Braced for Voter Fraud in Colorado

National Review ^ | October 12, 2014 | John Fund

[Din Maker]

Perhaps the most hard-fought Senate race this year will be Colorado’s showdown between Democratic senator Mark Udall and Republican congressman Cory Gardner. The RealClearPolitics average of polls in the race shows Gardner holding a lead of 1.3 percentage points. The outcome may determine control of the U.S. Senate, and the margin of victory could be less than the 11,000-vote margin by which Democratic senator Michael Bennet was reelected in Colorado in 2010.

But there is a significant difference in this year’s Senate race. In 2013, a new Democratic state legislature rammed through a sweeping and highly controversial election law and convinced Democratic governor John Hickenlooper to sign it. The law, known as House Bill 1303, makes Colorado the only state in the country to combine two radical changes in election law: 1) abolishing the traditional polling place and having every voter mailed a ballot and 2) establishing same-day registration, which allows someone to appear at a government office and register and vote on the same day without showing photo ID or any other verifiable evidence that establishes identity. If they register online a few days before, no human being ever has to show up to register or vote. A few keystrokes can create a voter and a “valid” ballot. ​Once a ballot cast under same-day registration is mixed in with others, there is no way to separate it out if the person who voted is later found ineligible. Other jurisdictions that have same-day registration, such as Washington, D.C., treat the vote as a provisional ballot pending verification. Colorado immediately counts the vote. “We have uniquely combined two bad ideas, both of which open the door to fraud and error along with creating huge administrative headaches,” warns Republican Scott Gessler, Colorado’s secretary of state. Along with the liberal Denver Post (the state’s leading newspaper) and a few Republican clerks from the state’s largest counties, Gessler fought passage of the law.

Wayne Williams is the clerk of El Paso County, which includes Colorado Springs, the state’s second-largest city. He says HB 1303 was sold as a way to “modernize” elections and increase turnout, but it’s fixing a system that wasn’t broken. In 2012, Colorado was among the top three states in the turnout of eligible citizens. Its number of registered voters that year climbed 13.7 percent, well above normal population growth. At the same time, the state’s online voter-registration system processed 250,000 changes submitted by voters, ensuring a more accurate and less duplicative record of the electorate.

Colorado’s system works well enough that when progressive activists placed a measure on the state’s ballot to impose same-day registration in 2002, it was rejected by more than 60 percent of voters despite a massive spending advantage for same-day-registration supporters. “There was general agreement it wasn’t needed and would increase fraud and confusion,” Bill Cadman, minority leader of the state senate, told me. He notes that on the same day Colorado rejected same-day voter registration in 2002, voters in liberal California rejected it by a similar landslide.

Having suffered stinging defeat at the polls, advocates of same-day registration were careful in 2013 to have it approved by the state legislature instead of the people. They rammed through the bill without any bipartisan input. It allowed those running voter-registration drives to delay delivery of the registrations they accepted, reducing the time available to check the data on them. It stripped county clerks of the ability to review new voter registrations and forced every Colorado voter to receive a mail ballot, including 800,000 who had clearly expressed their desire to vote only at polling places. Ballots will be mailed to people who don’t vote and no longer live in Colorado, because the law makes it very difficult to remove names from the voting rolls.

Williams, the El Paso County clerk, warns that the law “takes us back to the corruption of 19th-century Tammany Hall” and will reduce public confidence in the integrity of the balloting. Having voting conducted on an “honor system” is one thing, but Colorado’s law actually creates incentives for mischief that would test the honor of many campaign workers. Williams’s office has posted a video to YouTube showing just how easy it is to commit fraud in this election; Williams is also sharing tips to prevent fraud.

All mail-in ballots in Colorado will be ripe for abuse because “ballot harvesters” are allowed to go door-to-door and collect up to ten ballots with no effective enforcement if they collect more and deliver them at other times. Amazingly, these operatives can be paid based on the number of ballots they collect. The potential for harvesters to pressure voters to turn over ballots, open ballot envelopes, alter ballots, or even throw them away is real. “Voters would never hand over their credit card numbers to strangers ringing their doorbell, but they’re allowed to surrender their ballot,” says Marilyn Marks of the Rocky Mountain Foundation, an election-integrity group. She notes that secrecy controls are so lax that election workers who receive mail-in ballots can figure out how individuals voted in many counties.

Secretary of State Gessler says the same-day-registration provisions of HB 1303 create added potential for mischief. “We were told that eleven other states have that system, but during legislative debate, warnings based on the experience of those states were ignored,” he told me.

One of the examples he cites is Wisconsin. In 2008, a 68-page Milwaukee Police Department report confirmed that in the last presidential election, claims that thousands “more ballots [were] cast than voters recorded were found to be true.” The report found that there had been an organized effort by political operatives from out of state to swing the election. It concluded “that the one thing that could eliminate a large percentage of fraud or the appearance of fraudulent voting in any given election is the elimination of the on-site or same-day voter registration system.”

