Election Shenanigans

In his book "If It's Not Close, They Can't Cheat", Hugh Hewitt devotes three chapters to the Democrat's reputation for cheating, their machine politics starting with Tammany Hall, and their "whatever it takes" approach to close elections.

John Fund, meanwhile, has published a new book Stealing Elections: How Voter Fraud Threatens Our Democracy, in which he "takes the reader on a national tour of voter fraud scandals ranging from rural states like Texas and Mississippi to big cities such as Philadelphia and Milwaukee."

Voter fraud is not just an academic issue this year. Bill Hobbs has been compiling accounts of voter registration irregularities in Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin, New Mexico, and Tennessee, among others. He asks, "If you spot a news story about suspected voter fraud in your part of the country, please send me the link and a brief summary to voterfraud-at-gmail.com." (Hat tip Instapundit)

Michelle Malkin has also been on the case. She endorses requiring ID checks at the polls to combat fraud.

The Wall Street Journal's editorial page carries some eye-opening pieces too. For example, The Florida Myth - Sep 28, 2004, lambastes the Democrats for fear-mongering:

Yes, the political urban legend that black voters in Florida were harassed and intimidated on Election Day four years ago is making a comeback. Only yesterday Jimmy Carter, fresh from blessing Hugo Chavez's dubious victory in Venezuela, moaned that in 2000 "several thousand ballots of African Americans were thrown out on technicalities" in Florida, and that this year more black than (Republican) Hispanic felons are being disqualified to vote--as if all felons weren't supposed to be barred, regardless of race.

Ballots or Briefs? - Sep 22, 2004 (written by John Fund) looks at the legal efforts both parties are making, even before the first ballots are cast.

The Bush and Kerry campaigns are spending unprecedented millions on TV ads. But the real battle that could decide this election may be fought by the squadrons of lawyers both sides have hired to prepare Florida-style challenges to the results in any close state. Once again, America's sloppy, fraud-prone voting system could turn Election Day into an Election Month of court challenges. ...

Election lawsuits are already piling up. Democrats have sued in Missouri, demanding the city of St. Louis, a Democratic stronghold, be the only jurisdiction permitted to allow early voting at government offices. For the first time, a federal mandate will require that all voters be allowed to cast a provisional ballot if their names don't appear on registration lists.

In Florida, liberal groups sued to have such ballots counted even if they are cast in precincts where the voter doesn't live--even though state law disqualifies votes cast in the wrong precinct. If the number of provisional ballots exceeds the margin of victory in the presidential race, you can bet lawyers will argue that "every vote must count," regardless of eligibility. Candidates may have to hope their vote totals are beyond the "margin of litigation."

But the hottest spot for pre-election litigation this year is New Mexico, a state Al Gore carried by only 366 votes. On Monday, a Democratic judge tossed Ralph Nader off the ballot after another judge rescinded a similar order she'd issued because she'd contributed $1,000 to the Kerry campaign. Nader forces have accused Democratic Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron of railroading their man using legal pretexts that have never been applied in New Mexico.

It looks like it's gonna be ugly... so do your part and VOTE, even if your state is "solidly" for either candidate.