Sen. Scott Surovell’s exactly right, except that it’s not “America” as a whole that’s the problem, it’s specifically MAGA Republicans who are relentlessly assaulting America’s institutions – and specifically our democracy. Sadly, this isn’t just an isolated situation, for instance as described in this excellent NBC News story on Buckingham County, Virginia, but is happening all over the country…and needs to be stopped, immediately. To get a good sense for how these attacks unfold, check out what happened in Buckingham County:
Lindsey Taylor loved running elections here.
The previous registrar had spent nearly three decades in the job, and Taylor, 37, hoped to do the same when she was hired in 2019. She loved her staff and the volunteer poll workers, and she took pride in the detail-oriented work. She implemented dozens of new laws in 2020, ran elections through the pandemic and impressed many in the rural, conservative, tight-knit community of Buckingham County.
But then the voter fraud claims started.
In January, the GOP assumed control of the Buckingham County Electoral Board that oversees her office, and local Republicans began advancing baseless voter fraud claims that baffled her. The electoral board made it clear it wanted her out of the job.
[…]
Three weeks ago, frustrated and heartbroken, Taylor, along with two part-time staffers, quit. Their resignations followed a deputy registrar who left in February, citing the same conflict.
Completely unacceptable and very, very dangerous. So…any comments (or action?!?) by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Attorney General Jason Miyares, etc? We’ll see, but definitely do NOT hold your breath.
P.S. Very disturbingly, “This year, thanks to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s 2021 win, Republicans assumed control of all 133 of these boards.” Which is one of the worst implications – of many many bad ones – of Youngkin’s narrow victory in November 2021.
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