Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

GOP wants to tighten voting laws
Millwaukee Journal Sentinel ^ | 11/03/04 | STEVE SCHULTZE

Posted on 11/04/2004 6:36:01 AM PST by machman

Party asserts that potential for fraud is too great in state

By STEVE SCHULTZE sschultze@journalsentinel.com Posted: Nov. 3, 2004

With the dust from the presidential race still settling - and Wisconsin barely dodging Florida's fate in 2000 - Republicans on Wednesday renewed calls for tightening voting laws to lessen the potential for election fraud.

State Republican Party Chairman Rick Graber and Assembly Speaker John Gard called for changing the law to require voters to show a picture ID card before being allowed to vote. They said that problems Republicans uncovered in Milwaukee underscored the need for the change.

GOP officials charged that thousands of voters in Milwaukee were registered to bad addresses, such as vacant lots, and also complained about a voter registration project with local jail inmates, some of whom were felons and not entitled to vote.

Gard, of Peshtigo, promised that lawmakers would consider a measure to require voter identification at the polls when the Legislature convenes in January.

"Democrats and Republicans alike should be concerned about the incredible problems we had across this state," Gard said. Barrett criticized

Gard blasted Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett's handling of the voter registration problems. "(He) has got to be embarrassed about what happened in Milwaukee," Gard said. "You've got thousands of addresses they know don't exist."

Barrett and Lisa Artison, executive director of the city Election Commission, said Wednesday that voting went smoothly, aside from some long lines at a few polling places. Barrett said those problems were largely confined to 35th Street School and a couple of other voting sites and were corrected by adding poll workers.

Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael McCann agreed that voting went well overall. His office is investigating one claim of double-voting and an instance in which a senior citizen who had already voted absentee was given another ballot when he accompanied his wife to the polls. The man didn't use it; instead, he turned it over to McCann's office. Poll observers credited

Hundreds of election observers, favoring either President Bush or Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, contributed to the smooth running of the election, McCann said. But the large number of observers were a function of the red-hot presidential race and shouldn't be counted on for patrolling future races, he said.

While Republicans continued to stress Wisconsin's vulnerability to election fraud, Democrats and others said the relative lack of problems in Tuesday's election suggested the laws needed no overhaul.

Barrett, Gov. Jim Doyle and McCann - all Democrats - said requiring a picture ID is unnecessary. Most people use a driver's license as their photo identification; those who don't have a license could be discouraged from voting, Barrett said.

Doyle remains staunchly opposed to the photo ID measure, a version of which he vetoed in the last legislative session. He said this year's election fears were "a lot more brouhaha than reality."

Doyle singled out long lines as the most serious problem. That can be rectified for future elections by implementing a planned computerized voter registration list and increasing the number of poll workers, he said. 2 reforms offered

McCann suggested two reforms: better funding for election officials so that well-trained poll inspectors can be hired and voter lists that are regularly updated.

"We are running elections on the cheap," McCann said.

He also said the state should make it illegal to pay a bounty for each new voter registration, a system that can encourage abuses such as ones discovered this year in Milwaukee and Racine.

Assembly Minority Leader Jim Kreuser (D-Kenosha) said Democrats plan to introduce a bill soon that would automatically register people who have a Wisconsin driver's license.

Charles Franklin, a University of Wisconsin-Madison political scientist, said Wisconsin came close to becoming a legal battleground for a contested presidential election - something that likely would have happened had Kerry won in Ohio.

Given the high stakes presidential race, an Ohio win by Kerry might have prompted a post-election effort by Republicans to press charges of Wisconsin balloting problems and seek a recount here, Franklin said.

He said both sides in the presidential race hyped potential problems with the voting process as a way to gain some advantage. In general, Wisconsin's voting problems "aren't that serious," Franklin said.

Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker said most of the extra 277,000 ballots that were provided to the city at Barrett's insistence probably were unneeded, as Walker had argued.

Had Wisconsin turned into a battleground, those extra ballots might have turned into a hot issue, Walker said.

Patrick Marley and Stacy Forster of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: democrats; electionday; electionfraud; registrationfraud; votefraud; voterfraud
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-57 next last
I still say fraud has cost the repubs this state two times in a row.
1 posted on 11/04/2004 6:36:01 AM PST by machman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: machman

An idea who's time has come, let's repeal motor/voter.


2 posted on 11/04/2004 6:38:19 AM PST by exnavy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: machman

Yep, should have been taken care of after the 2000 election was stolen in WI.


3 posted on 11/04/2004 6:38:37 AM PST by MamaLucci (Libs, want answers on 911? Ask Clinton why he met with Monica more than with his CIA director.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: machman

For later.


4 posted on 11/04/2004 6:38:37 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: machman

Praise the Lord! I would get this done right now nationally while it is still on people's minds and the Republicans have the momemtum.


5 posted on 11/04/2004 6:40:24 AM PST by truthandlife (http://www.neverforgetneveragain.com -- If you want Bush re-elected pass on this video link!!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Salvation

There are numerous undercurrent tidbits in this article that follow the guideline: Dems want a looser election to garner more votes even if fradulent, and Pubs want a tighter election even if Pubs lose some votes.


6 posted on 11/04/2004 6:42:38 AM PST by C210N
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: machman
In California, in mid-90s, Republicans attempted to get passed a bill to curb vote fraud. All Democrats shot it down. I've followed ever since -- Republicans try to address voter fraud, and the Democrats shoot it down. This begs no question. It is obvious that Democrats are using voter fraud, and have been using it for a long time. Their so-called excuses for fighting the presentation of Driver's licenses as a means to validating a voter needs examination, IMHO.

