AUGUSTA, Maine — Members of the Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee voted to direct the Secretary of State to conduct a thorough study of Maine’s election system, a move that ends a controversial carryover bill that sought to require voter identification.
Two weeks ago, Secretary Charlie Summers sent an annual report to the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee on the state’s Central Voter Registration system in which he called his yearlong review of voter registration data “troubling.”
Summers said although most of the problems were related to human errors by municipal officials rather than intentional fraud, those errors contributed to inaccurate and unreliable state voter data.
The data “suggests that a substantial number of noncitizens [over 150] may have registered to vote, and approximately one-third of that number may have actually voted in elections over the past few years,” Summers wrote. “I have turned this information over to the Attorney General for further investigation and to pursue whatever action he deems appropriate.”
The secretary concluded that his review of the system was evidence enough to consider drastic changes to the system. Lawmakers decided to use the voter ID bill, LD 199, as the vehicle for directing Summers to conduct a study.
By amending LD 199, committee members replaced both the bill’s title and its entire text with a resolve that directs the Secretary of State to report back on the study and provide possible draft legislation by February 2013.
Friday’s vote was not unanimous, so there will be a divided report when it goes to the House and Senate, so there will likely be a floor debate on the bill. Some Democrats were not sure a study, much less an overhaul of Maine’s election system, is needed.
Rep. Benjamin Chipman, U-Portland, said he wasn’t sure why Friday’s vote was needed since the Secretary of State already has the authority to examine the state’s election system.
Sen. Debra Plowman, R-Hampden, said she thought it was important to pass a bill to ensure that a report comes back to the Legislature. Next January, there will be elections for constitutional officers, so there is no guarantee that currently Secretary of State Summers will keep his job, she said.
There was some minor discussion about whether to separate the voter ID piece and vote that out for a debate on the House and Senate floor.
Rep. Doug Damon, R-Bangor, indicated he wanted the discussion because he said his constituents support voter ID. Rep. Thomas Longstaff, D-Waterville, said the issue is much more divisive in his district.
After discussing that idea off microphone for about 10 minutes, Plowman made the motion to replace LD 199’s title and language and remove voter ID.
Voter ID was one of two controversial election reform bills that originated out of the 125th Legislature’s first session.
The Legislature passed a law last June to eliminate same-day voter registration, but it was overturned by voters in November after a coalition gathered enough signatures to force a people’s veto.
The voter ID bill passed in the House but failed in the Senate and ultimately was carried over to this session.
Voter ID bills have popped up in numerous states in recent years, particularly states with State Houses controlled by Republicans. Kansas, Tennessee and Wisconsin join the states to pass voter ID laws this year and voters in Mississippi endorsed a constitutional amendment to require that voters present government-issued identification at the polls.
The Secretary of State swears that he has prof that aliens voted in the last election so don’t give up on him yet – he has the Super Bowl weekend to come up with something new as he does not have much to do in the original purpose of his job:)
If Summers has proof, fine. Produce it. And do it in open session with the Press there, if the Press has the stone’s to actually be there and do it’s job. This Alien Voter crap has gone on long enough. Maine has a lot more important things to be concerned about than one man’s boogeyman fetish !
I’m not one to say I told you so, but I did. There was absolutely no way they were going to tackle this bill when there is an election coming up in November.
When the article came out about the setting aside the bill, that’s a sign. That means, the repubs want it, but they can’t get it, so they keep it alive by sending it out for study. Of course the study will not be completed until after this session, or even after the election. The republicans are hoping that they will maintain a majority………as if.
And, someone please explain to me how human error and inconsistencies can be remedied by voter identification?
They can’t; but they can address other problems.
Please name them in what you think are the order of their greatest importance ?
Replace LePage is number one.
What other problems? In Maine and Maine only.
