FReepers Against Voter Fraud

"The right of citizens to vote and have their vote count is the cornerstone of our democracy - the necessary precondition of government of the people, by the people and for the people. Enforcing the laws that guarantee voting rights and punish voting fraud is the duty of the Department of Justice. More than mere law enforcement, our responsibility to protect the access to and integrity of elections is the responsibility of upholding freedom itself.

America is a nation whose founding documents and most inspired words uphold the ideal of democratic self-government as a model for the world. The opening phrases of the Declaration of Independence declare that governmental power, if it is to be just, must be derived from the consent of the governed. The Constitution begins, purposefully and deliberately, with these three words: "We the people . . ."

America has failed too often to uphold the right of every citizen's vote, once cast, to be counted fairly and equally. Votes have been bought, voters intimidated and ballot boxes stuffed. The polling process has been disrupted or not completed. Voters have been duped into signing absentee ballots believing they were applications for public relief. And the residents of cemeteries have infamously shown up at the polls on election day.

Today, it is more important than ever before that we embrace the privilege that makes us unique among the peoples, nations and societies of human history. Our way of life is not a given, and our freedom is not an accident. Liberty is a rare gift for which millions have worked and suffered and sacrificed and died. It now falls to us to guard this gift from those who would destroy it. It falls to us, the free, to ensure that the cornerstone of our freedom - government of the people, by the people, and for the people - does not perish from the earth."

It has been quite a month and overall a victorious one for Republicans. The new year looms bright on the horizon with the promise of much needed changes taking place now that we have the majority in both the House and Senate and with the opportunity to finally have some conservative judges seated who will uphold the Constitution rather than legislating the socialist agenda of the Democrats from the bench and Tiny Tommy Daschle and his obstructionist thugs have been spanked soundly and sent to their room in a manner of speaking.

While we had several days of delirious gloating, drunk on the thrill of a hard earned and well-deserved victory, we know all too well that the election and the events leading up to it were not without incident and once again the deck was stacked against us as the Democrats tried every trick in the book in a shameless effort at stealing yet another election. With the blatant disregard for the law so characteristic of them when it obstructs their designs, they managed to get a liberal kangaroo court to uphold the replacement of Torricelli on the ballot in New Jersey beyond the legal deadline for doing so for no other reason than having determined that the scandal and corruption surrounding Torricelli rendered him incapable of winning. In Minnesota, prior to Paul Wellstone's ill-fated final flight, a plan was uncovered that had Democrats busing in students from out of state to take advantage of Minnesota's same day voter registration and vote illegally for Paul Wellstone. Even as this was being revealed, the campaign was underway to push a similar same day registration legislation in Colorado and California, thereby opening new opportunities for illegal voting in those states. In South Dakota Democrat operatives (sorry, I cannot bring myself to use the word "Democratic") paid a field worker in excess of $12,000 over a period of 3 months to register native Americans on the reservations. It was later discovered that many registration cards that had been turned in by that worker had been written in the same handwriting. Among the newly registered was at least one who was recently deceased. This and other irreglarities that were uncovered in South Dakota has led to 1 out of 10 ballots there being under investigation. Fish need water, plants need sunshine, an addict needs a fix and Democrats need power and these three cases are just samples of the extent to which they will go to get it.

The idea for this thread was born following the Arkansas Hog Wild FReepers' discovery of organized intimidation tactics on the part of Democrat and NAACP operatives in Jefferson County, Arkansas as relayed by FReeper, stop_the_rats, a Republican poll watcher who gained undesired and unfair national notoriety during early voting, and by a Republican campaign worker who "infiltrated" the Clinton led, pre-election campaign "event" there. The original story was posted as part of the after-FReep report with more detail added in a post-election update. The story generated such outrage that the thread turned into a FReeper brainstorm as we labored over how we might counteract the dishonest methods employed by the Democrats to hijack elections. The effort yielded an abundance of references and it was generally agreed that voter fraud is, or at least should be, of great concern to all of us. There is a strong probability that the South Dakota election was stolen and in Arkansas the fraud machine was spinning out of control and may well have cost Tim Hutchinson his senate seat as well, despite the shadow cast over him in the wake of his divorce and remarriage. Chances are that we'll never know. Thankfully neither of these races ended up being the tie-breaker that would determine the balance of power in the Senate, but either could have been and had that been the case, you can bet it would have gotten really ugly and may have produced an entirely different outcome.

