Posted on 09/28/2004 8:21:11 PM PDT by hipaatwo
Vote Fraud in Colorado? Powerline reports on potential voter fraud in Wisconsin, and blogger Sandi is doing additional investigation. It turns out that one of the organizations involved, the New Voters Project, is active here in Colorado, and much of the same potential for fraud exists here, too.
Colorado, like a number of other battleground states, has seen voter registration drives, some of which have been crooked. Back in August, a large number of voter registration forms had incorrect addresses or names. Initially, some of these discrepancies were attributed to paid signature-collectors, with obvious incentive to pump up their numbers. It turned out that the firm overseeing this drive, as well as petition-gathering drives for some local and state initiatives was under investigation for some shennanigans in other states, as well.
When three local DAs joined the Attorney General's investigation, it was revealed that the local office of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), had hired the firm in question to conduct a voter registraion drive. (That would appear to let Amendment 36 off the hook for that part of the problem.)
ACORN itself is a pretty typical liberal organization, and voter registration drives are part of their work. As is union organizing. When it looked like they got caught with their hand in the cookie jar, they rubbed their toe in the dirt, looked down at their shoes, and said that, yeah, maybe some of these petitions originated with them.
ACORN seems to be on the wrong side of the voter fraud issue nationally. They've filed a lawsuit to extend the voter registration deadline past October 4 in Florida. The "pay-for-play" excuse has, it seems, gotten them into trouble elsewhere. ACORN has also had a worker take the Fifth in an investigation in New Mexico.
Finally, a local man was indicted for forging voter registration signatures. As of yet, there have been no additional indictments. Attorney General Salazar has a reputation for being above-board, but it's unconscionable that the hasn't recused himself from an investigation where he clearly has at least a potential conflict of interest.
Two other organizations that have been pushing voter registration drives in Colorado are the aforementioned New Voters Project (more about them momentarily) and Fair Vote Colorado. Both of these organizations are almost universally described as "non-partisan," and yet both are run by either Democratic or Naderite political operatives.
Fair Vote Colorado lists as its contacts Shawn Rogers and Mark Eddy. Mr. Rogers is a research analyst at the Bighorn Center, and Mr. Eddy was the Deputy Campaign manager/Communications Director for 2002 Democratic Gubernatorial nominee Rollie Heath. Bighorn Center founder, Rutt Bridges, was a candidate for the Democratic Senate nomination who bowed out in favor of Ken Salazar. There's nothing underhanded about this, but it's disingenuous to call FVC "non-partisan."
The New Voters Project is much more problematic. Mr. Belling discusses some of the local Wisconsin problems, but it turns out the organization has cheating etched into its DNA. It's funded by the George Washington University, but it's also funded by the Public Interest Research Groups, founded by Ralph Nader as a means of strong-arming and coercing students into funding his activities.
The New Voters Project is possible with the support of The Pew Charitable Trusts. The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management and the State PIRGs are organizing the project, with the mission of increasing the turn out of young voters in the 2004 election.
The state coordinator, Ben Prochazka, used to be the Western States Field Organizer for USPIRG. Fox News reported this March on how PIRGs operate, and it's distinctly distasteful:
First, they attempt to institute mandatory, nonrefundable "contributions" from the student body either through a student referendum, a petition drive or by going through school administrators. The University of Wisconsin requires all of its students to donate to the local PIRG chapter, as does the University of Oregon, and about a third of the state colleges in New York's SUNY system.
If that doesn't work, PIRG chapters attempt to institute a "reverse check" system, where each student automatically donates to PIRG each time he registers for classes, unless he specifically knows to look for an already checked box asking for his support -- and "unchecks" it.
If they can't win support there, PIRG groups will attempt a "refundable fee" system, where each student is automatically billed, but can request a refund by taking the bill to the university registrar or bursar's office, filling out some paperwork, then taking the form to the local PIRG's campus office to get the money back.
Such systems rake in millions for PIRGs because they put the burden on college students to educate themselves about each line item on their tuition bill, or to go to great effort for a comparatively small refund, particularly unlikely when mom and dad or Mr. Perkins and Mr. Stafford are paying for college anyway.
So now, local county elections officials are overwhelmed with applications. Worse,
Several clerks say they can't always double-check the entries they make from mostly hand-written, often illegible registration forms.
"We're doing the best we can ... but we're not always going to be right. You can't have 100 percent accuracy," said La Plata County Clerk Linda Daley.
There are no state rules on double-checking new voter information.
"That's not something we get into," said Lisa Doran, spokeswoman for the secretary of state.
Moreover, Common Cause has filed a lawsuit to prevent Secretary of State Donetta Davidson from requiring any form of identification to vote, even electric or phone bills.
Underlying Monday's lawsuit are questions about Davidson's political motivations. She is a Republican, and experts say her election rules could help her party, whose members are thought to be more likely to have IDs such as driver's licenses and less likely to cast provisional ballots than Democrats.
Provisional ballots are given to voters whose names don't appear on registration rolls; they're counted only after being verified after the election.
