See a problem with the Michigan Absentee Ballot???

[Roland99]

See how the arrows are shifted? People will think they're voting for Kerry/Edwards but it will really be for Bush/Cheney!


WJR (Detroit), Paul W. Smith, [e-mail]
WRIF-FM (Detroit), Peter Werbe, [e-mail]
Detroit Free Press: http://www.freep.com/help/email.htm

[Mika]

1. No arrow lined up for Bush/Cheney

Holy shit :wtf:

[Viking12]

3. No, the arrow for B/C is pointing to K/E

If you mark the arrow that is next to and points at K/E, you will be casting a vote for *. The alignmnet is is fucked up.

[Mika]

4. Did Teresa LaPore design this?

:argh:

[Roland99]

5. Ayup...there's an EXTRA arrow next to the Congressional heading below!

[cardlaw]

2. Oh shit.

nt

[HFishbine]

6. So what does it mean?

There are an equal number of arrows for the presidential/VP tickets, but the first arrow aligns with the second ticket (Kerry/Edwards). Does this mean that a vote at the Kerry/Edwards arrow would go to Bush/Cheney? Where does the Bush/Cheney voter mark his selection?

[troublemaker]

7. Any details are appreciated

What precisely is this. How obtained, etc.

And a description of how one votes--written, or is there a punch-out perforation? Is this the actual absentee ballot or a voter's guide?

Thanks!!

[LisaL]

8. OMG!

This is horrible!
Worst than the butterfly ballot.
:wtf:
Contact your state's democratic party and your board of elections.
It's absolutely crazy.

[annxburns]

9. HOLY CRAP!

Get this to the Detriot Free Press. This is really bad you guys - I would have voted for Bush if I had gotten this ballot.

Please forward this to the news media immediately,

BUSH IS STEALING THE ELECTION!

[riverwalker]

10. OMG

If you have a question, comment or suggestion for Secretary Terri Lynn Land, you may e-mail the Secretary of State at: [e-mail]

[riverwalker]

18. anyone have Michigan media contact numbers?

if so, list here for us.

[michigandem2]

32. Try this in GR Michigan...

http://www.woodtv.com/Global/category.asp?C=3533&nav=J7Nj

its an investigative dept in my local news dept...

[debatepro]

11. holy Chip

WTF. Time to start action... we need to alert the media.

[da_chimperor]

12. This is an outrage

Does the media know? This has to be deliberate, there's no way that's a mistake.

[JI7]

13. this is fucked up

why the fuck would they allow this to happen.

[Stuckinthebush]

14. Send this to the networks and CNN

Let's all do it.

Is it for real? If so, send away. The networks will eat this up because it is so reminiscent of the Florida fiasco.

[LisaL]

17. It's worst.

There is no arrow pointing to Bush-Cheney, it's completely mis-aligned. The Bush-Cheney arrow is pointing to Kerry-Edwards, so people who want to vote for Kerry would end up voting for Bush.
It's just absolutely horrible, how can it be?
:mad:

[KTM]

15. You gotta be f**ing kidding me

:kick: the crap out of this please

[MallRat]

16. NOMINATED FOR FRONT PAGE.

This is abso-fucking-lutely unbelievable.

-MR

[Roland99]

19. Added links for the Detroit Free Press and some local TV

[JI7]

20. post this inside the Michigan state forum also

[Roland99]

27. Done

[debatepro]

21. www.freep.com

Here is a link to email address's at the detroit free press. Anyway we can get the scan on the main page so we can send a link for someone to go to .

http://www.freep.com/help/email.htm

[girl gone mad]

22. That's pretty bad.

How many of these ballots have already gone out?

[LisaL]

23. It's not just bad-

it's freaking awful.
The arrows are completely mis-aligned.

[ScreamingMeemie]

24. WWJ AM950's email addy. Less conservative than WJR:

[e-mail] I sent my letter. :hi:

[ParanoidPat]

25. Nice catch! Now let's start making some noise about this!

Start with the media blaster and then hit Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land and the County election officials. :evilgrin:

http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-1633---,00.html

mailto:[e-mail]

Link to page of county contact information. :)

http://www.sos.state.mi.us/bbos/mainloc.html

[Roland99]

30. Copy of image has been emailed!

[noonwitch]

26. I'm so glad that my Warren precinct uses the old-fashioned lever machines

They are so easy to use.

[Greyskye]

28. Outrageous!

A :kick: for some important shite!

[Greyskye]

29. dupe post

[RevCheesehead]

31. You could vote straight party ticket w/out problem

but your point is well-taken.

Contact Kerry HQ about this - NOW!!!

[ScreamingMeemie]

34. My husband is an Independent voting for Kerry. He's not voting straight

Democratic Party. This is a major problem. :hi:

[MallRat]

33. Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land (R)

http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-1640_9105-59099--,00.html

Bring this typographical error to her attention: [e-mail]

-MR

[carpe_vinum]

35. OMG! Tell me that isn't for real?

[MallRat]

36. Actually, this should also make the Bush supporters nervous, too.

THERE'S NO CLEAR WAY TO VOTE FOR BUSH/CHENEY ON THIS BALLOT!

I think the Freepers might be motivated to take some action here, too. Politics and odd bedfellows, y'know...

