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Posted by: Dan McGrath

11/17/2008

Press Conference: Citizens Demand Election Integrity Reforms 8:30

A review of Minnesota’s voter registration rolls prior to this year’s election revealed a number of irregularities. Minnesota Majority requested the Secretary of State and officials in 30 different counties to conduct investigations into these irregularities. Authorities have thus far been largely unresponsive or dismissive, prompting Minnesota Majority to continue its independent investigation and to file a formal complaint with the US Attorney’s office. The complaint cites a number of provisions under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) that require the Secretary of State to perform certain voter registration verifications on a regular basis. It appears that Secretary Ritchie has failed to perform these verifications.

Minnesota Majority’s investigation into irregularities in the voter registration list maintained by the Secretary of State’s office revealed situations strikingly similar to recent discoveries in Wisconsin. An investigation by a joint taskforce comprised of the US Attorney, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Milwaukee County Attorney and the Milwaukee Police Department revealed election system issues that could very well be occurring in Minnesota. Their discoveries included widespread recordkeeping failures, suspected double voting, fraudulent voter registrations, felons voting or registering to vote, vote counts in excess of the number of registered voters in the county and other problems. Wisconsin law enforcement agencies have turned-up the same sort of evidence in their investigations as Minnesota Majority has raised questions about in Minnesota’s voter rolls. Minnesota election officials and law enforcement seem to be turning a blind eye to these issues, however.

Minnesota Majority is seeking additional information about the voter files and practices of election officials from the Secretary of State and several county auditors under Minnesota’s Data Practices Act. Examples of the information being requested include voter verification postcards returned by the postal service as being “undeliverable”, voters registered by “vouching” and voters flagged by the Secretary of State to be “challenged” at the polls prior to casting their ballot. Cross-referencing this information with other data Minnesota Majority has compiled will enable a deeper understanding of the irregularities, and the data handling practices of the Secretary of State and other election officials.

A citizen’s petition has been created to call public attention to the problem and allow voters to weigh-in on the issue with their elected officials. The petition, which can be signed online at ElectionIntegrityPetition.com, calls upon elected officials to enact changes in Minnesota’s laws to require voters to present government-issued photo ID before receiving a ballot; require the Secretary of State to employ specific prescribed data verification techniques that ensure the integrity of Minnesota’s voter rolls; flag voter registrations that fail to meet specific standards for accuracy and completeness; establish an annual independent audit of the voter registration lists; and require voters to register at least 30 days prior to an election so that all voters can be certified as legally qualified to vote before casting a ballot. Concerned citizens Lt. Col. Joe Repya, Rene Ramirez and Yoman Brunson spoke in support of the petition effort at a press conference today. About a dozen other citizens turned out to protest the Secretary of State’s apparent inaction on election integrity issues.

TAKE ACTION: Sign the Election Integrity Petition and instantly send a message to your elected officials.

TAKE ACTION: Write a Letter to the Editor in Support of Voter ID and other election reforms.

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Comments (11) Add Comment

Re: Election Integrity Should be a Priotity	By True Patriot on 11/17/2008
This idea to keep people from voting is unamerican and against democracy prinicples. Your group should be ashamed of themselves.

Re: Election Integrity Should be a Priotity	By Arthur Overtorque on 11/17/2008
What are laws for if they can be disobeyed without consequence? Why are we electing officials who deliberately defy the laws they swore to uphold? Didn't we demand Nixon's resignation because he thought he was above the law? Ritchie Resign!

Re: Election Integrity Should be a Priotity

By Painter' on 11/18/2008

Any person/group who advocates against a system that would verify each vote to ensure every vote counts equally must experience personal gain from the current system. It’s not a backroom secret anymore that the massive amounts of illegal voter registration around the country benefits one party's policies and philosophy. The misleading descriptions about how this would take away the right to vote is beyond the pale of reckless propaganda. It is clear that regardless of race and economic status, the need to protect each citizen’s vote under a law that treats every vote equally is well past due. The only way we can protect the right to vote is that we ensure through a solid verifiable system each vote cast is done lawfully.

re True Patriot.	By Arthur Overtorque on 11/18/2008
Keeping me from voting more than once is suppressing the vote? Keeping my minor children from voting is suppressing the vote? Keeping non-citizens from voting in US elections is suppressing the vote? Disallowing me to vote for my poor deceased grandmother is suppressing her vote? Enforcing existing law is suppressing the vote?

Re: Election Integrity Should be a Priotity	By Barb on 11/20/2008
For a citizen to vote is FREEDOM OF CHOICE, True Patriot. Who's stopping you? If abiding by the rules is too complicated for you, then your vote isn't necessary. Rules are necessary under civil law and civic duty.

Re: Election Integrity Should be a Priotity	By Papa Hans on 11/21/2008
Minnesota is not some red-state dump. There is not, and will not be, one proven example of any voter fraud in this election. Another red-herring load of horse-apples from the party that has nothing to offer us. Thank God we dodged a bullet this November.

Re: Election Integrity Should be a Priority

By Grandma Marge on 12/4/2008

For years as election judge I asked the question, "How can we be sure that people who register the same day as they vote are really who they say they are or that they are not voting in more than one place or that they are actual citizens of the United States?" I was told that they're signing the form and if they are lying they can serve time. My question to that is, "If we allow them to vote without checking any of their statements, we can't take back their vote for whichever candidate they voted. It isn't right!" What do YOU think? It seems much better to register at least 30 days before and come in with a picture identification!

Re: Election Integrity Should be a Priotity	By Brewster on 12/4/2008
Overtorque, you people go to the county auditors and demand the voter registration lists and then have the balls to ask them to waive the data practice fees? Bull

Re: Election Integrity Should be a Priotity	By Denise on 12/8/2008
Yes, change the Voter ID law!! That will take care of this! With all the illegals in Minn, I am sure the Dems would love to include them all! And I am a lifelong Dem!!! I just believe in enforcing the law!

Re: Election Integrity Should be a Priority	By SRM on 12/17/2008
Denise, Thank you. It's nice to see a Dem on here who believes in enforcing the law. Most Dem responses I've seen on this issue are calling conservatives 'sore losers'. It shouldn't be a Dem/Repub issue, but a voter issue, no matter what side one is on.

Re: Election Integrity Should be a Priotity

By Lewis & Marilyn Sampson on 12/17/2008

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