Voting: The Ultimate Act of Resistance

by Richard C. Bell

What differentiates this book from other books on voting rights is that it is written by a participant in the voter suppression wars. The stories are real. This is not an academic or journalistic study. It describes the struggle from the battlefields of the polling places and the courtroom where Mr. Bell has spent his Election Days protecting voters’ rights for many years.

At a critical moment in the age of the dual challenges of a pandemic and a racial reawakening, everyone focuses on step one—protests, marches and raised consciousness. All great, but the time has come for step two—voting, that is the ultimate act of resistance. It turns anger into action and ideas into laws.

Mr. Bell, a New York City trial attorney, has used his skills, pro bono, to protect voters at the polls and in the courtroom from race-based, voter suppression throughout the nation. His journey lays out the challenges we face and the solutions we need to ensure free, fair and just elections for all.

Bell has been on the ground at the polls and in the courtroom defending people’s right to vote since 2004 in Ohio, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Florida. He will not be happy about voting rights until election protection attorneys like him are no longer needed on Election Day.

Richard Bell has been interviewed about civil rights and liability law by notable media outlets (CBS News, CNBC, Business Insider, SF Gate, The Laura Coates Show, The Jim Bohannon Show, This Morning with Gordon Deal, Middays with Perri Small, ABC7 San Francisco.)


Mr. Bell is also the author of New York City Accident Victims: Why Insurance Companies Hate When You Hire A Lawyer

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

252 pages, Paperback

Published August 12, 2020

About the author

Mr. Bell, a New York City trial attorney, has used his skills, pro bono, to protect voters at the polls and in the courtroom from race-based, voter suppression throughout the nation. His journey lays out the challenges we face and the solutions we need to ensure free, fair and just elections for all.

Bell has been on the ground at the polls and in the courtroom defending people’s right to vote since 2004 in Ohio, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Florida. He will not be happy about voting rights until election protection attorneys like him are no longer needed on Election Day.

Richard Bell has been interviewed about civil rights and liability law by notable media outlets (CBS News.com, CNBC.com, Business Insider.com, SF Gate.com, The Laura Coates Show, The Jim Bohannon Show, This Morning with Gordon Deal, Middays with Perri Small, ABC7 San Francisco.)

Reviews

[Mark Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doing my part to counteract the single negative review listed here, posted by a--you guessed it--triggered Trumpflake. Who made "voter ID" laws? Who opposes election day being a national holiday? Who opposes mail-in voting? Who opposes curb-side voting during the pandemic? The answer to all of these questions is THE REPUBLICANS. The snowflake-in-chief doesn't even dispute it anymore. He is on record acknowledging that when more people vote, his team loses. Our final opportunity to save democracy is upon us. Let's put the snowflake-in-chief out to pasture. VOTE!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can feel the passion Bell has shine through this book. Voting: The Ultimate Act of Resistance is full of anecdotes, stats, and information you can do to help people express their right to vote. I like that Bell uses informal language, making it so his book can be read by everyone, not just those who have a higher education or extensive knowledge on the subject.

[Susan]

I never received this giveaway

[R.J. Huneke · Rating 5 out of 5]

There could not be a more riveting and insightful look into how easily people's right to vote is suppressed and how the fight to get their vote counted goes on at the polls and the courts. Richard Bell does this and tells about it from his experience. And it is scary how those targeted for voter suppression seem to be those folks who are not white. The true stories told here are unbelievable and there could not be a more important look into how our voting system needs help from people, like Mr. Bell, to change it for the better so it is easy and simple for everyone to cast a vote.

[Peacejanz]

I received my copy today. November 28, 2020. Thank you. Will review it soon. peace, janz

[Tans Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Voting: The Ultimate Act of Resistance: The Real Truth from the Voting Rights Battlefields”, by Richard Bell is a short and engaging read. The author is clearly a very committed citizen and correctly emphasizes the critical role of voting. A point recently demonstrated in both the general and Georgia elections.

