Beware of PURGES!

[mod mom]

I just received this in an election reform e-mail:

We have noticed that Reform Ohio Now (RON) initiatives had more than 532,000 signatures. But Ohio Secretary of State Blackwell only cleared 353,094 signatures as qualifying. 178,906 signatures (approximately one-third) were disqualified because "not registered or other reasons".http://www.ohiocitizen.org/moneypolitics/ron/ron.htm 500,000 signatures would not have been enough! It is not known what the specific causes of so many signatures being disqualified are, but Ohio SOS Blackwell eliminated many registered voters in Ohio in 2004 primarily for the statutory reason that they had not voted in the last two federal elections. Another problem with disqualification of signatures is that they have to match the signatures on the initiative with the signatures on the registration cards. Depending on how stringent they are about this, they could drop 178,906 signatures.

Republican SOSs (don't assume this is limited to Blackwell in Ohio-he went down to Florida for training in 2000) are using purges to eliminate democratic voters. The democratic party must make a concerted effort to check the status of their base, especially in low income neighborhoods where voters may not have access to web sites for checking. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM!

In Ohio we had break-ins to the Lucas county Dem HQ as well as the Ohio Democratic Party HQ and although it has been suggested that it was punks, valuable items were left behind while sensitvie data was not. Even if they don't break-in, however, historic democratic precincts can be targeted.

[Neil Lisst]

1. good call mod mom

This is one of the tools the pukes are using to get rid of likely Dem voters, who move more than Pub voters. By purging rolls, by requiring new registrations, they create barriers for voting by likely Dem voters.

They hate democracy.

[xxqqqzme]

2. is uncle blackwell on course 2 B

governor in Ohio? I'm certain that was the promised prize for cheating people out of their voting rights. Harris wanted 2 B in the house; now that she has decided she wants 2 B a senator, her support has dwindled and the cash drawer slammed shut - uppity woman.

I just figured that having stolen Ohio, the same election activity would B repeated 2 elect blackwell. What R his chances?

[mod mom]

3. If we were assured a fair election, the answer would be NO, he is

supported by a fundie base and there are 2 strong (in repuke world) more moderate rugs, Jim Petro Ohio AG and Betty Montgomery who are running against Blackwell. That said...

"Those who vote decide nothing. Those who count the vote decide everything"
-Joseph Stalin

[Chipper Chat]

4. I H8 2 think of a be9 Dem party letting this happen.

Blackwell 4 Ohio Govner is 1 scary thought.
Strip Ohioans of their 10-foil hats!
Elect Hackett 2 the St8 House!

[Wilms]

5. kick n/t

[NoBushSpokenHere]

6. Purges are handled by Triad in Hocking county and maybe

others (they handled the punch card tabulation in 44 counties in Ohio). Triad dials into the computers at night to purge registrations according to the Hocking BOE. They reported being unsure of who authorized this, but saw no problem with it. Perhaps Triad hasn't purged anyone who didn't qualify for the honor, but who knows? No one (to my knowledge) has been auditing this.

[riqster]

7. Citation, please?

I'd dearly love to nail Triad....

[NoBushSpokenHere]

9. I know someone who can produce an Affidavit that the

BOE stated this. Will pass along the word.

[riqster]

10. Yay!

Much appreciated.

[Stevepol]

8. This needs to be on Greatest. It explains a lot that needs explaining!!

[mod mom]

11. I tried posting this info on General Discussion-Politics but faded quickly

In Ohio we a a chair who focuses on $1,000 luncheons with Dem Governor candidates instead of caring about the Dem base and reaching out to the Dem masses. I can only hope Howard Dean is on this (I've written -snail mail-letters, but of course unanswered.

I am going to try PDA and the Congressional Progressive Caucus, maybe they will listen. It is a very important issue.