It is one thing when Stillrelaxin or I say things like don’t expect to see any Republicans in Augusta after the next election. But when one of the highest ranking Republican Senators, Debra Plowman, questions if Lockstep Charlie Summers will be back after the upcoming election that in itself is saying a lot about how the Republican leadership views the political landscape. Add to that that yesterday we saw the Appropriations committee made up of a Republican majority go against the wishes of a sitting Republican Governor. If that wasn’t enough Senator Rosen, another of the leading Republicans came out and contradicted LePage by saying that the Democrats were not stalling and dragging their feet. To add even more fuel to the fire Committee co-chair Flood another member of the Republican leadership said, “The committee has worked well together on its review of the budget. Any delay on final voting indicates the difficulty of the task at hand, not foot-dragging by either party.” LePage’s own party leaders basically called him a liar. As we get closer to November do not be surprised to see more and more Republicans separating themselves from Paul Richard LePage. They have finally figured out what the rest of us already knew. Paul Richard LePage is with his loud mouthed bullying tactics destroying the Republican party in Maine not just for now, but the foreseeable future as well.
Yes he is!
KEEP UP THE Good job Lepage!
Ha! I’m just waiting for the day when one of these desperate Republicans (No Teas of course) who want to keep their high offices leaves Paul’s office (After being served tea and crackers by Lauren) and Paul walks out to tell the press that all he heard was more “Bull” (Or fill in Paul’s own words here). We and all these “Reasonable Republicans” know he has that in him. The question is, do any of these Republicans have the backbone to look this man in the face and explain to him in simplest terms possible (So that he may understand) the harm he’s doing to himself, his party, Maine citizens, as well as the welfare and reputation of our entire state? I doubt it. Frankly if I were in their shoes I’d either speak up loudly (WAY louder than they have thus far, with no need for anyone to read between any lines) now before it’s too late. Of course another option would be to avoid the whole being screamed at and ridiculed by Paul thing altogether (And save their political positions) by simply switching (If in name only) political parties. At least then they’d stand a chance to still stay in and have influence over governmental decisions. Save yourselves “Reasonable Republicans.” Switch parties now!!!
Everything LePage hears is bull. Of course there is a very good reason for that. The only one he listens to is himself.
We know why you folks want Liberals back in power. So you can keep your freebies stop fooling the people on here. You folks don’t want to work you rather sit home collecting Welfare Checks. You folks want to keep your MaineCare, your EBT cards so you can march to WelfareMart or Hannaford’s everytime to blow it on junkfood, beer, cigarettes, lottery tickets etc.. The fact is bringing Liberals back into power will not do anything postive for this state. They have no interest in creating jobs they all come for them Social Program/Welfare Sector. They want everyone to be on Government handouts with a strict Nanny State where everyone loses their rights and freedoms. They want us to be dependent on them.
Oh DC you had been doing so well in not calling me a liberal. First off I do not nor have I ever received a welfare check. I do not have an EBT card and everything that I buy I buy with my money, money I have earned. If I want to walk into Walmart or Hannaford’s or any other store and spend my money I have every right to spend it on whatever I damn well please. What I do with my money is no one’s business provided that I do not use it for illegal purposes. You claim to know everything and for awhile there you were doing really well, but now you have reverted back to your old hateful self and I have to tell you it isn’t becoming to you at all. It’s supposed to be in the mid 80’s here tomorrow and I will think of you when I am laying on the beach tomorrow afternoon. Keep warm DC.
They do? Wow, and here I have always believed the thoughts you’re presenting here were little more than overused meaningless stereotyped generalizations that don’t actually apply to any human being. I’m a liberal and I’ve never received any of the things you say I have or want, nor do I support any of the things you say someone of my political persuasion should. Either you don’t know what you’re talking about or maybe I just might be a closet Conservative. Nah, who am I trying to kid, I’m a liberal so you know what that means?
Darkcat Do you work in the blain house?
More hyperbolic, stereotypical rants. What did I expect?
Cat you don’t have a clue do you. Most liberals are NOT on welfare, we simply care about our fellow man, the elderly and the poor…a concept your dog eat dog, only-think-of-yourselves side will never understand.
Freebies?
Like the Republican Tax Breaks for A Millionaires Inheritance?