I used to think the Dems were fighting "driver's license proof of citizenship/registration" simply because it was "one more extra step" -- and more importantly it would reveal the pro-Dem issue and bias FOR illegal immigrants. Now, my own observation over these years has shown me, it is far more complex.

There is plenty of fraud going on in DMVS all across this nation. And if one checks the political registrations of workers at the DMVs.. one begins to find that curiously, political registration parallels political "identities" of those teaching at our college campuses. Democrats. Dittos, elections boards.

It is time, way time, to address vote fraud. No excuses from the Democrats, no more BS-bluster from them can be nor should be contemplated. IMHO, and IME.

It is time for the Democrats, should they wish to continue to exist as a viable party, to grow up; and to reach across the aisle to Republicans.

7 posted on 11/04/2004 6:45:34 AM PST by Alia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: machman

About time.


8 posted on 11/04/2004 6:49:09 AM PST by DoctorMichael (The Fourth Estate is a Fifth Column!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: exnavy
Right on.

PUSH THE BLUE INTO THE SEA.....and hear the lamentations of their women

9 posted on 11/04/2004 6:49:42 AM PST by spokeshave (Strategery + Schardenfreude = Stratenschardenfreudery)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: machman

How about some legislation re vote fraud crimes? I want to severly punish anyone involved as an individual, but I really want to go after sponsoring or supporting this kind of behavior.


10 posted on 11/04/2004 6:51:49 AM PST by infogeekmom (Bush, Burr, Ballantine (well at least Bush and Burr))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: machman
There are laws on the books already for voter fraud. The problem is that those laws are not enforced. Whe was the last time you heard of someone going to prison for voter fraud?

In 1998, we lost Bob Dornan in the house due to undeniable, outright, verifiable voter fraud. And B1-Bob was not the only Republicxan who lost his seat due to voter fraud that year. The real problem was that Republican leadership DID NOTHING. What the democrats heard was: y'all can do whatever you want and we will not object. Lo and behold, in 2000, voter fraud would be a huge factor. Thank the Lord, the Supreme Court stepped in and put the kabosh on the dem's attempt to win thru fraud.

We have laws on the books. We must enforce those laws. We need to clean up the system and ensure the integrity of the vote throughout the land.

11 posted on 11/04/2004 6:52:06 AM PST by Slyfox
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: machman

Good God! They want to disenfranchise Mary Poppins and Peter Pan. Where will all the poor voter registrars be getting their crack from? I'm absolutely appalled.


12 posted on 11/04/2004 6:52:35 AM PST by Barb4Bush
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: infogeekmom

sorry, (severely)


13 posted on 11/04/2004 6:52:42 AM PST by infogeekmom (Bush, Burr, Ballantine (well at least Bush and Burr))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: machman
Assembly Minority Leader Jim Kreuser (D-Kenosha) said Democrats plan to introduce a bill soon that would automatically register people who have a Wisconsin driver's license.

Garbage! If a person can take the time to GET a driver's license, and renew it every year, he can take the time to register to vote.

I haven't had to renew my voter registration since I moved to my present home 15 years ago; I've had to renew my driver's license every year.

14 posted on 11/04/2004 6:56:03 AM PST by mombonn ( ¡Viva Bush/Cheney!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: machman

"I still say fraud has cost the repubs this state two times in a row."

I do believe you are correct. Please ping me on this topic, if you would. Something needs to be done NOW!


15 posted on 11/04/2004 7:01:06 AM PST by the crow (I'm from the government. I'm here to help.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: exnavy
let's repeal motor/voter

I don't quite understand this. Why would you want to do so?

If a picture ID is required to vote (or to get a voter registration card) and a driver's license is an accepted picture ID, why would you not allow someone to register when they are getting their driver's license? Why make them get their driver's license and then go somewhere else to register, using their license as ID?

I'm assuming here that motor/voter still requires the same form to be filled out (verifying US citizenship, non-felon etc.) in order to register. Why make it more difficult? That's not the function of government as I see it. Motor/voter seems to make for more efficient government and therefore a better use of my tax dollars.

Am I missing something?

16 posted on 11/04/2004 7:03:55 AM PST by green iguana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: machman

It is more than time that the Republicans get some guts and do the right thing to see that the fraud is kept to the minimum. Right now I doubt any of us is certain of what the true vote is no matter what the outcome.

The electronic stuff is about all subject to tampering by almost anyone with half a capability with computers, for heaven's sake!


17 posted on 11/04/2004 7:04:44 AM PST by Spirited
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: exnavy

Damn straight!!!


18 posted on 11/04/2004 7:09:14 AM PST by NRA1995 (The downfall of the mainstream media is the next battleground!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: green iguana

Yes, you are missing something, any illegal alien can apply for a driver lic. in any state and be instantly registered to vote. This law opens the door to vote fraud.


19 posted on 11/04/2004 7:10:55 AM PST by exnavy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: mombonn
I haven't had to renew my voter registration since I moved to my present home 15 years ago; I've had to renew my driver's license every year.

In which state do you live that you have to renew your driver's license every year? Here in Texas, DL renewal is every 4 years (or maybe 5... I forget.) I've only had to register to vote once also. I keep voting, and Texas keeps renewing my voter's registration card automatically, which is as it should be. It's not government's duty to be putting roadblocks in the way of the citizens.

20 posted on 11/04/2004 7:11:31 AM PST by green iguana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-57 next last

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. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson