Virginia County Threatens Student Voters in Chilling Edict

[drm604]

http://www.velvetrevolution.us/electionstrikeforce/2008/09/registrar_of_montgomery_county.html

On August 25, Randy Wertz, the registrar of Montgomery County (home to Virginia Tech University) sent out a press release regarding the proper procedure for college students in Virginia who have registered or are planning to register to vote.

The press release reads in part:

"The Code of Virginia states that a student must declare a legal residence in order to register. A legal residence can be either a student's permanent address from home or their current college residence. By making Montgomery County your permanent residence, you have declared your independence from your parents and can no longer be claimed as a dependent on their income tax filings -- check with your tax professional. If you have a scholarship attached to your former residence, you could lose this funding. And, if you change your registration to Montgomery County, Virginia Code requires you to change your driver's license and car registration to your present address within 30 days."

...

And the Obama campaign, which has been very busy registering voters on Virginia Tech's campus, labeled Wertz's information "erroneous." Regarding the issue of federal tax code, there is, according to Kevin Griffis, an Obama campaign spokesman, an exemption in the U.S. tax code allowing dependents to live away from home while attending school.

As far as the health insurance goes, Griffis said that when Obama campaign called the "10 top health insurance companies, none indicated that registering to vote at a college address would be grounds for dismissing students from coverage, 'and in fact some of them laughed at us.'"

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

1. I would say this is a voter suppression tactic. People need to get all over this"registrar"

Virginia tech needs to publicize how erroneous this is to all their students, then this guy should be removed for incompetence if he himself does not understand election law.

[Skidmore]

3. Sounds like he needs to hear from some irate parents.

[tannybogus]

7. Call in with a complaint!

Montgomery County Government Center
755 Roanoke St., Suite 1F
Christiansburg VA, 24073-3175

Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]

[Heather MC]

68. I just called the number

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


My cover story was that my niece goes to V-Tech ( I sound to young and sexy to have a kid in college)

Any way I asked the woman what was the point of the flyer, She said well it's soo the kids can make a decision as to were they want to vote. I asked her if it is true that my niece could lose her funding, she said well you have to check with the tax office. I said that seems like a suppressive tactic to suggest that if my niece Votes as a VA resident she would lose her funding. So, is it true, the lady said you have to check with your state. I said well may I speak with Mr. Randy Werts, oh he is out of the office today.

Watch me call back tomorrow and tell her Ohio said that was not true and may I speak with Randy. I may call Randy Everyday from now until Nov 4th

[wildeyed]

16. Yes, fire him.

He is either incompetent or engaging in voter suppression. Either would be grounds for dismissal.

[EFerrari]

22. Of course it is, a classic one. They're lying. n/t

[Thothmes]

33. Actually, I believe that the part about voter regisration

and drivers licences and Virginia income tax are Virginia Law. On edit, I lived in Virginia for the last eight years I was in the Navy. I voted absentee ballot in Washington State, may "legal home of record", I was exempt from Virginia income tax I did not have a Virginia drivers license and I did not have to have Virginia tags on my cars. The day I left the service, I registered to vote in Virginia, had to pay Virginia income tax, had 30 days to get a Virginia drivers license and 30 days to retag my car in Virginia. During my pre-retirement briefings, a rep from the State of Virginia
explained that this was Virginia Law.

[Heather MC]

41. My husband has a VA DL, VA plates, owns a home in VA, main Residence is VA

but he votes in Ohio, so we don't have to pay the property taxes on our Vehicles
we still pay taxes on the house

[Thothmes]

62. Is he in the Service?

[Heather MC]

65. yes sorry left that part out

[treestar]

63. That's at a state level, this is at a county level

Special rules regarding the military probably exist, too.

[jakem]

2. WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?!

[Skittles]

31. voter suppression, that's what it is

the GOP is well aware most college students would vote for Obama

[paparush]

34. Election stealing 101 -- The Neocons have a Master's in it.

[dems_rightnow]

4. He's full of shit

What a moron.

[drm604]

9. I suspect that he's not a moron.

This may be a deliberate tactic.

[Neurotica]

5. The ACLU is working this issue

Here's more info:

http://www.acluva.org/newsreleases2008/Sep4.html

[drm604]

10. So is the Obama campaign.

Thankfully, they seem to be on top of this kind of crap.

