10K newly registered: County office tossing those who don't check a BOX

[beyurslf]

correctly.

I have read the news cliips from FL and elsewhere but never thought about it here. Wichita KS! We found out today (about 45 minutes before the registration deadline) that anyone who didn't mark the box that they are 18 and a citizen will not be registered to vote.

This is a change from years past. And, after talking to a friend in the county office, she told us that they had probably been tossing out hundreds every day. She had personally gone through about 200 a day. She also said that they had about 10,000 new voters in the past week or so. This is HUGE!

Needless to say, we have attorneys called and are to go after it tomorrow. Any suggestions? Anyone know how the other states or counties have resolved this?

[Lefta Dissenter]

1. no solutions here (sorry)

but I really wish that all the states would have same day registration, as WI does. If you show up at the polls and you're not registered, you can register on the spot. It's so simple and obvious!!!

[beyurslf]

2. I wish states would stop purposely putting stupid hurdles in places

for people to vote. This box they have to mark, BTW, is at the very top and runs rogether into the directions. The rest of the form is color coded with light red boxes you have to fill in. YOu can barely see that these two boxes on top are there unless you really looking for them.

Also, you have to put you b-date on the form and sign, attesting that you a citizen under penalty of a felony for lying on the form.

Coincentidally, we found out when we brought in a form with a Latino surname on it. We also had forms with more Anglo surnames. Guess who's got pulled out for not having the box checked? It sure wasn't "Johnson."

[natrat]

4. come on

it's the republican way...steal your face right off your head

[ISUGRADIA]

6. Don't blame states for this bs (well at least not the checkboxes)

It's the Repunk assholes in Congress that demanded this as part of the HAVA bill...this and ID requirements at the polls in some cases.

As you mentioned, a person signs attesting to this fact already. It's a nice way for the Repunks to stop people from getting registered though.

[claudiajean]

24. This is true. This mess was created by Congress. n/t

[Virginian]

3. The box has a purpose

If you check the box and you are not a citizen, you get arrested for lying on the document.

I questioned an election officer about how we handle it when a non-citizen shows up at the polls to vote. She told me that if you know a person is not a citizen and they checked the box on the registration form, they can be arrested or deported.

The people who sparked this question did not speak English (or Spanish). He seemed to have been here for a while, but she was dressed differently as if she had just arrived. The man was explaining to the woman how to vote. He frequently used the word Bush and never used the word Gore.

Re: the box is hidden at the top. We don't seem to have that problem on our registration forms. Sorry, I didn't know it was misleading.

[beyurslf]

5. When you sign the form it says you affirm that you a US citizen, that you

are 18 years old, that you a resident of KS, and, that if a felon, you have your civil rights restored. It also states that you are swearing you are telling the truth on the form and if you are giving false information it is a felony.

So, doesn't that mean by signing the form they are saying they are a citizen who is eligible to vote?

[claudiajean]

9. Just as a reminder, the USA has no official language.

I understand what you are trying to say, but the simple act of not speaking english is not a good indicator of citizenship or voting eligibility.

The United States of America has no official language. English is no more our official national language than Spanish, Mandarin, or Lakota Sioux is. All are equally welcome.

[Virginian]

11. One would think that if a person was a citizen she would have

been here long enough to distinguish which candidate she was going to vote for.
The way the man was prepping her, it sounded like she had just arrived from out of the country, too.
Trust me, there was something that did not seem right. There could be an explanation for each segment of my suspicion, but there were too many pointers saying she had not been here long enough to be a citizen. Sometimes it is just a little thing like posture or the tilt of the chin or a look in the eye. Things that you really couldn't put your finger on.

She didn't get to vote. She wasn't registered. I think the man was saying he was on the books and she lived in the same house, so she should be able to vote, too.

The precinct went for Bush anyway, by about 63 votes (with 67 overvotes).

