“Explosive!” New Republican ballot scandal SURGES INTO NEWS
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖A California sheriff and gubernatorial candidate, Chad Biano, seized over 500,000 ballots from a recent redistricting initiative election.
- ❖This incident is presented as the third instance of Republicans 'brazenly breaking the seal of democracy' by seizing ballots, following events in Fulton and Maricopa Counties.
- ❖The hosts argue that ballot seizure is becoming a new, dangerous 'litmus test' for Republican candidates, escalating beyond election denialism and lawsuits.
- ❖The seizure occurred despite the ballot initiative passing by a margin of 3 million votes statewide, highlighting the preposterous nature of any fraud claims.
- ❖There is an urgent call for legal action and public awareness to prevent the normalization of such behavior, which could impact future elections with closer margins.
Insights
1California Sheriff Seizes Half-Million Ballots
A California sheriff, Chad Biano, who is also a leading Republican gubernatorial candidate, seized more than half a million ballots from a recent ballot initiative election. The initiative involved a redistricting amendment that adopted a new map designed to gain Democrats five seats.
A California sheriff... has seized more than half a million ballots from the recent ballot initiative election in California.
2Escalation of Election Interference Tactics
The hosts frame the California ballot seizure as part of a pattern, following similar incidents like the raid on Fulton County and the subpoena of Maricopa County. They argue this represents a dangerous escalation where Republicans are 'brazenly breaking the seal of democracy' and attempting to normalize ballot seizures.
We now have a third incident of Republicans brazenly breaking the seal of democracy, the sanctity of the ballot box by seizing ballots and in this case half a million of them.
3New Republican Litmus Test: Ballot Seizure
The hosts contend that a willingness to seize ballots is becoming a new requirement for Republicans seeking to win in today's GOP. They suggest it's no longer enough to dispute election outcomes or claim generic fraud; candidates must now actively engage in physical ballot seizure to be considered 'in MAGA in good standing.'
The new standard... if you are a Republican elected official who wants to be in MAGA in good standing is you have to go further. You have to actually seize the ballots, right?
4Seizure Despite Overwhelming Vote Margin
The ballot seizure occurred in an election where the measure passed by an overwhelming margin of approximately 3 million votes statewide, and 80,000 votes in the specific county where ballots were seized. This demonstrates a willingness to seize ballots even when fraud claims are preposterous due to large vote differences.
It was 80,000 just in the county that Chad Biano took the ballots from... Overall, it was roughly 3 million votes different.
5Legality and Need for Precedent
The hosts question the legality of a local sheriff seizing ballots, contrasting it with the typical process involving federal prosecutors or subpoenas. They emphasize the urgent need for legal precedent or existing litigation to disallow such practices, warning that without intervention, every election could see candidates seizing ballots.
How is it legal that Chad Biano can seize any ballots at all?... Is there some legal precedent that could take hold or is there some existing litigation that could take hold that creates precedent that would finally um disallow this as a practice?
Lessons
- Stay informed and focused on election integrity issues, particularly regarding ballot seizures, by following reliable sources like Democracy Docket.
- Share information about incidents of ballot seizure and election interference with friends and family to raise awareness about these escalating threats to democracy.
- Support attorneys general and other officials who are actively pushing back against partisan ballot seizures and investigating potential criminal actions, as seen with California AG Rob Bonta.
Quotes
"If it doesn't cause everyone to wake up and realize we have a five alarm fire blazing with our democracy, and if we don't start grabbing water buckets and putting it out, we're going to be in a world of hurt. I don't know what will."
"The seizure of ballots is never okay. I mean, we went 250 years nearly without the federal government ever seizing ballots, right?"
"The new standard that you are going to be held to if you are a Republican elected official who wants to be in MAGA in good standing is you have to go further. You have to actually seize the ballots, right?"
"If Democrats and people who care about democracy don't use every tool available to put an end to this, then we're just going to encourage it."
Q&A
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