Opinion : Letter to the Editor - The Legal System Does Work.

By Rosemary Schwartz · August 31, 2012, 7:16 pm

For fear of opening this over commented topic of voting suppression again, I just want the readers of Vinton Today to know that this week in three separate states with judges appointed by Republican as well as Democratic Presidents have ruled for open access to elections, stopping the removal of names from the voter rolls, and stopping the requirement of rigid voter ID. In Florida, the arbitrary removal of voters has been stopped. In two rulings in Texas, one that threw out their redistricting plan because it was deemed that the lines drawn by Republicans discriminated against minorities, and also threw out Texas rigid voter ID law. Finally on Friday, a federal court restored Ohio’s early voting opportunities to include the three days before the election. That attempt by Ohio’s Republican Secretary of State was viewed as a move to unfairly limit access to voting.

Those who have proclaimed their concern for the American government, processes, and voting integrity should be glad to know that when these attempts to stifle voting are when viewed with the eyes of justice and the law that the system does work. Attempts by ALEC and Republicans to limit voting have finally been thwarted by the law. It is a good day for America.

Next Opinion Article
Letter to the Editor - Local officers thanked

Previous Opinion Article
Letter to the Editor: Two near misses within 5 minutes at C/13th

Comments

Submit a Comment

JH August 31, 2012, 10:34 pm Finally the law prevails and the judges uphold the constitution. We are a society of free people with the right to choose those who would represent us in our government.

JW September 3, 2012, 2:45 pm I too am glad to see the law is being upheld. Now if the law preventing people who are not eligible to vote would also be upheld we can all be happy.

BG September 3, 2012, 7:16 pm Not sure why the removal of dead and illegal voters is such a problem? The Voter Integrity Project of NC found almost 30,000 dead voter on the current voter rolls (http://voterintegrityproject.com/nearly-30000-dead-voters-found-on-nc-election-rolls/). They cross-referenced names/birthdates/addresses to verify their information.
Also, why aren\'t you opposing the Democrats for \'suppressing the rights of voters\' by requiring photo ID to attend the Democrat\'s National Convention? Isn\'t that suppressing the poor/disabled/minorities/whoever else is supposedly threatened by requiring photo ID to vote? (http://charlottein2012.com/security/)

AV September 3, 2012, 11:23 pm I read the Voter Integrity Project\'s website. I think it is worth pointing out that they do state in the document that their findings \"may\" indicate voter fraud--this wording does give them some leeway in interpretation, and is slightly different that what their headline, and a prior post, states. The document also states that North Carolina has 6,300,000 registered voters, and using software the VIP group designed (methodology not explained) they identified 30,000 cases that they feel need closer scrutiny--this divides out to .48% of their registered voters, or just under one-half of one percent. This could impact the election, but I would think that if the election in NC was that close in November then neither Mr. Romney nor Mr. Obama did a good job convincing North Carolina\'s swing voters.

RS September 4, 2012, 11:13 am Alex,
You forgot one thing in your calculation. Taking that figure of 30,000 or .48% of the voters that is only if all 30,000 vote, which is probably not likely be because dispite the hysteria around all of this, I am sure part or most are truly dead and no one will be voting for them. Given the fact that less that 50% of the registered voters actually vote, the so-called \"problem\" gets even smaller. If you take in account the ones that will truly vote illegally the percentage is much smaller still. I have no way of knowing what percentage of those 30,000 will actually vote illegally but the real numbers are likely much smaller tht .48%. And as you say if the election in NC is that close both candidates will have failed to do their jobs. This goes back to the main premise that illegal voting does not play a significant part in the election.
And Bethany--when both Republican and Democratic judges in 3 states smell something rotten in this planned exercise of voter suppression, why do you keep trying to defend it? The Republican operatives and ALEC have been shown in the light of the law of doing wrong. Accept it.

JW September 4, 2012, 9:57 pm Rosemary, by your own numbers, why is it a problem to clear 30,000 names of dead and illegal voters off the rolls when less than 50% will actually vote(unless they are in Chicago where all the dead people vote and vote often) so they would only be removing at best 15,000 voters from the rolls. Add in the fact that some states allow you to register to vote on election day at the polling place and the remaining few that were once removed could still vote. Problem solved, no one is prevented from voting. Unless they are dead or illegal of course.

DS September 5, 2012, 12:25 pm Early in American history only US Citizens that owned land could vote. The courts upheld those laws many times. Things would be much simpler today if we voted that way but that truly is unfair to all the other US Citizens. Unfortunately the courts and laws have swung too far to the left. Fairness now suffers under oppression through Social Justice instead of discrimination. Our situation is no better off.

DS September 11, 2012, 8:56 am Voting in two states prompts Dem. candidate to quit race.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-wendy-rosen-withdraws-20120910,0,3764352.story

DS September 14, 2012, 10:51 pm 1200 Illegal aliens registered to vote in Iowa.
http://www.kcci.com/news/central-iowa/Judge-blocks-Iowa-plan-challenging-voters/-/9357080/16610340/-/wn1hry/-/index.html

RS September 15, 2012, 5:39 pm Dick, You need to get your facts straight, even Schultz is not claiming factually there are 1200 illegal voting. He said \"may\". Again when faced with the law these attempts are being struck down. I am sure you or some will say it is those activist judges again. But it seems like blaming the judges for do their jobs and following the law is only considered a bad thing when those judges rule against idealogues and follows the law instead.

