"No truth to Ohio "purge" letters"

[understandinglife]

No truth to Ohio "purge" letters
by anastasia p
Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 05:26:27 PM PDT

Yesterday, a diary posted (at Daily Kos) said that an "insider...very close to Ken Mehlman" had revealed a voter disenfranchisement plan engineered by Diebold (The Devil! The Devil!) that involved sending letters to voters that appeared merely informational but, in fact, required a response within 60 days or that voter's registration would be purged. The source asserted that this system had been "tested" in Ohio in late July and early August with 1.2 million voters, targeted at voters in high-transient areas such as universities and low-income neighborhoods.

anastasia p's diary :: ::

I'm a journalist in Cleveland, Ohio who has followed election issues closely. I hadn't heard about this so I started to make calls. By last night, I had talked to seven people: election protection activists, organizers and attorneys, and people with Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs-Jones' office and the Ted Strickland gubernatorial campaign. I spoke with Vicki Lundgren, founder of Ohio Vigilance http://www.ohiovigilance.org/
and organizer of two big election conferences here, who is all over anything she perceives as an attempt to game the system. I spoke with the Cuyahoga County election protection coordinators, Chris Nance (also of the congresswoman's office) and attorney Lesley Huff. I spoke with the election observer coordinator in Strickland's Cleveland campaign office and with a spokesperson in his Columbus campaign office. None had seen such a letter or heard of anyone receiving it. It seemed incredible to me that such a letter could go out and no one in the most urban, Democratic county (or anywhere else) in the state had heard about it.

<clip>

Link:http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/10/19/202627/72

Worth reading the entire diary, especially her conversation with Bob Fitrakis.


Not One Line Of Software Between A Voter And A Valid Election

[asthmaticeog]

1. I know her work - she's an *excellent* resource

for election issues and Northern Ohio politics.

[understandinglife]

2. Yes, and, evidently a singer, as well ...

If you're in Ohio, we need you to be vigilant, we need you to volunteer to be an observer on election day (if you're in Cleveland, call Tom at the Cleveland Strickland office, 216.696.2006), and to work up until election day to make sure Blackwell and his cronies are looking for work outside politics on November 8, and most of all, we need you to vote! Don't let anything discourage you. Oh, and if you're in Northeast Ohio, come downtown to the Plain Dealer Pavilion in the Flats at 7 p.m. for the big Turnaround Ohio rally with the entire statewide ticket- and me! I will be singing with the "Singers for Strickland" Choir! It's free, and parking at the Powerhouse is discounted.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/10/19/202627/72

:thumbsup:


Be The Bu$h Opposition - 24/7

[liberaldemocrat7]

5. What if election protection groups conducted entrance polls?

Election protection groups could have pollsters near each precinct in Ohio asking Democratic voters to sign a register and the candidates they will support and then they can tally the "votes" in each precinct and send them to a central election protection center which gets totals from throughout Ohio or any other state. Then when the Republicans cook the votes the election protection group can pull out all of the registers and show the Republicans for the crooks they act as.

Does this appear plausible to do?

[mod mom]

31. There will be parallel elections in OH in suspect precincts.

[Eric J in MN]

3. I'm glad someone looked into this. NT

NT

[understandinglife]

4. Agreed. And, all of what she states is quite important .... I do hope ....

.... folk here at DU will read the entire diary and spread it.

Thank you.


Peace.

[Ellipsis]

6. A little side dish with your entree...

Ohio voting rights activist and attorney, Bob Fitrakis, says the Ohio elections may have already been won, responding to reports of massive voter purges in Democratic precincts.

Dr. Fitrakis, told OpEdNews, "Essentially, by purging these rolls, the Republicans, by shrinking the electorate, have already won in Ohio. IF they can't win, which is what the polls show among registered voters, the way to win is to use their nuclear option-- to target black voters, young voters and the working poor-- by purging them so they can't vote.


