GOP seeks federal monitoring of mail-in ballots(Florida interest)

Sun-Sentinel ^ | 11/02/08 | Scott Wyman

[lovesdogs]

(Very important information included in the comment for South Florida residents) Republican Party leaders are asking the U.S. Justice Department to monitor post offices as well as polling precincts, upping the ante in their allegations that postal workers might throw away ballots.

The request for Justice Department monitors came hours after the National Association of Letter Carriers demanded an apology. The GOP is concerned that absentee ballot envelopes identify the voter’s party affiliation.

Here’s a copy of the Republican Party’s press release: Download file

[lovesdogs]

The print article includes a comment that the Broward co republican chairman answered the demand for an apology by the letter carrier's union by restating the complaint. There is good reason for that...a complaint came into one of our Victory offices about a postal employee who supposedly slipped an absentee ballot under her sweater on the counter. According to the voter, he caught her and after a heated exchange, got his ballot back. The problem is that rep, dem or npa are included on the bar code on the return envelope which is outrageous imo.

We are also getting reports about people going door to door to collect absentee ballots. No one in the Republican party in Broward has authorized any of our folks to do this. So if you have any kin or friends in South Florida, please warn them to not hand a ballot to anyone who approaches then unsolicited.

It is too late to mail absentee ballots at this point. Please ask them to either take them to the SOE's office, vote in person (bring the absentee ballot with you as it must be turned in), or to contact their closest McCain Victory office. We are collecting ballots and transporting them to the SOE and in extreme cases we may be able to arrange for someone to go their home (but at least they will know we are coming).

We are in the last hours, if you can spare a few hours to volunteer today or tomorrow, we need you. Here in Broward we are contacting our people who have not returned those absentee ballots. Some of the voters are very confused and we may have lost those votes if they did not get that call.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

The GOP is concerned that absentee ballot envelopes identify the voter’s party affiliation.

Hey, Charlie. Hows about putting down the cosmopolitan, stop chatting up the pool boy and do something about this, eh? What the hell is wrong with the FL GOP? Why would this ever be the case?

[lovesdogs]

The party is fighting the SOE tooth and nail on many issues. Problem is, Dr Snipes is a flaming liberal who manages to hide it very well from those who aren’t paying close attention. She actually started a program this year to have elementary school kids holding a mock vote in “selected precints” this year as an “educational tool”.

[freepersup]

Under certain circumstances, when all else fails, there is the option of voting a PROVISIONAL BALLOT.

[ASA Vet]

Republican Party leaders are asking the U.S. Justice Department to monitor post offices as well as polling precincts, upping the ante in their allegations that postal workers might throw away ballots.

Wonderful example of an unaware GOP "leader."
The Postal Service has a bunch of Federal Cops already doing such monitoring. It happens every election cycle.

[Wilhelm Tell]

It is too late to mail absentee ballots at this point.

Does this mean that ballots not received by election day but postmarked before election day will not be counted? I thought such ballots were set aside and if the race was close enough for these ballots to count, they would be counted.

[lovesdogs]

Any ballot received on or by 11/4 will be counted. But since these ballots are very large ($1.17 postage), it is likely that they will not make it one day.

[shove_it]

“The GOP is concerned that absentee ballot envelopes identify the voter’s party affiliation.”

Do you know if this ID issue is isolated in Broward Cty or is it printed on all return envelopes for absentee ballots throughout Fla?

[lovesdogs]

Each Supervisor does things differently. So I doubt that it is a statewide issue. But I am not absolutely certain.

[shove_it]

Thanks. I’ll check on Brevard county.

[longtermmemmory]

most incompetent GOP club ever.