RS September 18, 2012, 4:10 pm Dick and all others who believe in Republican propaganda. Here it is again. The Pennslyvania Supreme Court has sent the restrictive voter ID back to the state court to prove by Oct. 2 that voter ID would not be burdensome on voters who do not have the requisite ID. In PA someone has to have a birth certificate with a raised seal, a social security card and two other forms of indentification showing current residence to obtain a photo ID. The PA Supreme Court must think that is excessive to send it back to the state court to prove that it is not burdensome. Again and again when these Republican and ALEC laws are passed--fair minded courts are striking them down. How many of these laws have been overturned before those clamoring for these restrictive laws realize that something is wrong? The courts are seeing this for what it is--a blatant attempt to suppress the vote to throw the election to Mr. 47% who thinks that all of us supporting the President are lazy moochers on the public dole. My paycheck deductions, sale taxes, property taxes show otherwise. We don\'t know what Romney pays because he will not release his taxes. What is he hiding?

thttp://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/18/13942208-pa-high-court-sends-voter-id-law-back-to-lower-court-for-review?lite#__utma=238145375.1888520513.1344521764.1347890842.1347996888.86&__utmb=238145375.4.10.1347996888&__utmc=238145375&__utmx=-&__utmz=238145375.1347996888.86.78.utmcsr=firstread.nbcnews.com|utmccn=(referral)|utmcmd=referral|utmcct=/_news/2012/09/18/13941205-nbcwsj-poll-optimism-in-obama-presidency-increases&__utmv=238145375.|8=Earned%20By=msnbc%7Cpolitics%7Cpolitics=1^12=Landing%20Content=Mixed=1^13=Landing%20Hostname=www.msnbc.msn.com=1^30=Visit%20Type%20to%20Content=Internal%20to%20Mixed=1&__utmk=264856140

PM September 18, 2012, 11:27 pm Rosemary,
Romney HAS released his taxes, I think the law required 2 years of them and he did...now how long did it take Obama to release his birth certificate????? Neither are required to give any more information, if you weren\'t listening to your guys commercials, you\'d KNOW that!

RS September 19, 2012, 11:03 am Patty,

He has released only 2010 complete taxes and a partial 2011. We will not see the 2011 complete until after the election if then. His father released 20 or so years taxes saying that one or two years is not enough to get a clear picture. Romney required Ryan to provide 10 years of taxes before announcing him as a running mate. McCain required Romney to provide 10 years of tax returns while he was being vetted for VP in 2008 and after reviewing them picked Palin. Most candidates release alot more than 1 and a partial. It doesn\'t take a CPA to figure out why Romney is not transparent. He has made a calculation that what is in those taxes is far more damaging than being harangued for them. The Romney\'s do not want the American people to know how much money they have made, how little taxes they have paid, and how many off shore accounts they have to avoid paying taxes. If you follow the news and not just Faux News YOU would know all of this. By the way Patty, no comment on the courts all over the country overturning the restrictive voter suppression laws that you championed? What can\'t make the case anymore that this effort is as innocuous as you and others have claimed?

RS September 19, 2012, 11:09 am BTW--For all you deniers go back to one of my earlier articles Real Voter... for two added responses, one from Texas who explains what is going on there for another perspective.

DS September 21, 2012, 12:06 pm We can argue numbers which is fine but most people are denying there is a problem. Here are more examples of voter fraud and we are only scratching the surface.

They caught a few of the 1200 illegal aliens registered to vote.

http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/3-Council-Bluffs-Noncitizens-Charged-with-Voter-Fraud-170572526.html

Here\'s a classic case of voter fraud right here in Vinton Iowa.

http://www.vintoniowa.org/articles/News/article103375.html

DS September 25, 2012, 5:09 pm Oh uh it\'s as bad as I\'ve been saying. Absentee ballot voter fraud \"just the tip of the iceberg\". Just wait until they check Ohio\'s \'month of voting\'.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/25/voter-watchdog-group-claims-to-have-uncovered-absentee-ballot-fraud-in-florida/

DS September 26, 2012, 10:26 am Now the Feds are trying to disenfranchise the military vote! Official gov website instructs military to turn in their vote a week after deadline.

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/09/25/Wisconsin-MIlitary-Voters-Told-to-Submit-Ballots-a-Week-After-Deadline

RS September 28, 2012, 12:40 pm There are numerous stories about this on TV and the internet, below is just one. In the Republican party\'s zeal to find voter fraud hired a company that actually committed voter fraud. How ironic!! Love it.

http://www.salon.com/2012/09/26/fla_voter_fraud_charge_has_ties_to_romney/

DS October 23, 2012, 2:49 pm Thank you Rosemary for pointing out 106 fake registrations. I\'m glad the FL GOP promptly fired that firm as stated in the article. It goes to show voter fraud is a rampant problem. Here is the latest case where white Republican voters were targeted. This all points to my original arguement that more needs to be done.

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/Feds-to-probe-possible-voter-fraud-in-Florida/-/1637132/17086510/-/5x9wgrz/-/index.html