What do you mean? As a proud Liberal (Cap L) I’ve never been on Welfare. Not even a buck from the Unemployment Bureau. Don’t even use my entitlements with the Veterans Medical Care Unit. Never had to use Food Stamps. Can”t use junk food, don’t smoke, just an occasional beer, or, a Scotch and Water, or both. I consider myself lucky. Or, fortunate enough that I don’t have to seek this help. But I’ll not condemn those who do have a genuine need for such help.
While you and your clan spend the majority of your time slapping Liberals (L) and nagging the poor, you just don’t understand that a lot of poor people work harder than others – usually two or three jobs. Food Stamps and Medical Care help many families exist. Not everyone labeled by you as a Liberal(L) sits around in an armchair watching Fox news – God forbid – or pan handling on the street corner.
Romney and Gingrich characterize the rich and wannabee rich attitude which you so flagrantly display by condemning people – Americans – trying to get by the best way they can, with a few crumbs from the government. If a bottle of water is emptied to get a few cents for a Coke – God bless ’em.
darkcat33-you just set the collective IQ of the Republican Party back by 150 points. Not only do you exist without a clue, but you have no clue that you have no clue. The next time I need manure to dress my fields, I’ll ask for your opinion.
DC, the last hope that the Maine GOP had for any type of Reasonable Republican was Bill Cohen. When he left all hope of the Maine GOP staying grounded in real-world based politics left with him. This new wave of screaming Tea Partyer’s, whose only slogan is ‘We want change’ and have no idea as to how to do it, is a sad and tragic reminder that in politics it requires discusion, debate, negotiation and compromise to achieve anything. The current GOP is showing it is anything but ready to do just that. McConnell and the Senate GOP have come out and said it, as political policy and goal, and refused to do anything else, even to the point of letting the Country sink deeper into trouble. And the House GOP is worse. They’ve all but raised the Confederate battle flag and called for the return of the KKK back into American politics. Boehner has shown he’s totally incapable of keeping his own people, namely Cantor, King and McCarthy, under control and move the country forward simply because they are so violently opposed to Obama.
But what’s really sickening is the fact that they are so opposed to him not on policy and politics, but on RACE. And that’s why the GOP, it’s supposed ‘Big Tent’ philosophy notwithstanding, is gonna lose it’s butt come Nov. 12. And they deserve to. The Country requires everyone to contribute their best, not just what ‘some’ decide is valuable. Those ‘Some’ are the major reason the Country is so screwed up. The time to decide is now and sitting on the fence is only going to make whoever wants to keep sitting on the fence a larger target. It makes whatever they say just that much more either silly or stupid. And the Country needs, and deserves, better don’t you think ?
Get a clue!
They are just going thru the motions to make it look thorough.
This legislation is designed to suppress voters in the coming election.
Voters should respond in like.
Vote these fraudulent Republicans out of office every chance that you get!
All in favour say Aye!!!!1
Are you afraid to show an ID. You have to show ID to buy alcohol, ciggy’s, going to the movies, Casinos/Gambling and just about everything else. Why not just say you need a State ID for everything including voting. What is wrong with having a State ID card for voting its no big deal . Paying $5.00 for a ID card is no big deal either. Either mandate ID’s for everything or NO ID’s period.
According to the US Supreme Court, it is a big deal. Having to pay for an ID to vote is considered a poll tax and unconstitutional. Isn’t this state in enough debt without having to hand out FREE ID’s to comply with the US Constitution per said ruling?
I have an ID .
Same as Thomas Jefferson had in 1776!
Its called my Face!
Edit; Opps that comment was meant for Darkcat33
Not afraid to show and ID (but I don’t think it’s necessary for voting). More worried about pervasive misinformation and attitudes of the conservatives.
I have never shown an ID to go to a movie and I don’t drink, smoke or gamble but I am sure that showing your ID for those items/services is to prove you are either 18 years old or 21 years old not to identify yourself by name or home address.
I carry my ID with me everywhere I go,
It’s called my face!