Even as the Democrats are still licking their wounds and wondering what on Earth happened on November 5, they are already scrambling and scheming and conniving as to ways to prevent our intercepting their next power grab in 2004. This is revealed in their ongoing efforts to block any attempt to validate a voter's legitimacy whether it be by requiring a legal form of ID at the polls, the repeal of motor voter legislation, cracking down on absentee balloting and early voting, doing away with same day registration or by the presence of poll watchers at polling places. In every case they play the race card crying "black voter intimidation" when in reality they are simply thrashing against the net that could trap those guilty of voting illegally thereby inhibiting travel on their familiar roads of voter fraud. Thankfully, Republicans were more diligent this year and undoubtedly made an impact. More questionable ballots were challenged, more questions raised, more accountability called for and more light shed on irregularities. Until recently, prosecution for voter fraud has been virtually unheard of, but that is starting to change. There have been hundreds of stories published over the past several weeks relating to voting irregularities and credible allegations of fraud. Some have led to criminal charges being filed and still others have led to investigations which are ongoing. While it is unlikely that all election fraud can be stopped, it is much harder for it operate under a spotlight, which is exactly why we must each do our part to make sure that the spotlight stays on those "shadowy" recesses where voting machines mysteriously vanish, ballot boxes are obscured from view and the demons of electoral darkness run amok.

It was suggested that the opening remarks of Attorney General John Ashcroft be used as the basis of our mission statement for this thread. In these precarious times when we are at war and we are threatened daily by terrorism, our liberty has become more precious than ever and we must be vigilant to protect it not only from foreign invaders, but also from those who would erode it from within by compromising the integrity of our elections. In order to succeed in a battle it is essential to know the enemy and attack at the point of greatest vulnerability. Included here is a list of links, which while by no means exhaustive, can serve to enlighten. Many of these stories are from Arkansas only because this was the springboard for this thread and we look forward to other FReepers adding stories from their own areas as well as any based in personal experience. The original thread also produced a wealth of resources as we discussed who we should contact if we became aware of voting irregularities or suspected fraud. Again the list of links is far from comprehensive and additions are welcome. Of course the whole point of this exercise is to get more conservative voters involved in changing the laws to close loopholes which make it easy to cheat, to promote the enforcement of existing election laws and to take part in the election process at the local level all with the goal of intercepting future fraud campaigns. In other words our goal is to STOP THE RATS FROM HIJACKING THE ELECTION PROCESS AND TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK!

Many thanks to all the wonderful FReepers who contributed their time, energy and ideas to produce the foundation for this thread:

Awareness- know thy enemy! If any of these links become outdated many of these articles are posted on the original FReep thread. If you let me know via FReepmail, I will make editorial adjustments accordingly before renewing the thread.

Access One reason the Democrats get away with as much as they do is because they make a lot of noise. It is time WE make some noise of our own. There are a number of individuals, organizations and media sources who support our Constitution and seek to protect the integrity of our elections. Here are a few of them. Rather than clutter the body of this thread with a long list of email addresses, I will post the websites. Most of these have contacts and email addresses on them.

Election Law Below is a very brief list of some election laws and guidelines which we have referenced recently. I am sure this section will grow considerably as others add their contributions.

Action What can FReepers do? For starters we can identify states that will have key races in the 2004 election. Is your state one of them? Let's start getting important information about the race, the candidates, the electoral history of the state, the laws in that state and how open they may leave the process to tampering, history of voter fraud in the state, conservative media outlets there, and whatever else you can think of that might be relevant to equip the electorate to head off problems in advance.

Democrats LIE! Their biggest and most effective lie is that Republicans are deliberately trying to prevent blacks and/or other minorities from voting. In effect, they're calling us racists. The truth is that it is them who seem to consider blacks and other minorities so inferior and ignorant and lackiing in initiative that they are incapable of voting without the benefit of THEIR "guidance" and "protection". Their greatest fear is that blacks will recognize how badly they've been duped and insulted by these people and leave the party in droves. We need to work with that. Black conservatives have perhaps the greatest responsibility for telling other black voters the truth about the Democrat party, although it is certainly something we should all work on.

Talk about election fraud. Bring it up whenever an opportunity presents itself. Keep a notebook at all times and if someone tells you anything pointing to vote fraud, get more details. Write down such things as county, precinct, candidates in the race, name of the witness and whatever else you can think of. If it seems credible, report it to someone.

