Big absentee ballot scandal about to break in S. Florida

[democrat in Tallahassee]

WAs just at Kerry headquarters and news will be out in a day or two. Sorry, that's all I know.

[donco6]

1. "good" break or "bad" break?

At least give us that much!

[Renew Deal]

3. It can't be good either way.

[democrat in Tallahassee]

4. more republican tricks

[Roland99]

2. Great. But I'm not surprised....here's why:

To me, it's a perfect reason NOT to vote early NOR by absentee ballot. Too much can happen to it between the time it's cast and Nov. 2.

Our entire election process is a fucking joke.

I'd trust Afghanistan's pack mules over partisans hauling boxes in their car trunks.

[Renew Deal]

5. Fuck it. I am going to Florida for election protection.

I have to do it.

[cthrumatrix]

6. there have been constant stories in the local papers

regarding "absentee ballots" being picked up by "non-officials"...

[cthrumatrix]

7. here ya go...story from the mornings Tampa paper....

Election chief warns of absentee scam
People posing as election officials are visiting residents of several counties and offering to take absentee ballots.

By STEPHEN HEGARTY, Times Staff Writer
Published October 22, 2004

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Pasco elections officials have a warning for the county's absentee voters: Don't give your ballot to a stranger claiming to be from the elections office.

They're not who they say they are.

"The people who are soliciting your ballots in this manner are not elections officials," Pasco Elections Supervisor Kurt Browning warned Thursday.
snip

Manatee Elections Supervisor Sweat said the people collecting the ballots appeared to know exactly who had absentee ballots. It is possible for political parties, candidates and political groups to get lists of voters who request the absentee ballots.

Sweat said it appeared the collections were occurring in neighborhoods full of low-income, minority and elderly residents.

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/10/22/Pasco/Election_chief_...

[Roland99]

8. I wonder how many actually gave up their ballot?

For it never to be seen nor counted.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

9. How hard is it to get a new one?

and how does one prove that their ballot never made it?
Seems like you could remedy this.

[Goldmund]

12. Well, people tend to vote, say to themselves...

..."okay, that's done" -- and forget about it until Election day.

Sure, theoretically they could get a new one -- but that's not what they planned on doing, and many won't even know that they need to get a new one.

[Cadfael]

18. Here in DuPage Co., IL

You can go in person to your precinct on election day, and tell the election judges that you have changed your mind and would like today's ballot to supersede your absentee ballot.

[democrat in Tallahassee]

10. problems in 6 counties, esp, Broward, palm beach

[KurtNYC]

14. So they just warn people? they aren't going to arrest

these ballot stealers?!

[bread_and_roses]

15. link doesn't work n/t

[seafan]

20. Link here.

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/10/22/Pasco/Election_chief_warns_.shtml

[mzmolly]

19. !@$%*

:grr:

[slinkerwink]

11. damn those fuckers!

[michigandem2]

13. ummm can I ask a question about our election process?

I have only voted in the last 3 pres elections..I am 30 years old..

Okay...I dont' ever recall an issue...or discrepency

isn't it ODD that ROve is the advisor and so many ODD things happen when he is around?? why isn't he being investigated or something? this makes me SICK..

[Roland99]

16. You also need to look to the following...

Jeb Bush
Mark Racicot
Ken Mehlman
Karen Hughes
James Baker

And the sundry GOP wonks in the FL administration.

[KurtNYC]

17. These tricks are older than Rove

Anyone who wants a better understanding of how fraud works, here is a list of 57 "red flags" that Bush did not win Florida in 2000. Many of these methods will be repeated.

http://neighbors.designcommunity.com/notes/1166.html

12) Despite tough rules put in place after the fraud-plagued Miami mayoral election, rules designed to keep absentee ballots out of the hands of campaign operatives, GOP workers obtained hundreds of them from voters during their aggressive drive to increase turnout for George W. Bush. An estimated 500 to 600 completed ballots were collected by Bush volunteers or dropped off at campaign offices in Little Havana, Westchester and Hialeah, according to GOP campaign officials in charge of the absentee vote.

[mzmolly]

21. These residents need to say, "sure hang on a minute, I'll get my ballot

for you.." and quietly call the cops and Kerry headquarters from another room!

[NewYorkerfromMass]

22. So this is why the GOP sent out all those absentee ballots

they did it everywhere.