posted October 27, 2004 07:38 PM              

They're doing it again. In Nevada, a Republican contractor has allegedly ripped up thousands of Democratic registration forms.(1) In Florida, Jeb Bush has purged tens of thousands of legitimate voters -- mostly black, mostly Democratic -- from the rolls because their names are similar to a felon's.(2) In Ohio, the Republican Secretary of State has been so uncooperative that a federal judge said that he "apparently seeks to accomplish the same result in Ohio in 2004 that occurred in Florida in 2000."(3)

But there's one big difference between the election of 2000 and the election of 2004: this time, a number of powerful, well-staffed groups will be aggressively responding to each and every instance of voter intimidation, suppression, and fraud. Messing with our right to vote is a felony, and with your help we'll make sure that anyone who does is prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

When in doubt, ASK. Poll workers are there to help you. They'll show you how to work the machines, and if you're at the wrong polling place, they should tell you how to get to the right one. Every polling place should also have a posted list of your voting rights, and instructions for filing a complaint if your rights have been violated.

Know your rights. If you're an eligible voter, you have the following rights:

If your name is not on the official voter list but you believe you are eligible to vote in that precinct, even if an election official challenges your vote, you have the right to cast a "provisional ballot."

If you're in line when the polls close, you should stay in line because you're entitled to vote.
In many states, your employer must allow you time to vote at some point during the day. You can't be fired for being late due to long polling lines.

You have the right to vote without being intimidated by anyone.

For your rights in your own state, check out this website: http://www.ourvote.com/

Bring photo ID, preferably government-issued ID or a utility bill, phone bill, or paycheck with your name and current street address. If you're a new registrant, it may be required.

Vote in the morning. In a great majority of polling places, everything will go smoothly, but by going early you can help prevent lines later in the day.

A regular ballot is better than a provisional ballot. If your eligibility to vote is questioned, ask if you can cast a regular ballot by providing additional ID or by going to another polling place. Only cast a provisional ballot if there's no alternative available.

So, what if something does go wrong?

First, document it. If there are specific individuals involved who are challenging your right to vote, intimidating voters, or interfering with the process, try to get their names. Write down exactly what happened, including the time of day, descriptions of the people involved, and any other details you can remember.

Then, report it. There are lots of organizations that will be working to respond quickly to complaints of voter intimidation, suppression, and fraud. Here's who to call:

The Democratic Party: In each swing state, the Democratic Party has set up a special hotline you can call if you're concerned that your vote won't count. Just call 1-866-722-2483. This should be your first call if you run into a problem.

1-866-OUR-VOTE. This hotline has been set up by a coalition of nonpartisan groups to deal with the most serious problems on election day. They have hundreds of lawyers standing by to immediately respond to the most egregious problems. 1-866-OUR-VOTE is the "911" of voter suppression hotlines. Please don't call unless your problem is serious enough that you have to talk to a lawyer immediately.

posted October 31, 2004 04:48 PM            

Nothing can go wrong. The elections are mostly electronic, right? I'm sure this has been mentioned in this forum elsewhere, but the problems with these machines are well known and well documented. This is not conspiracy theory, it is plain and simple fact. So where is the story in the news? Why is it being suppressed?

This will be the easiest election ever to manipulate, which really has already been done. Bush will win. There will be a serious outcry. Lawyers will descend upon district after district in state after state. It would make sense if Bush wins by a far greater margin than anyone thought possible, as this would increase the level of disturbance and division within the country, which seems to be the game-plan. Our eyes will be off the ball.

Had to vent a bit ... this stuff just makes me sick.

posted October 31, 2004 05:11 PM            

If Bush wins by a small margin, you will be suspicious the voting machines were tampered with by Bush people.

If Bush wins big, you will be suspicious the voting machines were tampered with by Bush people.

If Bush loses, by any margin, it was a fair election and no machine tampering occurred.

Does that sum up your position Ra?

posted October 31, 2004 11:53 PM              

If you are an “undecided voter”, take this short quiz to determine which candidate you should vote for. (This quiz is loosely based on an unattributed list on BuzzFlash.com, July 14, 2004)

Do you believe:

• Saddam was “good” when making war on Iran and gassing the Kurds, but “evil” when Bush I made war on him; then “good” again when Cheney did business with him, but “evil” again when Bush II made war on him.

• Trading with Cuba is wrong because they are communists, but trading with China promotes international harmony.

