Wisconsin Megathread v3: GOP in MASSIVE DISARRAY

[walleye26]

Looks like Marsy's Law passed by a landslide.

Yes, very sad but expected when it sounds so nice and helpful but nobody really knew what it actually does.

Yep. I voted against it.

I voted against as well, but my goodness I was not expecting it. I’m surprised nobody ran any anti-Marsy’s Law ads.

[Bidenworth2020]

Looks like Marsy's Law passed by a landslide.

Yes, very sad but expected when it sounds so nice and helpful but nobody really knew what it actually does.

Yep. I voted against it.

I voted against as well, but my goodness I was not expecting it. I’m surprised nobody ran any anti-Marsy’s Law ads.

What does the law say?

[lfromnj]

Looks like Marsy's Law passed by a landslide.

Yes, very sad but expected when it sounds so nice and helpful but nobody really knew what it actually does.

Yep. I voted against it.

I voted against as well, but my goodness I was not expecting it. I’m surprised nobody ran any anti-Marsy’s Law ads.

What does the law say?

Traditionally, a prosecutor is required to provide a defendant with evidence that could show innocence (exculpatory evidence). If the prosecution does not provide it, it may require a new trial.[40] Under Marsy's Law, however, a victim would be able to refuse to provide that evidence to the defendant, the court, and the jury.[41]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsy%27s_Law

[Landslide Lyndon]

Looks like Marsy's Law passed by a landslide.

Yes, very sad but expected when it sounds so nice and helpful but nobody really knew what it actually does.

Yep. I voted against it.

I voted against as well, but my goodness I was not expecting it. I’m surprised nobody ran any anti-Marsy’s Law ads.

What does the law say?

Traditionally, a prosecutor is required to provide a defendant with evidence that could show innocence (exculpatory evidence). If the prosecution does not provide it, it may require a new trial.[40] Under Marsy's Law, however, a victim would be able to refuse to provide that evidence to the defendant, the court, and the jury.[41]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsy%27s_Law

How is this not unconstitutional?

[Landslide Lyndon]

https://twitter.com/benwikler/status/1250181802632806400

[Yoda]

https://twitter.com/benwikler/status/1250181802632806400

Ben Wikler is an OG. The twitter thread he put up last night after Karofsky won was an epic, inspiring read. Really inspires a lot of confidence in Wisconsin Democrats' game plan for November.

[Gass3268]

Supreme Court Map for Dane County:



Karofsky got 89% of the vote in Madison! There were some wards where she was getting over 97% of the vote.

[Obama-Biden Democrat]

Supreme Court Map for Dane County:



Karofsky got 89% of the vote in Madison! There were some wards where she was getting over 97% of the vote.

That is getting to Obama 08 levels in Chicago where McCain literally had zero votes in a few precincts.

[Oryxslayer]

Supreme Court Map for Dane County:



Karofsky got 89% of the vote in Madison! There were some wards where she was getting over 97% of the vote.

That is getting to Obama 08 levels in Chicago where McCain literally had zero votes in a few precincts.

I mean...that's kinda normal in urban hyper-AA precincts. Madison is a white city though.

[Pollster]

Is there anything stopping the local governments of Madison and Milwaukee from mailing ballots to every registered voter the way those other cities did? If no, seems like a no-brainer.

[Gass3268]

Is there anything stopping the local governments of Madison and Milwaukee from mailing ballots to every registered voter the way those other cities did? If no, seems like a no-brainer.

$$$

[MasterJedi]

Is there anything stopping the local governments of Madison and Milwaukee from mailing ballots to every registered voter the way those other cities did? If no, seems like a no-brainer.

$$$

Yep, Bayside has about 4400 people, Whitefish Bay (Called Whiteman's Bay) has around 13500, compare that to the amount of people in Milwaukee and Madison. Plus, those two burbs have money too.

[Virginiá]

I think absentee ballot request forms were mailed, not actual ballots. Might be wrong, though. If it was request forms, that would be extra processing costs vs just sending them a ballot.

[lfromnj]

What was the margin in river hills?

[GeorgiaModerate]

https://twitter.com/Taniel/status/1250481627148570624

[Gass3268]

I think absentee ballot request forms were mailed, not actual ballots. Might be wrong, though. If it was request forms, that would be extra processing costs vs just sending them a ballot.

Sounds like you are correct, looks like Milwaukee is going to follow suit for November:

https://twitter.com/WisVoter/status/1250505402854375425?s=20

[Virginiá]

^^ That is one way for states to mitigate turnout/safety issues without relying on changes to the law from Congress or the state legislature. It might even encourage Republicans to make the process easier because if all the major cities do it, they won't want to be left out. On the other hand, they could just as easily seek to prevent cities from doing this.

In some states, it might not be a viable option if the absentee request rules are too onerous. For instance, I'm not sure if Texas has any plans to make fear of getting COVID-19 a valid excuse in requesting an absentee ballot. For TX, these are the only excuses listed:

https://www.sos.texas.gov/elections/voter/reqabbm.shtml

To be eligible to vote early by mail in Texas, you must:

    be 65 years or older;
    be disabled;
    be out of the county on election day and during the period for early voting by personal appearance; or
    be confined in jail, but otherwise eligible.

The bare minimum compromise in Congress should be to at least force states to allow people to request absentee ballots if they fear getting sick. Most states already allow this, so it's really just for the holdouts .

[Virginiá]

Thanks! I didn't catch that!

[Gass3268]

^^ That is one way for states to mitigate turnout/safety issues without relying on changes to the law from Congress or the state legislature. It might even encourage Republicans to make the process easier because if all the major cities do it, they won't want to be left out. On the other hand, they could just as easily seek to prevent cities from doing this.