[pleah]

6. K&R

:wow: It just never stops with these thugs.

[psychmommy]

8. bd of elections was hoping kids and obama campaign

would be scared off from registering to vote. the changing demo's in va and the college students could actually make va a purple or blue state. come on college students register to vote.

[drm604]

11. Exactly.

This appears to be a blatant attempt at voter suppression.

[lonestarnot]

20. kick

[Highway61]

12. OK...so what they are doing is voter suppression

That means, deal with that later. Right NOW every student needs to be made aware of this at ALL campuses to get absentee ballots and vote...while there is still ample time to do so.
I'm telling ya, they are going to try and win this election the same way they won the last two...by stealing.

[TwixVoy]

13. This COULD be true

depends if he is talking about STATE income tax or not. I don't think what he is saying is true for federal taxes, however for state taxes it could be true.

[Duppers]

21. nope, you're wrong

nt

[slampoet]

58. It isn't true and you should look things up before you post

Otherwise you are just adding your ignorance to the pile.

[Sewsojm]

14. K & R

[cosmicdot]

15. link to Mr. Wertz +

http://www.montva.com/departments/vote/


October 5, 2005

Voter Registrar Randy Wertz has been recognized by the
Virginia State Board of Elections for his outstanding hard
work and dedication in obtaining new electronic voting
machines approved for the County. Wertz received a “Star
Award” at the State Board’s Annual Registrar Training
Conference in May 2005, “in grateful appreciation for all your
assistance to the electoral process in Virginia.”

pdf link
http://www.montva.com/departments/vote/downloads/20051005_nrb.pdf


some info of when he became Registrar~~haven't found anything yet on how he won out over 28 candidates to replace Sandra Chapin
pdf link
http://www.montgomerycountyva.gov/departments/vote/downloads/20040521_nra.pdf

HAVA machines used in Montgomery County, VA
“But the WINvote machines can be modified to provide an individual paper trail, if this becomes necessary or desired.” - Wertz
pdf link
http://www.montva.com/departments/vote/downloads/20040730_nra.pdf


January 26, 2005
WINvote machines wins in a landslide
quotes Wertz
http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/xp-17477


article from 2 years ago:

May 03, 2006

College students lose at the ballot box

~snip~

Twenty years ago, a Virginia Tech student sued the Montgomery County registrar for the right to vote. Her case ultimately settled in her favor, and the registrar agreed not to discriminate against students.

E. Randall Wertz, Montgomery County's registrar today, pegs the source of such legal battles on vaguely written state laws.

"The code is so gray," he said. "They've left it up to registrars essentially."

He has taken a very open approach consistent with the settlement 20 years ago. Tech students who live on or off campus can easily register to vote.

~snip~

http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/trejbal/wb/63483



Sept. 3

Warning for College Student Voters

~snip~

In an interview, E. Randall Wertz, the general registrar of elections for Montgomery County, cited the State Board of Election’s guidance on college student registration as what he relied upon. He explained that, in sending the memo, he was attempting to combat either the misinformation, or lack of information, that college students have to consider when signing up through voter registration drives.

“What’s happening is they’re going out across campus over here and just getting people to sign the registration forms left and right and not telling them issues to consider, or telling them the incorrect information,” said Wertz. “Before they make the decision to register with us, they need to check with the accountant who does the taxes. They need to check if they’re on their parents’ health insurance. By being at a separate permanent address, does that affect their insurance?”

“I was just trying to inform them of things to consider, and then once they’ve made an informed decision and decide to come with us, we welcome them,” Wertz said.

“We don’t want to suppress them from voting and we certainly want them to vote. It’s just, what’s best for them is what they need to consider. Unfortunately, the campaigns, they’re not concerned with what’s best for the student. They’re generally concerned with just getting people signed up.”

From Tuesday through Friday of last week, voter registration drives at Virginia Tech brought more than 2,000 new registrations to the county, Wertz said. He also estimated that about 25 students have called to ask if the county could cancel the processing of their registration.

http://insidehighered.com/news/2008/09/03/voting

[leveymg]

39. Thanks for bringing this up. Wertz clearly has a track record of fraudulent statements.

This now goes to the VA Democratic Party and the Secretary of State's Office for follow-up.

