Do You Have Trust In...
The Poll Workers and The DOJ, and Are They Ready?
Posted by Wiley, 11/05/2012
Over the years there have been a variety of concerns about the voting system in the United States, from equipment (old, outdated in many cases, etc.) to operational requirements (staffing, production capabilities, etc.) to validation (accuracy). However with all the concerns and problems in the past (including Bush v. Gore and all the "hanging chads" questions), the voting process itself has enjoyed a level of respect, integrity, AND TRUST...UNTIL NOW! SUDDENLY, REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED STATES ARE ENACTING PHOTO ID LAWS TO "STOP VOTER FRAUD" WHEN THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO EVIDENCE OF ANY SUBSTANTIVE LEVEL OF SUCH ACTIVITIES. THIS APPEARS TO BE AIMED AT SUPPRESSING SOME VOTERS DESIRE TO VOTE FOR THE PRESIDENT (PRIMARILY MINORITIES) WHILE SUPPORTING THOSE PEOPLE WHO DISLIKE THE PRESIDENT AND THEREFORE, IN THEIR MINDS, MAY BELIEVE HIM TO BE CAPABLE OF SUCH ACTS. ONE BIG PROBLEM: HE IS ENCOURAGING EVERY VOTER TO VOTE.
A new wrinkle with voter suppression potential has been introduced in Ohio: "Four days
before Election Day, Ohio Secretary of State Jon
Husted emphasized to boards of elections a step that voters who use
provisional ballots on Tuesday will have to take. Voters will be obligated to
write on the provisional ballot form what type of ID they show at the polls and
not rely on poll workers to do it for them, according to the directive issued late
Friday afternoon."
A federal court has been asked to throw out the measure. Usually, provisional ballots are cast on Election Day because a person reports to a polling place where he or she is not assigned to vote.
