(10/30/04) Glance at Lawsuits and Voting Problems

[maddezmom]

Many states are facing legal challenges over possible voting problems Nov. 2. A look at some of the developments Saturday:

ALASKA:


Nearly 2,500 absentee ballots were held up a day at a Juneau post office because the state Division of Elections underestimated postage costs, postal officials said. Elections officials brought the ballots late Thursday afternoon, but postage was about twice as much as they had estimated and postal officials were unable to reach anyone from the division after hours. The delay could keep some Alaskans from casting absentee ballots, which must be postmarked by Tuesday.


ARIZONA:


The Secretary of State's office said that as many as 2,300 Arizonans who registered to vote over the Internet may be missing from voter rolls. County recorders said some voters were rejected because their forms were improperly filled out, and that others appear on the rolls with name variations. Recorders have been instructed to take measures to ensure that properly registered voters are not turned away.


FLORIDA:


A Republican operative filed suit against a civil rights organization for allegedly neglecting to turn in voter registration forms collected from citizens during a petition drive. The suit, filed on behalf of 11 Floridians, accuses the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now of using the registrations as a ruse to get people to sign a minimum wage petition. ACORN said the suit is politically motivated.


NEBRASKA:


Nearly 1,000 people who voted by absentee ballot were asked to recast their votes because the ballots they used lacked the necessary signatures of the election commissioner or a representative. New ballots were sent to voters by overnight mail.

More: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=548&ncid=696&e=1&u=/ap/20041031/ap_on_el_ge/voting_problems_glance

Ohio, S. Dakota and Wisconsin listed in the "glance".

[wiggs]

1. Great idea for a running thread

Thank you.

It would be really good for someone (I nominate you) to continue updating your post so that at a glance we can be updated with ongoing voting issues.

Might want to include the recent Ohio ruling in favor of a challenged voter. More than 900 other challenges were thrown out and there was a hint of legal threat in the air to challengers who don't have personal knowledge of voter registration irregularities.

This thread could stay in GD04 or go to voting problems forum.

[drmom]

2. This is scary...trust is a thing of the past I guess