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Amaryllis

(9,524 posts)
Mon Feb 17, 2020, 02:38 PM Feb 2020

It is ELECTION fraud, NOT voter fraud. Semantics are very important here!

Voters are not committing fraud. "Voter fraud" is a term used by Banana Republicans to justify suppressing votes, as in rigid voter ID laws, voter registration database purges, etc. Think Brian Kemp, Kris Kobach, etc., who actually are committing ELECTION fraud, and justifying it by talking about voter fraud.

Of course there are many other forms of election fraud other than just voter suppression. But using the term voter fraud perpetuates the Banana Republican narrative that voters are committing fraud and therefore we need more stringent voter ID laws, etc. to stop those voters from voting twice, or whatever other narrative they spin about why we have to stop those fraudulent voters!

Edited to add Dennis Donovan's excellent point in reply #1 that "election fraud is very real and voter fraud virtually non-existent."

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It is ELECTION fraud, NOT voter fraud. Semantics are very important here! (Original Post) Amaryllis Feb 2020 OP
...not to mention election fraud is very real and voter fraud virtually non-existent Dennis Donovan Feb 2020 #1
Agreed. Well said. Laelth Feb 2020 #2
Yes, election fraud, like Bush in Ohio in 2004... CaptainTruth Feb 2020 #3
Very important distinction. Thank you. Caliman73 Feb 2020 #4
K&R "voter fraud" is when an individual tries to vote twice, or tries to vote when unqualified to diva77 Feb 2020 #5
unless you are Ann Coulter, as Dennis mentioned in reply #1! Amaryllis Feb 2020 #6
Important semantic point... Wounded Bear Feb 2020 #7
Precisely! Other examples: "gun safety," rather than "gun control"... VOX Feb 2020 #8

Dennis Donovan

(18,770 posts)
1. ...not to mention election fraud is very real and voter fraud virtually non-existent
Mon Feb 17, 2020, 02:41 PM
Feb 2020

...unless you're one of those dual-address repugs like Ann Coulter who get busted voting more than once.

Laelth

(32,017 posts)
2. Agreed. Well said.
Mon Feb 17, 2020, 02:52 PM
Feb 2020

The former is real. The latter is an insidious attempt to cover up and perpetuate the former.

-Laelth

Caliman73

(11,725 posts)
4. Very important distinction. Thank you.
Mon Feb 17, 2020, 03:05 PM
Feb 2020

As you said voter fraud is about individual voters voting twice, impersonating another voter, voting in other areas knowing they cannot vote there, etc... It is a lot of work for VERY LITTLE actual gain and it is rare. Historically there are accounts of people being roused to "vote early and often" that have been popularized in books and movies, but in modern times, voter impersonation fraud is virtually non-existent. Recent reports are a handful and one appeared to be an honest mistake, mixed in with a few deliberate attempts engage in by, wait for it, REPUBLICANS.

Elections fraud is much more prevalent and REPUBLICANS are very practiced in it. Suppression, illegal purging, false information, electioneering, intimidation at the polls, etc...

That is what we have to get the word out on.

diva77

(7,629 posts)
5. K&R "voter fraud" is when an individual tries to vote twice, or tries to vote when unqualified to
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 12:08 AM
Feb 2020

vote, e.g. a non-citizen trying to vote. THIS IS ALMOST NONEXISTENT!!!!!!!

VOX

(22,976 posts)
8. Precisely! Other examples: "gun safety," rather than "gun control"...
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 01:35 PM
Feb 2020

“Earned benefits,” NOT “entitlements,” etc.

Clear, common-sense semantics are crucial to communicate the correct message by avoiding the “fear words” so often used by Republicans.

Thank you, Amaryllis.

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