191: About That Voter Fraud

If you saw the title and thought “oh, I don’t believe voter fraud impacts me” or “oh, I live in an area where we don’t hear much about that” - you may be very, very wrong. According to a recent analysis by FiveThirtyEight, 60% of Americans will have an election denier on the ballot.

And for those of you who have only heard about election deniers since 2020 - it didn’t start with Donald Trump. Hint: it started with our friend who rhymes with Schmeagan. HA!

THIS episode is one you’ll want to share with your friends & colleagues asap, because you want to make sure you apply the information we’re about to share when you’re filling out your ballot or heading to the polls next week - we’ll tell you just how dangerous and pervasive this trend of alleging voter fraud is, which means *our entire system of democracy is at risk* And THAT will affect all of us.

What to listen for:

Proof that Trump and his allies deliberately lied - in writing, under oath, to a court, and to the public - about so-called voter fraud numbers, via the Eastman emails.
Current examples of how voter fraud is being used to manipulate people and elections. Example: Echoing the claims of Trump in 2020, Arizona Republican nominee for governor Kari Lake refused to say that she would accept the results of the upcoming election-- unless she wins.
This widespread, thoroughly debunked claim of voter fraud is a rejection of the whole premise on which this nation was founded: voters have the right to choose their leaders. In fact, the Declaration of Independence states that governments derive “their just power from the consent of the governed.”
How none of this is new: the Democrats caught onto the Republican “ballot integrity” initiative in the 1986 presidential election -- estimating that their plans could “eliminate at least 60–80,000 folks from the rolls” in Louisiana, and “could keep the Black vote down considerably” (blatant racism and that’s real voter fraud there) – and counterattacked by expanding voting access.
That the Supreme Court’s 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision gutted the provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
How domestic terrorism is being used in places like Arizona, Nevada, and others to intimidate voters and election officials - leading to a large number of resignations, with the hopes that election deniers can take their place.
What we can do about it: VOTE - have a ballot party to discuss issues with friends, meet candidates, and ask questions. Volunteer to be a poll worker.
If you’re an attorney and familiar with election law - please reach out. There are ways that you can get involved with FOIA requests to help the election officials be able to do their job.

Share this episode with EVERYBODY so they get out and vote while being informed!

For more, go buy our book, Dear White Women: Let’s Get (Un)comfortable Talking About Racism, and make sure you’re following this podcast for more!

Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com

Like what you hear? Don’t miss another episode and subscribe!

Catch up on more commentary between episodes by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter – and even more opinions and resources if you join our email list.