[ParanoidPat]

13. You're kidding with this, right?

"but there were too many pointers saying she had not been here long enough to be a citizen. Sometimes it is just a little thing like posture (?} or the tilt of the chin or a look in the eye. (???) Things that you really couldn't put your finger on. :crazy:

I just can't believe you're serious! :evilgrin:

The section on 'body language' must have been missing from my 'How to be an American' handbook. That might just explain why so many people look at me like I'm from another planet! :)

[Kanary]

7. that really sux, beyurslf! Looks like we're really in for a mess. :(

There are so many obvious fixes for all this, and it's such an ugly replay of the civil rights era.

We keep hearing how it's going to be a landslide, but all these stories surfacing would certainly belie that idea.

It's looking more and more like either we're screwed, or it's a HUGE battle.

Sorry that Kansas is going through this.

If there is any bright side, maybe it will wake up a few Kansans who have assumed their country was what they thought it was.

Take care of yourself........ it's going to be a long struggle.

:pals:

Kanary

[ParanoidPat]

8. US Code, TITLE 42 > CHAPTER 20 > SUBCHAPTER I > Sec. 1971......

...... http://www.thecre.com/fedlaw/legal6/uscode42-1971.htm

Sec. 1971. - Voting rights

(a) Race, color, or previous condition not to affect right to vote; uniform standards for voting qualifications; errors or omissions from papers; literacy tests; agreements between Attorney General and State or local authorities; definitions



(2) No person acting under color of law shall -



(B) deny the right of any individual to vote in any election because of an error or omission on any record or paper relating to any application, registration, or other act requisite to voting, if such error or omission is not material in determining whether such individual is qualified under State law to vote in such election;



(c) Preventive relief; injunction; rebuttable literacy presumption; liability of United States for costs; State as party defendant

Whenever any person has engaged or there are reasonable grounds to believe that any person is about to engage in any act or practice which would deprive any other person of any right or privilege secured by subsection (a) or (b) of this section, the Attorney General may institute for the United States, or in the name of the United States, a civil action or other proper proceeding for preventive relief, including an application for a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order. If in any such proceeding literacy is a relevant fact there shall be a rebuttable presumption that any person who has not been adjudged an incompetent and who has completed the sixth grade in a public school in, or a private school accredited by, any State or territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico where instruction is carried on predominantly in the English language, possesses sufficient literacy, comprehension, and intelligence to vote in any election. In any proceeding hereunder the United States shall be liable for costs the same as a private person. Whenever, in a proceeding instituted under this subsection any official of a State or subdivision thereof is alleged to have committed any act or practice constituting a deprivation of any right or privilege secured by subsection (a) of this section, the act or practice shall also be deemed that of the State and the State may be joined as a party defendant and, if, prior to the institution of such proceeding, such official has resigned or has been relieved of his office and no successor has assumed such office, the proceeding may be instituted against the State.

(d) Jurisdiction; exhaustion of other remedies

The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction of proceedings instituted pursuant to this section and shall exercise the same without regard to whether the party aggrieved shall have exhausted any administrative or other remedies that may be provided by law.

(e) Order qualifying person to vote; application; hearing; voting referees; transmittal of report and order; certificate of qualification; definitions

In any proceeding instituted pursuant to subsection (c) of this section in the event the court finds that any person has been deprived on account of race or color of any right or privilege secured by subsection (a) of this section, the court shall upon request of the Attorney General and after each party has been given notice and the opportunity to be heard make a finding whether such deprivation was or is pursuant to a pattern or practice. If the court finds such pattern or practice, any person of such race or color resident within the affected area shall, for one year and thereafter until the court subsequently finds that such pattern or practice has ceased, be entitled, upon his application therefor, to an order declaring him qualified to vote, upon proof that at any election or elections

(1)

he is qualified under State law to vote, and

(2)

he has since such finding by the court been

(a)

deprived of or denied under color of law the opportunity to register to vote or otherwise to qualify to vote,

[shraby]

15. I wonder what part of this they don't understand.

(2) No person acting under color of law shall -



(B) deny the right of any individual to vote in any election because of an error or omission on any record or paper relating to any application, registration, or other act requisite to voting, if such error or omission is not material in determining whether such individual is qualified under State law to vote in such election;

[MrMonk]

32. They understand just fine

They also understand that, with the present political tensions, if they reject a registration form, people will challenge them. That's probably why they're destroying the forms instead of setting them aside. Keep the forms, and the applicant can be registered. Destroy them, and there is no remedy.