Gessler also point to Minnesota. A statewide watchdog group called Minnesota Majority scoured the 2008 election results and identified 1,099 felons who had voted illegally. Even though violators must essentially admit their crime before they can be charged, prosecutors managed to secure 177 convictions of fraud by felons. Such numbers matter — in 2008, Al Franken won his disputed Senate race by only 312 votes, and a local TV station found that nine out of ten illegal felon voters in that race said they had cast ballots for Franken. The Minnesota Majority report concluded that “while some ineligible felon voters registered in advance of the election and should have been flagged for challenge, the overwhelming majority who evaded detection used Election Day registration, which currently has no mechanism to detect or prevent ineligible voters.”

Gessler hopes his fears about election chicanery in Colorado will prove unwarranted, but he is concerned that the effort to “politicize” election laws will spread to other states. “Colorado didn’t need these changes,” he says. “We had one of the highest of all voter turnouts, and people could register everywhere, from online sites to the DMV. We can make it easy to vote and tough to cheat, but the law here now makes it impossible to maintain a healthy balance in both areas.”

Opponents of HB 1303 worry that because the new law leaves the door wide open for fraud, it could cast a taint over the results in this November’s critical races for senator, representatives, governor, and state attorney general. They advise people to treat their mail-in ballot as if it were cash and cast it in person at their local clerk’s office or at “voter service centers” that are authorized to receive them. “Treasure what your ballot represents,” says Marilyn Marks. “It’s your voice in how we govern ourselves.”

[Din Maker]

Wayne Williams, the El Paso County clerk, warns that the law “takes us back to the corruption of 19th-century Tammany Hall” and will reduce public confidence in the integrity of the balloting. Having voting conducted on an “honor system” is one thing, but Colorado’s law actually creates incentives for mischief that would test the honor of many campaign workers. Williams’s office has posted a video to YouTube showing just how easy it is to commit fraud in this election.

Well, go ahead and put Colorado in the "LOST" Column for the GOP this year.

[Biggirl]

Would not surprise me if massive voter fraud happens this year.

[ronnie raygun]

When the GOP sat silent in 2008 while voter fraud was rampant and we recieved an imposter and his crminal gang of destroyers why wouldn we see more of the same on all levels, there was and still is no threat of punishment for this crime

[george76]

Colorado Ping ( Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the list.)

[CrazyIvan]

I saw it firsthand. I was driving for Trailways and did a run that covered Iowa and Illinois. “Activists” put about 25 Mexicans aboard in Iowa City. They were being sent to Chicago. They had been given pictographic instruction sheets on how to vote (lots of little donkeys). I presume they had already voted in Iowa.

[Liz]

A watchdog group---Minnesota Majority---scoured the 2008 election results and ID'ed 1,099 felons who had voted illegally.....prosecutors managed to secure 177 fraud convictions. Such numbers matter — The Minnesota Majority report concluded that “while some ineligible felon voters registered in advance of the election and should have been flagged for challenge, the overwhelming majority who evaded detection used Election Day registration, which currently has no mechanism to detect or prevent ineligible voters.”

In 2008, Al Franken won his disputed Senate race by only 312 votes; a local TV station found that nine out of ten illegal felon voters in that race said they had cast ballots for Franken.

More recently, Hennepin County attorney’s office is investigating whether a private mailbox center in Minneapolis’ Cedar-Riverside neighborhood has been improperly used as an address for more than 140 voters. State records show that 419 Cedar Avenue S. has been used by some of the voters as far back as 2008. [Ed.: In other words, since Al Franken's 2008 campaign.]

========================================================

TRIBAL DRUMBEAT in NY Assembly race---ETHNIC SOLIDARITY REARS ITS UGLY HEAD---The woes of NY State Democrat candidate Nelson Castro---a Dominican Republic native---began in 2008, when the NY Board of Elections began examining Castro’s eligibility to run in the 86th district.....due to allegations that numerous voters were (1) registered at the same addresses as his home, and, (2) were also registered the home of a campaign worker (that were detected----could be many more registrations).

During an Aug. 7, 2008, hearing, Castro lied under oath, denying he knew the fraudster-- one of whom was his campaign organizer.

The candidate-selection committee ignored red flags b/c latinos were colluding---determined to put as many Dominican Republic natives on the ballot to increase latino "gimmee" power in Albany.

The Democrat selection committee then anointed Dominican Castro, a felon, as the Democrat candidate. Castro's extensive rap sheet was not considered a deterrent for public office.

The NY candidate selection committee used corrupt Dominican standards to give Castro the nod---with no compunctions about corrupting the US system.

The fact that illegal Dominican Republic immigrants registered to vote using Castro's home address, means they are probably registered at their own addresses, as well.

How many times did these Dominican latinos vote?

Castro was never nailed on this.

