Lawyer urges snowbirds to cast their votes in Florida

[Cocoa]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/politics/content/news/epaper/2004/09/19/m1a_snowbirdvotes_0919.html

BOCA RATON— In the muddled aftermath of Election 2000, Lawrence Caplan lost a legal fight and learned an important political lesson at the hands of none other than Vice President Dick Cheney:
You can live in one state and vote in another.

Caplan, a tax and corporate lawyer, has turned that lesson into Operation: Snowbird, an Internet tool designed to make a difference in the election of 2004 — if Democratic voters in New York and New Jersey respond to it.

All they have to do, according to Caplan's Web site, www.operationsnowbird.com, is switch their registrations to Florida, where their votes are more likely to be needed by the Kerry-Edwards ticket than in the deep "blue" states up north. (The last day to register for the Nov. 2 election is Oct. 4.)

"We don't know how close this election is going to be," Caplan said. "If we get 10,000 people to switch it's worth it."

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[bahrbearian]

1. That would put the Repug snowbirds in a bind,

Vote Blue State or Red Hmmmmmm.... Could help split them.

[LiberalFighter]

2. Legal as long as they only vote in one state

I wouldn't have a problem if people were allowed to vote in more than one state but only for local elections. If they have a property interest or other legitimate interest. Governor on down.

But only allowed to vote in Federal elections in one state only.

[Bread and Circus]

3. Seems like orc mischief to me.

[malachibk]

4. My mother is a "Snowbird"

From MA, winters in FLA, voting for Kerry.

So proud, so proud.

[w4rma]

5. Very good plan for Dems. (nt)

[IndianaGreen]

6. They should cast their votes in their permanent residency state

We should not endorse public officials that call for voting fraud, which is a serious issue (not to mention illegal), particularly with absentee ballots.

I have enough trouble with those dual citizens that vote for Likud in Israel, then turn around and vote for the most pro-Likud candidate in our Presidential elections.

BTW, that lawyer could get disbarred for advocating voting fraud! The reality is that back in 2000 people voted in NY and in Florida. There was a story recently about people doing precisely that, they voted in Florida in person, but mailed their absentee to NY. This is illegal!

[oneighty]

7. Yes.

A New York state resident (Snow Bird) from our village was at the VFW club bragging about voting Republican in both states. Thought it was cute and funny. And he is not the only one. I bet.

A union man. Sued his employer for injury and won. His wife tripped on village sidewalk sued and won. Nice people.

180

[Spangle]

8. Call and report it

If they brag, find out "where' they are from and then call the elections officals in BOTH places and report it.

[oneighty]

13. He has passed on

180

[IndianaGreen]

16. I agree, that man broke the law

and he should be prosecuted for voter fraud!

[Jane Austin]

17. Did you report him for voting twice?

n/t

[Almost_there]

14. I heard about someone chartering a plane...

It might have been on sludge, or it may have been just some dumb rumor at my office, but, I heard about someone wanting to charter a plane with snowbirds from NY / NJ, have them vote up here in the early AM, get them to Ft Lauderdale / Miami in the afternoon to vote there. It sounded like a load of crap at the time, and I really hope that no one is seriously thinking of double voting.

If anyone gets caught doing it (and I guess for a lawyer advocating it) it would be disgraceful. Don't they check to see where someone formerly lived to remove them from voter rolls before adding them to their new voter rolls?

This reaks of a Rovian tactic, I wonder who would think of this stuff? As IG said, I think the person should only vote in their permanent residency state. The state where you pay taxes is where you should vote. I could see the rethugs trying this but doing it well organized as well. Remember that FL was decided by 500 some odd votes in 2000. Just a few planes full of wing nuts could really alter things. I doubt this will be a problem, but, it needs to be kept an eye on. Perhaps national voter regisration database? I dunno.

~Almost

[gardenista]

9. I'd like to see the NJ snowbirds stay put. nt

[Catt03]

10. i heard someone say that too

Said vote in Florida if you are from IL or MA, NY


However, FL has strict voting requirements. You have to have a residence, a car registered in Fl, Fl license.

[amerikat]

11. One person one vote.....enough said!

vote fraud in any form is bad for everyone.

[DS1]

12. Florida: The Hyperactive Funeral Home State

At least they have early-bird specials as they mill around and wait to die.

[loudsue]

15. But since Florida's elections are so badly rigged, they should STAY PUT

and make sure the blue states STAY blue.

Florida Dems will work things out in Florida....lots of lawyers will be watching the polls.

:kick::kick: