WPTV
If it's late October, that can only mean one thing: election shenanigans in Florida.
The FBI and U.S. Postal Service agents are investigating bogus official-looking letters sent to voters in at least 28 Florida counties questioning their citizenship and their eligibility to vote, NBC News has learned.
David Couvertier, a spokesman for the FBI in Tampa, said his office opened up an investigation into the possible attempt at voter intimidation on Wednesday after receiving reports that eligible voters throughout the state have received the letters. [...]
The fake letters, which first started showing up last Friday, have been sent under the names of real Florida county election supervisors -- with some correct contact information -- informing the voters that the supervisors have received "information" about their citizenship status, "bringing into doubt your eligibility as a registered voter."
The materials reference a non-existent Voter Eligibility Form that the targeted Floridians are told to fill out in order to stay on the voter rolls.
Chris Cate, a spokesman for the Florida Secretary of State's Office, told NBC News, "We believe these letters appear to meet the standard of voter intimidation." Between 50 and 100 such letters have been reported to state officials so far, "and those are only the ones we know about. We're encouraging people to come forward."
Though state and federal law enforcement are still gathering information on how widespread the tactics are, most of the known letters were sent to Florida Republicans, though plenty of Democrats and independents have also been targeted.
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We ought to be ashamed that we need international election monitors to watch our elections for such things.
And take a look at the threats coming out of Texas! Can you say "human rights violation and indictment before the World Court?" http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/10/24/1085491/abbot-texas-election-observers/?mobile=nc
I am sure the Republicans saw the BBC poll showing the world overwhelmingly supports President Obama over Mitt Romney, so they are worried about the fact they aren't being viewed in a good light by these observers. And maybe they are afraid they will get caught out for voter suppression.
It's hard to trust the impartiality of others when you are sneaky lying racist bullies.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20008687
In Texas, the law is only the voters and election officials are allowed within 100 feet of the polling place. Decades old law and why you ask, because in the past, democrats used intimidation against blacks or anyone who didn’t vote their way.
I'm still waiting for one of the Democratic super pacs to make a TV ad documenting all the attempts at rigging the election that Republicans have done this year, followed with the closing line, "Stand up for your right to vote: vote Democrat!" No specific candidate, just a partisan ad.
I'm honestly curious as to what effect that might have.
Democrats have a time honored history of binging knives to gun fights. Don't hold your breath.
Though state and federal law enforcement are still gathering information on how widespread the tactics are, most of the known letters were sent to Florida Republicans, though plenty of Democrats and independents have also been targeted.
Well, in this case it looks like the suppression is either against Republican voters or ALL voters.
A side investigation? Are the "return addresses" given in the letters correct? Sounds like perhaps an elaborate scheme to steal identities more than votes...
Sounds more like it to me also.
This is wrong and the folks responsible should be punished. It *does* pale in comparison to the disenfranchisement attempts being made out in the open by the GOP. I'd also like to believe that it's an elaborate attempt by a GOP operative to get some pro-GOP news on the voting wars front. But it probably isn't, and like I say, the people responsible should be punished.
Rachel, I don't know how to get your attention. We are having a rally in downtown Cleveland for women next Monday at 5:30pm. We will pay your airfare. Can you come?????? We want to get Democrats and Independents to come hear you, Marcia Fudge and anyone else who you can get to come here to encourage women to vote for Obama. Then we will walk to the BOE which is four blocks away and is open until 7pm that night. You could broadcast from here that night!!!!!
EVIDENCE VOTER MACHINE HACKING. I HAVE JUST SPOKEN WITH OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND SUBMITTED THIS INFORMATION VIA REPORT AND EMAIL. THEY WERE VERY RECEPTIVE AND EVEN ASKED THAT I ALSO SHARE IT WITH OHIO SEC. OF STATE ... WHICH I DID
BY TELEPHONE AND EMAIL. PLEASE JOIN ME BY MAKING THIS GO VIRAL.
This Computer Programmer testifies that Fla. GOP Politicians asked him to RIG the 2000 election via Voter Machines. He reports EASY ability to RIG software of Voting Machines. This Computer Programmer believes that machines in Florida, Ohio and other states have been and will be HACKED during THIS election.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5NqPLLDUCVo
We should go back to paper ballots - seriously. With voting machines or even with online voting in the future there will always be the issue of rigging or hacking.
The last statement about mostly republicans being targeted caught my eye. The next thing to look at is what particular ethnic group these people targeted belonged to. I have the suspicion that, despite being republicans, almost all of the targeted people either belonged to a group associated with voting Democratic or lived in an area that generally went Democratic.
Of course the other option would be that republicans knew that this was bogus because they know the tricks of their party and are the ones who came forward. I didn't occur to the Democrats who were targeted that it might be bogus. We'll see when more people come forward and we get a better sample.
The Republican's are shameless in what they deem necessary and think they can get away with anything. Not only is it voter intimidation but it's mail fraud which is a federal offense.