You have to have one in Russia. China doesn’t bother – no one but the imperial power is still sitting. Same in North Korea. IDs were enforced throughout Europe during WWII. Either you produced it when ordered to, or shot.
The Koch brothers have gathered commitments for $100 million to defeat Obama, of which Charles has committed to $40 million and David to $20 million . You want to study election reform? Why not start with the role of money and the Citizens United decision of the Supreme Court?
After all, it is the Koch brothers who are coming up with these idiotic claims of fraudulent votes.
Really? The big, evil Koch Brothers care about voter fraud in Maine? Our four little proportional electoral votes are so dear to them?
The GOP is working to rig ALL elections in their favor NATIONWIDE.
They don’t care about voter fraud. They care about voter suppression and these ID and pre-registration bills are an avenue to accomplish that.
Of course they are. Suppression of voters is obtained through voter ID cards. It kills votes from people who won’t be bothered to pay the fee. Re-districting is an attempt to enlarge the power party’s influence to overcome the opposition.
Amazingly, so many people, especially some of the posters here, cannot permit themselves to realize that this is part of the nationwide attempts by the tea party and Koch brothers to take total control of this country. Le Page follows the national edict along with Scott Walker and other governors pledged to serve the party. The Charter School mandate is yet another attempt to bring all schoolchildren under state control.
The once proud republican party is as blind as those who scream when what is left of the Lost Eight hurl their invective about President Obama and cheer at Perry’s success as the Lord High Executioner of Texas.
”
The data “suggests that a substantial number of noncitizens [over 150] may have registered to vote, and approximately one-third of that number may have actually voted in elections over the past few years,” Summers wrote. “I have turned this information over to the Attorney General for further investigation and to pursue whatever action he deems appropriate.”
This is a case of exactly that got National press ;
World War II Vet Finds Out He Is Not a U.S. Citizen
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/23/world-war-ii-vet-finds-citizen/#ixzz1lNBy5C1U
SEE!!! That’s what Charlie is talking about!!!! This high criminal alien voter must have been part of a sleeper cell to corrupt our sacred voting processes.
Well I am a constitutionalist. I believe in it! And it clearly states the laws our society should be following. Too bad so many have strayed from it.
And the rest of us aren’t?
LOL
Charlie sending them back to do “Busy Work”. They need to get off this dime and chase some rabbits elsewhere!
Ha! Chasing wabbits. Now whenever I see Charlie Summers all I’ll be able to think of is Elmer Fudd. I’m sure Elmer would have more time to chase wabbits if we all vote people like him out of their prized government positions and into an early Florida retirements. Well, assuming that by the time we get to vote Elmer and crew hasn’t devised some other means of preventing us from doing so. Such is life in Maine under the control of Fudds that are duds.
You have to show ID to buy alcohol, tobacco, sometimes when you purchase something with your credit card, at the bank, sometimes at the postoffice for a package. You have to have an ID for almost everything. But to vote which is one of the most important things a person can do to have a voice to represent them and a voice in democracy but you do not have to provide ID! Outrageous. In my opinion it shows that they are willing to allow voter fraud. I could simply go get a list of registered voters go the many districts they are registered in than on the day of election simply say the name on the list and vote many times in multiple districts. There is a video on youtube of a Man in NewHampshire doing just that, just not voting but going saying a name and getting a ballot over and over and over again no one asked for ID and he got the ballot over and over and over again. I say this is proof our voting system is a big FRAUD!!!!
What is the fraud in our democracy is the large, undocumented “contributions” that the politicians recieve from the PACs that determine how they’ll vote.
Than if you suspect that make your voice heard by voting them out! Or by finding proof you can use in our court of law.
Per my other post, confine your so-called “evidence” to Maine
When you use an ID to buy alcohol or cigerettes you are verifying your age not name or place of residence.
If there is a video of a person anywhere doing what you say he did provide a link and then contact that state’s justice department to have that man arrested and charged with voter fraud. Otherwise I am goign to chalk it down as a typical RW slur attempt.
