GOP Harris County Candidate for judge proud of leading GOP Voter Suppression efforts

[Gothmog]

Russell Lloyd is the GOP nominee for the 127th Harris County District court. I looked at this candidate's "accomplishments" and was truly shocked and disgusted to see that this potential judge brags about being the head of the GOP Harris County "Ballot Security" program in 1982. http://www.judgerusselllloyd.com/accomplishments.htm Ballot Security is a GOP codeword for voter suppression and voter caging. http://www.brennancenter.org/content/resource/ballot_security_and_voter_suppression/
In 1982, the DNC obtained an injunction against the GOP "Ballot Security"
program because the key element to such program was voter caging and voter suppression. The DNC has maintained that injunction in effect since 1982 and the RNC is prohibited from engaging in "ballot security" and/or voter caging/voter suppression.

Former CJ Rehnquist got his start in GOP politics as a member of a GOP "Ballot Security" team in Arizona where non-white voters were challenged at the polls. I personally doubt that Rehnquist could be confirmed in today's environment due to his participation in the GOP voter suppression program.
http://www.wmitchell.edu/lawreview/documents/3.davidson.pdf and http://www.votelaw.com/blog/blogdocs/GOP_Ballot_Security_Programs.pdf

A federal circuit court just recently affirmed the extension of the injunction against the RNC ballot security program and that opinion as well as the current injunction discusses "ballot security" and voter caging.http://electionlawblog.org/wp-content/uploads/rncvdnc.pdf

I am truly shocked and sadden that a candidate for judge would brag about being part of an illegal voter suppression operation. There is a clear difference between the parties. Republicans want to take the vote away from people and suppress voting rights and Democrats want to protect voting rights. I would hate to see this GOP candidate become judge in that he would replace a good Democratic Judge.

[sonias]

1. I'm also truly saddened

And to make it worse that so many Texas voters fall for this kind of "ballot security" kind of framing.

[Gothmog]

2. Good description of Ballot Security

The Brennan Center has a good description of the GOP's ballot Security program and why this program is bad http://www.brennancenter.org/content/resource/ballot_security_and_voter_suppression/

"Ballot security" is an umbrella term for a variety of practices that are carried out by political operatives and private groups with the stated goal of preventing voter fraud. Far too often, however, ballot security initiatives have the effect of suppressing eligible votes, either inadvertently or through outright interference with voting rights.

There is nothing intrinsically wrong with investigating and preventing voter fraud, despite the fact study after study shows that actual voter fraud is extraordinarily rare.[1] But democracy suffers when anti-fraud initiatives block or create unnecessary hurdles for eligible voters; when they target voters based on race, ethnicity, or other impermissible characteristics; when they cause voter intimidation and confusion; and when they disrupt the voting process.

Unfortunately, historically and in recent elections, "ballot security" operations have too often had these effects. One federal court recently found that ballot security operations planned or conducted in recent years have largely threatened legitimate voters.[2] As the court found, not only have such initiatives often targeted eligible voters for disenfranchisement, but they also disrupt polling places, create long lines, and often cause voters to feel intimidated.[3] These effects are disproportionately felt in areas with large concentrations of minority or low-income voters, where such operations have typically been directed.

I am shocked and sadden to see a GOP candidate for judge in Harris County would brag about being part of this program.