[wastoute]

The only way, it seems, to end voter fraud is for conservatives to start doing it. Once that happens the Rats will insist it stop.

[Jacquerie]

There is little point for non-rats to run for political office in CO.

Other states will certainly notice. When they fall into democrat hands, the CO model will certainly spread.

[chimera]

You got it. With the ‘Rats winning by fraud, there is no incentive for them to do anything as long as the ‘Pubs sit back and take the abuse. As soon as the ‘Pubs start winning a few elections under “suspicious” circumstances, the ‘Rats might get interested in doing something. Trouble is, their doing something means coming up with better ways to cheat.

[Yosemitest]

DemocRATs are SEALING ELECTIONS BEFORE we vote !

Here's a MUST WATCH VIDEO about STEALING ELECTIONS !
Make sure you tell ALL your acquaintances to watch it, and watch it RIGHT NOW !

HBO Hacking Democracy The Pima County Way, Card Reader and RTA Election. ( 16:30 )
By AUDITAZ Uploaded on Apr 24, 2011

In the RTA election of May 16, 2006 more than 100 optical scanners failed on Election Day at various precincts.

Election day I was out inspecting precincts and once I found that a large number of optical scanners were failing to work at the precincts.
I called Rep. Ted Downing, (Chair of State Party Election Integrity committee) also (at that time) the Chair of our county party "Donna Branch-G".
Both went to the election department to see what the problem was
and that is when they found the Microsoft -Access manual open right next to the central tabulator.

Donna and Ted took pictures of this.
Both were told that they had no oversight rights because
this was a nonpartisan election
thus stopping us from actually finding out
if MS-access was on the system
and if the central tabulator networked to other computers in the office.
By the time we got to check the computer several months later the program was gone.
However, we did find MS-Access on the Maricopa Election Department and that system count 58% of the vote state wide.

The Diebold-GEMS software is built on MS-Access program.
It is illegal by state law to have software that has not been approved and or certified by the SOS office such as MS- Access.
This is because
MS Access easily backdoors the database
and one could change anything they want by passing the GEMS Audit log.

To make it worse
the normal backup which was always done EVERY election night
and/or major event was not until the following Friday at 5:01pm.

Additional Facts:
In the case of the RTA, the election department after processing 13,000 early ballots 6 days out,
went in early the next morning
and did a backup over that database
destroying that file called "early ballots day 1"
and replaced it with a new day 1 backup,
then illegally printed (5 days before the election) 2 election summary reports 10 minutes apart.
These reports by law are not supposed to be printed until one hour after the polls close.
Such a process took many computer moves that could never be a simple "slip of the finger".

Fact: Even though Brian Crane told the Judge Miller
this was a normal practice,
examination of the computer logs showed this had only been done one other time since 2000.
In actuality, Bryan Crane did backups at lunch
and before he went home at night.

AUDIT-AZ
Producer: John R Brakey
Esq: Bill Risner
BBV: Jim March

[Jacquerie]

Voting is a public act. If the names and addresses of those who voted were made public, excel spreadsheet, it would tremendously cut down the fraud rate.

[i_robot73]

What?! And show how obviously the State hems-n-haws, drags its feet and cost untold $$$$ to do what a guy in his jammies could figure out in 10min with Excel??

Then, on top, even GIVEN the most obvious of proof, plead out/slap-on-the-wrist 95% of the fraud??

People might actually start to think for themselves, start questioning the word from ‘on high’

Shirley, you jest

[unixfox]

Would not surprise me if massive voter fraud happens this year.

And more IRS harassment.

I really, really hate these people. I hope they all get Ebola.

[ex91B10]

Stop “motor-voter”, same day registration, early voting, anything on-line, return to paper ballots and require ID to vote. This is the only way to insure election integrity.

[redangus]

Wrong the media will only highlight our sides indiscretions. There would be no mention of any illegalities on the left.

[Mom MD]

This is chickenpoopers enduring legacy. We will never have another even remotely fair vote in Colorado. All it takes is democraps with no scruples and a lot of enthusiasm.....

[Balding_Eagle]

Conservatives won’t participate in voter fraud. I know I won’t and wouldn’t.

O

[centurion316]

When I read things like this, I wonder if others are aware of what has been happening to our election process? I particularly wonder about those who proclaim that there is no difference between establishment Republicans and Democrats and that we conservatives are much better off with Harry Reid in charge of the Senate for the next two years.

Crooked and corrupt Republicans need to be thrown out of political office and thrown into prison. The entire Democrat Party needs to suffer the same fate. Pick your target and take out the most dangerous threat first.

[EnigmaticAnomaly]

Anyone caught fraudulently voting should be placed up against a wall and shot. This is nothing short of treason and should be treated as such. Kill a few fraudulent voters and the word would get out pretty quickly that vote fraud ain’t worth it...

[laplata]

Democrats = Criminal/Mob Enterprise