Posted on 10/28/2004 5:26:08 PM PDT by sportutegrl
Pa. soldiers file ballot action
The two seek a federal court order extending the deadline for overseas tallies to be received, counted.
By Mario F. Cattabiani and Stephan Salisbury
Inquirer Staff Writers
HARRISBURG - Two soldiers from Pennsylvania serving abroad filed a motion in federal court yesterday to force the state to accept overseas absentee ballots received after Tuesday's election.
Without an extension, U.S. Army Specs. Matthew J. Schramm of Schwenksville, Montgomery County, and Steven J. Reitz of Venango County, probably won't have their votes counted, according to the court petition filed by lawyers with the Republican State Committee.
"With the war in Iraq a major issue in this election, it is especially imperative that the members of the military actually waging that war have their votes counted," according to the motion, which asks the court to extend the absentee ballot deadline until Nov. 17.
Cubans in Miami generally vote GOP.
Rendell is pond scum. Hopefully Toomey will run against him.
Rendell wants to uphold THE LETTER OF THE LAW -- as it applies to YOU, not to the Dems. The ballots were late going out due to the Nader controversy, which was caused by Dem activists challenging Nader's signatures.
Mo1,Your right about that.They are getting mad at Kerry for this and Rendell did not answer my call nor did his office call me back.
Sorry, I thought I searched. My bad. Maybe I'll go back and troll DailyKos again.
Remember that Rendel was head of the DNC during the past presidential campaign and was involved in disenfranchising the florida military votes.
Knowing what absolute scum Rendell is, I can't help but think the fix is in. I'll bet he's used a few markers to ensure that a "friendly" judge hears the case, and of course, rules against extending the deadline. Then he can get out there and say "The courts have spoken, my hands are tied" with a big fat smirk on his face, confident that there simply won't be any time left to mount an appeal.
>> But why doesn't someone in military or PA governor ask Fred Smith, the owner of FedEx, to transport the ballots and bring them back on one of his jets?
It's not that easy. Ballots are sent by snail mail, and won't even be received in many places until after the deadline, whether military or other locales.
The post office must also track down each person to whom a ballot has been mailed. Easy if they don't move, but people constantly rotate in a military theater.
Add to the problem of tracking someone down that asked for a ballot in August while in Afghanistan, and is now in Germany, one can see how tough it can be to get a ballot to a voter, much less get it back four days before Election Day.
How many units in-country don't even have weekly mail call?
Rendell is pond scum.
I hate it also, and there is no telling whether my body will recover from all of this stress.
I do think that the lasting effects of this elections may just effect the MSM, I don't think I will ever be able to watch or read anything these be do anymore without wondering what their motive is in reporting it. I think there could be a lot worse repercussions from this election, I just pray they don't happen.
be=people Sorry!
Doesn't matter. My point was, exclude ANY group and see if there's not a large riot. They can only get away with this with the military and enough's enough.
I sent an e-mail to Rendell last week and he sent me a form e-mail saying that is was up to courts blah, blah, blah,
I also e-mailed John Cornyn, my senator and I got an actual snail mail letter today thanking me for bringing my thoughts to him and assuring me that he would do what he could.
The ballots must be delivered in person, by a surrogate for which there's a signature, or by United States Postal Service. FedEx'd ballots are refused.
I called Harrisburg, and there's a LONG recorded message answering the phone, giving FastEddie talking points about how he's following the law, etc.
If there's a recording, it must mean a lot of people are calling about this, and I humbly suggest that anyone from PA who is upset about it should call 717-787-2500 and get an incoming call recorded on their tally. You can also e-mail FastEddie at pa.governor@state.pa.us
In the letter to Senator Santorum posted on the Governor's website, Rendell claims that the ballots from all but two counties were sent out by September 20 (which contradicts claims here that the ballots are still going out):
"...for the November 2nd General Election the county boards of elections (with two exceptions discussed below) have certified in writing that they delivered or mailed absentee ballots to military and overseas voters either by September 20th – the deadline under Pennsylvania law – or a day or two later to accommodate changes made to the absentee ballot required by state court actions on whether Nader and Camejo should appear on the General Election ballot." (my emphasis, see below)
Another funny thing is that the news story posted says:
Of the state's 67 counties, only one - Venango - failed to mail overseas absentee ballots on time for the general election. (my emphasis)
Which is it, Rendell....one county or two?
Also, is that a real InkyWire story? There are loads of grammar errors/typos in it. The InkyWire usually has fewer inadvertent errors.
All we can do is try! Those troops deserve to vote and we need to fight for them. Glad to see that you are fighting for them too!
Thanks to both of you for letting me know the ballot rules.
(Does the U.S. Postal Service have any jets?)
The trouble, though, is the return mail. Although Rendell is claiming they are being "expedited," well...
The problem is not that there's no solution. The problem is that Rendell doesn't want a solution. He'd rather the ballots not arrive, and he will do what he can to stop them. The corruption surrounding him is well known, but he could get away with it in his home ground of Philly (as mayor). He's having more trouble in Harrisburg (as governor), but he can still muck things up.
That's a very important piece of information. I'm surprised that this fact isn't in the first few paragraphs of the article. If it weren't for this fact I'd say "no extension" but if they dont receive the ballots within a reasonable time before they are due back, that is bogus. It is disenfranchisement by the state itself, for whatever reason (cheating, neglect, ineptitude, incompetence)...
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