[thecrow]

64. He's QUESTIONING, ....a repuke tactic

"They need to check if they’re on their parents’ health insurance. By being at a separate permanent address, does that affect their insurance?"

I hate this and they do it all the time. They're not STATING, they're QUESTIONING.
It's not really a lie because they can always say "Oh, I was just QUESTIONING"
In reality they get their ideas into the mind, and the mind of morans believes this crap as fact.

[Metta]

17. "Republicans vote this Tuesday. Dems next Tuesday."

Just more lies. Someone should be in prison for this.

[Lasher]

30. Nothing short of jail time will do.

Otherwise we will have supression like this, followed after the election with 'OK I promise not to do it again' followed by the very same thing before the next election. Rinse, repeat over and over.

[lonestarnot]

18. WTF!

Hugh ugh! Suppression here we go! Wertz Blackwell Harris and the list is growing! Take them down now!

[lonestarnot]

19. kick

[Duppers]

23. and "lose scholarships", my ass!

a big R

-from a parent of a student at UVa who knows better.

[EFerrari]

24. The GOP does this every year and then, we wring our hands when students

don't vote.

I'm glad someone is paying attention this time!

[psychmommy]

25. sent off an email to montgomery county

i accused them of attempting to suppress the vote by misinforming college students. we are watching now. not this time!

[arcadian]

26. Repukes are scared shitless of the youth vote.

They know it will go overwhelming for Obama.

[beac]

27. K&R and forwarded to others here in VA!

We have to stop this crap from frightening students.

Once again, the Repukes use fear to try and control. Pathetic.

[Flying Dream Blues]

28. kick nt

[Danger Mouse]

29. Nazi thuggery. This needs to be countered hard. Luckily, college students aren't idiots...

and won't take this lying down, contrary to what this pusbag hopes for.

[santamargarita]

43. Nazi thuggery is exactly what it is! Check this out:

John Brakey Arrested While Officially Observing Count

While monitoring a handcount of ballots from the September 3rd Arizona primary, in his capacity as an official election observer for the Democratic and Libertarian parties, EDA Investigations Co-Coordinator John Brakey was arrested and ejected from the Pima County election headquarters on orders of Pima County Elections Director Brad Nelson.

Brakey had noticed that several of the incoming bags containing ballots from the precincts had unsecured or missing seals. The seal failures appeared to be the result of pollworkers not knowing how to properly lock them.

Brakey then wondered whether the serial numbers on the bag seals matched the serial numbers recorded by the precinct pollworkers when they sealed the ballots. One question led to another, and Brakey ended up in handcuffs.

http://electiondefensealliance.org/2008/09/john_brakey_arrested

[AnnaLouise]

32. All 6 Virginia presidents were slaveholders

All 6 Virginia presidents were slaveholders

Washington Jefferson Madison Monroe Tyler and Taylor

It's time for change

[AlbertCat]

35. C'mon! Let's not get stupid about this!

[RaleighNCDUer]

54. Hey, facts are facts.

Relevant or not.

[LiberalEsto]

36. My daughter is one of these students

She just joined the Obama campaign in Blacksburg and has been registering VA Tech students for the past few days. She goes to a nearby community college and was going to change her own registration from Maryland to Virginia.


Anyone know what she should do?


Of course this might make her eligible for in-state tuition. But paying Virginia's car tax -- we just haven't got the money.

[bad_robbie]

56. Car Tax

How much worse is Virgina car tax vs. home? Hopefully, you can get the VA tax pro-rated for just the part of the tax year that's left, and perhaps a state tax rebate for unused portion of the year at home. And though far be it for me to recommend anything illegal, but you're just not that likely to get caught for your vehicle tags as long as they're up-to-date. You could just wait till the next registration period in Virginia to register. Aren't there a lot of out-of-state cars in a college town? So she wouldn't really draw any extra attention.

At any rate, you should find a tax attorney or accountant, especially if there are many in the same boat (to spread out the cost of the advice). There might be loopholes for cars registered in parents' names or cars that only spend a certain %age of the year in Virginia (Summer + weekends >= 180 days?). Or who-knows-what else -- maybe the Virgina Tax Code cited is just as bogus as the rest of the warning. And they may just tell you with a "wink and a nod" to not worry about it. Tax guys (and gals) are pretty tricky characters.