You are of course aware that the producer of the video you mention , Criminal James O’Keefe as well as the actor, are currently under investigation by the NH Attorney General for not only voter fraud but also identity theft. Yes that would be the same Criminal James O’Keefe who was praised by The Grand Wizard and his highly paid political operatives at the Maine Heritage Policy Center and by Paul Richard LePage as well for producing a highly edited video of a Maine DHHS worker doing her job as she was trained to do it. I find it very strange that people who are so very afraid of voter fraud keep citing the works of a known criminal as their source. I , as an American, hope that the day will never come when we hear the phrase “your papers please”, uttered by a government official before we can exercise the most basic of our rights as American citizens, the right to vote. The system has worked here in Maine since 1820 and until someone can actually prove that voter fraud is a problem within our system let’s not fix something that isn’t broken.
Summers, Le Page and the rest of the clan, have no proof of voter fraud as stated by you and the teapublicans in the State of Maine.
It is another disgusting attempt to restrict voting in favor of the ruling party.
Good for the Republicans for taking the lead and rejecting the photo ID bill, but still realizing our system has issues and should be studied. The Democrats all voted against this study because they don’t want anyone looking into the voting system. I think it should be studied after every election to see if there can be more changes to help with efficiency and safety. Again, bravo Republicans for standing up and realizing that the Photo ID bill doesn’t really help anything. And bravo for being smart enough to realize that the election system isn’t perfect and deserves a closer look.
Even with TOTAL CONTROL over both houses and the Governorship, the GOP couldn’t shove a voter ID bill down our throats. Bravo for the people of Maine!
We suffer each day from the threats. But we rule supreme at the ballot box.
Oh My God!
How do we know that those that signed the the Declaration of Independance where who they said they where without a Photo ID?
Have you ever read what happened to many of those who signed that piece of paper? I suggest you do some research and open your eyes. Hint: They didn’t all prosper, nor survive that first war.
I think you’re missing Dlbrt’s obvious point.
You are very much mistaken in regards to fate of the signors of the Declaration of Independence.
Your version:
“Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?
Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.
Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.
Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.
They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they?….”
But this is considered the traditional not historical version.
http://www.constitution.org/bio/fate_of_signers.htm Says so on teh very webpage I copied the above text from.
If you want the historical version…
Try here…. http://www.snopes.com/history/american/pricepaid.asp
Very good, Einstein. You know how to do an Internet search. However, I didn’t cite any source. Next time, don’t try and link someone to something they didn’t cite. I think if you read through the Snopes article, my hint fits.
You implied that the signers of the Declaration of Independence suffered as a result of signing it. I pointed out that fact that they fared no better or worse then everyone else that fought in the Revolutionary War.
I just happened to use a link to show where most people who claim that the original signers suffered because of their signing of the Declaration of Independence and a link that disproved what one of those nice little RW propaganda e-mails said about a historical that is untrue.
What does that have to do with voter id? BTW, the original Declaration was signed by only two men: Charles Thomson (an irishman) who was the secretary of the Continental Congress, and John Hancock who was it’s President. Both did quite well.
The 56 that signed after printing were the delegates to the Continental Congress, and not all hit homeruns, how could you expect more?
How would anybody really know what happened to them?
They didn’t have a photo ID!
LOL
They will study it and find some reason to make another law so they will have more power and spend more money, tax money. They are big spenders. Maybe a new law called “make a law, take a law”; meaning for every law they make one law must be taken from the books; maybe have a limit for all laws, a “sunset”, its like term limits for lawmakers only it is for laws; why not? It would stop the indescriminate growth of this government which results in the loss of freedom and liberty. All of their laws restrict people in some form, why should this be endless? Why can’t we limit the laws? This would limit the spending and give taxpayers more control of the government. This would make Maine more of a Republic of Maine.
This is nothing more than a personal vendetta from LePage and his buddies. The people before politics have spoken and told you to drop this crap and get on with more important business.
The state is in a disaterous mess so get to work on the real issues.
