Dakota Beacon

On November 25 in Gettysburg, PA testimony was heard before the Pennsylvania Senate Majority Committee that a single batch of ballots recorded 570,000 votes for Joe Biden and only 3,200 votes for Donald Trump. That is a statistical improbability given that the Pennsylvania House and Senate were elected solid Republican. In Michigan, the day after the election, Nov. 4, at 6:30 in the morning 141,258 votes came in for Biden; 5,968 for Trump. Odd. And the beat goes on. In Georgia, Nov. 4, at 1:34 a.m. 136,155 votes came in for Biden; 29,115 for Trump. Again, this is statistically questionable given Trump’s explosive popularity.

Even so, the Justice Department saw nothing of concern. (Is Lady Justice really that blind?) Congressional hearings found nothing to see here. If the feds will not take action, the states certainly will and that is what they are doing – and it’s in keeping with the US Constitution.

As of April 1, 2021, 47 states have entered 361 bills in their respective legislatures. A review of voting laws has been long overdue. Having found enough fraud to warrant concern, these legislatures are taking corrective action to reform election laws. As of December 2020 the Heritage Foundation’s Election Fraud Database topped 1300 cases collected over years and is growing.

Among the principle opponents leading the naysayers over voter integrity measures is the liberal Brennan Center for Justice. The Brennan Center is one of the loudest opponents of measures to curb election fraud. Voter “suppression” and “discrimination” they squeal. And, oh, by the way, the center received millions in funding from George Soros.

There are thirteen battleground states -- swing states where a few hundred votes could determine an election outcome. “Trifecta” refers to the three centers of political power (governorship, house, and senate) held by one party. Of thirteen battleground states, seven are GOP trifecta, one is Democrat trifecta, and five states have a divided government. Overall, the US has 38 trifectas: 23 GOP and 15 Democrat.

Georgia (GOP trifecta, 16 electoral votes). The biggest hullaballoo recently focused on Georgia’s election reform measures including expanding early voting (!) and requiring IDs for absentee ballots. It also bans private funding of election officials and ballot harvesting. President Biden and State Representative Stacey Abrams lied tagging the new law as a new form of Jim Crow.

Pennsylvania (GOP controls legislature, 20 electoral votes). Election officials, and not just the politicians, want a say in the election process. They have seen voting abuse up close and personal for decades. There probably won’t be changes before the 2021 primary but there will be changes by the next general election.

Texas (GOP trifecta, 38 electoral votes). Texas proposes the most comprehensive list of election reforms including prohibition on unsolicited mail ballots and unstaffed drop boxes. It would also eliminate certain drive-through and “mobile” polling places as well as impose financial penalties on election officials who do not purge voter lists.

Florida (GOP trifecta, 29 electoral votes). Florida’s legislation targets the absentee voting process, bans ballot drop boxes, limits ballot delivery to immediate family members, and shortens the time a person may remain on the absentee voter list without re-registering.

Ohio (GOP trifecta, 18 electoral votes). Although the Ohio legislature has not yet introduced voting legislation, the House and Senate are coordinating as they prepare separate bills. Preparation is under wraps, but “215 things” will be addressed. One aim will be to correct Ohio’s election rules which currently comprise a patchwork of laws, court orders, and administrative policies. Ballot drop boxes may be limited or eliminated.

Michigan (GOP controls legislature, 16 electoral votes). The 39 GOP election reform bills introduced in the legislature will address protecting the vote, Election Day operations, increased transparency, and absentee voting.

North Carolina (GOP controls legislature, 15 electoral votes). A hodgepodge of bills by both parties in the legislature include reducing the number of days for early voting, eliminating same-day registration, and requiring a 25-day minimum to register before elections, eliminate “pre-registration” of 16- and 17-year-olds who will not be 18 by the time of the next general election, and expanding the number of poll watchers and voter challenges.

Arizona (GOP trifecta, 11 electoral votes). Bills prevent officials from sending unsolicited ballots, makes it easier to remove voters from lists, and would prohibit automatic voter registration and registration on Election Day.

Other battleground states include Wisconsin (GOP controls legislature, 10 electoral votes), Minnesota (GOP controls senate, Dems control house and governorship, 10 electoral votes), Nevada (Dem trifecta, 6 electoral votes), Iowa (GOP trifecta, 6 electoral votes), New Hampshire (GOP trifecta, 4 electoral votes).

Bottom line: There is hope for the Republic. With updated election laws and states controlling their implementation, the 2024 Presidential election should be a lot cleaner, more transparent, and less disorganized than the 2020 election – as long as the feds keep their hands off.

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).