Where is AWOL Assemblyman Chris Edwards on Mail-In Voting Danger?

(Annie Black | April 8, 2020) – Voters in Wisconsin on Tuesday cast ballots IN PERSON for an election held during the height of the coronavirus scare.

Voters did, however, have the option of mailing in their ballot.

But the Associated Press reported this morning that “many potential voters who remained in their homes complained that the absentee ballots they had requested never showed up.”

Uh-oh.

Yet Nevada is moving to a statewide mail-in election for a primary not scheduled until…JUNE!

That decision was made without consultation with, let alone approval by, the 63 elected members of the state Legislature.  And my opponent, Assemblyman Chris Edwards, hasn’t uttered a peep about it.

No protest.  No concerns.  Nothing.  Radio silent.  AWOL.

On the other hand, President Trump has said a lot about this.  At the end of his press briefing last Thursday, the president was asked about mail-in elections.  Here’s what he said…

“I think a lot of people cheat with mail-in voting. … It shouldn’t be mail-in voting.  It should be: You go to a booth and you proudly display yourself. … No, it shouldn’t be mailed in.  You should vote at the booth.  And you should have voter ID, because when you have voter ID, that’s the real deal.”

Mr. Edwards?

On Tuesday the president reiterated his opposition…

“I think mail-in voting is horrible.  It’s corrupt. … I think mail-in voting is a terrible thing. … I think you should go and you should vote.  You look at what they do. … You get thousands and thousands of people sitting in somebody’s living room, signing ballots all over the place. … There’s a lot of dishonesty going on with mail-in voting.”

Mr. Edwards?

And fears about mail-in voting are anything but unfounded.  Even two far-left newspapers acknowledge it…

“Votes cast by mail are less likely to be counted, more likely to be compromised and more likely to be contested than those cast in a voting booth, statistics show.” – New York Times

“There have been examples of fraud, including fraud perpetrated through the use of absentee ballots severe enough to force new elections at the state level.” – Washington Post

Mr. Edwards?

And a Las Vegas Review-Journal story on Wednesday, headlined “Mail theft a concern in Las Vegas Valley as federal checks go out,” details another danger…

“Government aid will soon be flowing to Americans to help them through the economic downturn triggered by the new coronavirus, but a persistent band of mailbox thieves is determined to intercept as much of that money as possible before it reaches Las Vegas Valley residents.”

Anyone wanting to commit vote fraud will know exactly when Nevada’s mail-in ballots are mailed out and will know exactly when to start rifling through mail boxes to swipe ballots, illegally fill them out and mail them in.

No voter ID.  Instead we’re supposed to believe that election officials are going to compare signatures on file with the signatures on over a million ballots and be able to detect fraud.

Mr. Edwards?

On Wednesday, President Trump tweeted…

“Republicans should fight very hard when it comes to state wide mail-in voting.  Democrats are clamoring for it. Tremendous potential for voter fraud, and for whatever reason, doesn’t work out well for Republicans.”

I’m with the President and am absolutely opposed to changing Nevada’s June primary to a mail-in election, especially without approval by the Legislature.

Mr. Edwards?

As for manning the polls, it didn’t stop Wisconsin on Tuesday.

In fact, over 2,000 members of the state’s National Guard were trained “and served at polls in 71 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties in an effort to support the state’s election committee and clerks.”

“While serving as poll workers is a unique and unprecedented mission for the Wisconsin National Guard, serving the state in a time of need is a familiar concept for the state’s citizen-soldiers and airmen,” Capt. Joe Trovato told Fox News.

Gov. Sisolak has already called up the National Guard in Nevada to provide logistics support.

So much for that excuse.

Mr. Edwards?

Hello?  Are you there?

What the Sisolak Shutdown Hath Wrought

Received the following from a fellow Nevadan that I’m guessing mirrors the headaches, stress, frustration and concerns a lot of you are suffering these days…

“Annie, thank you for your efforts during this 30-day shut down. 

“I co-own a small salon and work as a manicurist.  I am a single mom and have pursued every olive branch out there for people like myself. 

“There was a hotline number given out for assistance saying that is was ‘an economic relief fund’.  That number tells you to call 211 for the state of Nevada.  The 211 line tells you to call 1-866-487-2365.  When you speak with someone from there, they say that they only offer the number for FEMA and that you can also call your local unemployment office. 

“I explained to them that we do not qualify for unemployment.  They informed me that the unemployment offices are adjusting their qualifications for people like us.  So I applied and was of course DENIED.  So I called the FEMA number.  

“FEMA says that they do not have any financial assistance to offer and to watch the local news for options and that I can call the SBA.  So we take a loan?  A loan that we didn’t need because we are willing and able to work but lost a month of income that we can’t get back.

“We can’t run our business that is constantly monitored on sanitation – and we can’t leave our kids at home to work at a listed essential business – so we are left to wait and hope for a $1200 stimulus while our bills at our homes still exist and we have our bills to pay for our salon. 

“Now the fear is that this may continue longer than 30 days????  I am sorry, I know that this is redundant but we are struggling here and people should be informed that all the hope that is given out there through speeches, articles and social media is FALSE!”

Mr. Edwards?

From the AnnieGram Mailbag

“Think you’re hitting the mark here on all your articles. Thank you, Annie! Keep it Coming.”

“Once again Annie is ON THE mark. Sisolak is a disaster in $300 shoes. No government workers are sharing the misery!  WHY?”

“Spot on! I’ve been saying this fir about a month now. Not just Sisolak but the entire hysteria as if this is the Zombie Apocalypse we were all ready for.”

“Thank you for saying what you’re saying!!! I’m so nervous that no one is standing up to the government shutdown, that no one is talking about a plan to get us back out of it, that no one is considering the economic and social costs to our state and country. We need you to keep representing the large group of us who feel like you feel!”

“Yes, Annie. I and many of my friends agree – the shutdown makes no sense.  Many have said the cure will kill more than the disease – financially, as well as physically.  Many feel that it will be hard for our town, as well as many other communities, to recover from this.  When they do it will take years.”

“I almost want to move to Mesquite JUST so I could vote for you.”

“Someone just sent me your email on coronavirus as our neighborhood was trying to figure out why busses can run but a sandwich shop needs to close. 50 people trapped in a tiny bus with no air circulation vs ten people at a time.  Thank you for your work.  You should run for governor.”

“Thanks much for your tireless efforts to help working people in our state. I pastor a church and we are NOT allowed to have church services.  Please keep the pressure on this governor to change these insane requirements and let Nevada get back to work!!”

“Hello Annie. Terrific Update!!  Douglas County is Shut Down!  One Covid case.  Restaurants, casinos, shops, shut down!  Makes no sense.  You have full Douglas County support.  Please keep up the good work.”

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“For the people in their 20’s, this is probably a great lesson. You will remember for the rest of your life that yes, you really do need to save at least several months’ salary and not run up your credit cards.” – Conservative Las Vegas talk-show host Heidi Harris

Annie Black is a Mesquite City Councilwoman and Republican candidate for Nevada State Assembly District 19.  You can get more information by visiting www.electannieblack.com