[ParanoidPat]

33. That's a very important point!

The laws should protect any communication between the public and government officials under some form of 'sunshine' act to protect us from just this kind of circumstance. :(

I need to check the state election code to see what it says about how to treat 'incomplete' registration forms.

[beyurslf]

18. Thank you so much. I knew that this was covered somewhere and someone here

would know it. The attorneys will be here this morning at our office and I will pass along them info regarding these groups that are handling this.

[ParanoidPat]

26. I'm also contacting them this morning.......

......Just as soon as I get a copy of the decision in the Washington case! :evilgrin: :toast:

Lets just hope they bow as gracefully as J. Kenneth Blackwell did on the registration form paper 'weight' issue. :)

[claudiajean]

27. It was a letter from the Election Assistance Commission to the Wa SOS

...so you should be able to get a copy faxed from the Washington Secretary of State's office. www.secstate.wa.gov

It is unlikely to be on-line.

[kayell]

42. The obvious problem here is the person responsible for fixing the situatio

"the Attorney General may institute for the United States, or in the name of the United States, a civil action or other proper proceeding for preventive relief,..."

Like Ashcroft is going to take the time for a minor problem like voting rights. He's WAY too busy protecting us from terrorist sympathizers, Muslims and bong manufacturers.

[claudiajean]

10. YES! Washington state was trying to enforce the check box...

...and the trial attorneys' Project Vote team leader contacted the EAC, learned that requiring both the age and citizenship checkboxes, AND requiring the voter to sign an oath which duplicates the same information was unnecessary. The EAC contacted the Secretary of State's office and the situation was corrected.

http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=voters22m&date=20040922&query=voter+registration

Now, if your state does not include age and citizenship in their voter oath that the registrant attests to, the checkbox requirement is enforceable, and the registration is incomplete, and thus, invalid.

If your state does include age and citizenship as a part of the voter oath, then it is immaterial whether the checkbox was marked or not.

Your best bet in your home state is to contact your state branch of the ACLU, who can put you in contact with the Project Vote attorneys in your state (they have groups assembled in all 50 states).

[ParanoidPat]

12. Here's a copy of the registration form from the Secretary of State......

......website, http://www.kssos.org/forms/elections/voterregistration.pdf

and here's the declaration that you sign! :evilgrin:

"I swear or affirm that I am a citizen of the United States and a Kansas resident, that I will be 18 years old before the next election, that if convicted of a felony, I have had my civil rights restored, that I have abandoned my former residence and/or other name, and that I have told the truth on this application."

Case closed! :)

[shelley806]

14. Nightline tonight addressed this....

Sorry, I was at the comp and not paying close attention, but (I think in FL; most of episode was devoted to FL) voters registrations were declared invalid if they didn't check a box for US citizenship, even though when you signed, you signature attested to the truth of your citizenship!!! So what is the point of the box, other than to confuse people even further? Unbelievable. (I didn't read this entire thread before responding, so I hope I'm not repeating what someone else has already said.

[sphincter]

16. Please forgive my ignorance but...

.....not being a US citizen, nor living in the US, I do not understand why you have to register to vote.
Where I am from, anyone over 18 receives a "voting ticket" in the mail which is brought to the booth together with a passport, drivers license or any other valid photo ID and you get to cast a vote.
So, being a citizen over 18 automagically makes you eligible to vote and there is no need to register beforehand. Easy Peasy...