Fitrakis replied, "We're going to try desperately to get to the bottom of this and try on Friday to get an injuction-- Monday, at the latest.

http://www.opednews.com


Good to see your words UL

[Gabi Hayes]

7. that story is the crux of the controversy. what does Fitrakis have

to say about the denial?

I remain curious.

I hope the story's not true, but I remain open to the possibility that they're capable of ANYthing, and I mean anything to hold onto power

[understandinglife]

8. Thank you. I am eager, as you and others are, to see what Bob Fitrakis ..

... files on either tomorrow or Monday. Given his comments, as reported in the dKos diary, it appears a serious issue.

Vigilance and extensive monitoring up to and on election day are obviously critical. I truly hope folk go to polls with their digital cameras, and even better, digital camera cellphones and record and disseminate, rapidly, any and all irregularities - from votes switching on touch screen vote devices to folk being disruptive.

This is, without doubt, the most important election in the history of the Republic. With control of the House and Senate, the next President of the United States of America - sometime before this time next year - will be the Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Focus everyone.


Be The Bu$h Opposition - 24/7

[autorank]

11. This is one of the easier issues to investigate. K&R for understandinglife

Hope it's nothing.

[understandinglife]

16. Thank you!

Peace.

[Time for change]

10. Jesus, why didn't they see this coming? That's exactly how Bush won Ohio

in 2004:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1297&mesg_id=1297

They had better investigate this and make certain one way or the other.

[understandinglife]

18. In_deed! But,. way more folk own cellphones with cameras ...

... than on November 2, 2004 ... so let's make'um record and transmit and let's have the most robust, real-time accounting of attempts to disenfranchise as has ever been seen on the planet.

That's the least we can do to protect our Constitution and our Republic from any further damage.

Peace, my friend,
Bob

[Time for change]

34. But I think there's a better option in this case

If Dems are being purged again this year, that is something that can be determined before the election. And if that is the case it would be infinitely better to determine that before than after the election -- while there is still a chance to correct it before the votes are counted.

[kster]

Well, if is true or not

Bob Fitrakis may as well, put the paper work together, because I'm sure they will pull something, and He may as well keep the paper work close at hand.

[Time for change]

9. Self delete - posted in wrong place

[EFerrari]

12. The facts here are confusing or confused.

Diebold wouldn't send out such a letter and the GOP doesn't need their help in waging such a campaign.

In 2004, the GOP sent out letters to OH students saying they would lose their student aid if they voted in the wrong precinct; to black voters saying they would lose their benefits (?) if they voted in the wrong precinct and that they would be arrested on outstanding warrants if they voted at all.

And on and on and on.

Me, three, to see what Bob decides to file. Meanwhile, you all know that in CA, Latino voters are getting letters with the similar intent to suppress votes for Democrats.

This one is going to be ugly, so rest up, eat your spinach and please phone bank for you Dem candidate for SOS if you can! We need more Democrats in charge of elections all over the country to avoid more Blackwells and Harrises.

:)

[understandinglife]

22. "This one is going to be ugly, so rest up, eat your spinach ..."

IN_DEED! :hi:

AND VOTE D!!!!!


Be The Bu$h Opposition - 24/7

[bonito]

13. Maybe chaff pods?

Gotta think of everything.
Nice to see you posting again! Peace

[bleever]

14. Happy to provide the fifth rec.

Vigilance. No distraction.

There will be feints and smokescreens, but we've seen this stuff before and can stay focused.

I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that the fate of our republic hangs in the balance.

[understandinglife]

20. "Vigilance. No distraction."

Precisely.

Thank you, my friend.


Never Forget: George W. Bush willfully violated National Security to cover-up his willful launch of a war of aggression and illegal occupation of Iraq.

[buddysmellgood]

15. Thanks for posting that. The Mehlman story had me very worried.

[femrap]

17. Correct me if I am wrong....but

can't a BoE purge voters whenever they so desire? And when a voter discovers they have been purged, the BoE simply says...'Oh, so sorry. We're not perfect.'

