Presumptive Democrat VP candidate Gov. Tim Walz said on MSNBC last year “there’s no guarantee to free speech on misinformation or hate speech, and especially around our democracy” when discussing voting issues.
(America is a Constitutional federal republic.)
He brings up misinformation and free speech. I’m including the whole text for context, which is always important (emphasis mine):
HOSTESS: I want to just, before I ask you another question, I want to talk about what you just mentioned about misinformation because oftentimes before in political chapters, disinformation, telling people where to vote the wrong way, these were considered shenanigans but it’s becoming more ominous. Can you talk about that and what you will do to ensure that there are penalties for that?WALZ: Yeah, years ago, it was the little things. Telling people to vote the day after the election, and we kind of brushed them off. Now we know it’s intimidation at the ballot box. It’s undermining the idea that mail-in ballots aren’t legal. I think we need to push back on this. There’s no guarantee to free speech on misinformation or hate speech, and especially around our democracy. Tell the truth. Where the voting places are, who can vote, who is able to be there. And watching some states continue to weaken the protections around the ballot I think is what is inspiring us to lean into this. Again, all we’re asking is to make it easy and simple as possible to exercise their right to vote and participate in our democracy.
Walz would be correct overall if he didn’t add in that sentence!
Indeed, you shouldn’t mislead voters. Don’t lie about voting places, how to vote, when to vote, etc.
That doesn’t mean there’s no guarantee of free speech on misinformation or hate speech! That’s a dangerous statement from Walz.
52 U.S. Code § 20511 outlines penalties regarding voting interference. I do not see a penalty for lying or spreading misinformation. If I misread it, please let me know.
I know each state is different, but I won’t dissect 50 voting laws.
What do you guys think?
I’m also begging the right…please always provide context instead of seven second videos. Don’t be like the left. Please.
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