I totally agree with your statement, “ We must vote in numbers so overwhelming that no amount of gerrymandering, voter suppression, or intimidation can silence us. This is our moment to protect Texas’s future and ensure that our state reflects the values of fairness, justice, and equality for all.”
Thank you, Michelle, for this in-depth history of voter suppression in this state. I find it shocking that it is justifiable in Texas (and elsewhere) to draw precinct/district maps based on political party affiliation and then having the gall to say it isn’t racially biased. Voting districts should be more like the shape of most counties in Texas: square! Instead, they have shapes that look like someone threw scrambled egg at the wall.
SIDEBAR: I was a bilingual poll worker for ten years and often explained to Hispanics how to properly fill out a paper ballot before there were computers where you just had to push buttons and get a print-out of your ballot. One of my cherished memories is of a very elderly Hispanic gentleman (85 years old) who was voting for the first time in the presidential election in 2016. He was a naturalized citizen, but only minimally literate in English. His daughter had encouraged him to get registered and helped him complete all the paperwork. I explained how he had to blacken the circles next to his choices on the ballot carefully so the machine would not reject it. This was tricky because there were poll watchers sniffing around like bloodhounds. One of them was giving me the stink eye as he watched me explain everything in Spanish to this man, but he couldn’t accuse me of anything because I was following all the rules to the letter, which included having to *point* to the ballot without *touching* it. (Poll workers are not allowed to just hand a voter a blank ballot.) After he proudly deposited his ballot in the machine, he came back to my table with a huge grin on his face and said: “Voté por la señora.” = I voted for the lady. The "lady" was Hillary Clinton, of course.
Incredible, but true. A lot of voters felt offended when I didn't automatically hand them a paper ballot, so I had to explain this to them. I would volunteer to be a poll worker again in November, but given my past experience, I don't think I could handle the tension that I sense will be in the air on election day this year, to say nothing of how many poll watchers would be breathing down my neck.
FWST publisher Steve Coffin platforms Mark Davis calling Kamala unqualified right below an article about FWST reporters witnessing the surrender of Japan.
Mr. Coffman and all u other MAGA sympathizers, DJT wants to be dictator , day one" His words.
Ask those same reporters what they would think about present day FWST.
Thanks for a very informative article.
I totally agree with your statement, “ We must vote in numbers so overwhelming that no amount of gerrymandering, voter suppression, or intimidation can silence us. This is our moment to protect Texas’s future and ensure that our state reflects the values of fairness, justice, and equality for all.”
Amen 🙏.
Thank you, Michelle, for this in-depth history of voter suppression in this state. I find it shocking that it is justifiable in Texas (and elsewhere) to draw precinct/district maps based on political party affiliation and then having the gall to say it isn’t racially biased. Voting districts should be more like the shape of most counties in Texas: square! Instead, they have shapes that look like someone threw scrambled egg at the wall.
SIDEBAR: I was a bilingual poll worker for ten years and often explained to Hispanics how to properly fill out a paper ballot before there were computers where you just had to push buttons and get a print-out of your ballot. One of my cherished memories is of a very elderly Hispanic gentleman (85 years old) who was voting for the first time in the presidential election in 2016. He was a naturalized citizen, but only minimally literate in English. His daughter had encouraged him to get registered and helped him complete all the paperwork. I explained how he had to blacken the circles next to his choices on the ballot carefully so the machine would not reject it. This was tricky because there were poll watchers sniffing around like bloodhounds. One of them was giving me the stink eye as he watched me explain everything in Spanish to this man, but he couldn’t accuse me of anything because I was following all the rules to the letter, which included having to *point* to the ballot without *touching* it. (Poll workers are not allowed to just hand a voter a blank ballot.) After he proudly deposited his ballot in the machine, he came back to my table with a huge grin on his face and said: “Voté por la señora.” = I voted for the lady. The "lady" was Hillary Clinton, of course.
Great story, but "touching" the ballot...lord have mercy. 🤦🏻♀️
Incredible, but true. A lot of voters felt offended when I didn't automatically hand them a paper ballot, so I had to explain this to them. I would volunteer to be a poll worker again in November, but given my past experience, I don't think I could handle the tension that I sense will be in the air on election day this year, to say nothing of how many poll watchers would be breathing down my neck.
FWST publisher Steve Coffin platforms Mark Davis calling Kamala unqualified right below an article about FWST reporters witnessing the surrender of Japan.
Mr. Coffman and all u other MAGA sympathizers, DJT wants to be dictator , day one" His words.
Ask those same reporters what they would think about present day FWST.