Detroit caucus sites ; black leaders call for new elections

[Tinoire]

Detroit caucus sites stay open extra two hours; black leaders call for new election

By KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN
The Associated Press
2/7/04 6:11 PM


LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- The leaders of four black statewide groups may challenge the results of Saturday's Democratic caucuses because some caucus sites weren't open or had been moved, Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus Chairman Derek Albert said.

"We feel very strongly that African-Americans were disenfranchised today. ... You had people running from site to site looking for where they could vote. ... We're calling for a new election," he told the Associated Press.

<details snipped>

"This is worse than in the '60s," said Albert, who also is chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus. "This is horrible. This election needs to be stopped. Because this is not right."

<snip>

Dean state director Daren Berringer had said changing polling places at the last minute hurt voters, especially in low-income areas such as Detroit where people might not have arranged transportation to get to a caucus site outside their neighborhood.

"They're walking to their polling place, and they're finding their caucus site has been changed," Berringer said. "The sites in Detroit and Southfield are in minority areas. This is direct voter disenfranchisement."

<snip>

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/news-11/1076181242303271.xml

[Tinoire]

1. Black leaders angered by changed caucus sites

Black leaders angered by changed caucus sites

By KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN
The Associated Press
2/7/2004, 11:09 p.m. ET


<snip>

"We just went through this in Florida in 2000. Michigan should be above this. The Democratic Party should be above this. We're not going to tolerate this."


<snip>

Democratic caucus sites in the city of Detroit were to stay open an extra two hours Saturday, until 6 p.m. EST, to make up for the inconvenience of sites being changed. During the extended hours Saturday, residents could vote at any caucus site in Detroit rather than just the one they previously had been assigned.

But a check of several Detroit sites found them closed after 4 p.m.

<snip>

Howard Dean state director Daren Berringer had said changing polling places at the last minute hurt voters, especially in low-income areas such as Detroit where people might not have arranged transportation to get to a caucus site outside their neighborhood.

<snip>

Lorenzo Morgan said that he and his wife called the Democratic party's toll-free number and were told to vote at one caucus site, only to find it closed. The couple had to drive around to try to find their right caucus site.

"They're afraid even to tell us where to vote," said Morgan, 66, as he came into a caucus site at Bethany Baptist Church in Detroit to vote for candidate Al Sharpton.

<snip>

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/politics-0/1076202545100572.xml

[aquart]

2. Democrats disenfranchising Democrats?

I would be banned for what I would like to say about any who would pull that. Especially for what I would like to see done to them.

These are voters we need in November. And we especially need them now.

[Tinoire]

6. I'm not liking this one bit either. n/t

[eileen_d]

3. kick

This needs to be investigated fast.

[Edwards4President]

4. Another reason internet voting is a problem

It only makes it significantly easier for those who can afford computers and are proficient in the internet to vote while everyone else (largely minorities and low-income voters) are left to fend for themselves in the face of these kind of obstacles.

[JI7]

11. agree, it might be possible in the future

but you have to first make sure the current system is fair and equal as can be. any advances should advance all. the digital divide is a big thing and we need to work in closing that gap also.

[ShaneGR]

5. Confusing, wtf was going on up there?

Damn blue.

[Name removed]

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[MurikanDemocrat]

9. Oh, shit

[Laughing Mirror]

10. "This is worse than in the '60s,"

said Albert, who also is chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus. "This is horrible. This election needs to be stopped. Because this is not right."

Worse than the 60s, shades of Florida 2000.

If this eats into enough Kerry and Dean votes, people might pay better attention.

[maddezmom]

13. this isn't good press for the Dems

:( Why were only the minority polling places closed, moved, etc?

[JI7]

14. i think minority/poor areas more affected

because michigan had internet voting, so the more affluent areas had more advantage in this area. they can just go home and vote if there is any confusion or even if the weather is bad or other such thing. there is a digital divide still so these type of problems would of course end up hurting those without access as they can't just go home and vote as the more money areas can. this is one reason i don't support internet voting at this point. we need to close the digital divide first, and make the current system as fair as can be.

[DontBlameMe]

15. Nope.

You had to register by Jan 31st to vote online. If people in the more affluent areas didn't register, they would have had to find the new site, too, assuming theirs had changed. They would, however, have better access to transportation than those in low income areas.

[LWolf]

16. What!??

How can democrats, after Florida 2000, allow something like this to happen? How can they stand by the results of a caucus where something like this happens?

What does the DNC have to say about it?

[Iverson]

18. I'll come to Detroit. Oops! I won't.

In literature, that would be called "foreshadowing."

[mmonk]

17. Interesting

Who's accountable?