The Right's War On Early Voting, False Constitutional Arguments Edition

[LiberalFighter]

Again the Republicans (idiots) attempt to rewrite the Constitution.

Media Matters for America

Fox News contributor Bradley Blakeman joins the right-wing media's assault on early voting by misreading the Constitution to fashion an argument that our founding document forbids early voting. In a Newsmax column, he argues that the Constitution requires that all votes be cast on a single day, although it contains no such requirement.

The language pertaining to voting in the Constitution

The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States.

The Constitution does not cover the dates voters must vote. Only for the Electors.

Early history of voting consisted of states having their elections held on different dates. My recollection was that they were over several months. Wikipedia says it had to be within a 34 day period.

[flamingdem]

1. I noticed Steve Kornaki on The Circle was spewing against early voting

along with S.E. Cupp. Think he just outed himself as a repuke, no Democrat would be against something that obviously makes access to the process easier.

[LiberalFighter]

2. He makes a valid point.

But he is a young whippersnapper that hasn't figured out that most folks have already made up their mind. And likely won't change it if they voted on Election Day.

He needs to read up on history. Back in the early days the states did not hold their elections all on the same date state to state.

[yellowcanine]

4. Well it is not a valid point because the Constitution doesn't say what he is claiming.

[yellowcanine]

3. States have discretion in how the electors are chosen. That includes the day.

Actually this points out a flaw in the electoral system, as the brouhaha in 2000 showed. The Republican Florida Legislature actually elected its own set of electors which they were going to put in place if Gore was declared the winner. It could have created a Constitutional crisis because there would have been competing sets of electors from Florida. It also stinks that some states can decide to award their votes by congressional district and others by winner take all. It should be one or the other to be completely fair, otherwise partisan majorities in state legislatures could game the system, as the PA Republicans were threatening to do this year but thought better of it, apparently.