[LiberalEsto]

69. Thanks for the info

Maryland doesn't have any car tax.
The car is titled and registered to me and insured on our family's policy. Technically I'm lending it to her so she can go to school and commute to classes.

[alcibiades_mystery]

37. That is a fucking lie, and that "registrar" should be removed from his duties

He knows damn well that there is no relation between permanent address declaration and dependent declaration.

This is voter suppression pure and simple.

[gaijinlaw]

38. Interestingly, this didn't seem to be the case a week ago

Take a gander at this: http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/175386

Makes me wonder if Wertz is less of a 'puke operative and more of a harried bureaucrat who doesn't want his ass chewed off for violating the precinct requirements. Regardless of his motives, however, you'd think if there were all kinds of "dire possibilities" for students who registered to vote at school, he'd have mentioned them to the Roanoke reporters last week.

[jph wacheski]

40. their stratagy for manipulating another win

you gota give props to the repug death eaters,. they manipulate right down to the districts., this if part of their stratagy for manipulating another win,. through lies, fear, and decite,. fight them all the way!

[Norton]

42. You guys are going to really let me have it for this, but....

WHY do we want to win this election?
I've been so panicky and frayed over how lame and stupid my country is these past eight years and wanting my guy Obama to win...
But all things considered, aren't we just asking to show up to a burning house, too late to save it, but just in time to take the blame?
If someone came to me and said: "If you give the Republicans four more years, their party will be dead for decades, I'd take that deal!
I hate to say this, but after seeing that McCain and Susie Reptile are up by 10 points in the latest poll I'm wondering... should we really
be trying to screw up a perfectly good train wreck?

These bail-outs are going to raise taxes. I don't want my party to be responsible for that. We'll likely get into a bigger and/or different
war, and I don't want that responsibility either!

Look, I know it's so cynical, but I can't take this anymore... I'm too passionate about Michelle and Barack. There really is a consolation here
in case we lose.

I SO HATE REPUBLICANS... It will take at least 12 steps to get me through this crap again. This will be the third election stolen from us and
I've had it with my STUPID fellow Americans. These elections shouldn't be close enough to steal, and these rat-bastards in charge should be
in jail. How can I be expected to pull for our survival? From the ashes will rise a Phoenix named Obama... just not this year guys.

[demwing]

44. Because there are some prices that are not worth paying

Even when it means the end of the GOP.

The cost (loss of freedoms and rights, environmental impact, continued war, economic chaos, etc) associated with that investment is not worth the return (ruin of the GOP).

[Iris]

45. because I really want to believe in this country again

I want to believe that the citizens of this country will not continue to be fleeced by the lies of the right. I want to believe that Obama can win despite that fact that some people won't vote for him because he's black. I just want to have some faith in mankind for once.

[drm604]

49. Oh wow, you're right.

Let's destroy what's left so that something new and better can rise from the ashes. :sarcasm:

You can't be serious. Most of us here would probably be the ashes.

As far as your concerns about taxes - if you're not making $250,000 a year then you have nothing to worry about. Educate yourself and stop buying into stupid talking points. :eyes:

[Bette Noir]

52. So we don't become a Third World country.

The debt the country is running up to finance Bush's wars, and the increasing inequality, are enough to destroy, not only American dominance, but the very existence of the US as a representative democracy.

If you want to see what the US would look like after four more years of Republican misrule, look at the Phillipines. A few very rich, and many very poor. Freedom requires a genuine middle class, which the Republicans seem bent on destroying.

[RaleighNCDUer]

55. So it's a win-win for us?

If we win, we get to fix things. If they steal it, they get another 4 years of paying the price for their own idiocy, and can complete the destruction of their own party.

The problem with that is the destruction of EVERYTHING ELSE on their way down.

[gaijinlaw]

57. Because it's not only about political gamesmanship

Because there are real people affected by the policies of the neo-conmen.

• Military personnel deployed in pointless and endless conflicts.
  
• Citizens the United States deprived of their rights.
  
