Wednesday, September 10, 2008

GOP Voter Suppression Tactics Underway In Michigan, Wisconsin

Republicans in Michigan plan to use lists of home foreclosure actions as the basis to challenge votes and voters from those addresses - - but people often remain in their home after a foreclosure action because it can be the first step in a process, not the last.

Since home foreclosures are hitting minority and low-income neighborhoods the hardest, the tactic is especially reprehensible.

Let's hope the courts bar the practice.

Meanwhile, let Michael Horne explain the opening salvo in the Wisconsin anti-voting campaign - - rolled out by no less than J. B. Van Hollen, Wisconsin's Attorney General.

The AG is hoping that new voter registrations, when matched against a state driver license data base - - and who says WisDOT's data base is 100% accurate? - - will taint those registrations and force those voters' ballots into limbo during the count.

It's a cynical ploy designed to suppress new voters, most of whom are Democrats, reports have indicated.

State officials at the Government Accountability Board, the agency in Van Hollen's partisan sights, say the AG's demands are bunk.

And One Wisconsin Now points out that Van Hollen is co-chair of the McCain campaign in Wisconsin. Talk about conflict of interest.

State constitutional officers should be encouraging voting, and protecting voters and their rights, not institutionally eradicating them.

Isn't it interesting that Democrats are out there everyday registering new voters - - but Republicans busy themselves with new ways to exclude voting and thwart basic democracy?

No wonder Republicans don't like to even speak the phrase "Democratic Party."

It's democracy itself that threatens Republicans.

11 comments:

  1. Ummm.... register from your current address?

    Duh?

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  2. Moderated Version: You are so right Jimbo...

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  3. Out of curiousity, would JB's own name come up with a data match on the voter lists, given his use of initials?

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  4. This is easy to beat.
    In Wisconsin, it's easy to beat this sick tactic.
    Homeless people can vote, two ways.
    There is a map on every registration form, name two streets and you get a ballot, or better yet....
    Have a registered voter, coorborate your residency on that registration form.

    Do not fall for the provisional balloting stunt, and Wisconsin pollworkers are aware of this, or they should be

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  5. As One Wisconsin Now is pointing out, Van Hollen is also co-chair of the McCain/Palin effort in Wisconsin, so this suit smacks of complete partisanship.

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  6. Here is my story about drivers license. I go by my middle name so I want my first initial and middle name on the license. The drivers license system can only do middle initial.

    So I want it to ready

    L. John Jones

    and instead it has to be

    L. J. Jones

    and my voter registration is

    L John Jones.

    So no match right?

    Will the lawsuit be able to proceed fast enough to be done by the election.

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  7. Anon@1:56 - Ummm....people who move to a new apartment every year? You can register from that new address, but you might easily forget to update with the WisDOT. I've done it, but thankfully it hasn't lead to me being stopped from voting.

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  8. "And One Wisconsin Now points out that Van Hollen is co-chair of the McCain campaign in Wisconsin. Talk about conflict of interest."

    And OWN is apparently a non-partisan entity with no interest?

    And how do you know what Van Hollen's motivations are? You know nothing of that.

    Stick to the facts.

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  9. Cheny's fingerprints are all over this, Follow the campaign funding for Van Hollen.

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  10. And of course, Owen Robinson, who used to call Van Hollen a RINO, thinks this is wonderful.

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  11. The question now is: What can concerned people in Wisconsin do to reduce voter suppression? It seems that making sure voter suppression doesn't take place is almost more important than getting winning new supporters for a party. How can individuals take action on this issue?

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