Fraud you can believe in! (4.00 / 1)

I really hope that the worst concerns of those who tried to raise awareness of rethuglican election manipulations don't come true...

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by: Gray @ Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 14:46:38 PM UTC

Facing South's Voting Rights Watch is doing regular updates (4.00 / 2)

We're doing regular updates on all the major voting rights and election issues coming up in 13 Southern states: AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA and WV.

Lots of interesting developments:

http://southernstudies.org/fac...

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by: ChrisKromm @ Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 17:26:07 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Question one of you may be able to answer. (4.00 / 1)

I googled this and could not find a specific answer. I get challenged EVERY election the last few cycles because my signature has changed so much since I first registered to vote.

Not sure why, but over the years my signature is a LOT less neat and really even when I look at it I can't figure out how the hell I used to sign my name just 15 years ago lol.

I usually end up presenting my NJ driver's license and my work ID to verify my identity, but it is kind of irritating to go through this every time.

Any advice on how to handle it?

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by: Jon Niola @ Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 14:51:42 PM UTC

Call You County Registrar (4.00 / 2)

Not today, of course.  But they should be able to tell what to do, as these sorts of problems tend to be handled differently in different counties.

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

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by: Paul Rosenberg @ Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 15:00:26 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Remember .. (4.00 / 4)

stay in line ... and if you can .. encourage others to stay in line as well .. report any problems .. and if you can afford it .. bring water and stuff for other people in line  ...  we aren't going to let this be taken from us this time

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by: Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle @ Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 14:57:26 PM UTC

Old voter list in Cambridge (4.00 / 2)

Just heard on WBUR in Boston that Cambridge, MA polling places have 2004 voter lists.  They're sending people home to get proof of their registration.  Or offering a provisional ballot as an alternative.

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by: bduncan @ Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 15:12:42 PM UTC

I thought MA generally had it together (0.00 / 0)

unbelievable. is it every precinct in Cambridge?

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by: themostprogressivecorporatelawyerofalltime @ Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 15:16:19 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

i hope this doesn't hurt (4.00 / 1)

opposition to Prop 1 (which if passed would eliminate state income taxes). Cambridge is a progressive stronghold. i think we are ahead enough on this question that it shouldn't make a difference.

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by: themostprogressivecorporatelawyerofalltime @ Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 15:19:06 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

There Are Two Incident Reports So Far Related To This (4.00 / 1)

OurVoteLive has two related incident reports from Cambridge. First, from the polling place at the dept of public works, reported at 8:20am:

Incident Description
Description of problem or inquiry

Many voters are told (finding out) their names are not on the list by poll worker, even though they are registered according to our database. Many people couldn't wait and left.

Second, at Putnam Gardens at 9:36am:

Incident Description
Description of problem or inquiry

voter reports that she and many others at her polling locationunable to vote - not on list even though voted for years. able to find her name on another list, but only offered a provisional ballot.

You can check these yourself, just go to the search interface and enter the info--state and county should be enough.

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

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by: Paul Rosenberg @ Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 15:37:21 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

No problems at my polling place (district 5; precinct 36B; MPLS; MN) (4.00 / 1)

Long line, yes, roughly 3 times what I remember from 2004. Folks were friendly, neighbors chatting and getting to know one another. We got there as the polls opened and the whole thing took a little over an hour.  But I'm a slow voter because I do alot of write-ins. I cast 38 votes for "Art Temple" on one ballot.  All in opposition to incumbent judges running unopposed.

We use optical scan for those interested.

"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."

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by: SpitBall @ Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 15:36:00 PM UTC

I would have used "Alfred E. Neuman"... (0.00 / 0)

but you want to make it a bit more puzzling for officials, I guess. Well, whatever. As long as you didn't write Art in for president...

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by: Gray @ Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 15:40:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The Art Temple Protest Vote (4.00 / 1)

was first launched in 2002 on the public access TV show "The Temple Tapes". It represents a "shot-gun" approach to politics. By running in ALL races on EVERY ballot across the nation we figure that our Total Candidate has a better chance of getting elected to at least one office, somewhere.

Over the years it has morphed into a kind of nation-wide, "none of the above" vote, or a protest vote of any kind. The Art Temple offers a kinder, gentler way to "waste" votes, indeed, we have often been described as a "vote gutter", or "vote recycling", because we seek to re-invigorate those votes that are already wasted. Any vote for the lone candidate in an unopposed race is truly wasted. I mean, John Ashcroft lost to a dead guy, but I think he might have been able to pull off a win by running unopposed.

Question is: how many "Art Temple" votes will it take to get noticed?

Please consider joining in.  Vote "A.R.T.  T.E.M.P.L.E."

If elected, we will not serve.

"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."

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by: SpitBall @ Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 16:01:33 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thx for the explanation! (0.00 / 0)

Couldn't find this when I qickly googled the name. Maybe a wikipedia article would be a good idea? Would be helpful for foreigners like me who have no clue...

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by: Gray @ Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 17:20:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Ohio and virginia.... (0.00 / 0)

...have democratic SoS's, so this doesn't make sense!

CNN is reporting problems all over... a lot of them stupid problems, that shouldn't exist!

Good news is that they say that young voters are showing up and showing up early and prepared...

That's why everyone should be early voting!


REID: Voting against us was never part of our arrangement!
SPECTER: I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!
REID: This deal keeps getting worse all the time!

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by: lord_mike @ Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 15:43:37 PM UTC

Yeah, but they didn't focus enough on the problem (0.00 / 0)

And then, too many rethuglicans in responsible positions at polling places, I guess.

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by: Gray @ Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 15:49:11 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

now tallahassee (0.00 / 0)

crist is true to his party and their party first agenda, hopefully we can throw the bum out on his ear next time he is running, of course we all know all the convenient problems in dem leaning districts is a coincidence, were not taking anymore fascist nonsense from the gop, enough is enough.

if you don't believe everyone should be allowed to vote then move your anti-democratic agenda to another country and leave those that believe in democracy to practice it as our founding fathers envisioned. rw cons add nothing to a democratic form of govt and should be eliminated just like the cancer they represent.  

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by: pc @ Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 15:48:03 PM UTC

Actuallty, Crist Has Been Pretty Good (4.00 / 1)

He's been cited by many as an exception to the rule. He was very supportive of changing the law on felony disenfranchisement, for example.  And he's pretty much distanced himself from the McCain campaign--which is one reason that Obama seems poised to win there.

I'm not nominating the guy for the Nobel Peace Prize, or anything.  I'm just saying that he's far from the worst Rep out there.  Of course Florida remains badly messed up.

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

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by: Paul Rosenberg @ Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 15:55:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Funded Federal Mandate (4.00 / 1)

We need standard, uniform voting devices that are reliable, efficient, and accountable in all federal elections and should have the political power to make it happen.    

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by: wobbly @ Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 16:23:05 PM UTC

And with severe penalties for manipulating elections! (0.00 / 0)

Only when rethuglicans face prison will they stop with their dirty tricks. Cash penalties aren't good enough, some right wing billionaire may still fund the fraudsters.  

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by: Gray @ Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 16:26:54 PM UTC

[ Parent ]