[claudiajean]

21. Well, there's a lot of reasons...

...the main ones are these:

1. Voting is completely voluntary and it is nobody's business, certainly not the government's, whether a person chooses to vote or not. The tracking of the current residence all citizens over the age of 18 by issuance of tickets to everyone would improperly expose to the government those who exercise their voting rights by choosing not to vote, and improperly gather information about the whereabouts of persons not under suspicion of any crime.

2. Americans have far more elected officials than any other democracy, including a host of local officials. We prefer to directly elect our local leaders, rather than have them appointed by the government. We have to register to assure that we receive a ballot that allows us to vote in all of the appropriate jurisdictions for our address. We don't just have Federal (national) elections, as some democracies do, in which a universal voting ticket would suffice.

Depending upon what part of the country one lives in, we have city and town officials, county sheriffs and prosecuting attorneys, fire and life safety commissioners, water commissioners, sewer commissioners, utility commissioners (electricity), drainage district commissioners, egg commissioners, dogcatchers (animal control) cemetery commissioners, airport commissioners, port directors, school board members, fertilizer and irrigation commissioners, noxious weed commissioners, range commissioners, etc. etc. etc.

These various agencies do not have the same boundaries. Thus, to know what combinations of jurisdictions one is eligible to vote in based upon our current address, we must register.

3. And lastly, registration does provide a mechanism to assure as best as possible that voters do not vote twice, and that those who register fraudulently can be prosecuted.

[harmonyguy]

28. Thanks for the explanation..

Registration makes sense - we use it up here in Canada too, although we DO allow people to register AT the polls on election day.

While I accept that you folks elect a lot of positions(dog catcher?), what I don't understand is the apparent need to elect them all on the same day? Wouldn't it be easier to elect local people in one year, state people in another year and federal people in another year?

To an outsider, this would appear to greatly simplify a lot of things, not the least of which would be the length of the ballot.
HG

[ParanoidPat]

29. "Wouldn't it be easier to elect local people in one year,......

......state people in another year and federal people in another year?"

Why yes it would, but this is America, we never take the easy way out! :crazy: :evilgrin:

[claudiajean]

30. Well, no...

...and Pat, I'm gonna slap your hand just like I did in the bar in Sack-a-Tomatoes! :hi:

In my area, for example, there would be far too many offices to restrict them all to the odd year ballots. We would have a seven page ballot in odd years and a half page ballot in even years. (750 positions on an odd year ballot, and three on an even year ballot. Makes not much sense.)

Generally in my neck of the woods, Federal and state offices, judges (of which I vote for over 75 positions), and prosecuting attorneys appear on the even-year ballots. Four year offices are staggered, so only half appear each two-year cycle. This makes the number of offices appearing on each ballot manageable, although still large.

County, City and Local special purpose district offices appear on odd year ballots, and there are hundreds of them. Again in this category also, four year terms have staggered election dates, so only half appear on each odd-year ballot.

And I always toss in the elected Dogcatcher position, because I love how it sounds. Very anachronistic and pre-war American. Except in some southern and rural areas, this position has been retitled in the last 25 years to County Animal Control Officer, and they supervise animal control, the local animal shelter system, pet licensing, pet store inspection, fish and wildlife (either management or state liasion, depending upon district) etc.

Edited for clarity. Must. Have. Coffee.

[harmonyguy]

35. So what's the deal with registration?

Is there any particular reason why people MUST be registered in advance?

I can understand the need to have only qualified electors vote, but do why do they need to be qualified X-number of days in advance of the actual election?

As long as an individual is a citizen, and has reached the age of XX-years, and can establish that they are resident at a particular location (by ID, utility bill, or by them swearing an oath and someone else vouching for them) why not let them vote? Why does this need to be so far in advance?

Inquiring minds want to know.

HG

[claudiajean]

47. Do you want the long treatise or the short one, HG? :)

The short one is, voter registration requirements actually vary by state.

Some states do have same-day registration. One state, North Dakota, has no voter registration at all. (Of course, there are only seventeen people left in North Dakota, and they all know each other on sight...)