• The United States should get out of the United Nations, but it must go to war with Iraq to enforce United Nations’ resolutions.

• Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton.

• If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have sex.

• A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our longtime allies, then demand their cooperation and money.

• Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy, but providing health care to all Americans is socialism.

• Global warming and tobacco's link to cancer are junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools.

• A president lying about an extramarital affair is an impeachable offense, but lying about the reasons for war is solid defense policy.

How i love irony

posted November 01, 2004 12:17 AM            

It seems the only way Bush can possibly avoid allegations of voter fraud...according to Ra, is to lose the election.

Anyone here plugged into the real world? Somehow, I doubt it.

It's dimocrats who are registering felons, registering illegal aliens, registering the dead, registering people who do not exist and registering the same people under multiple names at the same address. It's also dimocrats who are registered to vote in a state, who are requesting an absentee ballot to vote in different states....like those registered in NY, who are requesting absentee ballots to vote in Florida.

Two more days to go until the election. I wonder if the same whiners are going to whine until the 2008 election that Bush stole this election too?

posted November 01, 2004 01:41 AM              

quote:

---

It's dimocrats who are registering felons, registering illegal aliens, registering the dead, registering people who do not exist and registering the same people under multiple names at the same address. It's also dimocrats who are registered to vote in a state, who are requesting an absentee ballot to vote in different states....like those registered in NY, who are requesting absentee ballots to vote in Florida.

---

No, jwhop, it's the Republicans giving that as an excuse to harrass and intimidate voters at the polls and attempt to throw out votes and registerations. It is the Republicans who cheated their way into the White House in 2000 with a Supreme Court ruling from the appointees Bush's father put on the bench. Even though Gore won the popular vote. It was a family effort on the part of the Bush's that stole that election.

Already, in the State of Florida, which happens to be where the mix up happened in 2000 and the state where Bush's brother Jeb is the governor, "accidently" didn't send out about 30,000 absentee ballots that were requested. It took attorneys from the Democratic party to force them to send out those absentee ballots, like NOW. So they were sent out and people got them. But they wouldn't have gotten them if not for intervention. They are attempting the same kinds of things in Ohio.
Rainbow, this is going to make you as angry as it did me, because of this Republican Congressman many Native Americans are not going to be able to vote in this election
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/30/opinion/30sat3.html?oref=login&th

EDITORIAL
G.O.P. to the Poor: Don't Vote

Published: October 30, 2004

With little notice or discussion, Senator Christopher Bond of Missouri allowed a provision into a Senate appropriations bill that could ban even nonpartisan voter registration efforts in public housing developments all over the country. This is an example of the unfortunate impulse now afflicting some parts of the Republican Party: a desire to suppress voting in poor and minority neighborhoods. Mr. Bond's proposal runs contrary to both the spirit of democracy and federal law, which in recent years has moved increasingly toward broadening ballot access. The National Voter Registration Act - commonly known as the Motor Voter Act - actually requires state agencies, including those that issue welfare benefits and drivers' licenses, to offer voter registration materials to the people they serve.

The proposed Senate legislation comes on top of recent G.O.P. maneuvers in Ohio, where Republicans challenged the registrations of more than 30,000 voters, many of them impoverished. Federal courts have stepped in to halt such challenges for now, but more are expected at the polls.

The same impulse to discourage voters was on display over the last several months in New Mexico, where the Indian Health Service of the Health and Human Services Department suspended voter registration efforts for several months at some medical centers and clinics serving Native Americans. Earlier this month, the Indian Health Service issued a memorandum effectively ending the ban, but only after untold numbers of Native Americans had missed the opportunity to register to vote in the coming election.

Mr. Bond's argument - that housing built with public money should be used only for housing, not voter registration - makes no sense on its face. It is even more ridiculous given the universal support for voter registration on military bases around the world. Military voters tend to favor Republicans, and public housing residents tend to favor Democrats. It would be nice if everyone could agree that both groups should be encouraged to vote.

This is going to be the most litagated election in history. Because thanks to Dubya and the legacy he gave us, we can no longer have free elections in this country. Not without being harassed by Republican goons from the fascist squad and Republican Congressmen sneaking legislation through that disenfranchises minorites and the poor who regularly vote Democratic.