Please… my goodness…. a “study”? And how much time and money will be wasted on this.
Town clerks making clerical errors is not a call to waste time and energy on a study…..
If there were no pressing problems for the legislature to address I could see fine tuning this process, but as there does not appear to be any real problem, what are they doing?
If this study group is all GOP then it will certainly be a waste of time, as they will just agree with each other and come up with some lame legislation like the Same Day issue. Make that studt group 50/50 and see if they get to a second meeting.
Seems to me that this study is just a way to save face and prove to the national bosses they are still towing the line?
Keep it up, Charlie…this is just the kind of crap that will get you Tea Freaks run out of office !
Charlie Summers is the real snake in all of this.
The ALEC agenda rolls on.
Seems like at least a pothole or small roadblock … (thank goodeness!)
What kind of lies and tea party hoo-haw will this “study” produce?
Don’t we have better things to do in Disgusta?
dishpicable
yessah
Why are the Democrats so scared of this bill? do they think that the BS that has been going on in this State will go away so they can steal more elections? Every person should have to have an ID to vote. Hell you need one to drive, one to prove you’re 21 to drink and one to prove you can smoke! What the hell is wrong with this State!
Note that even thinking Republicans had their doubts.
Which of those three activities are constitutionally guaranteed activities?
Election stealing is what Republicans do. Jamming phone lines, illegal use of campaign funds, trying to rig elections in their favor by disenfranchising segments of voters.
oh really? are you for or against the id program?
of course not. It’s only being suggested because GOP national leaders/campaign contributors see it as a way to cut down on dem voters in order to rig future elections in their favor.
Bull crap!
Voter suppression is GOP Job 1
They cannot win elections the old fashioned way – so they put every road block they can in the way of The People’s right to vote.
The GOP hates democracy
yessah
So you’re ok with an illegal voting?
It is not a problem here in Maine
No matter what Chief Clown Charlie Webster says.
And Voter ID would prevent many people from voting.
yessah
why would it prevent? if you’re a maine resident and a legal one, what the hell is the problem? you liberals need to wake the hell up!
The National Order as envisioned by the Koch Brothers, Rupert Murdoch and the teapublicans is a Plutocracy. A small, one party-controlled Politburo-styled clan totally dictatorial, and solely for the benefit of the rich. We are almost there now.
Evidence of steps to reach this goal are being tested in several states. Maine, having a teaparty-controlled governor is pushing for all kinds of voter suppression. Fortunately, our right to vote has not be taken annulled and we successfully killed the tea party bill restricting non-registered voters to vote on Election Day. The Prussian styled ID card bunk will also get shot down if the Augusta Bubble fails to completely kill it. State controlled schools is another goal. Censorship has already succeeded by the removal of the Labor Mural. Tea party people are anti-labor.
Democrats, Liberals, Independents can see this as another teapublican attempt to suppress voters. Their other attempt to stop registration on voting day was killed by Democrats, Liberals, Indendents and some Republicans.
We will do the same if this idea ever gets passed by the teapublican camp in Augusta.
Kudos, LVLAC, wise move. Let’s hope the study doesn’t cost too much money since “we’re so broke”. Rep. Damon: how are you so sure that your constituents want voter ID?
As for election of constutional officers by the Legislature, I find that strange. Every other state I’ve lived in (total of 5 others) popularly elects the Sec. of State, Treasurer, etc.
Thanks to the BDN for keeping up to date on the daily warnings and threats out of the Augusta Politburo.
In Moscow I know I’d have to have an ID card to vote, as well as a Graduation Certificate from a state run Charter School. Also aware that voting districts will be re-organized to enable the controlling party total control of the state.
Fortunately, the tea party mandate has not been allowed to take total control of the state as yet. By referendum we defeated the Le-Page- Summers attempt to exclude voter registration on election day. We are ready to sink Summers’s ID card edict, too.
Parents should kick out the Charter School plan that would remove children from a choice of schools to only those mandated by the state.
