Assignment – The Big Lie – Voter Fraud and a Stolen Election
As former President Trump floats the idea of running for the presidency, he continues to push the idea that the 2020 election was stolen because of voter fraud. This has come to be known as “The Big Lie.” He punishes politicians who do not support his statements.
What are the origins of the term “Big Lie?” (Hint: WWII leader) Explain how a “Big Lie” works, i.e., how is it spread and why?
Former President Trump warned against massive voter fraud when he began running for office in 2015. After he won the Electoral College vote in 2016, but lost the popular vote, he claimed he lost the popular vote because of voter fraud. He then established a commission to find proof of his allegations. What did it find?
In the 2020 election, he again warned against voter fraud, especially in voting by mail. He said he could only lose the election because of voter fraud and expected the Supreme Court to have the final say in the election because of voter fraud.
Research the facts regarding voter fraud in both voting by mail and in-person voting during this century. Be specific with statistics and studies regarding each type of voter fraud. For example, a Loyola University study found only 31 actual cases of voter fraud out of one billion votes cast in the U.S. between 2000-2014. Explain your findings and cite your competing and/or nonprofit, nonpartisan sources.
Also, discuss overall findings (what was the basis for dismissing the majority of those lawsuits by both Republican and Democratic judges) of 61 out of the 62 lawsuits filed by the Trump campaign and allies relating to fraud in the 2020 elections. What have election officials at state and federal levels said repeatedly about the 2020 election results? What have been the findings of numerous recounts and audits of local and state votes in that election?
Also, what is the January 6 House committee, why wasn’t a 9/11-type, non-partisan commission created instead of the House Committee? Why are only two Republicans on the 9/6 committee? Research and detail the findings of the January 6 House committee, to date.
Considering your findings, why are so many Republican majority states attempting to pass restrictive new voting laws? Are these new laws necessary or, as many claim, 21st century Jim Crow laws?
What are U.S. House Resolution 1 (H.R.1) and U.S.Senate Resolution 1 (S1)? Be specific. Why do the Democrats think they are necessary and why does the GOP oppose them? Be specific in your explanations.
What is the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act? Explain it.
Explain the new Texas Voting Bill in detail. Do you think it was passed to ensure election integrity or to suppress the vote, especially of poor, black, and brown people? Base your opinion on your previous research for this assignment.
Analyze the information you find in your research for this assignment. Present your opinions, based on your findings. Cite your sources in text.
Answer in your own words. Be careful not to plagiarize.