It's up to the American people to not let them get by with it again. We all have to stand up for democracy and demand a new election if this one is as questionable as the 2000 election. We were gullible last time never dreaming that would happen in a democracy. We are wiser this time and democracy has to be nurtured and not taken for granted because as we have seen under Bush's regime, we can lose it very quickly. Are we better off now than we were 4 years ago? Halliburten is and a lot of corporations are making billions. But we, the American people, are a whole lot less free than we were 4 years ago.

posted November 01, 2004 06:39 AM              

"We had poor intelligence on Iraq, along with everyone else, including the British, the French, the Russians, the Italians and just about every other intelligence service in the world....all of whom believed Saddam had WMD"-jwhop

posted November 01, 2004 11:31 AM            

Perhaps Kerry would also require a world wide vote of all the people to decide if America can defend our security interests. No thanks.

Petron, if you could frame a question that has some relevance to this election, I would answer you.

Are you suggesting George Soros owns one or all of the voting machine companies that are supplying machines for this election?

If so Petron, you need to get together with Ra. Ra thinks Bush has the election already fixed.

Let's see Soros is attempting to fix the election for Kerry by registering every illegal voter he can find, but at the same time Soros has fixed the election for Bush through the use of Soros voting machines?

posted November 01, 2004 11:50 AM              

quote:

---

Anyone here plugged into the real world? Somehow, I doubt it.

---

posted November 01, 2004 01:44 PM            

If Kerry won (which he won't) ... well, it doesn't matter because he will not.
(thank God) He is just playing his part, his "role". No one can convince me that the majority of this country has moved that far to the left ... although the polls would have you believe otherwise ... which is precisely what they want us to think (in my opinion). Keep us divided.

Jwhop, believe it or not, I am even more 'conservative' than you, and Republicans are simply not conservative enough for my tastes. Well, I should say that I am very conservative fiscally and governmentally, but part with ultra-conservatism when it comes to social issues. I do not think the federal government should be involved in my personal business, my beliefs, or my morality.

posted November 01, 2004 01:55 PM            

Anyone ever looked into the people who control the media? If you ever do you will quickly realize that they are the same people who control government (both parties), 'big business', and anything else that has a major impact upon us.

Can someone please lead me back to my stall?

posted November 01, 2004 02:04 PM              

Totally disgusting thing to say. Meet jwhop.

Wherever your "stall" is I would have to think it is outside of America.

posted November 01, 2004 03:25 PM            

I said, "I thank God that the last elections were manipulated in his favor".

I have the deepest regard for democracy, and the utmost respect for the Constitution ... like you would not believe. I am voting for the Constitutional Party, in fact.

My point was that the elections were/are manipulated - a travesty which calls for a Revolution, in my opinion - but I am conservative, mostly, so at least it went to Bush. I don't like Bush, but his policies are more in line with mine than any democrat's.

That's all I was saying. If it were up to me, revolution. Manipulation is unacceptable.

posted November 01, 2004 03:54 PM            

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

The Seventeenth Amendment calling for the "election" of Senators would be repealed, along with the sixteenth amendment which allegedly authorizes an income tax.

One of the biggest mistakes we ever made was permitting the election of Senators who used to represent the interests of their states and were appointed by their states. Now, they represent the interests of the federal government, which in one of the reasons the federal government continues to grow in scope and power.

There are a lot of people who think both parties work for the same group of people and there is no real choice being offered.

posted November 01, 2004 10:31 PM              

Bogus Fliers Circulating To Keep Voters Away From Polls

NAACP: Phony Letters, Fliers Targeting Minority Groups

POSTED: 9:03 am EST November 1, 2004
UPDATED: 6:12 pm EST November 1, 2004

WASHINGTON -- There are some nasty tricks being played on potential voters, according to lawyers with groups that are monitoring pre-election activities in a number of battleground states.

In the hotly contested state of Pennsylvania, some people have received official-looking phony letters that say because the turnout is going to be so large that only Republicans should vote Tuesday, and the Democrats should wait until Wednesday, which -- of course -- is too late.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Jerry Pappert said several senior citizens have reported that someone has been calling them and telling them their voter registration has expired and not to bother showing up at the polls Tuesday, reported WGAL-TV in Lancaster, Pa.

The attorney general's office is investigating. Tampering with people's right to vote can carry a prison term of six months to five years.

The NAACP says most of the phony fliers and phone calls are targeting black, Hispanic and elderly voters, including a phony letter circulating in South Carolina and fliers elsewhere that falsely tell voters that if they have unpaid parking tickets and they go to a polling place Tuesday, they'll be arrested and their children will be taken away.

