on his executive order from last year to register voters at government offices.

Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)

Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

It is time to speak out publicly about the need for the Senate to pass the stalled Freedom to Vote Act. Please do this to educate people about the racist attacks on the vote and vote counting. Voter suppression bills have tripled in statehouses already this year. People in Ukraine are dying for democracy. America inspired them, and we can’t let our democracy die before their eyes. Further, please push DOJ to keep its pledge to protect election workers, push and Biden to act on his executive order from last year to register voters at government offices.

Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)

Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

It is time to speak out publicly about the need for the Senate to pass the stalled Freedom to Vote Act. Please do this to educate people about the racist attacks on the vote and vote counting. Voter suppression bills have tripled in statehouses already this year. People in Ukraine are dying for democracy. America inspired them, and we can’t let our democracy die before their eyes. Further, please push DOJ to keep its pledge to protect election workers, push and Biden to act on his executive order from last year to register voters at government offices.

ACTION 3: Join the fight

For Ukraine. Links from Ukraine historian and author “On Tyranny,” Timothy Snyder: Yet one thing is encouraging: whenever I speak to my colleagues in Ukraine, they are all doing something.  The everyday courage is astonishing.  We should help if we can.  When I spoke to colleagues in Poland today, I was also astonished by the swift reaction of civil society to more than a million Ukrainians refugees.  I think we should affirm that impulse when we can.

Here are a few ways to help. I have made donations today and I hope you will too.

1.  Ukrainian reporters are, directly or indirectly, our main source of information about this war.  Many of them are at work now at risk to themselves without salaries and proper protective gear.  A fund that will direct support and equipment to journalists taking risks in Ukraine is 2402.  Have a look.

2.  For Americans who want a tax deduction, Razom remains a good bet.  This is a volunteer organization that will make good judgements about partners for humanitarian assistance.  Donate to Razom here.

3.  Hundreds of small Polish NGOs are assisting Ukrainian refugees now.  One of them that deserves support is Homo Faber in Lublin, near where many Ukrainian refugees cross. You can help them with a bank transfer:

Name of recipient: Stowarzyszenie Homo Faber; Purpose: Ukraina; IBAN: PL 93 1940 1076 3069 8598 0000 0000; SWIFT: AGRIPLPRXXX; Name of bank: Credit Agricole Bank Polska SA, ul. Legnicka 48, 54-202 Wrocław, Polska.  If you are on PayPal you might also be able to reach them that way: PayPal  Stowarzyszenie Homo Faber, ul. Chopina, 41, lok. 2, 20-023 Lublin, e-mail: info@hf.org.pl.

4.  People have been using Airbnb as a way to transfer money to individual Ukrainians by booking rooms they do not intend to use.  If you do this, make sure the phone number of your host has a 380 prefix (country code for Ukraine) and contact the host ahead of time.  Airbnb as a a company also enables people to help in another way, by offering lodging to Ukrainian refugees.

5. Canada has a large and well-organized Ukrainian diaspora, and its organizations are raising money for assistance to Ukraine. Here is the the appeal of the Canadian Red Cross.

6. To provide assistance to civilians in need, you can now donate directly by credit card to the Ukrainian Red Cross.

7. The Russian press blackout is shocking.  I urge you, if you want to support Russian reporters, to fund Meduza, working from Riga.

PS: The interest in supporting the Ukrainian armed forces is consistent, so I repeat that information here.

The organization Come Back Alive concentrates on protective gear and other equipment for soldiers.  You can donate using the information here.

Army SOS supplies medical equipment but also everything a soldier might need.  You can donate in cryptocurrency following this link or make a bank transfer in dollars via: IBAN: UA203052990000026003016809842;  SWIFT: PBANUA2XXXX; Bank: JSC CB "PRIVATBANK

You can contribute directly to the Ukrainian armed forces via credit card.  If you prefer a bank transfer that information is here.

GOOD TROUBLE: Below are opportunities to fight for our democracy. As John Lewis said, go make some “good trouble.” 

  • Find out more about Indivisible Oregon here. 

FURTHER READING:

Trump: "Sometimes the Vote-Counter Is More Important Than The Candidate" | Video | RealClearPolitics

The Election Sabotage Scheme and How Congress Can Stop It | Brennan Center for Justice

Ukrainians are giving Americans two lessons about democracy we've forgotten - CNNPolitics

The Impact of Voter Suppression on Communities of Color | Brennan Center for Justice

Florida lawmakers approve an elections police force, the first of its kind in the U.S. - The Washington Post

The White House Can Do More to Expand Voting Access - ACLU

Four Supreme Court Justices Cosign Theory That Threatens Fair Elections

Thousands Of Texas Ballots Rejected After Voting Rights Reform Fails In Congress

A Battle between Voting Laws and Voting Rights | Voting Rights | Carnegie Corporation of New York

The gutting of a Georgia elections office that was targeted for takeover by those who believe the 2020 election was a fraud - The Washington Post

Rogue county officials spark fear of growing 'insider' threats to elections

Barbara Isaacman
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