Take part in the process. Here is a list of suggestions that stop_the_rats posted on another thread:

1. Plan to take election day off in 2004.
2. Be a poll worker. You get paid for this.
3. Be a poll watcher. Call your local Republican headquarters or the campaign office of one of your Republican candidates and volunteer to be a poll watcher.
4. Count absentee ballots. You get paid for this also.
5. Be a poll closer. It's a long day. Some people who can't poll watch because of work, could agree to come after work for 2 hours and close the polls to give poll watchers a break. Get final counts and make sure no "late" voters turn up.
6. Take lunches to poll workers and poll watchers.
7. Man the headquarters so if problems arise, poll workers or watchers have a place to call for help. Have a list of numbers: local election officals, state officals.
8. Find a person who will agree to "be in charge" of all the rules poll watchers and poll workers need to follow. Each state has rules and in some cases, state election representatives will come to your city and give a presentation.
9. Encourage others to get involved.
10. Smile; we have them worried!

Some might want to take it a step furthur, if that is an option in your area, and be an election judge. Or you may have specific talents and training that you could donate to the cause, such as legal assistance and advice.

Finally; ask questions. FReepers have an uncanny ability to ask the right questions in most any situation AND to find answers and we have an inexhaustable resource right here on Free Republic. Here are just a few questions to start with.

"How do we work to get cooperation between poll watchers and workers and clarify expectations on all sides BEFORE an election?"

"How can you prove fraud? What is legal in a given state (photos, tape recording, witness statements, compiling a list of names, video taping)?"

"If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

FReepers; your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to get out there and STOP THE RATS!

"A Herculean task..." There it is, FReepers. Are we up to it?

Apparently a tough question Budge ; )

We are in the process(I think) of assimilating viable alternatives to the "new wave" of voting machinations. Most of us seem to agree the old(some very old) ways are the best. And, you're dead right, the new wave to make voting easier, a warm and fuzzy emotional appeal, is a tough nut to crack regardless of evidence it's accomplished exactly NOTHING. Except increasing the opportunities for chicanery that is.

To make things more managable, maybe we should create a "TOP TEN" or "TOP FIVE" list of changes we as a group would like to see made. Rolling back motor voter, excuseless absentee balloting, and early voting would probably all make the list, eh?

A single polling day always struck me as something akin to the 4th of July, or a Memorial Day type thing. It was an important date to mark on the calendar. One made arrangements to participate if one felt compelled to vote.

The pomp and circumstance associated with voting day was always uplifting to me. It heightened my sense of obligation as a citizen to perform my patriotic duty to VOTE. Texas has early voting, and for the last several elections I have voted early, but it's just not the same. It's just another activity that's scheduled at my leisure over a four week(give or take) period. There is no sense of urgency that should be associated with such an important event.

BTW, one of the practices that has gone MIA is the posting of results at each precinct before or concurrently with the results being sent to the county clerk/SoS or wherever. IOW, all the votes were counted at the precinct level before being reported to the next level. All interested parties in the precinct knew the outcome(evidence?) before the numbers could be massaged. It's not a cure-all, but it's another possible tool in the battle against the RATS.

Last item: And WHY does it take til noon the next day to get an accurate count of a precinct??? Are not precincts relatively uniform in numbers of voters? I should probably research that, but... If there were a time certain when precincts had to have their tally turned in(yeah, yeah; laws aren't for Dims), or they wouldn't be counted would be an incentive to get it done and allow less time for "massaging".

And so it goes...

FGS

http://suppressednews.com/newsitems/local/EpkFAApZpEJqadPpTl.html

Vote Fraud Alleged in Alabama

By Sen. Bill Armistead

It is my hope and prayer that the day will come when we will have an election where there will not be a single allegation of "voter fraud" in Alabama. But from all indications, we are a long way from attaining that goal in some parts of the state.

Every election we hear allegations of voter fraud. In Hale County it has been reported that the District Attorney is looking into possible voter fraud involving absentee ballots cast in last week’s primary. The press has reported that while the absentee vote is about 3 percent statewide, in Hale County it is 13 percent and in Sumter County it is almost 16 percent of the total votes cast.

Since absentee ballots have been the traditional method of stealing elections in Alabama, you can’t help but be suspicious when absentee voting percentages reach as high as they did during this primary election in Hale County.

