Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch Message Board

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (60819)	10/15/2004 9:24:57 AM
From: Wharf Rat	Read Replies (1) of 89467

Nader blocked from Ohio ballot Federal judge cites widespread fraud in gathering of state petitions. Florida agency under scrutiny over falsification of some signatures By Stephen Dyer Beacon Journal staff writer A federal judge in Columbus refused Tuesday to place independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader on the Ohio ballot because the campaign's petition circulators committed ``widespread'' and ``substantial'' fraud. The same Florida company -- JSM Inc. -- that paid its workers by the signature to get Nader on the ballot also was hired to gather the signatures to put an anti-gay marriage initiative on the ballot. Several signatures gathered in Summit County for the issue have turned out to be forgeries. Summit County residents can check to see if they were counted as signing the petition at hogan.ohio.com. The Summit County Sheriff's Office is conducting a criminal investigation into the Summit County forgeries, which Board of Elections officials believe resulted from one circulator. In his opinion, U.S. Judge Edmund Sargus declined to address the issue of whether a state law requiring collectors to be registered Ohio voters and state residents is a constitutional violation of free-speech rights because Nader ``failed to meet a threshold requirement for this Court to even consider the constitutional issue.'' Namely, Sargus ruled that ``the magnitude of the fraud (committed by the circulators is) far too great for this court to consider granting... in the plaintiffs' favor.'' Nader argued the law violates the constitutional rights of registered voters who signed the petitions but whose names were discarded because the petition collector didn't live in the state. Nader's campaign couldn't be reached for comment. Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell ruled last month that Nader failed to collect the 5,000 signatures needed to appear on the ballot after forged signatures and petitions circulated by non-Ohioans left Nader short. The officer who heard the testimony in the case recommended a criminal investigation of the circulators be started. However, Blackwell's office has yet to start one. ohio.com

Report TOU Violation

Share This Post

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next