"There are some marginal voters, less educated or newly immigrated to this country, who may be a little less familiar with procedures and requirements, and they might skew Democratic, but it's not an overwhelming skew," said Denver political consultant Eric Sondermann.
Added Democratic consultant Rick Ridder: "Like any business, if you put barriers up at the point of sale, you should expect to have a reduction in sales."
Davidson spokeswoman Lisa Doran, in response, said the secretary doesn't consider politics in setting election rules. "This is a nonpartisan office," she added.
Monday's lawsuit challenges a state law passed in 2003 requiring a driver's license, utility bill or other form of ID at the polls. Election officials say the rule is needed to prevent people from voting twice, as they say has happened in Colorado.
Plaintiffs argue the rule amounts to a poll tax because most proof of identification costs money.
"In effect, you have to pay for something before you can vote," said attorney Martha Tierney.
The suit also challenges Davidson's recent rule prohibiting voters who request absentee ballots, but lose or don't receive them, from casting provisional ballots on Election Day.
Like the law requiring voter identification, Doran said, the rule is needed to keep people from voting twice.
This is ridiculous on the face of it. The rules in place are perfectly reasonable protections for a system that has far too few of them. The notion that a rent notice or utility bill constitutes a poll tax stretches the concept of "tax" beyond recognition. The fact is the Common Cause is seeking to remove any checks at the polls to make sure that the people voting actually are who they say they are.
Should Common Cause succeed, we will have a system with an admitted inability to validate registrants, disabled from checking them when they try to vote. My advice is to get to the polls early before someone votes in your name.
Three things are lacking in all the reporting I've seen, from Wisconsin to New Mexico to Colorado. First, there's a basic belief that disenfranchisement is tangibly, fundamentally worse than fraud. That's partly because of the country's history with black disenfranchisement. But it's also because the victims prevented from voting can be found, while fraud invisibly victimizes everyone. The fact that it's more likely to victimize Republican candidates may or may not play a role here, as well.
Second, the issues get reported piecemeal. First, there's the question of voter registration. Then, there's the issue of voter identification at the polls. But you can only understand the problem by seeing the joint effects of fraudulent registration and no voter identification. This is almost never pointed out.
Finally, the papers assume that any errors, in addition to only running one way, will also be the result of honest mistakes by a system overwhelmed, and incompetent individuals filling out forms. (The idea that there is a plan to overwhelm the system never comes up.)
The Post editorializes about disenfranchisement, but says not a word about fraud. The Post finds time to question Davidson's motives, but not those of Common Cause. Who, after all, could be in favor of vote fraud?
Who, indeed?
http://www.viewfromaheight.blogspot.com/
No they won't....watch how smooth this will be done....haven't you noticed how smooth things are handled by the republicans? The next thing you know it's done...extremely quiet. And very little is said about it. Hide and watch!!!
I hope that the power of the pajamahadeen and bloggers can make a difference in identifying vote fraud. The best evidence would presumably be statistical evidence.
ACORN? Right here:
If you thought the New Left was dead in America, think again. Walk through just about any of the nation’s inner cities, and you’re likely to find an office of ACORN, bustling with young people working 12-hour days to “organize the poor” and bring about “social change.” The largest radical group in the country, ACORN has 120,000 dues-paying members, chapters in 700 poor neighborhoods in 50 cities, and 30 years’ experience. It boasts two radio stations, a housing corporation, a law office, and affiliate relationships with a host of trade-union locals. Not only big, it is effective, with some remarkable successes in getting municipalities and state legislatures to enact its radical policy goals into law.
CIVILITY: AN END JUST NOT A MEANS
... Last week a delegation from ACORN came by the newspaper, and the visit was civil. ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a249151.htm - September 23, 2002 - 17 KB
How the ?Living Wage? Sneaks Socialism into Cities
... Action and the Association for Community Reform Now, or ACORN, joined forces in 1995 in a national ?Campaign for an ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/840614/posts - April 17, 2003 - 53 KB
Schundler's reality tour
Posted on 09/09/2001 8:50 PM PDT by Politico2 ... called Associations of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). One member, Daryn Martin, continued to ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/519526/posts - February 10, 2003 - 21 KB
Onward fellow Marxists!
... Among the co-sponsors were ACORN, The Institute for America's Future and the Institute for Policy Studies, all ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/760376/posts - March 23, 2003 - 12 KB
(Illegal) Immigrant Activists Renew Efforts
Posted on 02/20/2002 11:51 PM PST by sarcasm Immigration advocates were nearly silent for months following Sept. 11, but now they are renewing their efforts to gain legal status for millions of undocumented immigrants in the United States.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/632259/posts - April 11, 2003 - 47 KB
Living-wage laws threaten stability of some charities
... concept " says Bertha Lewis, executive director of New York Acorn. "Business groups were really counting on nonprofit ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/676984/posts - April 1, 2003 - 19 KB
With a Step Right, Senator Clinton Agitates the Left
Posted on 05/22/2002 0:24 AM PDT by sarcasm ... And Bertha Lewis, the executive director of New York Acorn, an advocacy group for the poor, noted that even Orrin G. ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/687469/posts - February 9, 2003 - 11 KB
WHAT'S BECOME OF LABOR?