The requirement of a period of time of residency has two sets of roots and two completely different goals, which are both met with requiring a brief period of time for residency in the jurisdiction prior to voting.

The first is based in property and taxation rights. Since the voter rolls also serve for state and local elections, it shows that the voter has been resident long enough to be making taxation decisions for the jurisdiction, and discourages wholesale re-registration in a new district for one day to thwart a specific tax measure or restrictive law (such as banning card rooms in a certain town).

The second reason is simply that election officials need to take a "snapshot" of where everyone is registered to vote at a point in time, or they would have no reasonable means of administering the nuts and bolts of the election, such as ordering enough correct ballots for each area, programming the software, printing pollbooks (creating the paper trail and audit capabilities that you and I are both advocates of!) and preventing people from voting twice.

Keep in mind that many states now have early voting, absentee ballots on demand for any reason, and a host of other measures to make voting easier and more convenient for the voter. Election Day is really election month, as the majority of voters in America have one means or another to cast their ballot anytime between now and November 2. It's like electoral musical chairs - at some point, the music must stop, and everyone must grab a seat for a bit so we can see where you are.

If voter registration was a constantly moving target, it would be impossible to determine what jurisdiction anyone was properly in (Can they early vote in one town on October 19, move, re-register and cast an absentee ballot in the next town over on October 25, and show up at the polls and vote in yet a third neighboring town on November 2? I hope not!!!)

By and large, the states with the 30-day deadlines, also have the best, most convenient methods available for ensuring that everyone can vote, whether it be early voting or early absentee on demand. The states that provide same-day registration also generally do not allow voting outside of the correct precinct or early voting. This is substantially less convenient for voters with demanding work schedules or disabilities.

I truly believe the best solution is a 30-day voter registration cut off (is it really too much to ask the someone print a form off the internet and mail it in 30 days in advance?)in combination with early voting.

And this was the short treatise, my friend. :)


Edited for spelling

[harmonyguy]

51. Thanks for the treatise.

I'll check the exact wording of our registration. If I remember right, the eligibility does involve a date, maybe even the date the election was called.

Most of our registration is driven by basic data shared across provincial and federal government agreements. Income tax forms, drivers licenses and other data is shared with Elections Canada (with the voter's permission) or people can register in person during the 'revision' period, which runs for xxx number of days between the date the election is called and the voting day.. As a result very few people actually have to register at the polls.

HG

[ParanoidPat]

38. Beat me, beat me, it hurts so GOOD!

:evilgrin: :hi:

You are aware that I've been described as one of those 'idiot savants', only without the 'savant' part! :silly:

[harmonyguy]

34. P-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-t !!!!! nt

[ParanoidPat]

36. Sorry! Maybe this will make up for it......

.....I've just read through Chapter 25 Article 23 of the Kansas Code covering Elections, (Chapter 25) Registration of Voters, (Article 23) and found the following in 25-2322,

25-2322
Chapter 25.--ELECTIONS
Article 23.--REGISTRATION OF VOTERS

25-2322. Mandamus to compel registration. If the county election officer refuses to register any person who makes application therefor as provided in this act, such person may bring an action in mandamus to require such registration in the district court of the district in which the county election officer is located. The district judge may advance any such action for immediate hearing upon not less than forty-eight (48) hours notice to the county election officer.

History: L. 1968, ch. 55, § 22; L. 1976, ch. 145, § 150; Jan. 10, 1977.

OK, someone who is refused registration can seek remedy.

Now as far as shredding the applications goes, I believe that may be covered by one of two things. Number 1 is contained in 25-2309 (e),

(e) A voter registration agency shall transmit the completed registration application to the county election officer not later than five days after the date of acceptance. Upon receipt of an application for registration, the county election officer shall send, by nonforwardable mail, a notice of disposition of the application to the applicant at the postal delivery address shown on the application. If a notice of disposition is returned as undeliverable, a confirmation mailing prescribed by K.S.A. 25-2316c, and amendments thereto, shall occur.

