If you would like to understand more about what I’m talking about, which goes far beyond the things like voter ID that you have mentioned, I would suggest beginning with stolen ballots in North Carolina during the 2016 and 2020 elections, as well as gerrymandering policies during the same.

I would then go and examine the statements given by the leadership of each side when such criminal acts are discovered. How do they respond? That can often give you an idea of what a party’s intentions truly are.

Be advised: there is a strong conservative media push to keep the conversation centered around things like voter ID laws, which I agree with you are entirely acceptable. In the same way that they seek to focus on bathroom policies instead of focusing on women dying for their religious beliefs, they hope to muddy the voting issue until it is too late.

I appreciate your interest in understanding what’s going on, and I hope you will add your voice to mine in the future!

Multi-pronged attacks which try to ensure only 'your' people get to participate.

As an Australian resident and a British citizen, it seems outrageous to me - I've never had to take more than about fifteen minutes out of my day to vote in the UK, and in Australia voting is fast, mandatory and always run on a weekend so that most people can get to it. They even usually have a charity barbecue outside the polling place!

Other, indirect attacks on the system include Trump's big lie, the stated intention of the republican candidate for the secretary of state of Arizona to return the state to republican control because he thinks it's what the people really want regardless of the outcome of the actual vote (because clearly the vote is rigged!), the various "alternative electors" that republicans attempted to send to congress during the aftermath of the last presidential election etc etc. The US right is currently mounting an attack on US democracy itself in various ways, to try and work around the system and usurp democratic mandate.

I’m interested to hear your take on how voting machines are “less secure” than by-hand tallying. I’m unfamiliar with the process, so this goes contrary to what my intuition would tell me goes on

Nobody said that this was a republican-led-state problem only. That doesn't stop it from being a major threat to democracy, nor does it a priori mean that the Democrats do it as much or to the extent that Republicans do.

> I might remind you that all the things that are criticized in Republican states for suppressing the vote, exist as rules in certain Democratic states as well.

Do tell. No food or drink supplies allowed while standing outside in line for hours? Where's that in the Democratic states?

Until we give everyone an ID card, yes that is voter suppression because it prevents many citizens from voting.

> That drop boxes for ballots were reduced in number?

Drop boxes and polling locations. It's hard enough that voting day isn't a paid holiday. If it takes hours and hours or goes outside of the range someone can easily travel, that's a big problem.

And when every objectively proven, convicted case is perpetrated by that SAME side, yet never condemned by said side, the only possible conclusion is that said side is operating in bad faith.

When one entire half of the political equation is no longer operating in good faith, it has a cascading effect throughout society. Civilization exists because the majority believe in it, no more, no less. All of recorded history would seem to support this theory.

And to put your mind at ease, I assure you I speak from my life experience rather than any internet talking points.

For a simple example, take gerrymandering in my home state of NC. A complex issue, but if one does the work to understand what’s going on, everything I’m saying is clear.

Research is required because the party in power would prefer it NOT be easy to comprehend the big picture — thus my patience with your high-handed-while-largely-misinformed statement of your understanding.

I am curious: how do you explain away the most recent former president demanding votes from Georgia? To continue to treat/request support from such an individual is, to me, an absolute signifier that one does not consider the right to vote to be a fundamental issue, in my opinion.

Not to mention the tomfoolery with ballots going missing, again in NC, due to the actions of an entrenched conservative “deep state” (for lack of a better term).

Nevertheless, I support your right to your opinion! I do wish conservative leadership felt the same way.

I hope this comment leaves you feeling more fully informed of the issues, so you don’t feel the need to bring up bathrooms in the context of rebellion again :).