Every two years, like clockwork, Republicans devise massive hysteria over voter fraud that study after study shows doesn’t exist. A 2007 study by the Brennan Center for Justice found that “an American is more likely to get struck by lightning than impersonate another voter at the polls.” This year the Republicans are joined by Tea Party members in crying outrage about upcoming widespread voter fraud – regardless that there is virtually no basis in empirical reality. So, why the brouhaha over something nonexistent? Tea Partiers and Republicans want to suppress your vote – if you are students, African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, or Native Americans.
This year they have even offered up a bounty. The Minnesota-based group Election Integrity Watch—a coalition of conservative organizations that includes the Northstar Tea Party Patriots and the Minnesota Majority—aired an ad that essentially puts a $500 bounty on the head of a fraudulent voter. Talk about encouraging harassment at the polls.
Minorities have been targeted nationally. In Illinois, documented on audiotape, Senator Kirk funded the largest “voter integrity program” in “South and West sides of Chicago, Rockford, Metro East, where the other side might be tempted to jigger the numbers somewhat.” He used these tactics to keep away the large African-American populations.