The "notice of disposition" might be interpreted as 'a voter registration card is sent' however, the use of the word 'disposition' indicates more than just acceptance of the application.

A followup check of USC Title 42, Chapter 20, Sub Chapter 1H, Section 1973gg-6 of the National Voter Registration Act titled, "Requirements with respect to administration of voter registration" contains the following language,

(a)(D)(2) require the appropriate State election official to send notice to each applicant of the disposition of the application;

It looks to me like the MUST notify "each applicant of the disposition of the application". :)

If they're just throwing them out without notification then they're in a world of hurt under FEDERAL law! :evilgrin:

[davsand]

17. This was a MOST timely thread.

Our local Repig County Clerk disallowed over a thousand voter registrations from the University of Illinois College Dems because he claimed they were on the "old forms" and were invalid. The new forms had the checkboxes...

I sent that federal cite out to a few of our Dem party legal minds just a few minutes ago. It may have bearing here as well--a lot depends on what was on the forms the kids used.

What makes this all so damn galling is that the Clerk's office staff had stated that the forms were acceptable for use. It was after the fact that the Clerk ruled them to be invalid. (When you read this, keep in mind, this is the SAME guy who got busted a couple of weeks ago for doing campaign work for another GOPiglet out of his county office during work hours!)

This is our local election "authority". If it is this bad here in Illinois, I can only wonder at how bad it must be in other places seen as battle-grounds.


Laura

[ElsewheresDaughter]

19. timely thread......... kick!!!

[AP]

20. Usually the correct everything but blank signatures either by calling the

phone number provided or, if they can't reach you, buy makiing a notation and asking you at the polling place to show picture ID, and some places even if you don't do that, you can vote provisional ballot and correct the error later.

[leesa]

22. Why are we not automatically registered at the age of 18 for life?

Is it so that unethical party groups, like the immoral Republicans can pull this crap off?

[claudiajean]

23. Um, no...voter registration is an important part of our process...

...and maintains our constitutional rights and freedoms.

Please see post 21 above for the reasons..

We are fifty states that form a republic, thus, elections are run by, and are germaine to the state we are currently living in.

Unless you plan to live in the same house, on exactly the same street, in exactly the same state, for your entire adult life, registering permanently at 18 is impractical.

[txindy]

40. I see what you're saying

But don't all Americans have to register with Selective Service when they're 18? And don't we all have Social Security cards with info. that we update whenever we change addresses or, sometimes in the case of marriage, surnames? Those are federal records that keep constant track of our locations. I don't see the difference. I know there must be one, but I can't quite figure out what it is. :shrug:

[claudiajean]

46. No, there are no federal records that keep permanent track of us...

Only men are, at this time, required to register for selective service, and only those between the ages of 18 and 26. So 53% of the population (women) are not tracked in any way by selective service.

But more importantly, a man in the selective service age range may register at a post office box. The only thing required is a valid mailing address - so you could maintain a PO Box in a different state with mail forwarding service if you so desired.

Your social security number is the only permant record assigned to you by the US Governement, and you do not have to keep your address up to date with the social security adminsitration. Indeed, in the past couple of years, the Department of Justice has been coming down hard on organizations (whether they be governmental, banking, or commercial) that ask for and maintain databases of the social security numbers of citizens with no reason to do so. Only you, your immediate employer, the IRS, and the Social Security Administration have a legal right to your social security number.

And just like with selective service, you may use a mailing address such as a PO Box for your taxes, your driver's license, your bank account etc. etc. None of these agencies or entities have a legal right to demand a physical address.

The only governemental agency that needs and requires your actual physical address is the election office, and only for jurisdictional purposes.

[sweetheart]

31. The whole system is designed to disenfranchise voters

They make up lotsa reasons, but if they wanted to get people voting,
as badly as they want to mass murder dark skinned arabs, it would
be done already.

