MD dems rigging the next election
Onward we move: Ignoring the recommendations of a bipartisan commission tasked with studying proposed election law changes, the Democrat-led General Assembly overrode Governor Ehrlich’s veto on early voting, absentee balloting on demand and provisional ballots. The commission was a true bipartisan commission made up of the former wife of Parris Glendening and the Prince George’s County Board of Elections Administrator, among other election specialists. The Legislature also ignored pleas from the state and counties’ Boards of Elections, who said there was no way they could institute these laws in time for the November election, nor could they guarantee the integrity of one’s vote, to pass these dangerous measures. But unfortunately for us, they are now the law in Maryland, even if they cannot be instituted safely or with integrity.
Early voting: Early voting will bring to our state 6 fun-filled days of voting. Not concerned with the fact that people aren’t voting because they do not feel a vested part of the process (shocking here isn’t it?), the majority party voted to override the Governor. As a result, in “select” precincts, polls will be open for five days before Election Day. The “select” precincts will most assuredly be in Democratic strongholds like Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties and Baltimore City. The precincts will have to hire staff and have available election judges for those five days plus Election Day itself (while also having someone mind the story so the machines aren’t tampered with overnight). Additionally there is no written plan on how to execute early voting. A national expert on early voting testified before the commission that early voting, despite the rationale given by the Democratic Party leadership to the public, DOES NOT increase voter turnout. Also early voting requires an accurate statewide voter roll. The commission recommended an audit of the state’s registered voter list. To date, the State Board of Election has failed to perform the recommended audit. Without the audit, our system will be wide open for fraud. The Maryland Association of Election Officials strongly recommended against instituting early voting as well, reasoning that there was not enough time to put this in place. Pish, posh, said the Democratic Party members who voted for it.
Absentee ballots on demand: Absentee ballots, prior to this year’s override, were provided when the registered voter would be either out of their home county on Election Day, unable to vote because of disability, accident or illness, death of an immediate family member, voter is a full-time student outside of their home county or are employed by the state or local Board of Election. These were the specific requirements to qualify to vote by absentee. But that has now changed. Because of their quest for power, the Democratic members of the General Assembly voted to allow absentee ballots on demand, with the voter only having to cite that they “may” meet any of the former requirements. Maryland is now the “no excuse” state! The Democratic leadership should be so proud that someone can now cast an absentee ballot, say because they’re not going to be feeling well the entire week before Election Day (remember, we’ll have early voting, too), and if by miracle of miracles, they feel better, they could also potentially vote in person as well. This scenario is entirely possibly with these laws in place. And with no paper trail available for the Diebold machines the state’s use, it’s almost certain to occur. Paper trail for voting machines unlikely this year The commission’s report stated, “Most instances of voter fraud have occurred through the mail than at the polling place.” (Governor’s Commission on the Administration of Elections, January 9, 2006)
Absentee ballots on demand invites greater fraud into our electoral system.
Provisional ballots: Former law in the state said that when a person’s identity at the polls was questioned, they could vote by provisional ballot only. The new law says that a person could defeat any challenge to their identity by presenting either a social security card, voter registration card, driver’s license, government ID, or a current bill. If you’ll notice, only two of the documents listed have an actual photo on them. Therefore if someone decides to “borrow” someone else’s electric bill, they could go to a polling place and vote as that person AND BE ALLOWED TO DO SO. The Democratic leaders pushing this legislation said that this removes voter intimidation tactics. In fact, it makes a fraudulent voter unassailable. Another effect of this law is that a provisional ballot can now be cast anywhere in the state, not only in the voter’s home county as previously required. So the fraudulent voter doesn’t have to go to the home precinct anymore and deal with someone recognizing that they are not who they say. They can go across the state and lawfully vote. And counties’ Boards of Elections do not check with each other when verifying a voter’s identity. They only check with the state Board. A person can easily cast a fraudulent vote with this legislation that is now law. Because voter rolls are not updated regularly and therefore, verification of the voter’s identity is difficult to obtain, the commission urged that this legislation not become law. Again, the commissions recommendations were rejected by the Democrats in the legislature in favor of upping the opportunity to stuff the ballot box. It’s important to note that no other state has ever made such drastic changes in their electoral system so rapidly in the history of the nation.
Welcome to election law changes 2006! We hope you feel as confident in these laws as we, the commission and the state and counties’ Boards of Elections. Vote early, vote often has superseded the principle of one man, one vote or one woman, one vote. The desperation of the out-of-touch left has shown itself prominently in what is now the law of the land for the Free State. The integrity of our process will now be a distant memory and election fraud came cheap for the members who voted on these overrides.
As an addendum, there is an article in Thursday’s Wall Street Journal which discusses all these election law changes and the disastrous results they will have on Maryland. To read the article, click here: Vote Early--and Often.
The sad reality is that the liberal-led General Assembly has the votes to pass any bad measure they want without impunity. If these measures provide the returns they so desperately want, they’re margins will only grow in Annapolis and in your voting districts. That is why we have to come together, support all of our Republican candidates up and down the ballot, and ignore the rhetoric the other side will offer in defense of these indefensible partisan politics. We have to make our friends, neighbors, co-workers and families aware of what is going on in Annapolis so that when these legislators go back to their home districts to sell themselves to you for your vote, you are armed with information. Actions speak much louder than words. Vote them out in November! Support our Republican candidates, both financially and with your time. This is how we ensure that these shenanigans end and the taxpayers of Maryland get a positive return on their tax dollars.
Please forward this to everyone you know! This is valuable and important information that we have a responsibility to share.
One more thing, an article about coordination between the Democratic leadership and the state Board of Elections. GOP senators criticize election board employee - baltimoresun.com
Have a great weekend. |
