Posted on 10/27/2004 11:35:04 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
GALVESTON - A half-dozen Galveston County voters could face criminal charges if a grand jury decides they intended to cast more than one early election ballot and commit voter fraud, officials said.
Since early voting opened Oct. 18, daily checks indicated that six people might have voted twice as of Monday, said Galveston County Clerk Mary Ann Daigle.
District Attorney Kurt Sistrunk said the cases will be submitted to a grand jury and indictments will be issued if the jury believes voting fraud occurred.
Voting twice is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, Sistrunk said.
More than 30,000 people had filled out ballots in Galveston County by the time the early-voting locations closed for the day Tuesday, Daigle said. The county has 185,880 registered voters.
"With the mail-in ballots that have been returned, the total vote is 36,452 so far," Daigle said.
Daigle said her staff is scrambling to keep 16 early-voting locations supplied with ballots for all 101 voting precincts. Because of the large turnout, some voters have had to wait until more ballots were delivered or return to vote an hour or so later, Daigle said.
"It makes us look bad, but we're doing the best we can and we're moving as fast as we can," Daigle said.
Early voting ends at 7 p.m. Friday.
kevin.moran@chron.com
....with a "meat cutter"!
My family in Texas have already vote for Bush - and each only once.
might work for you in texas. However, it could cost the president the state of wisconsin, which he could win if fraud was curtailed.
In wisconsin there is NO voter id requirement. You can even show up to register the same day - and not even have to show id if you have another person vouch for you.
(BTW, some idiotic republicans thought this would be great idea, too - those republicans are just too busy to register ahead of time)
Wisconsin went for gore in 2000 by about 6,000 votes - more than likely it was decided by vote fraud.
GWB has done some really idiotic things WRT voting that may cost him the election. The voting law passed during his tenure is one of them.
Oh, you want to know why wisconsin is still that way? Because GWB had the brilliant idea of naming gov tommy thompson to HHS. After he left, a worthless LT gov took over and bungled the election completely. At the same time the republicans took control of the legislature for the first time in forever.
A voting integrity bill passed the legislature with ease, only to be vetoed by the new dem governor. So the voting fraud that likely cost GWB wisconsin in 2000 is still around.
Like I said, republicans have a way of shooting themselves in the foot when it matters.
Most of them can't even count to 10;)
The problem is that after they're caught, IT'S TOO LATE!
The fraud has already been done, and the votes can't be taken back.
And allowing people to vote over a period of weeks just multiplies the opportunities they have to cheat. Period.
People make excuses that 'oooh it helps us because we're so busy.' Right. If you don't give a damn to take time out when polls are open for 14 or 15 hours, how many more people are you going to get to vote????
Any benefit is far outweighed by the risk of vote fraud.
Well, their vote(s) is private.
Doesn't it dawn on these people that they aren't anonymous?
Could it be others voted using their name?
When I voted in Texas, you signed your name on the roll when you got your ballot.
How could someone vote more than once? Absentee and then walk-in?
I'd be a lousy criminal.
I agree with you- I prefer the "one day and set times to vote, take time or else" route.
I will say that the Democrats in my county seem to have lost their marbles over early voting, though.
Don't you have to sign the voter roll in Wisconsin?
"to bad President Bush couldn't also be Governer right now... he would have those horrble criminals Jailed and then they would see G_d's WRATH smite them!
Vote for Bush!!! My prediction: he wins 49 States (except Mass). I noe it will happen!"
hmmm
signed up today.
over the top comments
rampant spelling errors.
Trolling???
"***Maybe Ashcroft could do a little media event, concerning federal laws covering voter fraud. He is, after all, the sitting Chief Law Enforcement official.***
If not him (that might be "intimidating"), there should be an annoucement to the MSM!"
The point is to intimidate ANYBODY thinking of fraud. It isn't a matter for "political correctness."
After the performance of much of the MSM I don't trust them, so a big media event goes over their heads, to some extent.
Ashcroft could say:
"We are a nation of laws. I'm sure President Bush and Sen. Kerry would agree that voter fraud must be punished, and will be vigorously prosecuted regardless of who wins this election."
Bush could say:
"I'm pleased the Attorney General has made his comments about voter fraud, which is illegal and wrong."
"I'm sure Sen. Kerry will also make a statement warning people to not commit this federal offense, punishable by ten years in prison."
Slackers. Even a dead Democrat can beat that voting record!
;o)
no. if you're already on the list, you give them your street / address and then confirm the name. Nothing to sign. No ID, no proof, nothing. Give your name and vote.
Don't ask about absentee voting, it's even worse.
Wisconsin is a democrat's dream when it comes to vote fraud.
I agree!
Thanks.
That needs to change. Here's how to do it:
People go to their precinct and present their voter reg. card.
The official checks for your name on the roll.
Then you sign your name on the line next to your name.
Then you get your ONE ballot and vote.
What a mess.
That was tried.
Dem gov vetoed it. Voter suppression, naturally.
Republicans are close to a veto proof majority right now. Not quite. This coming election may bring that even closer.
If that happens, watch out. Voting integrity bill, concealed carry, property tax freeze, expanded school choice - you name it.
Of course, we would have had that if thompson didn't go to HHS.
Yes, I am still bitter about that.
The refining plants on the mainland in Galveston County are heavily unionized. Wanna bet there will be a connection?
Ping. . .
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