2008 A Reason to Worry
posted by on October 9 at 9:59 AM
Tens of thousands of voters, disproportionately Democrats, are being illegally removed from voter rolls in swing states.
The actions do not seem to be coordinated by one party or the other, nor do they appear to be the result of election officials intentionally breaking rules, but are apparently the result of mistakes in the handling of the registrations and voter files as the states tried to comply with a 2002 federal law, intended to overhaul the way elections are run.Still, because Democrats have been more aggressive at registering new voters this year, according to state election officials, any heightened screening of new applications may affect their party’s supporters disproportionately. The screening or trimming of voter registration lists in the six states — Colorado, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Nevada and North Carolina — could also result in problems at the polls on Election Day: people who have been removed from the rolls are likely to show up only to be challenged by political party officials or election workers, resulting in confusion, long lines and heated tempers. …
The six swing states seem to be in violation of federal law in two ways. Michigan and Colorado are removing voters from the rolls within 90 days of a federal election, which is not allowed except when voters die, notify the authorities that they have moved out of state, or have been declared unfit to vote. Indiana, Nevada, North Carolina and Ohio seem to be improperly using Social Security data to verify registration applications for new voters.
Under federal law, election officials are supposed to use the Social Security database to check a registration application only as a last resort, if no record of the applicant is found on state databases, like those for driver’s licenses or identification cards.
The requirement exists because using the federal database is less reliable than the state lists, and is more likely to incorrectly flag applications as invalid. Many state officials seem to be using the Social Security lists first.
Is there anything we can do about this? Is there anything ANYONE can do about this? This is terrible. I think I need a drink.
This has the word clusterfuck written all over it.
in montana republicans are currently contesting voters in missoula and on the reservations which tend to go democratic. they successfully did this in south dakota helping john thune get elected. the native vote is important in montana, south dakota, new mexico, arizona, north dakota, alaska, and michigan. all swing states.
the election isn't for another month, can't this be fixed? is anyone in those states taking any action now that the problem has been noticed? is there any way to check your own registration status? more info please!!
voter fraud is the only way mccain can win now. wahhhhh. republicans, can you please stop being evil.
In Canada you can show up to vote with proof of identity on the day of voting and still vote there is no deadline for registration. If you have ID you are already registered somewhere.
There are voters lists but they also have people that process your identity on the spot and make sure you get to vote. No one is left out.
We also are heading off to vote in a few days for a new federal government/leader. But unlike the U.S. those running for office took 2 months instead of 2 years to campaign. There are no voting machines it is all done by hand and runs smoothly. I will walk half a block to the community centre, show my ID and vote. Takes about 10 min.
Native Vote is working hard to make sure people get out and vote. the aclu has worked in the past to try to prevent/limit voter intimidation. in south dakota natives were challenged at the polls, their liceanse plates were recorded, they were photographed. jodi rove at the missoulian is following this latest round.
http://nativevote.org/ Native Vote is deploying observers.
I'm sure when the election results are eight percentage points off from the polls we'll be hearing lots more from the Republicans about the "Bradley Effect."
Seriously, our voting system is fucked. We should be able to show up w/ ID (License, passport, Greencard, etc... ) and a proof of residence (Cable, gas, electric bill(s)) and fucking vote away. This is horse shit. And you wonder why we have such low voter turn outs in the great ol' US of A. We make it tougher than hell to cast a vote, and be part of the political process. Just the way the shadowy overlords want it.
The tactics these states are using are bullshit and against federal law. These people should be in criminal court, facing prison time for this.
#6, is your ID free?
This is horrible on so many levels. Just to throw in some random personal info: my SS info is borked. There's a transcription error on my birthdate. So far the only consequence is that I can't file taxes online. I haven't gotten around to fixing it.
@9, that's what I have been thinking for the past couple of months. They have a built-in explanation.
@10: To do that, you need a national ID (not that I'm against). Because your list of possible IDs includes those available to non-citizens who can't vote (like me), e.g., a greencard should not let you vote (or a state driver's license).
