Judge puts early voting in 3 Ind. cities on hold; Republicans say sites violate state law

[susanbanks44]

Source: Associated Press

CROWN POINT, Ind. (AP) _ A federal judge blocked the opening of some early voting sites in a heavily Democratic area of Republican-leaning Indiana until he can hear arguments Friday on whether they would violate state law.

U.S. District Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen issued a temporary order barring the opening of early voting sites in Gary, Hammond and East Chicago after meeting Tuesday with attorneys for Lake County Republican and Democratic officials.

Attorney David M. Brooks, who represents the county Republican Party, said the GOP and Democrats agreed none of the satellite offices will open before Tuesday, three weeks before the Nov. 4 general election.

Democratic officials want the satellite offices opened because they expect a record voter turnout and want to avoid long lines and other impediments to voting on Nov. 4.

Read more: http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-election-lake-county,0,1988424.story

[McCamy Taylor]

1. In person absentee voting is more prone to fraud? Give me a break!

BTW, there was no Bradley effect in the Tom Bradley race. He lost and the polls were wrong because of huge numbers of absentee ballots which were cast for the Republican. Absentee ballots are the easiest thing in the world to commit fraud with----and they used to be predominantly cast for the Republican as in that race. The Bradley effect was probably made up to hide the fact that election was stolen by the GOP using absentee ballots.

[NorthCarolina]

2. Judge orders opening of early voting sites despite hearing

Judge orders opening of early voting sites despite hearing


October 7, 2008
By Piet Levy Post-Tribune staff writer

CROWN POINT -- The ongoing political feud over early voting centers took a new twist Monday when a Lake County judge ordered the mandatory opening of early voting sites in East Chicago, Gary and Hammond -- three days before a scheduled hearing on the same subject in U.S. District Court.

Lake County Circuit Court Judge Lorenzo Arredondo ruled that the sites be opened, contrary to a decision by Lake Superior Court Judge Calvin Hawkins' decision Friday that the satellite early voting offices not be allowed to open Monday.

It remains to be seen how effective Arredondo's ruling will be, however, considering that U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen has scheduled a hearing for Thursday on the early voting sites. On Friday, Van Bokkelen ruled "there is no state temporary restraining order" -- effectively voiding Hawkins' order -- and set the Thursday hearing date.

On Monday, attorney James Wieser filed a new lawsuit in Lake County Circuit Court against the Lake County Board of Elections, claiming that having early voting sites in the county's three largest cities is the only way to make sure the elections are free and equal -- a staple of the state constitution.

The cities also are Democratic strongholds.

Wieser said he hopes the Election Board opens an early voting site by Wednesday.

Observers say the issue may come down to an interpretation of state law and whether the federal government has jurisdiction in the matter.

Two weeks ago, the Democratic-controlled Election Board voted 3-2 to allow the centers to open, with the Board's Republican members voting against it. Lake County Republican Chairman John Curley argued that, according to state statute, a unanimous vote is needed for the satellite voting sites to open.

On Monday, Curley referred new questions to attorney Tim Sendak.

Sendak said he received no notice on the suit filed in Arredondo's courtroom Monday. He said the federal court and attorneys for both sides were notified and that all sides were waiting to see what was going to be done about the new development.

http://www.post-trib.com/news/lake/1205956,lcvote.article

[KamaAina]

3. They really don't want "those ones" to vote, do they?

a heavily Democratic area of Republican-leaning Indiana

Gary in particular is also a heavily African American area. Of course, that couldn't possibly have anything to do with why the repukes are making a Federal case out of this. :sarcasm:

[IsItJustMe]

5. Nope, those ones are not smart enough to vote the way they want them to.

You know how "Those ones" are?

:sarcasm:

[IsItJustMe]

4. Republicans up to their old black ops again I see. Can't we just have one honest election.

[The Stranger]

6. Tell me again why the Democrats FUCKING AGREED not to open the offices until Tuesday?

[AKing]

7. This area has some really nasty wingnuts. Checkout this board....

http://www.northwestindiana.com/discussionforum/viewforum.php?f=7&sid=3395974ec0b7005072dfade0c74145c2

[kas125]

8. No matter what they do, there is NO WAY this county is going to

vote Republican. We are suggesting that everyone who can votes early - at the County Gov't Center, not the three other places. We are providing rides for people who need them and we are calling people day and night. I spent the afternoon at the Obama office calling people today and of all the people I talked to, there were only two who are not planning to vote for Obama. One said she was still undecided and one claimed she was going to vote for Ron Paul even though he's not on the ballot. This county is blue and I have no doubt that it will remain that way, no matter what desperate tricks the Republicans try.

[FVZA_Colonel]

9. How legally binding can an "agreement" be?

And I didn't see it described anywhere in the article. Whether the board should have done it or not, from what this article points out it seems it was legal.

[AndyTiedye]

10. Part of the Repiglickin Keep-Out-The-Vote Campaign

Democrats do GOTV, Repigges do Keep-Out-The-Vote. Not too hard to figure out why.