XPost: alt.politics.elections, ca.politics, sac.politics
XPost: alt.politics.republicans, alt.fan.rush-limbaugh, talk.politics.guns From: leroysoetoro@kaga.com

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-republican-party-ballot- harvesting-lawsuit/

The California Republican Party is suing Governor Gavin Newsom to prohibit
the practice of ballot collecting or "ballot harvesting" during two
upcoming special elections in the state, arguing it stands "in direct
conflict" with social distancing guidelines and Newsom's shelter-in-place mandate to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Two weeks ago California Republican Party chairwoman Jessica Patterson
sent Newsom a letter asking him to halt the practice and clarify that his
order "prohibits collection of ballots," but she said Newsom did not
respond.

"The governor has dodged his responsibility," Patterson told CBS News.
"We're hoping the courts will compel him to clarify," she added.

Patterson accused Newsom of avoiding this issue "because of a political
ploy his party has used to get ahead." She added, "The governor has
commented on nearly every aspect of our lives and he can't tell us whether
or not ballot harvesting is legal during the stay-at-home order."

Ballot harvesting allows party volunteers or campaign workers to collect mail-in ballots from voters and submit them in groups to polling places or election offices. In 2016, California expanded the law to allow any person
to collect a mail-in ballot. Prior law restricted the practice to just relatives of those or those living in the same household as the voter.

Earlier this week, Newsom's office declined to comment on this story and
after the lawsuit was filed Wednesday afternoon, a spokesperson for the governor told CBS News they don't typically comment on pending litigation.

California's Secretary of State Alex Padilla, who is also named in the
lawsuit and is currently pushing for a 50-state, vote-by-mail plan ahead
of the November presidential election, told CBS News, "this whole debate
is nothing but a pretext that Republicans use to advance their voter suppression agenda."

Padilla said there is "no conflict" when it comes to ballot harvesting
during the coronavirus pandemic despite a statewide stay-at-home order
that Newsom issued in mid-March.

"Yes, there are numerous public health directives in place," Padilla acknowledged. "But at the same time, there are fundamental voting rights
that are in place and must be protected. There is no conflict. People can
reach out to voters and people can exercise multiple ways of voting, while respecting public health directives."

Patterson argued that voters "aren't leaving their ballots on the front
steps," and that the practice of ballot harvesting "requires an in-person
hand off." She added "that would absolutely violate social distancing if someone is coming to your house, and picking up that ballot from you, and you're signing it over to them."

Following the 2018 midterm elections, after the Republicans lost control
of the House of Representatives, some GOP leaders raised questions about
the security of ballot harvesting while others acknowledged the need to
catch up with Democrats on the effort.

Patterson said in the last year, the state Republican Party recruited and trained more than 16,000 volunteers as "neighborhood team leaders" and
tasked them with developing a trustful relationship with the local
communities. She acknowledged that Republicans used ballot harvesting for
the March 3 primary but noted that "we live in a very different world than
we did in the March primary."

Now, top Republican officials — including President Trump and House
Minority Leader and California Congressman Kevin McCarthy — are pushing to
stop the practice. Writing in all capital letters earlier this month,
President Trump tweeted that ballot harvesting "is rampant with fraud,"
while McCarthy called on Padilla to stop the "gamesmanship" and ban ballot harvesting.

GET RID OF BALLOT HARVESTING, IT IS RAMPANT WITH FRAUD. THE USA MUST HAVE
VOTER I.D., THE ONLY WAY TO GET AN HONEST COUNT!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 14, 2020
Wednesday's lawsuit specifically points to upcoming special elections on
May 12 in California's 25th Congressional District and the 28th state
Senate District. The congressional race for the 25th District is to
replace Democrat Katie Hill who resigned after a sex scandal and a congressional ethics investigation.

Christy Smith, a Democratic state assemblywoman, is running against former
U.S. Navy fighter pilot and Republican businessman Mike Garcia. A
spokesperson for Smith's campaign told CBS News that "due to public health concerns, we are not collecting ballots from supporters at this time."
Garcia's office has not yet responded to CBS News' request for comment.

Patterson said the California Republican Party has currently halted all
ballot harvesting efforts and "following the stay-at-home orders." She
added that lawyers on her team are trying to move forward quickly "because
we have two weeks before the special election."

First published on April 29, 2020 / 10:03 PM

© 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.



--
No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.

Donald J. Trump, 304 electoral votes to 227, defeated compulsive liar in
denial Hillary Rodham Clinton on December 19th, 2016. The clown car
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truck.

Congratulations President Trump. Thank you for cleaning up the disaster
of the Obama presidency.

Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.

President Trump has boosted the economy, reduced illegal immigration,
appointed dozens of judges and created jobs.

Senile loser and NAMBLA supporter Nancy Pelosi got "Trumped" on February
5, 2020. "President Trump, Not Guilty."

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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