Posted on 10/25/2004 9:36:32 PM PDT by Cableguy
Republican leaders say the Secretary of State should consider resigning. It's the latest in a controversy over voter registration cards.
Here's the issue. On the top of the form it asks the person if he or she is a U.S. Citizen. A check in the box is required. Toward the bottom of the form the same question is asked. This time the person must sign his or her name.
Here in Iowa some 350 people forgot to check the box but they did sign their name on the form. Last week, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller said those who signed their name but did not check the box can still vote in the general election. But some Republicans say Miller and Secretary of State Chet Culver are trying to change the law just days before the election.
Here's what all the fuss is over. The Secretary of State will allow those who signed their form but didn't mark the citizenship box to vote. Democrats say it shows they encourage everyone to vote. The Republican party however says this isn't a scare tactic- they argue that federal law requires those little boxes to be checked. They accuse the Secretary of State of making up registration rules as they go.
364 newly registered voters will they be allowed to cast a ballot on election day. It sounds like a small number but in a swing state like Iowa, both party's will fight for every vote and it's a fight that may have to take place in a courtroom.
So are county auditors supposed to let those 364 people vote when they show up on election day? The Secretary of State says yes. Republicans say no, the Secretary of State has no authority to allow that. This could head to court prior to election day.
Some key republican leaders are taking the controversy over the registration forms a step further. Today State Senator Jeff Lamberti accused the Secretary of State of using his office to manipulate the election process. Lamberti went so far as to call for Chet CCulver's resignation. "I think the people are going to be disappointed in the actions of Chet Culver. Should he resign? I think he ought to consider it if he's unwilling to uphold Iowa law. If he's willing to uphold Iowa law the people of Iowa expect him to do- fine", says Lamberti.
Secretary of State Chet Culver released a statement. It reads quote: it is unfortunate and irresponsible that earlier today the republican party tried to pull a partisan stunt, and went out of its way to create a myth that this office is doing something other than following the letter of the law. I feel Iowans deserve better.
Yes fair to Iowa voters..let illegal citizen vote........Just saw this story on the organization ACORN...We are being taken to the cleaners!
They should compromise. If it can be verified that the 364 are indeed citizens then they should vote if not, then no way.
Democrats.....dumb and expect everyone else to roll over and play dumber. WE must crush them at the polls.
No compromise, ProuPappa. OBEY the (*&(^)*^)(&)(ed law!
How about this:
Bet him his job that they are all legal voters. if they are all legal - he keeps his job. If illegals, he resigns.
Put your money where your mouth is mr Law inventor.
Diva's Husband
I'm with you. What's the big deal about flagging them at the polls and verifying they are citizens?
They probably all are. And there's no reason for the Republicans to be hard line and incur their emnity because they didn't see the box.
And if they aren't citizens, arrest them, fine them, and deport them for being involved in voter fraud.
Thanks for the support. I think King Solomon needs to go back and read "How to win friends and influence elections."
Well, I say: HEY, ALL YOU PUBBIE POLL WATCHERS, GO GET 'EM.
How about if they are citizens they can vote next election, thats the compromise. If the laws gonna be bent it should bend fairly, and fair would be they missed this chance but the doors still open.
;-)
They are being investigated in several states.
Liberal-Leaning ACORN Probed
FDLE said one of the voter registration groups it is investigating is the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, a liberal-leaning advocacy group known as ACORN. The group also is sponsoring the ballot measure to boost Florida's minimum wage.
Faith Gay, attorney for ACORN, said the state investigation is based on allegations made by a disgruntled former employee. She said the group is cooperating fully with investigators.
******
Illegal immigrants are registering to vote using false documents at driver’s license offices, said Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson and other critics. And North Carolina is investigating two groups that might have falsely registered new voters, including a 15-year-old Wake County boy.
North Carolina officials also are investigating two groups that appear to have submitted fake voter registration cards. An advocacy group known as ACORN, for Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, has had trouble across the country because it pays workers to register voters, and some have decided to pad their work.
The group’s chief organizer in Charlotte discovered a few weeks ago that one worker had faked about 70 registrations. The employee was fired and the information turned over to the state board, which is investigating.
A similar problem with a consumer-interest group in Wake County, where the 15-year-old boy was among those signed up to vote, was also turned over to state officials.
officials with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Thursday announced they were investigating groups responsible for signing up new voters -- including the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN.
The national organization, which has targeted registering minority, poor and moderate-income voters, claims to have helped more than 50,000 voters to register in Broward this year. The group, which claims to be non-partisan, reported signing up 1 million new voters across the country as of late September.
FDLE agents for weeks have heard complaints throughout the state accusing organization members of suppressing Republican voter registration forms and illegally signing voter-registration applications instead of having the would-be voter do so.
People who cannot successfully fill out a simple voter registration form should not be allowed to vote.
I don't agree. I make mistakes all the time.
I can see valid arguments on both sides (e.g. the two questions at the top are there for the convenience of the applicant, not as part of the official data gathering. It plainly says, "If you checked 'No' in response to either of these questions, do not complete this form"; therefore, as long as the applicant did not check 'No', the form is still valid).
On the other hand, just like I tell my kids, mistakes have consequences. Carelessness is never a valid defense. If you screw up the application, too bad. Guess you'll have to wait until next time to vote. Blame no one but your sorry self.
on something so important as a voter registration form? Don't you, on something so important, check and double check?
The problem is, we are sending out the message in so many ways that voting is not a blessed privilege, one worth taking off work early if necessary to go vote on a particular day in a particular place, or worth planning ahead to request an absentee ballot, worth showing an id to maintain the integrity of the ballot. It's rather a "hey, do your own thing, we'll shoehorn it in so that 'every vote counts'."
Good morning, heavy equipment guy & imff -- don't know if you all saw this.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.