What would happen if they DID cheat and it was exposed?

[Bake]

Suppose in any given state, let's say ... Virginia, the Puke candidate (let's say, Macaca) wins the Senate election, but there were enough questions about the election to force an investigation. Suppose the investigation determines, by means of a whistleblower or whatever means, that the Pukes illegally suppressed the vote in Dem precincts, or that absentee ballots were destroyed, or that Diebold did exactly what we suspect Diebold of doing.

My question, and it is an honest question: What then?

First, of course, the individuals responsible for the crime are prosecuted (yeah, right). But what happens to the election results? Is there a "do-over?" What happens?

Bake

[MadMaddie]

1. In other countries the election that the crimes occurred in

were deemed voided and they had a new election...it would be interesting to know what the rules are in the US...

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. The Repug judges will rule that the election has been certified

And that it is now too late to challenge the results, the election stands. I am very much expecting this kind of haste in Ohio, where the GOP candidate for Governor has sole oversight of the elections and will be the one to certify the election in that race.

[MADem]

6. You're right--even if bullshit is certified, that's that. Of course,there

could be other avenues that could be pursued, like removing the shit from office, but that's separate from the certification process....

[Bandit]

9. Hell they don't even need certification any longer as the San

Diego election this year proved. Bilbrey was sworn in before the election was certified and it was facing challenges but the judge ruled since he was already sworn in it was all moot.

[meldroc]

7. To challenge that, you'd need an immediate lawsuit.

Crooked election officials will almost certainly rush election results so they can railroad the election, so I'd recommend challenges be filed in federal court immediately if even the smell of cheating is detected.

[TechBear_Seattle]

20. An immediate lawsuit is possible only if the Repugs are extremely blatant

If there is insufficient evidence of fraud after a lawsuit is filed, Democrats will be painted as (hold on to your irony meters) thugs trying to steal the election from the legitimate winners. If the Dems wait until they have sufficient evidence, it will be too late.

[Orsino]

17. But in the perfect world...

...the offenders would be vilified in the press, and many or most would resign in tears before entering rehab. The rest would be impeached, indicted or otherwise lame-ducked until replacement.

But no electronic voting machine will ever cough up evidence of cheating. Even if the numbers look wacky somehow, we will never be able to prove tampering unless we obtain e-mails ordering it.

That's what's wrong with electronic voting machines. Of necessity, they destroy the evidence at the scene of the crime.

[Fridays Child]

3. What you're suggesting, and much more, occurred in Ohio.

To my knowledge, nobody was prosecuted and no results were thrown out.

[Bake]

4. Double incentive to cheat!

First, they may cheat on the hope that they'll get away with it. Second, even if they cheat and the results are thrown out, they get a do-over -- just that much more time to swift-boat the Dem opponent and maybe hope for a miracle. There's no downside, dammit! If they don't cheat, they lose. The worst that can happen if they do cheat is they get a mulligan and lose again the second time.

So then why wouldn't they cheat?

Bake

[havocmom]

5. They did. It was. Not much.

Sad but true. Too many Americans want to believe things are OK and decent people are in charge. More are aware now, but bushco has dictatorial powers now too.

[bryant69]

8. Probably be up to the courts

I suspect they would make an example of said person to say that the sytem works and all of those who are worried about voter fraud are tin-foil hatters.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Tesha]

10. Nothing.

After a while, it was all exposed in the aftermath of FLorida '2000.
Nothing happened.

Tesha

[Swede Atlanta]

11. Nothing

Shrub would declare that anyone who challenges any election in which a Republican appears to have won is an enemy combatant and will whisk them away to some far off land for torture and other amusing activities.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

12. Nothing- if the media doesn't report it as more than a "conspiracy theory"

If only a few people hear about it or if Olbermann is the only one brave enough to report it - nothing. Also - if it's only reported as a "conspiracy theory" or a "joke" nothing will happen.

[woodsprite]

13. Apparently if you swear the guy in before questions can be

brought up, then you don't have a case and it's a done deal. There are so many criminals in this administration, I forget who they did that to recently.

[ContraBass Black]

14. The attorney general's election last year came down to fewer than the

Number of uncounted absentee ballots.

Nothing happened.

[leftofthedial]

15. nothing

some county official would go to jail

some higher-level repuke would go into rehab and claim to be an alcoholic victim of child abuse

[Duncan]

16. Nothing happens.

They did and there is evidence. Nothing happens.

[ellenfl]

18. impeachment by citizen . . .

we, the people, CANNOT let them get away with it this time.

ellen fl

[Bake]

19. Serious question.

There have been a number of "they did, there was, nothing happened" responses. Yes, I know they probably did. That's not what I'm talking about.

What I'm talking about here is proof beyond a reasonable doubt. What happens in that case? Do they declare the results void and hold a new election?

With all the "Diebold/Fix Is In" posters here, I thought we might have more knowledge to draw on. From what I'm seeing here, it sounds totally useless/hopeless: they're going to cheat, they're going to win, and even if it's exposed, nothing will happen. And that's not good enough.

Bake

[Tesha]

22. In Florida, there *WAS* proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

And nothing happened.

Tesha

[Selatius]

21. I truly envy Ukrainians, Venezuelans, Georgians, and others

Because I know what would happen if they had their elections stolen again.

Sadly, and perhaps tragically, I don't know what Americans would do. Am I lacking in faith in Joe Sixpack's ability to do the right thing?