Then the voter is stuck with a provisional...which I guess just aren't counted.

From what Firtakis says there is a category for voters called 'inactive' and that is where voters should be placed before being purged. I thought the letter came from SoS...not Diebold. And now Blackwell has told certain County Chairs to purge...and this is what Firtakis wants stopped. Right?

[understandinglife]

19. Don't know. We'll need to see what Fritakis "files" ... but, we now know

... that the wide distribution of "letters" appears to be a bogie.

Vigilance. Eternal vigilance. And, VOTE.


Peace.b

[fooj]

21. This is for all of the marbles.

Never give up. Ever.

I encourage people to participate in any way that you can. Be active. Stay vigilant. Question EVERYTHING.

I'm volunteering for the CA. SOS---Bowen MUST defeat McPherson.


:patriot:

Note- with hope in your heart- that those earlier Americans always found their way to the light and we can, too. -K. Olbermann

[understandinglife]

23. Every. Single. Marble. .... You betcha, my friend ... Every. Single. One.

:hi:


Peace.

[BurtWorm]

24. This from the Washington Monthly's Showdown '06 blog supports anastasia

The rumor may be a misunderstanding of what actually happened. (See my emphasis below)


http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/showdown06/archives/individual/2006_10/009835.php


by Christopher Hayes


THE PURGE THAT WASN'T Yesterday a Kossack posted a diary that got a lot of attention. Referring to a source on the inside, it alleged that in Ohio, GOP Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell had engineered a massive purge of Democratic voters from the rolls. The allegation was that Blackwell had sent letters from the SOS offices to thousands of registered voters who were presumed to be Democrats -- university students and apartment dwellers -- and if the recipients failed to respond to confirm their identity, they were scrubbed from the voter rolls. Obviously, if such a thing took place, it would be an outrage, and likely illegal...

But I just spoke to the Randy Borntrager, spokesperson for the Ohio Democratic Party who says it's almost certainly not true. "We're investigating it," he told me. "But it doesn't look like it's that credible. We can't find any examples of this supposed letter; we can't find examples of this supposed problem."

Borntrager did point out a related issue. Each county in Ohio did send out a mailing to registered voters telling them their polling location. If those letters were returned to sender, then the voter in question will have to either vote provisionally or produce ID on election day. (From what I understand, from Borntrager, all voters in Ohio this year have to produce ID) This might cause problems for groups that move around a lot, like college students, but as long as people provide identification they shouldn't be disenfranchised.

In our brief conversation, Borntrager was at pains to point out that no one should be discouraged or intimidated from voting, and they should take advantage of voting early, which Ohio has instituted state-wide this year. "We do not want people to be discouraged to go and vote early or on election day," he said. (Those who vote early by heading down to their local board of elections do not have to produce ID.)

...

The Ohio Democratic Party does have an election protection unit, with a hotline at 1-888-DEM-VOTE so if you're reading this and have run into problems you can drop a line in comments and/or give the hotline a call.

[understandinglife]

26. "... they should take advantage of voting early ..." That's The Critical

... Message ...

THANK YOU!!


Peace.

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

25. Kick

Because correcting misinformation is important.

[greeneyedboy]

27. the good news and the bad news

is that this election will not be stolen OR secured with one heroic (or dastardly) action.

it's dozens of elections in several states. these elections will either be stolen in a dozen different ways, giving us the death of a thousand papercuts, or they will be saved by coordinated efforts on all fronts--legal, media, voter education, poll monitoring/field/boots on the ground.

we can and must monitor any registration/ballot supply problems.
we can and must get voters to the polls, and make sure they get to vote on a regular non-provisional ballot, without waiting all night.
we can and must document the actual voting process.
we can and must monitor and document the vote-counting process (to the extent possible with the (&^$## machines).
we can and must have legal teams ready to fight at the first sign of any shenanigans.
we can and must mobilize large numbers of concerned citizens if their will is not reflected in the official results.

the bad news is that it can't be defended in one piece either, so we need to be organized. the good news is that the whole enchilada can't be stolen in one piece.

