Posted on 10/28/2004 9:55:03 AM PDT by americaprd
Soldiers Worried About Ballots Getting Back In Time
Governor Gives Prisoners Right To Vote
PHILADELPHIA -- The war in Iraq is a big issue in the presidential race and many soldiers fighting overseas are worried that their vote may not get counted in Pennsylvania.
Soldiers Want Votes To Count
There are over 26,000 troops from Pennsylvania overseas and ballots were sent to them late because of a controversy over whether Ralph Nader should be included on the ballot.
Rep. Curt Weldon, a Republican, was in downtown Philadelphia Wednesday. He angrily accused Gov. Ed Rendell, a Democrat, of not supporting a lawsuit that would guarantee those votes would be counted if the ballots come back late because some may have been sent out late by the state.
"It's an absolute disgrace in America that the families of people serving our country would have to file a lawsuit to guarantee their sons and daughters' vote. And I'm ashamed of Ed Rendell that he would say, 'Let them file a lawsuit.' They shouldn't have to file a lawsuit," Weldon said.
The governor said that there is no credible evidence that absentee ballots will not get back to the United States in time.
Some family members of troops disagree. One woman told NBC 10 News that it takes from 14 to 21 days for mail to get to the United States from Iraq.
Weldon took issue with a memo Rendell sent to all state prisons to make sure all but convicted felons vote by absentee ballot.
"So the prisoners can vote, but our veterans overseas, who are defending America, cannot vote? That's outrageous and we're not going to stand for it," Weldon said.
Weldon then delivered letters to Rendell's Philadelphia office asking him for his support.
"It's not politics. This is your right to vote. They're risking their lives to enable other people to see what we have and they're being denied that," Weldon said.
Even if he wanted to, Rendell cannot declare that votes that come in late will be counted. It has to be decided by a court.
He wouldn't rethink it unless the military was a heavily democratic constituency.
Sounds like fast Eddie needs to be reminded that those soldier will return and vote his sorry butt out of office.
Digusting. Prisoners can vote, the Soldiers defending our country can't.
/sarcasam on
Yeah Democratic Party! Yeah Rendell! /sarcasam off
Yaa, and hopefully, the biggest military
dis-enfranchisor of them all, Tom Dasshole, will
be removed in SD by Thune come Nov 2.
MV
This shouldn't be a problem...its our military...they have planes...land a Harrier in the parking lot of the Election Board, if you must!!
The story doesn't mention this (gee, wonder why?) but this was on the radio yesterday. Seems that the lawyers who filed the lawsuit against Nader on the ballots were Kerry's lawyers. And they filed the lawsuit the day before the deadline for mailing out the ballots to the soldiers.
The Rats are hoping that they do not get back in time.
Dear Governor Rendell,
I am a Captain in the Special Forces and a combat veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom. I was mobilized and deployed to Afghanistan for nearly a year in 2003.
I find it unforgivable that my fellow brothers and sisters in combat will be denied to the right to vote because of the delay to send out absentee ballots in time.
For the Pennsylvania’s April 27 primary, you successfully sought court orders to extend the deadline for absentee ballots from military families and overseas voters until May 17 which was three weeks after the election.
Please do the right thing again and give the soldiers who are fighting for our freedoms the right to vote in this election. They deserve every effort and this issue should be above politics.
Regards,
2banana
just heard on the radio that in Texas, soldiers in Iraq can fax their ballots in if they get them too late. of course, we're as safe as safe can be here in the Lone Star State, but still, go Texas! :)
I have little doubt that the Demonrats would game the Nader issue for maximum impact on the absentee ballot timing. They used a Clinton-appointed liberal judge, who also set free a Palestinian terror suspect the Homeland Security folks wanted held, to rule against extending the deadline on counting military ballots.
The Republicans should be immediately appealing this to a higher court, not dawdling around. Plans should also be made to eliminate Rendell from politics forever, even if Bush wins. Ditto for his companion in treason, John Kerry.
Exactly my thought -- if FedEx can do it "when it absolutely, positively has to be there", the US military certainly can!
I'm sorry, but the only response you will get for your effort is a weaselly Clintonesque legalisitic form letter. Regardless of the outcome of the election, never forget this Rendell sleaze and the other Demonrats and what they did to our military. Resolve to eliminate them from the political landscape permanently
And thanks for your service from a grateful civilian.
The world is going mad, Right is wrong, good is evil, the Religion of peace practices genocide. Dems prevented some military votes in 2000 in Florida, Running over our troops' right to vote while they are in Iraq, keeping our country safe so prisoners may vote. The Governor should be doing EVERYTHING legally in his power, to make sure those votes of his brave state's bravest and finest are counted. George Orwell was speaking about the left???
The governor and the Democrat party do NOT want to count every vote - only the votes that they are pretty darned sure are for them, namely criminal votes from prisons. It looks like writing, calling Rendell is a waste. Call, write, email your PA Senators and Reps. especially if they are Democrats. If we put enough heat on them, they may turn on Rendell and try to pressure him to join the suit for an extension just to save their own sorry skins. They are all up for election and they need your vote to go back to that cushy job in H'burg. If they think it could matter in their election, they will press the governor to give it up.
First, it doesn't really take 14 to 21 days for mail to get to Iraq from the US. I have sent it before. The longest time was about 7 days. Absentee ballots are given special handling to make sure they get back in time. The military will make a special flight from Iraq with a load of presorted mail if necessary to ensure that the ballots get back as quickly as possible.
I pray that this is not really an issue.
Aye, then the citizens of PA. need to get up get out and let their feelings be known. THEY will, if the Governor will not, stand up for their Son's and daughters right to have their vote counted in this election.
I wouldn't give the sheeple who even think about voting for sKerry, that much credit.
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