Hurry, grab your video camera and get to South Dakota, LOL.
"GOP accepts resignations over absentee balloting
Associated Press
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Six people connected with the South Dakota Republican Party have resigned amid questions about absentee ballot applications being filled out on some college campuses.
Among the six is Larry Russell, who sought the party's nomination for the special U.S. House election in June and most recently directed the GOP's get out the vote program.
Questions have been raised whether some absentee ballot requests were signed by the student in the presence of the notary public whose seal was affixed to the request.
"The South Dakota Republican Party has a zero tolerance policy regarding such matters, and on Friday and Saturday of last week accepted the resignations of the four independent contractors who were involved in the handling of absentee ballot requests," GOP Executive Director Jason Glodt said in a prepared statement.
The four were identified as Joe Alick, Nathan Mertz, Todd Schlekeway and Rachel Hoff. Eric Fahrendorf, a party employee, also resigned.
The GOP said it believes students who filled out the applications should be able to vote.
"It is our understanding that because all of the information submitted by the voters is true and correct, all of the ballots will be counted. We are taking additional steps to ensure that each of these legitimate requests are counted," Glodt said.
Russell, who headed the Republican Victory operation, will be replaced by Herb Jones, manager of John Thune's 2002 Senate bid, according to Randy Frederick, South Dakota Republican Party chairman.
Several students on various campuses have questioned the absentee ballot application process, saying young men secured their applications, and no women witnessed their signatures, yet the notarization of the documents was signed by a woman.
The questions surround technical provisions of a state law that permits voters to request an absentee ballot with a copy of their photo identification or by providing a notarized application, Frederick said."
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Information from: Argus Leader, argusleader.com |