In this book we get an insider’s view into the voting process, especially the court challenges of individual voters. It is fascinating to read some of the stories relating to specific voters and how the disputes played out. While Bell does appear to be somewhat hyperbolic at times, the stories are still engaging and interesting.

My disappointment with the book lies in its partisan nature. Democrats are superheroes and Republicans are evil vote suppressors. That is the continual narrative asserted by Bell throughout the book. This seems naive and biased. Clearly, both sides are likely to take advantage of any voter legislation that they deem to be in their favor. To simply paint it as a one-sided issue is untrue and detracts from any otherwise very interesting book.

** Thank you to Word Association Press and author Richard C. Bell for a copy of this book via Goodreads Giveaway. I was honored to provide you with an honest review.

[Hil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was released in 2020 and it was extremely timely! Had it been released after the election with all of the investigations into our election outcomes and proof of mishandling & dishonesty, it just might have been received differently. The stance Bell so passionately believes in here is the one I have shared since I learned what an election was, so believe me, I never want to lose faith in our right to vote. It is extremely discouraging when you realize how easily and often election integrity has been compromised. Solid book though. 4 stars.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC giveaway and enjoyed reading about Bell's experiences as a voter advocate. The stories of election day complications were both inspiring and disturbing. How easily it seems that elections could be stolen, but not it the way that is portrayed in the media. Voter suppression not fraud is the main concern, and Bell presents how it is instigated and how it can be challenged. What may have made this a more interesting read would be a counterpoint narrative.

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author presents a compelling argument that the GOP has consistently promoted selective voter suppression. The book was solid but political books just aren't my thing. I felt bored already 10 pages in but if you like political arguments with an in-depth analysis then you should maybe try this book.

[Barbara Sugg]

My reaction, when I finished reading this book, was: ''How did he not get sued for the things he wrote?'' While I agree with most of his views and found this to be an interesting and informative book, that nagging thought was often in the background, tainting the overall tone of the book.
I supposed I was expecting a totally factual book and the ''Trump-esence'' comments taught me off guard.

[Shanna Hurd · Rating 4 out of 5]

These types of political books aren't usually my thing, but I thought this was pretty good. I do believe that the right to vote is really important, and this book detailed the author's experiences in trying to protect people's right to vote.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Attorney Bell uses his memoirs, antedoltial material, and secondary references to present his allegations that the Republican Party is responsible for voter suppression in the United Staes while ignoring efforts at suppressing Republican voters when the Democrats are in power. This work is highly biased. It was a free review copy through Goodreads.com. Note: I do not belong to any poolitical party and hhave voted in every presidential election since the 18 year old got the right to vote.

[Des · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a lawyer, he assumes as true an awful lot of things that he really ought to be proving by argument (begging the question...).

[Deirdre Lohrmann]

I have not finished this book, but I did win it through the Good reads giveaway. And after much delay, I finally received it! I do look forward to reading this and giving my honest view.

[Lindsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review to come.

[Sherrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

***I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway***

Yes, I'm giving this 2 stars and I'll explain why in a moment. First, I want to make it clear that I genuinely love this writer's enthusiasm for protecting the right to vote. His passion bleeds through on every page and if everyone felt the way he does, this country would be a very different place.

Unfortunately, I just don't see what the purpose of this book is. It's written as his story helping protect voter rights in each election since 2000. There are uplifting anecdotes and disturbing trends that he has witnessed, enthusiastic stories about the folks he met along the way, and very passionate diatribes about the politics involved (with scathing words for most Republican leadership). While I agree with him politically, I don't understand what he hoped to accomplish in writing this. Anyone who is interested in voter rights already knows the things he talks about through his personal experiences. Chances are, they agree with his political opinions as well. So what is this book adding? What new information or insight is being brought to the table?

I can't recommend this one, sadly. Go vote and then come home and read a different book.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been waiting on this book for almost 7 months? twice let them know I did not receive but still haven't gotten.