Watch out! They're coming for your votes Wisconsin!

[jasmeel]

"MADISON - Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen sued state election officials Wednesday, demanding they comply with federal election laws and double-check the identity of tens of thousands of registered voters before the November election.

Van Hollen accused the Government Accountability Board, which administers state elections, of shirking its legal obligations and opening the presidential race up to potential fraud. He asked a judge to force the board to start cross-checking anyone who registered to vote since January 2006 immediately.

"It is virtually certain that Wisconsin's official list of registered voters currently includes the names of individuals who are not eligible to vote in the upcoming presidential election," the lawsuit said. "The Attorney General believes that the people of Wisconsin and the people of the United States deserve better."

GAB Director Kevin Kennedy responded that the board is committed to protecting against fraud in the electoral process but is equally committed to protecting the right of all eligible voters to cast ballots."

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/28232064.html

Funny the repubs are worried about making sure people can't vote while dems are making sure they can. What does that say? To me it says they hate democracy.

[dragonlady]

1. Maybe this is why the GAB is on our side

The members of the Government Accountability Board (the new board that oversees elections in Wisconsin, made up of former judges) ran a trial that matched their own registrations with DOT records. Four of the six didn't match. Three had differences in the first and last name or middle initial, and one's birthdate didn't match. The "HAVA check" is required by federal law, and matches the name, birthdate, and driver's license number between the voter list and DOT records. However, neither state nor federal law specifies how to treat voter records that don't match.

When information doesn't match, the municipal clerk is supposed to check the original registration for data entry errors. If that can't resolve the problem, the clerk sends a letter to the voter asking for clarification. The GAB refused a request by the Republican party and decided that voters who still have discrepancies at the time of the election do NOT have to show ID or vote on provisional ballots. The GAB recognized that there are typographical errors, differences in how voters write their names on different forms, and other differences between the two databases. They also refused the Republican request to extend the matching all the way back to January 2006.

"The Board believes it would be counter-productive to rush this effort and to create a significant risk, at best, of unnecessary hardship and confusion at the polls, and at worst, the disenfranchisement of Wisconsin citizens with a clear and legitimate right to vote."

http://elections.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=14689&locid=47
http://elections.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=14778&locid=47

Way to go, GAB!

[sybylla]

2. GAB Director Kevin Kennedy is not a Democrat

He was in Tommy Thompson's administration and came to the GAB from the SEB - where he was one of the Republican appointees.

That said, I'm surprised to see that quote from him. I figured he'd be kowtowing to Van Hollen. He's gonna lose his puke membership card if he's not careful.