They say it protects your right to move around and not have the
government know your address.... as if! Geesh! Actually, those
people who have temporary addresses, live in cars, and such are
much more screwed by this system, and the establishment likes it
this way.

Heck, the ballot itself is so arcane, you need special notes to
complete it properly. My new york absentee ballot has multiple
ovals for "Kerry/Edwards" and a note that says "vote only once".
I almost interpreted that instruction as making sure i voted "ONCE"
in all the Kerry/Edwards ovals. Instead, it would be considered
an overvote and be tossed out.

The failure to modernize the voting system, is part of the corporate
takeover, and until you can fire the corporate congress, there will
be little change.

Just think, if you're wanted by the police for stealing a pizza,
state police accross the country can use their computer cooperation
to track you and arrest you for your felony, but using that same
cooperation to make sure you have your voting franchise is unthinkable.

Finally, there IS a reason not to vote. You will get called for
jury duty, and if you don't have a job with a big company that will
pay your salary whilst on duty, jury duty is unpaid labour below
minimum wage, and nobody in the poorer set of americana can afford
it.

[claudiajean]

25. kick n/t

[RedEagle]

37. Kick! N/M

[ParanoidPat]

39. Kick for Kansas! N/M

:kick:

[OneTwentyoNine]

41. Call KAKE TV or one of the others and get after it...

This is BS,must be afraid some people have actually come to their senses and are going to vote for a Democrat. Jesus,you can't just toss them in the damn trash can.

Who the hell is going to monitor our elections??

David

[ParanoidPat]

45. If not YOU, who? If not NOW, when?

Whatcha doin'? Are you busy? :shrug:

You're the one who's there and you know what's going on, GO FOR IT! :evilgrin:

Kansas Secretary of State
Ron Thornburgh

Memorial Hall, 1st Floor
120 SW 10th Avenue
Topeka, KS, 66612-1594

Phone: [phone]
E-Mail: mailto:[e-mail]

Elections Division:

Brad Bryant

Phone: [phone]
E-Mail: mailto:[e-mail]

Media Contact:

Jesse Borjon

Phone: [phone]
E-Mail: mailto:[e-mail]

Sedgwick County

Election Officer
Bill Gale

510 N Main
Wichita, KS. 67203-3798

Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-Mail: [e-mail]

Hours 8:00-5:00

[pagerbear]

43. When I registered in NYS a few months ago

...they sent it back to me because I forgot to check the citizenship box.

[claudiajean]

44. Yeah, many states started out doing that...

...but the Election Assistance Commission has been straightening them out one by one as it is brought to their attention.

[RedEagle]

48. Kick!

Lots of information here.

Keep the thread kicked!

[phylny]

49. We have had our registrations kicked back for many reasons

We just moved to NYS in June. We all registered - my 18 year old for the first time.

Mine was tossed back for some reason that I don't recall. My husband's was tossed back because he didn't check the box. My daughter - well, they said at first she wasn't registered, but then she was.

Then, we all got notification that we needed to copy our driver's licenses and send THAT back in as proof of identity. In the meantime, my daughter got her absentee ballot which I mailed down to Virginia. So, she sent that in and is following up by sending the copy of her license. The ridiculous thing is that this has taken a LONG time to sort out, and we started the process early.

My daughter and I have gotten our voter's registration cards. But my husband hasn't yet. Of course, he's leaning toward Bush, so I'm not inclined to help him out by telling him where our polling place is ;)

Seriously, we're all registered, card or not, but we had a lot of hoops to jump through.

I am wondering, though, about all this fraud and cheating. Is there a way you can be CERTAIN that your registration goes through? How about the motor voter registrations?

It seems to me that much of this garbage could have been prevented if people just registered early enough to be able to check up on their status.

[RedEagle]

50. Is This With A New, HAVA Induced, Voter Registration System?

HAVA- making sure there is no VOTER fraud, while ignoring corporate/system fraud.

I can understand updating a system, but did that update just give an "excuse" for more disenfranchisement?

Kick!