For the past several years I have fought to secure passage of a Voter ID law to require voters to show some type of identification when they vote. Acceptable documents include a valid driver’s license, birth certificate, voter registration card, library card, welfare card and several other forms of ID. If a voter does not have any form of ID, he or she could still vote by signing an affidavit that they are who they say they are. If their vote was challenged, they would have to provide some type of identification at that time.

Public opinion polls show that more than 80 percent of Alabamians think citizens should show identification before being allowed to vote. Since a majority wants to implement voter identification, one must wonder why the state legislature has failed to pass such a common sense initiative that would promote honest elections. It is to maintain the status quo in Alabama’s elections that allows a few to manipulate the outcome.

When you consider that we can’t check books out of libraries without a library card, rent a video or cash a check without valid ID, why shouldn’t we require some type of identification for the single most important action we take to select the leaders of our state: What could be more important than having elections in which only valid votes are counted?

Who can forget what happened to Judge Perry Hooper, Sr., in his bid to become the first Republican Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court in modern times.

In that race, 2,000 illegal absentee ballots were hauled into court and a Democrat Montgomery Circuit Judge ruled that, although the ballots did not meet the state law requirement of being signed by two witnesses over the age of 18, or by a notary public, they should still be counted. Most of the illicit ballots would have gone to Judge Hooper’s opponent Sonny Hornsby.

The Montgomery ruling prompted Judge Hooper’s lawyers to file suit in federal court in Mobile, bringing the effort to count the illegal ballots to a screeching halt. The case went all the way to the U. S. Supreme Court and finally, eleven months after the election, Judge Hooper was sworn into the office he legally won almost a year earlier.

After that incident, absentee ballots were the focus of a voter fraud investigation in Greene County. That inquiry resulted in the voter fraud conviction of several prominent long-time political figures.

That this kind of thing could still be going on in Alabama today is a travesty of the first order. That is why a Voter ID bill should be a priority when the legislature convenes next year. We must put an end to this egregious practice.

We owe it to ourselves and to the children and grand children who will inherit the political and social institutions that shape our world, to stop voter fraud once and for all

http://suppressednews.com/newsitems/local/AlklEpFAFskuSJTtL.html

Voter Fraud in Alabama Is a Proven Fact

By Elaine Little

SuppressedNews Note: Alabama is one of the few states that don't require voters to identify themselves when they go to the polls. Elaine Little, President of The Alabama Republican Assembly, is working with others to change this and bring election reform to her state.

The existence of voter fraud in Alabama can no longer be denied. In a news conference on February 16, Alabama Republican Party Chairman Marty Connors showed the proof to the media. Connors handed out copies of voter sign-in sheets used at a Birmingham precinct for the June 30, 1998, primary runoffs. These sheets showed 62 names of people who apparently voted in both the Republican and Democratic runoffs.

The voter sign-in sheets were from the polling place at Morton Simpson School, in a mostly black precinct in Birmingham. The runoff had an unusual aspect in that then-Birmingham Mayor Richard Arrington had asked his fellow blacks, who are mostly Democrats, to cross over and vote in the Republican runoff for Montgomery businessman Winton Blount against the incumbent Republican governor Fob James. But this crossover of black voters to the Republican primary was not the most surprising stunt these voters pulled. A number of them voted in both the Republican and the Democrat primary!

I myself have held these sign-in sheets in my hands and examined them closely. Not only did the 62 vote in both primaries, but several also voted more than once in the same primary! In these cases the same signature,the same name, the same spelling, the same handwriting-- appeared at different spots on the list. It stretches the imagination to think that neither the voters nor the poll workers failed to know that they could not legally vote in both primaries, and certainly that they failed to know that they couldn't legally vote in a single primary more than one time. This was no mistake. This was deliberate fraud.

Also at the Connors press conference, Alabama Senator Bill Armistead,R-Columbiana, produced a copy of a letter from a woman in his district who complained that she wasn't allowed to vote. When she showed up at her polling place for the November 7 presidential election, poll workers told her that her name had been crossed off because she ''had already voted.''

Oliver Robinson, a Democrat running in the district where fraud occurred, said that the voters and workers just need more education on voting. Unfortunately some voters and workers seem to understand the system exceptionally well.

Found this one of interest. DOJ has been putting people on notice!