The South Carolina letter is supposedly from the NAACP. The Rev. Joe Darby, vice president of the real South Carolina NAACP, called it "old South Carolina politics" and said he doesn't think people will fall for it. But he does want an investigation.

Darby said he received the letter at his home in Charleston. It had a Columbia postmark with no return address.

He said the letter was an attempt to scare minorities from voting Tuesday because the author of the message assumes black people are in trouble with the law.

The letter also said voters must have a credit check, provide two forms of photo ID, a Social Security card, a voter registration card and a handwriting sample.

Registrars said that's untrue. What's needed is a voter registration card or a state driver's license or a state-issued ID card.

Some of the false material that's been collected has been sent to the Justice Department for investigation.

Legal Teams Flocking To Key Election States

According to a coalition of civil rights groups, tens of thousands of voters will not have their voices heard this year.

The watchdog groups blame both election incompetence and what they say is a deliberate effort to suppress the minority and the elderly vote.

The NAACP says minority voters are deliberately facing voter registration problems. One lawyer estimates that 100,000 absentee ballots will go uncounted in the battleground states of Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York.

A toll-free voting hotline has been established nationwide for voters who experience problems at the polls, and some complaints have already been forwarded to the Justice Department for investigation. The hotline number is 1-866-MY VOTE1.

Kerry Campaign Disputes Gay Marriage Phone Calls

Sen. John Kerry's campaign says voters in Michigan are getting phone calls that say Kerry would make gay marriage legal.

In a recording of a phone call played for The Associated Press, a young woman urges voters to legalize gay marriage by supporting Kerry. She describes gay marriage as a basic Democrat principle and says, "Without John Kerry, George Bush will stop gay marriage."

Kerry and his running mate, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, oppose same-sex marriage. They say marriage should be limited to a man and a woman. Kerry has said he supports civil unions.

A spokesman for Kerry's Michigan campaign said the calls began Sunday afternoon and reached people in several cities.

An official with the Michigan GOP said he doesn't know anything about such calls.

posted November 01, 2004 10:45 PM              

In Michigan where I live the machines are not being used because they don't provide a paper trail. Many states have done the same thing. Outlawed them due to voter protest.

Our elections will be more free and honest when we, as citizens, become more involved in the process. Democracy in general depends on citizens participation. We should constantly be watching our government and letting our representatives know how we feel about bills etc.

At the close of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 a woman was anxiously pressing Benjamin Franklin by asking him, "Dr. Franklin, what have you given us?" Benjamin Franklin's famous response to her question was: " A Republic, Madam, if you can keep it."

It's us to us to keep it. Americans over the years have grown complacent and apathetic regarding our government. When that happens it leaves openings for tyrants who would take that Republic away from us in a wink of an eye.

posted November 02, 2004 04:48 AM            

And, Mirandee you make one point that most fail to understand, this is a Republic, a Constitutional Republic, which is far different than a mob-rule total Democracy. The Founding Fathers were very wise and very clever in the way they put together the original Constitution. They forsaw many things ... many of which have been amended . It no longer resembles the Original, in my opinion.

Jwhop ... okay, I obviously don't read much in this forum ... so I jumped to the conclusion that you were a very well informed, straight-line Republican, based on a few posts and your avid defense of the party.

** I don't know how you maintain your presence here ... don't you just go nuts sometimes? Like beating your head against a wall? **

So, you are obviously at least as conservative as I. ---although I don't know your social policy views.

I agree with all your points in your last post.

Well, 24 hrs from now, we will pretty much know that Bush has won ... like it or not. And it may not even be that close.

posted November 04, 2004 04:17 AM            

One thing failed to happen ... the lawyers, and there was no "serious outcry". The stage was set, but it did not happen. Why not? Because the same stage will be set again in 08 ... only this time we will have already been exposed to it, and "learned" that we can "trust" the machines, the system.

Had there been a really serious outcry, the whole system would have been picked to pieces ... and the system will be much needed in 08 when Hillary is manipulated into office. You guys are right, I don't think America would vote in a woman president, yet (legitimately) ... but we will appear to do it in '08 ... and they will need all the help they can get to put her in.

The system remains intact, no questions. Our media-programmed fears are made to seem unfounded (at least subconsciously). It is safe to proceed with operation Hitlery ... err, I mean, Hillary.

When she is elected, there will be a serious outcry ... for real ... but it will be too late.

I hope we do not choose that path, and I hope we do not continue on this one.