Arnold Schwarzenegger, actor and former California Governor made an offer to personally fund the reopening of polling places which had been closed due to supposed budget issues.
Schwarzenegger tweeted about the issue, stating: “I’ve been thinking about this a lot. I’m a fanatic about voting. Most people call closing polls voter suppression. Some say it is ‘budgetary.’ What if I made it easy & solved the budgetary issue? How much would it cost to reopen polling places?”
The former governor continued, saying that his question was serious, and wondering what the real reason behind the closed polling places. “Is closing polling stations about making it harder for minorities to vote, or is it because of budgets? If you say it’s because of your budget, let’s talk,” he said.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot. I’m a fanatic about voting. Most people call closing polls voter suppression. Some say it is “budgetary.” What if I made it easy & solved the budgetary issue? How much would it cost to reopen polling places? https://t.co/8mvy1OWBV2
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) September 2, 2020
In Schwarzenegger’s tweet, he linked to a Reuters article about the closure of polling places in the south. The article discusses the Supreme Court’s 2013 decision, which may have weakened parts of the Voting Rights Act, critics say.
The article also cites the Leadership Conference on Human Rights, a civil rights group, who reported that 1,200 polling places have been closed in the south since the decision.
Along with Michelle Obama, Ann Romney, and Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, Schwarzenegger will be appearing in a get-out-the-vote special set to air on ABC later this month.
