Matt BlazeFeb 26

Another somewhat breathless article positing a planned executive-branch takeover of elections, this time declaring a "national emergency".

There's no telling what Trump might include in an executive order, but whether he can actually carry any of these sweeping proposals out (constitutionality aside) is another story altogether.

The midterms are less than 9 months away, which is simply not enough time to extensively alter voting tech or procedures.

https://wapo.st/3N5cpEn

Trump, seeking executive power over elections, is urged to declare emergency

Activists who say they are in coordination with the White House are circulating a draft executive order that would unlock extraordinary presidential power over voting.

The Washington Post
Show threadMatt BlazeFeb 26
The supposed draft order (which apparently was written by MAGA activists, not the WH itself) calls for eliminating "voting machines" and no-excuse mail-in voting. "Voting machines" isn't defined, but presumably means electronic ballot tabulators, which are used in some form almost everywhere. And mail-in voting has become either the primary voting method or a very popular one in many states.
Show threadMatt BlazeFeb 26
Anyway, I don't think wild arm-flapping is a particularly useful response to this nonsense. Better, I think, to respond to specific proposals and orders rather than vague right-wing wish lists.
Show threadMatt BlazeFeb 26
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that there *are* real risks involving electronic vote tabulators, but also that there are statistically rigorous, efficient methods for assuring high-integrity elections even when untrustworthy technology is compromised. Search "risk-limiting audits" for details.
Show threadWoozle Hypertwin

@mattblaze Right-wing playbook:

  • (1) sabotage $thing
  • (2) point out how broken $thing is (because of sabotage, but don't mention that -- or maybe blame it on Democrats)
  • (3) use brokenness as excuse to further sabotage $thing or just eliminate it altogether because it's obviously so bad.

(People keep falling for this partly because one of the broken $things is mass media news.)

Feb 27 at 12:11amWeb
Show threadEmanuele BallaFeb 27
@woozle @mattblaze 👆This. Exactly and nothing more than this. 👆