U.S. Department of Justice

United States Attorney
Northern District of California

11th Floor, Federal Building
450 Golden Gate Avenue, Box 36055
San Francisco, California 94102

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tel: (415) 436-7200
Fax: (415) 436-7234

October 30, 2002

United States Attorney Kevin V. Ryan announced today the appointment of Assistant United States Attorneys Charles B. Burch and Lawrence Leigh to serve as District Election Officers for the Northern District of California.

This appointment was made pursuant to a nationwide Department of Justice Voting Integrity Initiative announced by Attorney General Ashcroft in Washington, D.C. on October 8, 2002. The purpose of this nationwide federal law enforcement program, which the Department has implemented during national general elections since the late 1960s, is to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by strengthening and enhancing the Department's efforts to protect voting rights and to prosecute election crime throughout the country.

United States Attorney Ryan said, "When it occurs, election fraud undermines the importance of votes honestly cast. It also corrupts the essence of our representative form of government. As a crime against both individual voters and the government as a whole, vote fraud will be dealt with promptly and aggressively."

United States Attorney Ryan further noted that most forms of election crime are easily recognized, such as voter bribery, voter intimidation, and ballot forgery. Other forms of election fraud are more subtle. It is, for example, a federal offense to seek out the elderly, the socially disadvantaged, or the illiterate for the purpose of subjugating their electoral will. Furthermore, every voter has the right to mark his or her ballot in private, free from the watchful eye of election partisans. This assistance of the public is a vital part of ensuring that the election process is free and fair. The cooperation of this country's citizens in helping to protect the sanctity of the ballot box is crucial. It is also appreciated.

AUSAs Burch and Leigh, both of whom are veteran prosecutors, will serve as District Election Officers for two years, and in that capacity will supervise the investigation and prosecution of election fraud matters in this District and will coordinate the U.S. Attorney's Offices efforts with Department of Justice prosecutors in Washington, DC. They will be on duty on election day to receive complaints of election fraud. They can be reached by calling the following telephone number: (415) 436-7200.

The FBI also will have Special Agents available in each field office and resident agency in the Northern District of California to receive allegations of election fraud on election day. Reports of election fraud or other illegal acts related to the election can be reported directly to the FBI at the telephone number: (415) 553-7400.

A copy of this press release may be found on the U.S. Attorney's Office's website at www.usdoj.gov/usao/can.

All press inquiries to the U.S. Attorney's Office should be directed to Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Jacobs at (415) 436-7181.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/can/press/html/2002_10_30_election.html

A "TOP FIVE" may be more doable. Especially if we get some from The Dark Side to join with us.

You mention three of the 5 right there and added another lter on. If there were a time certain when precincts had to have their tally turned in...

I honestly think that could possibly help.

Add to that, follow the Constitution on just when voting day is! Sure, fine if communities want to hold a week long open poll if it is for local elections or to raise taxes. As long as it doesn't involve Presidential, House, or Senate races.

On second thought, that isn't a good idea either. Still too much room to practice fraud skills.

The pomp and circumstance associated with voting day was always uplifting to me. It heightened my sense of obligation as a citizen to perform my patriotic duty to VOTE.

I agree totally! In my younger days in Texas, people seemed more aware of just what and who they voted for/against. IF a person wanted to vote on that single day, bosses had no problem with one taking the time to do so. They knew it was your duty to do so. Of course, back then you had to pay a poll tax to be eligable to vote...a whopping $1.50, if I remember correctly. That poll tax was eliminated when the Dark Side claimed "poor people" couldn't afford to spend that much! The sad part is, we bought that cr@p!

...has Bush established a pattern like this in the past?

"W" has faked out a lotta folks over the years, primarily because they underestimated the ol' boy. And you've got Karl Rove, who from most accounts is very nearly a tactical genius, no? In any case it's tough for a border state politician to truly speak his mind on immigration for obvious reasons. And FWIW, I think he's got a small place in his heart for people wanting to come to America for a better life...

...he must have something in mind; he cannot just ignore the American people's anger over this.

Agreed, but like always, he'll play it pretty close to the vest IMO.

FGS

Especially if we get some from The Dark Side to join with us.

It's been my observation there's so little integrity on the left, including the ones who vote this scum into office, that a cleanup of the process won't be to their liking. Especially once they started seeing the nuts and bolts of it and how it would impede their creativity ; )

The sad part is, we bought that cr@p!

To be sure; our inate sense of fairness that leaves us vulnerable to weasels. Same with literacy proficiency. Of course for purposes of the left, the less informed the better. Sad state, eh?

FGS

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.