Posted on 10/12/2004 7:20:29 PM PDT by hipaatwo
I posted the whole article, you need an account to read it
Delco and Bucks officials said they would send them out next week with Ralph Nader's name included.
Bucks and Delaware Counties decided yesterday to begin mailing absentee ballots that include Ralph Nader's name, even though a state court has yet to rule on his presidential candidacy.
Those ballots could begin going out Monday in Delaware County and later in the week in Bucks, officials said. Philadelphia and Montgomery County had already decided to begin mailing ballots that include Nader. Chester County officials did not return calls for comment.
Commonwealth Court hearings on a challenge to signatures on Nader's nomination papers could continue until the middle of next week, according to Ron Darlington, the court's executive administrator.
A decision could come a couple of days after the hearings, he said, but that ruling could be appealed to the state Supreme Court and, perhaps, to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Nader's candidacy is being challenged by Democrats who see him as a threat to John Kerry's campaign. They have disputed about 35,000 of the 52,000 signatures on Nader's nomination papers. Nader needs 25,697 valid signatures to appear on the ballot.
The Pennsylvania Department of State has urged counties not to mail the absentee ballots until Commonwealth Court reaches a decision. Spokesman Brian McDonald said counties would probably have to mail new ballots if the courts rule against Nader.
"It's really their call what they want to do," he said, but added that "there's just too much potential for a lot of legal problems. If it boils down to it, the counties are going to be the ones to face those legal problems."
The ballots at issue are those for civilian voters who are in the United States. Counties have already begun mailing absentee ballots to voters who are serving in the military or living or traveling outside the United States.
State law requires counties to begin mailing the ballots by Oct. 19. The ballots are due back by 5 p.m. Oct. 29.
Delaware County solicitor John P. McBlain said ballots had to be mailed sooner to ensure people could send them back in time to be counted.
Deena K. Dean, director of the Bucks County Board of Elections, said her office expected to receive printed absentee ballots on Tuesday and to begin mailing them soon after.
A Philadelphia election official said the city was sticking to its position that it need not send a second absentee ballot to voters who have received one with Nader's name on it.
Deputy City Commissioner Edward Schulgen said he didn't see how any county would have time to send out a second round of ballots and get them back in time to be counted.
"When are we going to send out a second ballot?" he asked. "Give me a break. They're out of their minds."
At a news conference yesterday, Gov. Rendell (DemoRAT) said that if Nader lost the court fight, counties that had mailed ballots would have to send out a second set.
"It's a messy problem because it's taking so long to get this through the courts," he said.
Is there some reason why people can't just go vote and forget this absentee business? It's got to mean a few million fraudulent votes for the dems nationwide in every election. The polls in Texas open about 10 days early. It's easy to go vote.Easy.
Is there some reason why people can't just go vote and forget this absentee business? It's got to mean a few million fraudulent votes for the dems nationwide in every election. The polls in Texas open about 10 days early. It's easy to go vote.Easy.
I have Fibromyalgia, and there is a possibility I won't be able to make it to the polls, so I had to get an absentee for fear I might not be able to vote.
not here, we don't have early elections
Nader and the RATS response to him getting on the ballots in the 50 states is another thing the President needs to work into the debate tomorrow.
Not only is the Democrat activity good fodder, but how the challenges are being accomplished is even better. With regard to the Pennsylvania challenges, "Lawyers" are donating their time (and yes, I too am a lawyer) to challenge the ballot petitions. One large Pennsylvania law firm (Reed Smith) is throwing its considerable weight behind the effort to keep Nader off the ballot, to the point that the Firm's attorneys are getting paid for "pro bono" time (for those lawyers among you, the time is getting credited as billable time towards yearly requirements) spent challenging the petitions and Nader's eligibility to be on the ballot, as are paralegals and anyone else at the firm that can be recruited. Interesting that these lawyers are so willing to throw their firm behind Kerry, but also curious in that the value of the time being donated on behalf of this "independant" action is probably worth several million dollars. As of August 18, a Reed Smith partner was widely quoted as saying: “8 to 10 lawyers in [Reed Smith] were working pro bono on the case, 80 hours each a week for two weeks, and could end up working six more weeks.” For the first two weeks, 80 hrs x 2 weeks x 8 attorneys x $300 per hour is $384,000, at 8 weeks the total would be approximately $1,536,000. From my own observations, the time estimate of 8 lawyers for eight weeks is a gross underestimate (one paralegal I spoke with has spent the last three week in court reviewing signatures), and my estimate of $300 an hour is probably on the low side. I would guess this "donation" is "legal", because the time is being donated though a 527 ("United Progressives for Victory", etc.) C'mon Republicans, this has got to bother someone other than me.
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