• Prisoners held indefinitely without due process.
  
• Civilians of other countries losing life, limb and property to ariel bombardment.
  
• Workers seeing their wages depressed due to short-sighted "free trade" agreements.
  
• Small business owners unable to compete with politically connected corporations.
  
• Investors watching the value of their holdings plummet.
  
• Students held hostage in failing schools.
  
• Victims of oppression worldwide unable to rely on the moral example of America.
  

Because it is not just to tell these people and so many others to wait another four years.

[juajen]

61. What about the majority dem congress who is letting this happen

over and over again. Consistently, there is usually only a handful of our dem congressmen/senators who object in any way to the voting fraud that is carried on right under their noses. Makes me think our side also wants to be able to cheat.

[Blue_Tires]

46. glad to see this get some attention - another link

i posted this last week, and it died a quick death....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6898551

[NoFederales]

47. Veritable Voter Suppression.

Find an out of state student to see if that crap from Randy Wertz is true. It's damn near impossible for an out of state student to declare "independence" so that they can avoid out of state tuition costs, even if the student is paying all the costs, has own residence, job, etc.

NoFederales

[annabanana]

48. pertinent email links

can be found here:
http://www.montva.com/personnel.php?op=dept&DepartmentID=35

[redqueen]

50. Better subject line: VA County Starts With The Voter Supression (Surprised?)

:P

[RaleighNCDUer]

51. This is not erroneous.

It is a fucking lie.

There is a difference.

[wvbygod]

53. I believe the car tax is real if you become a resident of VA

Not sure of the rest...it sounds like crap to me.

[olegramps]

59. Obama has to have the youth vote

ANYTHING THAT COULD SERVE TO DISCOURAGE THE YOUNGER PEOPLE TO NOT VOTE WILL BE A PLUS FOR MCCAIN. IF THEY CHOOSE TO NOT SHOW UP AT THE POLLS, AS THEY HAVE IN THE PAST, MCCAIN WILL WIN BECAUSE OF THE RACISM THAT PERVADES THE OLDER GENERATION. ITS A SAD FACT. EVERYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO GET THE YOUNGER PEOPLE TO VOTE MUST BE PURSUED. I HAVE WONDERED IF WE SHOULD NOT HAVE ADOPTED THE REQUIREMENT, AS SOME EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, THAT IT IS A REQUIREMENT TO VOTE AND PROVIDE A HOLIDAY FOR GENERAL ELECTIONS. THIS WOULD HELP INSURE THAT THE ELECTION ACTUALLY REFLECTS THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE WORKING CLASS, WHO MAY BE FORCED TO PUT IN LONG HOURS AT MANUAL JOBS THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO VOTE.

[suffragette]

60. Time for us to do some research to clarify

since some students who hear about this (especially those who hear about it in a second hand way) might be worried enough that they choose not to register in their college state.

If we can put together enough for a simple FAQ sheet, something like Facts and Myths about registering to vote as a college student, that could be a helpful resource to those with questions, especially those whose questions arise later.

If we already have something like this or someone finds something out there that already addresses the issues in a simple, point by point way, we need to get that pinned somewhere so it's permanently and easily available.

Here are two items I found regarding the IRS and dependency part:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/education/08students.html?ref=us
The releases warned that such students could no longer be claimed as dependents on their parents’ tax returns, a statement the Internal Revenue Service says is incorrect..."
http://www.statesboroherald.com/news/archive/6330/
Another concern of students is whether a student - who is listed as a dependent on their parents tax return - can jeopardize that dependent status by registering to vote in a county different from their parents.

Mark Green, a media relations specialist for the Internal Revenue Service in Georgia, said state rules have no bearing on federal tax guidelines.
"The IRS requirements for a person to be counted as a dependent on a taxpayer's return and the notion of a dependent for voting registration status are not the same," Green said.

ETA: The above shows us the truth of that item. Better would be a link to the IRS which verifies it. Anyone have time to look for it?

If we can do a FAQ on this, we can just refer to it each time this issue arises.

[treestar]

66. These jerks will do anything to cheat

I wonder if we can get Jesus to make a declaration that voting is of this earth and evil!

[Javaman]

67. I think this falls into the "fucking scumbags" category. nt