NAACP sues elections chief over early voting (Yup. You guessed it. Florida)

Daytona News Journal Online ^ | 10/08/2004 | JAMES MILLER

[RedBloodedAmerican]

DELAND -- The NAACP filed a federal voting rights lawsuit Thursday against Volusia County Supervisor of Elections Deanie Lowe, plunging the county into an elections controversy just weeks before the Nov. 2 general election.

The suit claims that by having only one early voting site -- in DeLand -- Lowe disenfranchises black voters in eastern Volusia County, where the majority of black residents live.

A state law adopted in May requires county elections officials to offer early voting at the Department of Elections office 15 days before an election. Whether to open additional sites is left to local discretion.

On Thursday, black leaders came before the Volusia County Council at its regular meeting and asked county officials to use that discretion.

"We will not allow them to disenfranchise," said Beverlye Neal, executive director of the Florida National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

The suit, filed in federal district court in Orlando by the Volusia County-Daytona Beach Branch of the NAACP, asks the court to order Lowe to open a site in East Volusia by Oct. 18, the beginning of early voting. It also asks the court to declare the decision not to open such a site a violation of federal civil rights law.

But county officials said state law dictates that if local officials provide early voting at satellite locations, the locations must provide access to voters countywide.

Lowe says that means the county also would have to open sites in New Smyrna Beach and Deltona.

"It is humanly impossible to open three additional offices (in a matter of days)," Lowe told the council. She is currently processing registrations and absentee ballot requests.

County Manager Cindy Coto said Lowe e-mailed her in May about opening additional sites. After speaking one-on-one with council members, Coto told Lowe to follow the council's 2002 decision against opening additional sites for "in-house absentee" voting.

In that voting form, voters submit absentee ballots at polling locations to be processed later. In early voting, they insert ballots into voting machines on the spot.

"If there's any responsibility to be held in this," Coto said, "I am the one to take the responsibility."

Lowe said she was saddened by the situation.

The council voted to use the Votran bus system to ferry voters to DeLand for early voting, although the details were not finalized.

The suit is not the first. The NAACP filed a suit in 2001 naming . elections supervisors from Volusia County and four other counties. Volusia County was included because a Bethune-Cookman College student was turned away from her polling place in 2000 after workers told her she was registered in Marion County.

The council approved a settlement in 2002, though it but admitted no wrongdoing.

Also Thursday, the Volusia County Council extended the 6-cent local-option gasoline tax until 2034, clearing the way for almost $70 million in bonds for crucial roadwork.

The tax is being pledged to secure bonds for the projects, which are located throughout the county, although the anticipated $100 million debt is to be repaid with impact fees. While the county repealed a 2013 expiration date last year, no new date had been set.

The council also authorized issuing and selling the bonds, which officials say will ultimately save money as construction costs escalate.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Here we go again...

Last time the NAACP pulled a "disenfranchisement" lawsuit out of their shorts, they were caught lying.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

fyi

[Bikers4Bush]

They're pulling a similar scheme here in Ohio.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I think they have either found a way to make money of the Govt or they are wanting to weaken the system. I don't see the point of their lawsuit. If they had put it in Daytona, they would have B&M'd about it not being in DeLand.

Some people....

[hoosiermama]

Do you have a link to Ohio Story.

[elephant]

There is a special place in hell for this organizaion. Grrrrrr

[Bikers4Bush]

Here you go.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1239130/posts

[razorbak]

Volusia County is making it too difficult for Black voters to vote multiple times at different polling places. Hey NAALCP, you can vote early from the convenience of your own home via absentee ballot.

[marlon]

I can hear the election board now, I knew we should have offered free blunts and pints at this location!

[garyb]

How can Florida open any polls before election day?

Here is what the consitution says:

The Congress may determine the time of choosing the electors, and the day on which they shall give their votes; which day shall be the same throughout the United States. (Article 2, Section 1)


Did Congress determine the fifteen days before the first Tuesday after the First Monday in November? "....throughout the United States" If I can't vote during that interval in Michigan, am I being disenfranchised?

Am I being denied equal representation?
Where is the Justice Department?

[TitansAFC]

Minority organizations have used their political pull to arrange early voting in many states, despite its unconstitutionality.

Think about it. That's why they have buses take African-Americans from their church service directly to the early polling places on the Sunday before the election.

Early voting isn't new, it's just another unconstitutional Democrat vehicle through which to influence democratic elections.

[QQQQQ]

"The suit claims that by having only one early voting site -- in DeLand -- Lowe disenfranchises black voters in eastern Volusia County, where the majority of black residents live. '


Is he saying that the black voters are unable to fill out and mail their absentee ballots or go and vote on election day?

[drungus]

I can hear the election board now, I knew we should have offered free blunts and pints at this location!

So you're saying the black voters all live the thug-life? Way to overgeneralize in a way that makes us look like bigots . . .

[backhoe]

 Click the picture & goto "last" for the latest on Vote Fraud:

There's info about Project Vote, ACORN, and other "non-partisan" special-interest groups as well.

We all need to be clear about the danger this issue poses-- this is the October Surprise from the Left, and they are not even being subtle about it- why should they, with the compliant media, news & entertainment divisions, on their side.

Besides the obvious goal of throwing the election to Kerry, if that fails, the results will be so contested, so dubious, that President Bush will be vulnerable to all sorts of attacks, marginalizing, and stigma- including impeachment. 

[showme_the_Glory]

Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson: "Job security baby, that's what we're talkin bout" Flowda here we come....

[G.Mason]

"Way to overgeneralize in a way that makes us look like bigots . . ."

Who's us? Got a mouse in your pocket?

Don't go making something out of nothing.

[Mark17]

Last time the NAACP pulled a "disenfranchisement" lawsuit out of their shorts, they were caught lying.

You must be mistaken. These paragons of virtue would never stoop to lying would they? I mean, they are all as pure as the wind driven snow, aren't they? (sarcasm off)

[marlon]

No, I'm saying the NAACP, Congressional Black Caucus, Jessie Jackson, Al Sharpton wing of the welfare pimp brigade are. Not politically correct? Too bad!

[Joe Brower]

Florida Freeper

I'm compiling a list of FReepers in Florida for use in the upcoming elections.
If you want to be added, please FReepMail me.

[mhking]

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