35,000 people who refused a registered letter from the RNC can't vote

[genius]

That's the basis of the challenge in Ohio. Apparently the 6th Circuit feels only those who would sign for a registered letter from the RNC are worthy of voting. I don't even accept registered letters from anyone.

[LiberteToujours]

1. WHAT?

That doesn't make any sense. Do you have a link?

[grace0418]

2. Seriously

I don't get it.

[sandnsea]

3. Dated when?

That's what I want to know. How long have they had to go out and check these voters first hand? And a registered letter, that is just offensive. I have never had that happen and I wouldn't sign for the damned thing if I did. I had numerous new registered voters here in Oregon and NOT ONE has been treated like this. I just can't believe a judge would tolerate this. What is wrong with this country. :mad:

[Lex]

4. Link please?

Thanks.

[AirAmFan]

39. See post #37 below, with a link to an article in an Akron paper.

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. Well, you do realize the "activist judges"

throughout the system will rule in favor of those filthy, disgusting, :scared: LIBERALS :scared: don't you!

Pray! Pray, you heathen! God will judge you and these disgusting Liberal Activist Judges who will abort your firstborn just so we can have more Welfare Queens living off the taxpaper teat! And Lord God Almight!...the death tax will get them in the end!!!

(what did I miss? :evilgrin: )

[Droopy]

6. How is that possible?

The RNC doesn't have anything to do with voter registration.

[SoCalDem]

19. Yes they DO.. Voter registration is a PUBLIC record

That's how they get all the names.. They call/visit registrars' offices and ask for the "new registrations"..they contain the party registry, name address phone number..

The RNC "tests" the validity by sending registered letters.. If it's returned undeliverable, they naturally assume that the person does not exist...hence.. FRAUD..

They just compile these names into THEIR database, and have their
"watchers" pitch a fit when those actual people show up to vote..

[Droopy]

32. That's a low down dirty tactic

But according to a poster below, if the voter has proof of address all is well. And how does the RNC know they aren't turning away voters for their side by doing that?

[SoCalDem]

34. They probably wait until the "flagged" voters check in

and when they get the preliminary list they know who are repubes.. They probably do not send registered letters.. We all know that repubes would never do anything wrong.. (except for maybe flashing a few kids..or knocking up their girlfriend's daughter)

[Democat]

7. I would never accept a registered letter from the Republican Party

Fuck them.

Why are the courts allowing Republicans to suppress the vote like this?

Win or lose, we are getting fucked by any judge who would allow Republican to try to suppress votes and by the media who won't go after the Republicans for their crimes.

[genius]

10. Which S CT justice oversees the 6th Circuit.?

This is who can stay the ruling of the the 6th Circuit.

[Milo_Bloom]

17. John Paul Stevens... Not Good! n/t

[genius]

24. Stevens is a moderate. Ford appointed him.

He's okay.

[Milo_Bloom]

31. My Bad, I got the name correct, but thought Kenndy for some reason! n/t

[pnorman]

36. John Paul Stevens should be everyone's HERO, here on DU.

Of that 2000 SCOTUS decision, he wrote: "Although we may never know with complete certainty the identity of the winner of this year's Presidential election, the identity of the loser is perfectly clear. It is the Nation's confidence in the judge as an impartial guardian of the rule of law.".

He wasn't referring to some sleazy politician; he was referring to his own fellow Justices.

pnorman

[wellstone_democrat]

42. STevens is no nut case

That's a good thing for Ohio voters.

[Milo_Bloom]

8. I don't think so...

My understanding of this whole thing is that the people who rejected the letters are going to have to show proof of address in order to vote. For those doing GOTV in Ohio, make sure you tell people to bring an ID with them or SOMETHING that has their voter address on it.

Again, this is just my understanding after talking with another lawyer was the GOP is going to challenge the people who rejected the letters as not being real people or proving a fake address. Once they prove their address to the satisfaction of the poll worker, the challenge becomes useless.

IF they cannot provide proof of address, I believe they still can vote with a provisional ballot pending address verification.

Someone correct me if I am wrong about this.

Dirty tactic? Yes. I hope cameras are there to show it to the world, but it isn't the end of the world since most people I know carry their ID with them anyway.

[Droopy]

11. Thanks for the clarification. n/t

[genius]

12. Can someone confirm this exception?

[Lex]

14. Do you have a link for the original post in the thread?

I'd like to read the details.

[AirAmFan]

38. See post #37 below

[Borgnine]

9. Huh?

Link? Please?

Don't be scaring me like this and then run off without more information!

[genius]

13. I know someone who has been on top of this issue

Everything was looking prettty good until this last decision. They can theoretically cast provisional ballots.

[Lex]

16. What "last decision" -- I don't understand.

[genius]

21. The Circuit decision is briefly discussed her and in LBN

This is the essence of the issue.

[Lex]

28. That decision about allowing the repub challengers in the

polling places has something to do with this letter return thing?

Hmmm . . . I didn't know that.

