Free Republic

Washington -- The chief author of the law that sent nearly $4 billion to states for nonpartisan voter education funds called Monday for a federal inquiry into how Secretary of State Kevin Shelley spent California's share of the money. Rep. Bob Ney, chairman of the House Administration Committee, urged the Election Assistance Commission to conduct a special audit to determine whether Shelley violated federal rules by spending some of the state's voting funds on contracts with Democratic operatives who attended fund-raisers and other partisan events. The federal funds were meant to be used to replace outdated voting machines and for...

In 1864, with the Civil War raging, millions of Americans voted in the presidential election and, as Carl Sandburg wrote, the balloting went on "in quiet and good order." So it was troubling to hear reports this week that the Bush administration and a federal elections body were talking about whether this year's election could be postponed in the event of a terrorist attack. Fortunately, elected officials from both parties quickly denounced the idea, and the administration said a postponement would not happen. At least raising the issue now allowed the nation to consider it in a moment of calm,...