[Texas] Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes bill that would give people with disabilities new option to vote by mail

Towerism@beehaw.org to World News@beehaw.org – 255 points – Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes bill that would give people with disabilities new option to vote by mail
texastribune.org

Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday vetoed a bipartisan bill that would have expanded vote-by-mail access for people with disabilities — specifically people who are blind or paralyzed and need assistance marking their ballot.

42

That's not shocking, especially with all their fear mongering about "voter fraud", meanwhile in Estonia you can vote electronically

Ironic though considering he himself is wheelchair bound

More absolutely predictable than ironic, it will not impact him and he has no love for the disability community. I imagine he has a ton of internalized ableism and believes himself as different from other disabled people. He has a long history of doing things like this, look up his tort reform work. As a wheelchair user I really hate that one of the most prominent wheelchair users in politics is this fuck.

Hey, at least he helps demonstrate that assholes come in all flavors.

I am both disgusted and very disgusted by this comment. High five!

Probably has someone vote for them or doesn't need to vote due to wealth and status. I am guessing here.

My favorite thing about mail in voting is Utah. Utah for years had a very successful mail in voting operation. Everyone loved it. A few critics here and there, but generally well respected. Then Trump lost and now mail in voting is a very bad thing, don't you know! (even thought Trump won by an overwhelming majority in Utah via mail in voting)

Is they could self reflect they'd be very upset.

I thought Trump was really unpopular with Utah Mormons?

Perhaps relative to evangelical Christian denominations. There's still enough support that he won the state pretty handily.

Same thing in Arizona. No excuse needed, anyone can get a mail in ballot. Let's you sit on your couch and do research while you fill out it. When you're ready, just put it in the mailbox.

Now that I live in Texas, I miss that system a ton.

In Oregon we only vote by mail and when you go to the DMV to get stuff like an ID, they'll enroll you to vote as well. The process has worked great for years and increases voter engagement by removing unnecessary barriers to exercising our constitutional rights.

God Dammnit! This goddamn piss baby fucking sucks! I wish nothing but bad luck for him in the future. The guy is awful, and he gives no fucks about anybody but himself. Fuck you Greg Abbot you piece of shit piss baby. Every piece of news I hear about him, is how he's gone and oppressed some people. Guy contributes negative value to society.

I think this place and the fediverse we're in now is supposed to be based in anti censorship? So you should theoretically be able to just outright say you hope he dies? I'm not actually sure on that though. Any mods or admins here if you want to correct me, please do. Because, I do hope abbott chokes on a brussel sprout and dies. Him, desantis, trump, and carlson can all join limbaugh in the forever nothing with the rest of the fucking nazis. They can all fight strokes and lose. Again, mods, let me know if this isn't okay, I'll gladly check myself hahaha. (I'm not used to being able to say stuff like this and it feels... dirty or wrong to just say)

Yes and no. Yes, there is no Fediverse-wide admin to moderate content since everything is decentralized, but instances and their subcommunities do, and each one is free implement their own rules. We're on Beehaw, which is pretty strongly committed to fostering a community with a positive culture and tone, and while there is a good amount of leeway for free discussion (from what I've seen in just 2 weeks here), I imagine getting too vocal about wishing that kind of thing might get attention from the Beehaw mods at some point.

Not that I don't fully understand your emotions.

Not surprised. I’m sure he’ll claim it’s due to “voter fraud” but many places vote by mail without issue.

"Voter fraud" always just means those kinds of people voting

Colorado votes by mail and it's regarded as the gold standard in regards to integrity and efficiency.

Anyone else remember when Rump said the quiet part out loud and if more people voted "you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again"?

WA state has vote by mail, and every registered voter gets an informational booklet detailing the candidates.

I’ve never heard of any issues here.

That is particularly ghoulish considering Abbott's own history. Coming from the same place as allowing a law to pass that prohibits the same sort of lawsuit that made him wealthy enough to run for governor of Texas.

He has house servants and assistants to drive him to the polls, and almost certainly can take as much time from work as he wants to go do it on the taxpayer dime. Self-interest is the only driving force for people like him.

I know Republicans generally vote against their own interests, but Abbott pushing back against stuff like this and the tort law that got him his money in the first place will always be wild to me.

Remember a few years ago when the whole Texas electrical grid crashed and a bunch of old people died?

Very much, it was awful. It was below freezing and we did not have power for 3 days strait (and i consider myself lucky it came back when it did! some where out for 2 weeks!). All the gas stations ran out of gas, every hotel room that had power was overbooked. They sent out a notice urging people to stay inside, but some elderly died in their armchairs in their living room. Froze to death, in Texas. This goddamn piss baby doesn't give a shit!

Gosh. Wouldn't it just be horrible if it was easier for people to participate in a democracy? Thank goodness for them stronk republicans! /s

Well, the GOP loves hitting themselves in the face.

He is just afraid that people with disabilities will vote progressive since they probably have more empathy.

Of course he did. He and his party don't want people with disabilities to vote, because then they might have to actually start paying attention to them in ways that go beyond giving campaign-season lip service to tEh TrOoPs.

Would this be a violation of ADA if they don't provide a reasonable alternative or would that only apply to businesses?