That gap of about 8,300 appeared to represent the number of same-day registration cards that could not be processed. The number originally had been put at more than 10,000, based on estimates the city sent to the state.A few comments:If only about 1,300 cards could not be processed, that still leaves a gap of about 7,000.
In reality, though, the gap is larger. The newspaper has found hundreds of cases where the same person is listed as voting twice, something officials attribute to a computer "glitch" when their information was entered into the city's computer system.
1,300 votes cast by those submitting incomplete registration cards on election day + 2,800 votes cast by those submitting registration cards on election day that proved to be from illegitimate addresses + 7,000 votes cast by those who are not recorded at all in the system + 300 votes cast by those already on the rolls at illegitimate addresses ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 11,400 votes cast illegitimately in the city of Milwaukee
President Bush lost Wisconsin by 11,384 votes.
I posted a comment on The American Mind blog suggesting a couple of possible solutions to the same day registration problem:
1) Eliminate same-days. Set registration deadline prior to election day, giving enough time for all late-arriving cards to be entered AND confirmed by return verification card. (also: eliminate the "voter vouching" option.)I'm only addressing ONE of the myriad of irreguarities (i.e. the "voter voucher" system is atrocious). But these would appear to be such common sense improvements that even the intransigent governor would have to be embarassed to veto one or both.
or
2) Same day registrant's ballots should be treated the same as provisionals. Those ballots should not be counted until checked by the elections office AND verification cards have been sent AND returned. Given that delay, this might cut down on that high number of same day registrants.
BTW...to those who live in Wisconsin.
Here in Alabama we tried for years to get an i.d. requirement in place. The Dems fought it and kept vetoing it. Finally, 2 years ago, they couldn't stand the pressure anymore. It passed and we now have to show i.d. at registration AND at the polling place.
So, hang in there. Public pressure can make this happen!