'MASSIVE' VOTER FRAUD UNDER INVESTIGATION IN SOUTH DAKOTA...

Drudge Link to Rapid City Journal ^ | 10-12-2002 | By Denise Ross, Journal Staff Writer

[vannrox]

Possible voter fraud worker named

By Journal staff and AP

Officials for the South Dakota Democratic Party responded Friday to allegations of voter-registration fraud, saying that two invalid absentee ballot applications now under investigation were submitted by an independent contractor with the Democratic Party.

The contractor was identified as Becky Red Earth- Villeda, who also goes by the name Maka Duta. She was fired after the invalid applications were discovered, according to a news release from the Democratic Party.

Associated Press attempts to reach Red Earth-Villeda on Friday were unsuccessful.

The Dewey County auditor had notified party officials Oct. 3 about possible discrepancies with four absentee ballot applications submitted by Red Earth-Villeda. When party workers were unable to contact by telephone the people named on the ballot applications, party attorneys traveled to Dewey County to try to find the voters.

"After discussions with the individuals whose names appeared on the applications, it was determined that two of the absentee ballot applications were invalid," states a news release from the party. "On Monday, Oct. 7, legal counsel for the South Dakota Democratic Party notified the Dewey County auditor, the Dewey County sheriff and the U.S. attorney."

The release said the South Dakota Democratic Party has a "zero-tolerance approach to anything less than full compliance with South Dakota and federal election regulations."

Joel Rosenthal, chairman of the state Republican Party, said GOP officials had heard of the allegations of wrongdoing.

"We've known for some time that there is a lot of fraudulent voter registration taking place," he said. "There is some indication there's ties to the Democratic Party in this."

There has been a tremendous surge in voter registration this year, with many races in the state's Nov. 5 general election likely to be decided by close margins. According to a news release from Secretary of State Joyce Hazeltine, county auditors in the state have processed nearly 17,000 voter-registration cards since the June primary election.

Fall River Auditor Sherrill Dryden, who handles general elections for Shannon County on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, has experienced that first-hand. "Our increase in the total number of voters in Shannon County has increased probably over 1,000 (since June), and we're still putting people in," she said, adding that Shannon County started with about 5,700 registered voters.

That's a 25% increase! Imagine. There must be an abnormally excellent rate of economic success in the region! If they all vote for just one party... they effectively decide whom will be in office.

The FBI is in charge of the voter-fraud investigation because the six counties in question include Fall River, Dewey and Ziebach, all of which are on or close to AmericanIndian reservations.

The South Dakota Democratic Party is one of several groups that has conducted voter-registration drives on or near reservations this year. State Attorney General Mark Barnett said Friday that, so far, there is no information to indicate others besides Red Earth-Villeda were involved in the voter fraud, "but that could change."

State officials say ensuring a fair election process for the state is crucial so that South Dakotans know their votes aren't being cast against illegal ballots. Barnett said the short time remaining before the Nov. 5 election makes the federal and state investigation into irregularities urgent.

"There are enormous stakes," he said. "Besides protecting the rightful winner, it's far more important to maintain the faith of the voter in the integrity of the system."

Barnett said ballots cast since absentee voting began Sept. 24 likely would be examined closely. He also said next year's Legislature may want to tighten state election laws on absentee voting and voter registration.

"It's pretty easy to register under a false name, have the registration confirmation sent back to your home, then send in by mail an absentee ballot request, get it and vote under the false name, send it back and get it counted," Barnett said.

Anyone not currently registered to vote can do so by 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21.

Questions or comments? Contact reporter Heidi Bell Gease at 394-8419 or e-mail her at heidi.bell@rapidcityjournal.com.

[Bacon Man]

Daschle-is-a-butthead ping!

Beavis: Hey Butthead, some chick just compared your ping to Tom Da$$hole. I didn't know you had a ping. Let me see it!
Butthead: Uh huh huh, no way dude! It's like not here or something. Besides, my ping is way cooler than Tom Da$$hole.
Beavis: Yea, whenever I see him on C-SPAN I'm like "Hey! How'd you get on TV! You're supposed to be standing in that yard down the street!" And then I run outside and find him where he always is, standing perfectly still in this guy's yard. I don't know how he does it.
Butthead: Huh huh, huh huh, maybe he has super powers or something.
Beavis: He he, yea, the power to suck more than any man has sucked before.

[frogandtoad]

"Maka Duta"! More likely "Make a doody"!

[WOSG]

Fall River Auditor Sherrill Dryden, who handles general elections for Shannon County on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, has experienced that first-hand. "Our increase in the total number of voters in Shannon County has increased probably over 1,000 (since June), and we're still putting people in," she said, adding that Shannon County started with about 5,700 registered voters.

The increase in votes for Johnson over Gore in 2000 was also coincidently 1000. Either bogus voters and votes were added, or American Indians got extra motivated to register and vote suddenly. Yet we know there were at least some irregularities. Was it enough to change the outcome that had 500 votes separating the two candidates.

[Koblenz]

I often wondered why EVERYONE that I meet from the SD region vigorously denies voting and supporting Dash-Hole. Hum...

I guess you haven't been talking to the right people -- like the dead.

[Dr.Deth]

"I see dead voters. They don't even know they're voting Democrat."

[ChadGore]

Is this a time when the needs of the country for a clean and event-free election outways the needs of our party to advance ?

[MissAmericanPie]

There is no telling how many of these dead beats are sitting in the congress and the senate due to vote fraud.
Hillary, Dashel, Gephardt, we would be enraged if we knew for sure. Hillarys opponent was ahead in the polls days before the election.

[MHGinTN]

It's something the democrats slip into the punch at democrat parties for 'undecideds' ... etov tarcomed. This chemical destroys all ability to reason or recognize the truth when confronted with it.