Two years and 11 months remaining. By rallying around the Voting Box come November, we might be able to make the remaining three years a lot easier on all of us.
“…may have registered…”, “…may have actually voted…” May have, may have. Another political tempest in a teapot.
…
To clear up a few points,George Soros has more influence in political circuits than the Koch brothers, by far,that is far and away more money invested in the Socialist/Democrats,and
Obumma in particular. The last election was run on a Chicago platform,where cheating is
a refined art using busloads of union members going from poll site to poll site. We have to refine the system to discourage cheats, less we all doubt the worth of our vote. Voter ID is a start.
Oh, and that governor that we all elected? you may disagree with his methods and manners,
but he is a breath of fresh air, and real.
More GOP Fairy Tales.
Charlie Webster failed to find The Monster Under the Bed – but some folks still believe in it.
yawn
Of course another secretary of state, Republican Charlie White of Indiana, was today convicted of SIX COUNTS OF VOTE FRAUD. Something about those Charlies…
Here is the profile for the real nature of voter fraud in America.
Indiana Secretary of State Guilty of Voter Fraud
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The top elections official in Indiana was convicted of multiple charges in a voter fraud case on Saturday, bringing uncertainty to one of the state’s most powerful offices.
A Hamilton County jury found Charlie White, the Indiana secretary of state, guilty of six of seven felony charges: two counts of perjury and one each of false registration, voting in another precinct, submitting a false ballot and theft.
… It was not immediately clear what would happen in the state office. Mr. White has resisted calls to resign by Democrats and fellow Republicans, including Gov. Mitch Daniels, but state law bars anyone convicted of a felony from remaining in office.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/us/indiana-secretary-of-state-convicted-in-voter-fraud-case.html?ref=us
The new face of voter fraud, its new the poster boy, is named Charlie, too.
We have too many RINO’S in our legislature–unwilling to stand for anything that really matters and too willing to compromise their so-called convictions. Ever wonder why Debra Plowman’s bills on life issues made no headway? She was willing to compromise and support Steve Abbott in the gubernatorial election, as did Andre Cushing and Carol Weston and others–all having stated the “pro-life” position, but thinking that LePage could not win– while Abbott is adamantly pro-abortion. If one can not be trusted to stand up for life no matter what, then he/she can not be trusted in other areas.
We need the voter ID to keep elections truly honest, but it will not happen as long as the liberals have the dead and out of staters on their rolls.
There is no way the R’s want the citizens referendum that would come with this legislation on the same ballot as their names… pussies are they!!!
It’s only a matter of fact. These people are no different than we are, they want to help and their intentions are always honorable, but yet things get out of control. Anybody commenting or posting should try to put up with what these people are putting up with. You can say that they asked for it, but I’ll tell you what, it’s not what they expect, nor anything that can be anticipated. I’ve seen them cry, I’ve seen them lose it……I’ve also seen them die, right at their desk, these people believe, we should too. The honorable gentlemen that colllapsed, due to a heart attack was attended to by a democratic EMT, he was REALLY affected by that. That person is still at the legislature, and I know that he will always remember that.
My point is this; the people that serve are doing so, not for the money because it’s not that great. They do so out of their independent need and experiences and they do well.
Most of us would agree that who we elect to be our leaders is of critical importance to the country.
By logical deduction, we should also agree that the voting process is therefore critical also.
Why would it not be correct to have those who are about to vote present ID to ensure they are who they are supposed to be?
Geez, to get into a bar people have to show ID and they don’t think it is an infringement on their rights. Credit card check: show ID. Senior citizen rate: show ID.
Our politicians can’t even agree on a process that elects them. A process that is ripe with error, deceit and fraud. Absentee ballots lost or not counted. Hanging chads. Machines that don’t work. And, in this modern day and age paper ballots thrown in a box.
When you sit and really think about it its a shame dead people get to vote.
And some of them more than once.
It gets easier every year for someone….or some party…..to steal an election.
Voter ID would help eliminate some of the dirt that is dished out on election days.
moved.