-MR

[LisaL]

39. Yea, but his supporters would not loose any votes,

while Kerry supporters might end up voting for Bush.
It's horrible.
Did LePore moved to Michigan or something?:nuke:

[jayfish]

41. No. If They Are Only Counting The Arrows...

then the first arrow will be considered a vote for *. It also looks like it's intentional because that error is not evident anywhere else on the ballot. If it were a typo it would seem that either the entire ballot would be that way, or at least the left side would be. Someone needs to get BuckcetHead on this :eyes:

Jay

[LisaL]

49. Exactly.

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[riverwalker]

37. by the way Roland99, thanks!!

Great catch! you are da man! :toast:

[Skinner]

38. Are we sure this is real?

Where did this image come from? Is it your own ballot, or did you get it from someone else's website?

[Roland99]

42. I found it here:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=52&threadid=1407151&enterthread=y

[sherilocks]

52. This may be a hoax-let's check first

The ballot is from a website from a student or professor at the University of Michigan. I transferred the image to Photoshop and printed it out in black and white only. There is a crease-like line one/third of the way down that may indicate that the image was manipulated. Someone in Michigan should get an original copy of the ballot from their local supervisor of elections or the secretary of state.

[Caution]

59. Skinner: please lock this. had a friend call and this is a hoax.

[debatepro]

40. Nominate for topic for homepage.

Lets hope we can catch all of these.

[SnowGoose]

43. Just sent note to our (Republican) Sec. of State.

Telling her that if what I've seen is the real deal, I will make it my mission in life to have her removed from office before the end of her term. This isn't Florida.

Next up, contacting the Governor.
Contact information:

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, Michigan 48909
PHONE [phone]
FAX [phone]

Can't seem to find her email.

[MallRat]

47. never mind

sorry... didn't read it right. ignore.

-MR

[Orangepeel]

44. Details, please. I want to make sure I don't go off half cocked

I like to know what I'm talking about when I complain :-)

Where did this come from? Is it your ballot that you scanned in? What precinct/county is it? (it's terrible no matter what, but hopefully it is a printing error limited to a small batch and isn't statewide)

Thanks

[Roland99]

45. I found it here:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=52&threadid=1407151&enterthread=y


I sent a few emails, including the MI SoS, stating IF this was real, then it's a huge problem.

[ScreamingMeemie]

46. District is 4, which is Mid Michigan I believe. Saginaw, Claire, Big Rapid

I am on the phone trying to reach a friend who just received her absentee ballot for the 12th precinct. :hi:

[Roland99]

48. .

Let us know!! :)

[5thGenDemocrat]

55. No, This is the Midland district, Mrs G

Dave Cramp, the Repug, is the Congressman from Dow Chemical. Our congressman (5th District), now and after November, is Dale Kildee (D) of Flint.
John
My voting place is seven blocks away. I can and will just walk over to vote.

[LibertyorDeath]

50. unreal

They can't be allowed to get away with this BS

[SnowGoose]

51. Just called Governor's Office

Talked to someone in "constituent services" who really didn't seem to grasp the gravity of the situation. I advised him that if this is real, it's going to be on the news and they might want to get on top of the story.

He just referred me to the Sec of State's office.

Lame.

[MichDem10]

53. GET THIS TO AL FRANKEN!!!!

[sherilocks]

54. I'm repeating this message-Please check this out!

The ballot is from a website from a student or professor at the University of Michigan. I transferred the image to Photoshop and printed it out in black and white only. There is a crease-like line one/third of the way down that may indicate that the image was manipulated. Someone in Michigan should get an original copy of the ballot from their local supervisor of elections or the secretary of state.

This may be a hoax.

[MichDem10]

67. "Crease-like" line is normal

I have voted via absentee in previous elections. Absentee ballets are printed on heavy set paper and are on large pieces of paper. these creases are normal. If you look at the crease you will see that the word "Democratic" has a small portion of the letter "D" is in the crease. You will also see "Scotty Boman" has portions above and below the crease. I believe this to be authentic.

[Caution]

56. Friend just Called the Secretary of State's Office in MI over this

This is apparently a photoshop hoax folks. Please lock this mods!

"she sounded very surprised and indicated they had heard nothing about this. She put me on hold for about 2 minutes, came back and said "No, that is not a problem on the ballot."

"I would find it VERY hard to believe that I would have been the first person to call the SOS's office if these things are actually misprinted."

From my friend who just called.

[NashVegas]

61. thanks

I had just written to the mods and suggested we get some kind of independent verification before all of DU goes apeshit.

[treading_water]

62. Is your friend willing to scan the ballot

So it could be compared with the image above?

[Caution]

63. my friend called the off of the Secretary of State in MI

he described the ballot problem and the person he spoke to verified that the problem did not exist on the ballot.

[Roland99]

65. Sounds like a false alarm to me, then

Sorry for the trouble. <oops>


;)

[gardenista]

57. kick

[genius]

58. Please, everyone get out the word. It takes pressure for the DNC to act

Let everyone know and make them correct the situation. Also, send it to the news stations.

[NashVegas]

60. This Needs to Get All Over The Place

Get it confirmed then off to Talking Points Memo, Atrios, etc.

[genius]

64. Kick

[Stuckinthebush]

66. Sounds like this thread needs to be locked!

Check out Caution's post above:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=942216&mesg_id=943083&page=

The SOS office was contacted, and the ballot is OK. This is a photoshop hoax.

Let's not look like idiots over this.

[Skinner]

68. I'm locking this.

It appears to be a hoax.