In some states, it might not be a viable option if the absentee request rules are too onerous. For instance, I'm not sure if Texas has any plans to make fear of getting COVID-19 a valid excuse in requesting an absentee ballot. For TX, these are the only excuses listed:

https://www.sos.texas.gov/elections/voter/reqabbm.shtml

To be eligible to vote early by mail in Texas, you must:

    be 65 years or older;
    be disabled;
    be out of the county on election day and during the period for early voting by personal appearance; or
    be confined in jail, but otherwise eligible.

The bare minimum compromise in Congress should be to at least force states to allow people to request absentee ballots if they fear getting sick. Most states already allow this, so it's really just for the holdouts .

https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2020/04/texas-officials-try-to-clarify-who-can-vote-by-mail-but-they-might-not-be-able-to-just-say-everyone/

In their advisory, state officials said, "the Election Code defines ‘disability’ to include ‘a sickness or physical condition that prevents the voter from appearing at the polling place on election day without a likelihood of needing personal assistance or of injuring the voter’s health.’ (Sec. 82.002).”

Officials said any voter who meets that definition must be able to apply for ballot by mail.

AG Paxton disagrees and might arrest/charge anyone that says otherwise.

https://twitter.com/srl/status/1250508771190849536?s=20

[Landslide Lyndon]

I think absentee ballot request forms were mailed, not actual ballots. Might be wrong, though. If it was request forms, that would be extra processing costs vs just sending them a ballot.

Sounds like you are correct, looks like Milwaukee is going to follow suit for November:

https://twitter.com/WisVoter/status/1250505402854375425?s=20

Where are Bloomberg and Steyer to fund these efforts?

[Storr]

^^ That is one way for states to mitigate turnout/safety issues without relying on changes to the law from Congress or the state legislature. It might even encourage Republicans to make the process easier because if all the major cities do it, they won't want to be left out. On the other hand, they could just as easily seek to prevent cities from doing this.

In some states, it might not be a viable option if the absentee request rules are too onerous. For instance, I'm not sure if Texas has any plans to make fear of getting COVID-19 a valid excuse in requesting an absentee ballot. For TX, these are the only excuses listed:

https://www.sos.texas.gov/elections/voter/reqabbm.shtml

To be eligible to vote early by mail in Texas, you must:

    be 65 years or older;
    be disabled;
    be out of the county on election day and during the period for early voting by personal appearance; or
    be confined in jail, but otherwise eligible.

The bare minimum compromise in Congress should be to at least force states to allow people to request absentee ballots if they fear getting sick. Most states already allow this, so it's really just for the holdouts .

https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2020/04/texas-officials-try-to-clarify-who-can-vote-by-mail-but-they-might-not-be-able-to-just-say-everyone/

In their advisory, state officials said, "the Election Code defines ‘disability’ to include ‘a sickness or physical condition that prevents the voter from appearing at the polling place on election day without a likelihood of needing personal assistance or of injuring the voter’s health.’ (Sec. 82.002).”

Officials said any voter who meets that definition must be able to apply for ballot by mail.

AG Paxton disagrees and might arrest/charge anyone that says otherwise.

https://twitter.com/srl/status/1250508771190849536?s=20

I smell a lawsuit coming.

[Virginiá]

Always interesting to see conservatives threatening jail time for people who make an honest mistake in light of confusing rules when it comes to voting. Seems to be a real proud southern conservative tradition.

If someone is not allowed to vote, the burden should be on the state to tell them so. There is no reason they can't manage that given the technology we now have. This is even more true when Republicans are constantly adding more and more restrictions for partisan gain.

[Skill and Chance]

^^ That is one way for states to mitigate turnout/safety issues without relying on changes to the law from Congress or the state legislature. It might even encourage Republicans to make the process easier because if all the major cities do it, they won't want to be left out. On the other hand, they could just as easily seek to prevent cities from doing this.

In some states, it might not be a viable option if the absentee request rules are too onerous. For instance, I'm not sure if Texas has any plans to make fear of getting COVID-19 a valid excuse in requesting an absentee ballot. For TX, these are the only excuses listed:

https://www.sos.texas.gov/elections/voter/reqabbm.shtml

To be eligible to vote early by mail in Texas, you must:

    be 65 years or older;
    be disabled;
    be out of the county on election day and during the period for early voting by personal appearance; or
    be confined in jail, but otherwise eligible.

The bare minimum compromise in Congress should be to at least force states to allow people to request absentee ballots if they fear getting sick. Most states already allow this, so it's really just for the holdouts .

https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2020/04/texas-officials-try-to-clarify-who-can-vote-by-mail-but-they-might-not-be-able-to-just-say-everyone/

In their advisory, state officials said, "the Election Code defines ‘disability’ to include ‘a sickness or physical condition that prevents the voter from appearing at the polling place on election day without a likelihood of needing personal assistance or of injuring the voter’s health.’ (Sec. 82.002).”

Officials said any voter who meets that definition must be able to apply for ballot by mail.

AG Paxton disagrees and might arrest/charge anyone that says otherwise.

https://twitter.com/srl/status/1250508771190849536?s=20

I smell a lawsuit coming.

Deleted the post that quoted that article.  Please follow all rules outlined in any official guidance and subsequent court decisions in your state. 

EDIT: Please delete the post that quotes my deleted post quoting that article.  It is no longer up to date.

[Gass3268]

Fast changing story:

https://twitter.com/ACLU/status/1250514460399321094?s=20

[Virginiá]

I'll hold my thoughts on that because it seems whether it's in state or federal court, there is a good chance it will get reversed on appeal.