[genius]

15. Look, if your in Ohio and you rejected the letter, go vote anyway.

You will either wind up voting a regular or provisional ballot depending on what happens between now and tomorrow.

[Milo_Bloom]

29. JUST BRING ID!!!!

Just make sure you bring ID to the polls with the address that matches your voter registration. If your ID doesn't match b/c you moved, bring a utility bill.

If you are doing GOTV for Ohio (phone banking), suggest that people might want to bring proof of address to the polls.

Again, I am not 100% sure about this, but it certainly won't hurt to have proof of address with you.

[Buddyblazon]

18. DAMNIT MAN!!!!!LOL

A LINK! L-I-N-K! LINK! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD...GIVE US A LINK!

[SoCalDem]

23. google...news....ohio ..challenge

:)

[Zen Democrat]

20. They can and must demand provisional ballots and vote. n/t

[harpo]

22. would you accept a registered letter from the RNC? I wouldn't!!!

[genius]

25. I don't accept registered letters. They scare me.

[madrchsod]

26. what are the republicans going to do?

drive their white pasty asses down to"that part of town" and get out and start challenging people? get fucking real. that shit just ain`t going to happen and if it does shit will hit the fan...

[Nordic]

27. Damn! Googled that phrase and found this site! Check it out!

http://vote2004.eriposte.com/swingstates/ohio.htm
Just a few samples:
(snip)
Fake leaflet emerges in Ohio saying Republicans should vote on Tuesday (11/2) and Democrats on Wednesday (11/3)
(snip)
Other tricks include:

* telling people they can't vote if they haven't paid child support, having undercover "angry voters" yell out that lines are three hours long to discourage people from waiting and having aggressive supporters yell at voters who want to choose the opponent.
* Nonpartisan election-protection groups and attorneys recruited by both the Bush and Kerry campaigns to patrol tight states also said groups are expected to send unregistered voters into crowded polling places to slow down the already long lines.
* In Ohio's Franklin County, both registered Democrats and Republicans have been receiving phone calls from phony Board of Elections workers telling them that their polling places have been changed, said election officials.
* Ohio Republican Party spokesman Jeff Flint added that Ohio Republicans have received calls telling them their absentee ballots will be picked up by election workers — a process that's illegal.
* In West Dayton, Ohio, registered Democrats received calls reminding them to vote on Nov. 5 — three days after the election, according to Hagel.

[SoCalDemocrat]

30. It gets worse

The Daily Show just reported that Florida has reinstated slavery.

[Nordic]

35. okay, so .... that was a joke .... but this site definitely is not

It's a pretty amazing site.

[pabloseb]

33. 35,000 is 0.7% of voters in 2000

Probably 0.5% of voters in this election. Of those 35,000, some will not vote and some will vote for the chimp. Hopefully all of them will be able to vote in one way or another.

Any backslash, no matter how small, will have a bigger effect. Unless I'm missing something, the repugs are doind this just because they're racist and undemocratic... I don't see how they could rip any benefits from this.

[AirAmFan]

37. HERE'S A URL. WHO wd stand in line at the PO for a letter from the RNC?

So far, nobody in this thread has said out loud what is at the heart of the scam. Working people generally are not even home when the post arrives. The postal worker leaves a slip of paper with the name of the sender of a piece of registered mail, directing the customer to go to a specific post office branch to get the actual letter. This is a secret poll tax--preserving your right to vote would require time and transportation, and the victim of the scam is not even aware that the right to vote is at stake.

The story comes from the Akron Beacon-Journal, at http://www.ohio.com/mid/beaconjournal/10042113.htm . Atrios excerpts it at http://atrios.blogspot.com/2004/10/hardball-in-ohio.html :

"When Catherine Herold received mail from the Ohio Republican Party earlier this year, she refused it. The longtime Barberton Democrat wanted no part of the mailing and figured that by refusing it, the GOP would have to pay the return postage. What she didn't count on was the returned mail being used to challenge the validity of her voter registration. ...

The challengers, all older longtime Republicans -- Barbara Miller, Howard Calhoun, Madge Doerler and Louis Wray -- were subpoenaed by the elections board and were present at the hearings. ... Democratic board member Russ Pry suggested that the four could be subject to criminal prosecution for essentially making false claims on the challenge forms. The form states that making a false claim is subject to prosecution as a fifth-degree felony. ...

The angry voters had the Republicans on the defensive. 'Why'd you do it?' one challenged voter shouted out at Calhoun. 'Who the hell are you?' the man asked. 'What the hell do you care?' replied Calhoun, an attorney."

[depakid]

41. I' afraid that if it were me...

Mr. Calhoun would have had a broken nose and I'd be in jail for assault. I hope cooler heads prevail...

[Mr_Spock]

43. Sounds like some Repukes are going to jail.

They'll be safer in there!! :D

[ciaobox]

40. Vote anyway

Even if you refused one of these letters, go to the polls and fill out a provisional ballot. Let the DNC work it out later in court.