Of course, me not being a US citizen is a big handicap in trying to understand it, but why have this voter registration system at all? Is it democratic in any way? Why don't you adopt a system like in Germany? Works for them (and for the Dutch, who have a similar system).
What the article doesn't point out is that the Secretary of States of both New Mexico and Colorado, who are removing thousands of democratic voters from the rolls of their states, are republicans with strong ties to the Bush administration.
This all moves beyond outrage.
Also, you might check out www.stealbackyourvote.com
The absentee form here in Franklin county in Ohio pretty clearly states that you can use either your driver's license number or the last four digits of your social security number, your choice. I don't know if that's deceptive or just clueless.
@6: "If you have ID you are already registered somewhere."
that sounds kind of like exactly how we do it here. you have to have ID and have registered somewhere. this is about those people who have not registered somewhere, no?
If these actions are in clear violation of State and Federal Election Laws, then the ACLU and the Democratic Party Orgs in those respective states should be jumping all over this NOW (which, simply by virtue of the fact that we're hearing about these activities, would seem to be the case), and calling out officials engaging in them.
Make a big enough stink, smear it all over the pages of local newspapers, keep shining a bright light on these shadowy practices, and this kind of shit will get cleared up - in time for the election? Well, one would hope so, but at least start laying the groundwork now to challenge the voting results if things aren't cleaned up in these states by Nov. 4th.
@6 - That's not entirely true. BC, for example, is at least saying that the voter reg cards that they send out to everyone are required to vote in this election.
Do all you posts need to have some kind of panic or worry in that
http://www.kingcounty.gov/elections/registration.aspx
For King County, you can check your registration status in the gray box on the right of the screen. Enter your info and it will tell you if you're registered, how you're registered (permanent absentee, etc.), where to vote, and the districts you're eligible to vote in.
Doing a Google search with terms like "am i registered to vote" with your state or county attached usually turns up something helpful.
That gray box, "Your Voter Guide", also spells out measures and propositions on the ballot. Additionally, it states specific positions you will be able to vote on based on district and gives a little background info on those running for said positions.
Maybe this is overkill but I'm a new voter to the state and I found this be really helpful!
*to be
@12
Up until a few years ago (when the Conservatives finally got into power) you didn't even need to show ID. Everyone who files a tax return the previous year gets a voter card - you would show up at the poling place and they would cross your name off a a list.
If you moved/didn't get a card there were a lot of boths in local grocery stores etc. where you could register.
We have always had paper ballots and since there are so many poling locations (basically every public school) I don't remember ever having to wait in line. I don't understand why Americans have so many problems with this.
Anyway with regards to the actual question - I just flashed my drivers licence which of course isn't 'free' - I'm not sure what the non-driving public uses. Passports are $85, I don't know what else counts as valid ID but I doubt it would be free.
Hello? See the 2000 and 2004 Presidential elections.
For that matter, see the 1800, 1824 elections. 1876, 1888, 1960... the list goes on. Voting fraud is as old as voting.
This is why Obama needs to win big. Its tougher to make up a big margin with fraud and tampering.
Wasn't NVRA, passed by the Democratic Congress in 1993, supposed to fix all that? Or was it just another law that got passed and then ignored like so many others?
@21 and @26 Not everyone recieves a voter registration card, and you are neither requried to bring nor surrender it at a polling station - it just makes it easier for information officers to determine which ballot box you need to use, because the card lists your ballot box number.
There is a very long list of acceptable ID beyond a driver's license/pronvincial ID card (which are pretty cheap), including health cards - the issue is a combination of proving identity/specific residence, because your address determines your ballot box. As long as you're at the correct polling station, you can register to vote in a Canadian federal election on election day. Early registration/early voting only ended two days ago.
@29- I read the elections canada website when the vote was announced, and you don´t even need id. If another registered voter will vouch for you, you can vote.
"I read the elections canada website when the vote was announced, and you don´t even need id. If another registered voter will vouch for you, you can vote."
Dear God! And people wonder why Mr Harper is the first Conservative PM since the 1930s--the rest of the time shared between PCs and Grits. Only in Canada, bless 'em--though perhaps in New Zealand as well.
This is horrible.
What if they steal it again??!!!
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