Scroll For Updates: Election Day 2008 Open Thread
Well, the day has finally arrived! Just think, Election 2012 begins tomorrow! Scroll for updates throughout the day, and be sure to vote in the poll I have posted. (**Sneak update by Lisa: We’ve launched a whole new look for election day – - we hope you enjoy! If you experience any problems, please let us know!)
Milwaukee Puts a Vote-Fraud Cop Out of Business Local Democrats don’t take the issue seriously.
Last week Mike Sandvick, head of the Milwaukee Police Department’s five-man Special Investigative Unit, was told by superiors not to send anyone to polling places on Election Day. He was also told his unit — which wrote the book on how fraud could subvert the vote in his hometown — would be disbanded.
“We know what to look for,” he told me, “and that scares some people.” In disgust, Mr. Sandvick plans to retire. (A police spokeswoman claims the unit isn’t being disbanded and that any changes to the unit “aren’t significant.”)
In February, Mr. Sandvick’s unit released a 67-page report on what it called an “illegal organized attempt to influence the outcome of (the 2004) election in the state of Wisconsin” — a swing state whose last two presidential races were decided by less than 12,000 votes.
The report found that between 4,600 and 5,300 more votes were counted in Milwaukee than the number of voters recorded as having cast ballots. Absentee ballots were cast by people living elsewhere; ineligible felons not only voted but worked at the polls; transient college students cast improper votes; and homeless voters possibly voted more than once.
Much of the problem resulted from Wisconsin’s same-day voter law, which allows anyone to show up at the polls, register and then cast a ballot. ID requirements are minimal. If someone lacks any ID, he can vote so long as someone who lives in the same city vouches for him. The report found that in 2004 a total of 1,305 “same day” voters gave information that was declared “un-enterable” or invalid by election officials.
According to the report, this loophole was abused by many out-of-state workers for the John Kerry campaign. They had “other staff members who were registered voters vouch for them by corroborating their residency.”
The investigative unit believed at least 16 workers from the Kerry campaign, and two allied get-out-the-vote groups, “committed felony crimes.” But local prosecutors didn’t pursue them in part because of a “lack of confidence” in the abysmal record-keeping of the city’s Election Commission.
Pat Curley, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett’s chief of staff, told me he was very upset by the surprise release of the report. “I don’t believe all of the facts are necessarily accurate,” he said. Which ones? He only cited the report’s interpretation of state policy on homeless voters. He denies the mayor’s office had any role in disbanding the unit.
Video: Black Panther poll intimidation in Pennsylvania?
Fox News reports that voters complained of intimidation in Philadelphia when they saw a purported Black Panther poll watcher guarding the door to the polling station with a nightstick.
Report Voter Fraud
You know, if The One really does have this election in the bag, why are his minions trying so hard to steal it? A comment from the swing state of Virginia, from Blazer:
Well folks, this election is being stolen right here in Va. as we speak…Nope. I saw folks being registered to vote right on the spot and allowed to go through the line. At one table, they weren’t even checking names and I.D.’s, a near riot almost ensued inside. A friend of mine across town at another precinct witnessed this also.
Update – Republican election board members tossed out of Philly voting stations:
GOP Election Board members have been tossed out of polling stations in at least half a dozen polling stations in Philadelphia because of their party status.A Pennsylvania judge previously ruled that court-appointed poll watchers could be NOT removed from their boards by an on-site election judge, but that is exactly what is happening.
It is the duty of election board workers to monitor and guard the integrity of the voting process.
Denying access to the minority (in this case Republican) poll watchers and inspectors is a violation of Pennsylvania state law. Those who violate the law can be punished with a misdemeanor and subjected to a fine of $1,000 and sent to prison between one month and two years.
Confident campaigns and political parties do not engage in such behavior. If you see voter fraud, irregularity or other suspicious activity, the McCain campaign has set up a special number to call.
866-976-VOTE
WMUR in New Hampshire reports that the “first in the nation” results from Dixville Notch are in. Obama won 15-6 (link).
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Ed Driscoll.com
Public Secrets
Voter Fraud in Philadelphia Already « Trust, But Verify
November 4, 2008 - 03:21 PM on November 4th, 2008
I just got finished voting. 20 minutes wait which wasn’t too bad. No voter fraud where I vote but then again, here in PG county in Maryland I am one of about 20 voters who vote republican so there isn’t a need for any games here.
While I hold out hope that integrity will win out I fear the Obama disciples have gotten away with fraud on a massive scale. Only time will bear that out and by then the damage will have been done.
November 4, 2008 - 03:22 PM on November 4th, 2008
Did you happen to see how many had voted before you?
November 4, 2008 - 03:22 PM on November 4th, 2008
No, I didn’t. I do know from one guy in line that early this morning there were probably 500 in a line stretching to the street.
November 4, 2008 - 03:22 PM on November 4th, 2008
I voted this morning. No lines at my polling place. It doesn’t hurt that I can see my polling place from my front door either. Now the question is will I have a race riot to contend with tonight. I may just pack a few things in the car when I get home from work just in case. Let the morons burn down the neighborhood. I have insurance.
November 4, 2008 - 03:24 PM on November 4th, 2008
Bon Bon-
That 500 represented the before work rush..I would bet! hmmm…
FAO,
Let’s hope there is no riot, but I won’t hold my breath!
November 4, 2008 - 03:25 PM on November 4th, 2008
I voted this morning to no big lines at our local church
November 4, 2008 - 04:05 PM on November 4th, 2008
I voted earlier this morning. My little town hall that is normally barren was packed this morning. Couldn’t help but notice all the McCain/Palin yard signs on my drive there. *fingers crossed*!
November 4, 2008 - 05:17 PM on November 4th, 2008
I love it! I absolutely love it – this election is clearly leaning in favor of Obama and the REPUBLICANS are crying foul on voting! Even in the midst of their typical tactics (I counted 4 robocalls telling me misleading voting information – 1 saying the polls would be open until 11pm, 2 saying I could vote by phone, and 1 saying voting a straigh ticket would be ok and WOULD register my vote for president *IF* i voted early).
Yes Lisa, keeping my finger crossed that we FINALLY after 8 years will have some different direction in this country after after the Shrub administration has damn near destroyed it.
Just to think, tomorrow the repug spin and smear team will be hard at work to start figuring out how to impeach Obama, much like they did with Clinton.
November 4, 2008 - 06:05 PM on November 4th, 2008
Voted this morning at 8:30 am PST. Turnout was heavy, no lines but a steady flow. It seemed everywhere I went during the day people had the “I Voted” stickers displayed.
Starbucks announced if you tell them you voted, you get a free cup of hot coffee. If you tell them you voted 10 times for Obama, do you get 10 free cups?
November 4, 2008 - 07:19 PM on November 4th, 2008
‘The report found that in 2004 a total of 1,305 “same day” voters gave information that was declared “un-enterable” or invalid by election officials.
According to the report, this loophole was abused by many out-of-state workers for the John Kerry campaign. They had “other staff members who were registered voters vouch for them by corroborating their residency.””
Why am I so not surprised the fraud was by the Democrites?
November 4, 2008 - 09:27 PM on November 4th, 2008
“Why am I so not surprised the fraud was by the Democrites?”
Oh, you mean like in 2000 and 2004 the state troopers were ordered by Jeb Bush to set up check points in heavily populated democratic precincts?
November 6, 2008 - 02:06 PM on November 6th, 2008
To EMPORER PALPATINE OBAMA ALL I CAN SAY IS SIC UN SEMPTRIS