Mondays are much maligned as the toughest day of the week, and this past Monday was particularly horrific. At the request of GOP leaders in Wisconsin, the state’s Supreme Court and the US Supreme court made back-to-back rulings threatening the health of Wisconsinites by forcing us to gather at the polls during the height of this dangerous pandemic.
The courts issued an 11th hour over-rule of the Governor’s executive order to defer the spring election from April 7 to June and his order to extend the absentee voting time frame. This was the latest and last straw in a series of maneuvers by the GOP to undermine attempts to legally defer the election-explained in more detail in this NY Time article. Evers has stated that it is impossible to compromise with an uncompromising foe.
Voters in our largest city, Milwaukee, were most harshly impacted. Because of the pandemic, the number of polling locations were slashed from 180 to 5. Yes, you read that right – FIVE. This resulted in hours-long waits outside, sometimes in the rain, with large groups of people.
Voters were faced with impossible decisions, particularly the elderly and others at greatest risk from COVID 19; in addition to the risk of infection, not everyone is physically capable of standing outside for hours in the cold and rain. Many made the difficult choice to stay home, rather than brave the cruel and unusual conditions of voting in this particular election.
We were fortunate; Dan and I had already submitted our absentee ballots, and my daughter voted with no delays at our tiny municipality town hall. Yet, this gives me small comfort, since so many of our community were disenfranchised.
Why does the GOP consistently seek to make it harder for people to vote? It is a blatant (and thus far successful) strategy to further tighten their grip of power within the state, and to undermine our Democratic Governor Evers at every turn. You may recall that this GOP controlled Legistlature literally changed the laws to limit the governor’s authority after Evers was elected, but before he took office. Shameful.
I have friend who is a nephew of a state law-maker, who advises that some Republican legislators in the state see the damage that is being done, but are unwilling to commit political suicide by standing up to the extremists who provide leadership to their party.
Our leaders have lost their souls. And, god help us, we have let them. Regardless of what new obstacles are put in our path, we must prevail in November.