... alliances with a range of left-wing groups---from Acorn, which agitates for tenant rights, to the Democratic Socialists ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a15844.htm - September 19, 2002 - 12 KB
Study cool to 'living wage' (Sacramento,CA)
... I once dated a guy who works for ACORN in Sacramento. ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/812547/posts - April 12, 2003 - 24 KB
'A Fair and Just Amnesty' [Free Republic]
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. ... was the product of years of coalition-building. ACORN and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights are ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3af32cbd08c4.htm - January 31, 2003 - 141 KB
NJ Democrat "Brownshirts" Harass Schundler, Spit on Campaign Worker
Posted on 09/05/2001 9:16 PM PDT by Antoninus Folks, this is unbelievable. Please read the following posts from the "Freepers in New Jersey" website. There are two disturbing trends going on here.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/517490/posts - January 26, 2003 - 104 KB
Notices to Vacate Stun Area Renters
... said Brian Kettenring, head organizer of Sacramento ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/626500/posts - January 21, 2003 - 71 KB
N.O. voters approve minimum wage increase
Posted on 02/03/2002 7:10 PM PST by mikenola ... Orleans Hospitality, Hotels & Restaurants Organizing Council, or HOTROC, an ACORN ally that has tried to unionize hotels. ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/621235/posts - March 25, 2003 - 56 KB
Governor Puts Philadelphia School Plan on Hold
... the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, known as Acorn. "One of the things that we've been fighting ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/581860/posts - March 21, 2003 - 35 KB
What was the eventual disposition of this stop? Were the voter registration forms confiscated or otherwise part of her case?
Have there been other instances of felonies that also included possession of registration forms?
I read your #24. Nuts!!!
Can you get this to the attention of the media/talk shows/Drudge w/o compromising your official position?
I've emailed all of the above ... realistically, though, there is no "proof" that she was doing anything illegal with the forms... it just didn't pass the stink test.
I hope somebody somewhere notifies the board of elections of your state (or whatever state the forms were from) about this, if it is legally possible to do so.
Here in Florida during the last elections, a Dem committee member was arrested (in either Dade or Broward counties, I don't remember which) driving around with a voting machine and a box of ballots in his car. He was stopped for some other reason, and I never heard whether he was ever charged with anything in relation to the voting machine. Probably not. The problem with election fraud is that the laws against it seem to be pretty weak and generally rather vague, and hence are not usually enforced.
Have you forgotten the "matricula consular" fiasco?
The Dems wholeheartedly supported acceptance of this form of identification from these potential democrat voters.
Go to Tom Tancredo's website...he's THE MAN when it comes to these matters here in Colorado!
I think most of us have known for quite awhile that Democrats will cheat to win. But I am more worried this election year than any other because of the pure hatred and ignorance many democrats have for Bush. I have no doubt they are committing fraud in this election and I think it's worse than in 2000. I agree we have to do everything we can to stop this fraud and bring it to public attention. We can't just talk about it if we aren't prepared to do whatever we can in our current position to fix the problem. I just hope that the Bush Campaign and the RNC are taking this very serious and have equal or even more resource's to find and prevent these things from happening before the election and on election day. We need an equal amount of lawyers at these polling places if not more. This is a very serious threat and I think the election fraud committed by the Democrats this election is worse than it has been in quite awhile. We have to do whatever it takes to prevent this and get President George W. Bush Re-elected this November.
Please Pass Emergency Anti-Vote Fraud Measure Immediately!
Vote fraud threatens the very core of our republic, and it directly threatens our sovereignty
Please send the following message to your Congressmen and Senators:
Please pass, on an expedited basis, emergency legislation to require voters to show ID at all polling places on Election Day.
Vote fraud threatens the very core of our republic, and it directly threatens our sovereignty. There is a significant amount of evidence emerging that evinces a wide-spread plot to engage in massive voter fraud. Thus, Congress must take immediate action to counter this potential menace.
Congress has the express power to dictate the time, place, and manner in which federal elections are held. The congressional power to make or alter time, place, or manner of federal elections extends to the regulation of voter registration. Federal regulation of the electoral processes, including the regulation of federal voter registration, is also consistent with the Tenth Amendment and permissible; although states do have broad discretion to enact and implement registration procedures, states may not transgress the Constitution. It follows that state voter registration and Election Day statutes that are inconsistent with federal voter registration and Election Day mandates are preempted.
As per the Federal Court in Byrd v. Brice, the government may require a voter to furnish proof of identity at the polling place on Election Day. Such a measure would go a long way in protecting citizens’ federal voting rights from fraudulent practices.
Please set to work immediately on enacting emergency legislation to require a valid ID at the polling places on Election Day.
http://capwiz.com/congressorg/issues/alert/?alertid=6486121&content_dir=ua_congressorg&mailid=custom
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