[EFerrari]

29. Pick your fights. You know they steal it in minority, student

and low income precincts.

Focus THERE first. Look for vote suppression THERE first.

We can comb the news for problems in our state -- misprinted absentee ballots, ballots that don't go out, voter reg problems, voter intimidation, polls -- sorry "vote center" -- that are moved, that don't open, that open late or close early.

Thugs aka "security" scaring away voters at the doors.

Vote flipping machines. Not enough machines, malfunctioning machines.

In FL, OH, CO, PA, NC, NM, AZ, TN, GA, LA, AL, CA.

WE KNOW HOW THEY STEAL IT AND WE KNOW WHERE THEY STEAL IT.

If you can, get with an election protection group -- verifiedvoting or votetrust or electionprotection. They all need help.





:kick:

[greeneyedboy]

35. right. it's not brain surgery, it's simple arithmetic. 50% plus 1 = win.

[McCamy Taylor]

28. I am not totally convinced. Just because some people havent

heard about it, doesnt mean that Blackwell hasnt been purging. That is what he does best.

[understandinglife]

30. At least we have folk questioning and being vigilant ....

... and from now until the polls close on 7 Nov., we are going to need to be doing that in every precinct in the USA.


Peace.

[dollydew]

32. voting letter hey look over there

It's another distraction. Hey! Look over there at Ohio where we're not sending out letters to voters. Forget about California where we did send out letters to voters. Same song, different day.

[mod mom]

33. PFAWF Investigates Purges in Ohio (Excellent Organization!)

People For the American Way Foundation Investigates

Voter Purge Concerns in Ohio



People For the American Way Foundation (PFAWF) today investigated concerns raised by activists that an 11th-hour purge of eligible voters in Ohio could result from mailings sent out by county election officials. While it appears that fears of a purge are unfounded, the incident does emphasize the need for continued voter education, and vigilance in voter advocacy and protection as the November elections loom.



Over the past few days, Internet commentators have raised concerns that certain voters in Ohio might be removed from the voter rolls if mailings sent to them by their county election officials are returned as undelivered. Given the Secretary of State’s history of supporting and engaging in voter suppression strategies, citizen vigilance is necessary and commendable. In this particular case, though, county election officials have confirmed to PFAWF that under Ohio law, even voters whose mailings are returned will be permitted to vote a regular ballot if they show the proper ID at the polls. Of course that’s if poll workers are properly trained.



Precisely to help avoid problems and to foster full participation, People For the American Way Foundation has prepared a brief mailing carefully explaining the Ohio voter ID rules and the proper forms of identification, which is being sent to many thousands of Ohio voters. The mailing can be found at http://media.pfaw.org/ep/OH_Flier.pdf.



“We are working to make sure that Ohio voters have the best information possible in order to cast a vote that counts this Election day,” said Ralph G. Neas, PFAWF president. ”The past two elections have shaken the confidence of the electorate in our system. We must do everything we can to restore voter confidence and bring them to the polls in overwhelming numbers.”



Neas noted that voters who have questions about reports of potential voting problems or who are otherwise concerned about suppression or intimidation tactics can contact the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE, which is sponsored by People For the American Way Foundation, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Right Under Law and the NAACP. Callers will receive free legal assistance from volunteer lawyers trained in election law, and the coalition will investigate reports of intimidation and suppression to seek recourse.



Unfortunately, there have already been reports of blatant attempts at voter intimidation and suppression in advance of the election. For instance, in Orange County, California, a Republican candidate for the U.S. House has admitted that his campaign sent threatening letters to Hispanic registered voters seeking to intimidate them and suppress their votes. In August, People For the American Way Foundation published “The New Face of Jim Crow: Voter Suppression in America,” which documented the many ways – legislative, regulatory, and otherwise – that barriers are erected to the ballot box: http://media.pfaw.org/PDF/Reports/TheNewFaceOfJimCrow.pdf.