Minnesota Majority - Standing Together for Traditional Values

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Posted by: Dan McGrath	10/17/2008
Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie held a press conference at the Capitol today to attempt to answer some of the questions raised by Minnesota Majority about the integrity of the voter registration file. He was joined by several county election officials who stood united in the message that Minnesota’s election system is unblemished. While some of the questions raised by Minnesota Majority’s research were addressed, not all were adequately answered by the Secretary of State. He did indicate that new procedures are being put in place to better safeguard the integrity of the election system. Election officials from several counties claimed that they have had few or no issues with questionable registrations. In case of a suspect registration, election officials are supposed to refer the registration to the county attorneys for investigation. Ramsey County has referred a total of 16 suspect registrations in recent months. The other county officials claimed either 1 such referral, or none. It was suggested that some of the suspect voter registrations may have come from ACORN. On the large number of voters found in the system who were over 100 years of age, Ritchie explained that before 1984, birth dates weren’t required to register to vote and that an arbitrary birth date was assigned to any voters without one listed in the records. He says the year chosen was 1900. Questions remain unanswered about the large number of registrations claiming either unoccupied or nonexistent addresses. Ritchie alluded to the possibility that some of this could be explained by homelessness, or by new developments not showing up in the United States Postal Service yet. Minnesota Majority’s analysis of the data is ongoing.

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Re: Secretary of State Mark Ritchie Addresses Voter Record Concerns	By Jennette Gudgel on 10/19/2008
As a head election judge I can't figure our why we don't use a picture identification for voting. We use our identification to cash checks, etc. Actually, my precinct is in a residential area and the other elections judges tend to know all the voters by name. However, what about the precincts that have large numbers of college students and halfway houses?

Re: Secretary of State Mark Ritchie Addresses Voter Record Concerns

By Cynic Thatiam on 10/19/2008

"On the large number of voters found in the system who were over 100 years of age, Ritchie explained that before 1984, birth dates weren’t required to register to vote and that an arbitrary birth date was assigned to any voters without one listed in the records. He says the year chosen was 1908."

Arbitrary birth dates? Why? If unknown, they should either remain unknown or the correct dates sought. Inserting arbitrary birth dates is falsification of data. How is a person supposed to trust a government agency that does that? I think the SOS might need some public oversight.

Re: Secretary of State Mark Ritchie Addresses Voter Record Concerns

By Barb on 10/19/2008

The faces in the picture look shameful like "oops we're busted."

It's highly suspicious that everywhere but Minnesota is having problems with voter registration fraud through government taxpayer-funded Acorn. MN indicates their sophisticated process to avoid fraud and yet they say they will put new procedures in place? Sounds like a cover-up. And why should one Acorn facility operate any different then another? ESPECIALLY WITH ACORN'S HISTORY OF FRAUD??!!! And how can we believe anything honest such as a government run "Acorn" when every other part of the government spending continues to lie to us? And especially when one presidential candidate paid over $800,000? And where the workers of "Acorn" target preferentially with bribes and at shopping malls, influencing people to vote for the one presidential candidate? The workers go to shopping malls? How can poor people afford to go to shopping malls but aren't bright enough to register to vote on their own?

This program is corrupt and not needed. Let the people choose to do for themselves. And how is it there is such a high volume of 1st time registrants every single election year? Doesn't add up. We are sick of paying the price of incompetence and ignorance at anytime, but this election we are voting for a leader of democracy or a leader of socialism. Independence or big government. Freedom or big government. What's even more of a slap in the face is the supreme court judge in Ohio, allowing the fraudulent registrations to go through. It's very scary we have authoritative leaders of America who do seem to want to destroy every basic principle founded in this country when our expectations have always been for government to stand for American principles.

Re: Secretary of State Mark Ritchie Addresses Voter Record Concerns	By dan.mcgrath on 10/19/2008
I'm trying to figure out how they verified a person was legally eligible to vote if they didn't ask for a date of birth... There's a minimum age to vote. Very strange.

Re: Secretary of State Mark Ritchie Addresses Voter Record Concerns	By Thomas Jefferson on 10/25/2008
Mark, You had better get your act together sport! You are being watched... very carefully. So is the Swanson - Hatch team.

Re: Secretary of State Mark Ritchie Addresses Voter Record Concerns	By carol on 11/3/2008
Traditional Values? Voter intimidation? Those are not my values and I hope the REAL majority of Minnesotans are not fooled by your right wing tactics.

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