Author Archives: J Christian Adams

Missouri Establishes Elections Integrity Unit



Press Release:


 


Secretary of State Jason Kander today announced he has established the Elections Integrity Unit, a new program in the Elections Division of his office that will help protect Missouri elections and the rights of Missouri voters.




“As the state’s chief election officer, it’s my job to make sure that only eligible voters vote, but also that every eligible voter has the opportunity to vote,” Kander said in a web video announcing the unit’s creation.


 


Since he took office in January, Kander has shown zero tolerance for voter fraud, and his office has already reviewed numerous complaints and assisted local prosecutors with elections-related cases. Kander is the first secretary of state in Missouri to formalize this process and make his office’s findings available to Missourians.


 


“Upholding the integrity of the voting process is essential,” Kander said. “We believe the Elections Integrity Unit will help elections remain fair, open and accurate by providing greater oversight and more transparency.”


 


More information about the Elections Integrity Unit—including its reporting procedure and copies of its completed reviews—is available at www.sos.mo.gov/integrity on Kander’s website.


Penn State Law Today

The travel continues – I will be speaking on election integrity litigation and voter ID today at the Penn State University School of Law (Dickenson) at 12:30 today.  Normal blogging to resume shortly.  Thanks to Lex and Tabella for picking up the slack.  Public welcome today in Carlisle.  Room 013.

“Debate Heating Up Again Over Voter ID in Ohio”

In Ohio, local media is reporting on legislation that would require Ohioans to present a government-issued
photo ID before voting is once again the subject of debate at the Ohio
Statehouse. Ohio Public Radio’s Jo Ingles reports lawmakers who support
and oppose it are trying to rally their supporters right now.

Republican State Rep. John Becker says voter fraud is a problem in Ohio.


“You know the issue is there has been some documented issues of fraud
going on,” Becker said. “There’s a perception that having voter ID would
go a long way to eliminate some of the current fraud that we know of,
and what might be more concerning is the fraud that we don’t know of,
you know what’s slipping through the cracks.”


…“Some 70 percent of Ohioans support an idea of photo ID requirement for
the polls to cast a ballot,” Long said. “There’s been some recent polls
as well that indicate those numbers are holding. So we feel that it’s
time to bring photo ID to Ohio.”

“Alabama’s voter ID law to be enforced”

Secretary of State Jim Bennett
said his office will provide remote locations and mobile centers to
increase access to voter IDs before the June election.“We want to make this
process as easy as possible on applicants while guarding against voter
fraud at the same time,” Bennett said.  More at link.

You can expect more litigation and rhetoric to chip away at the integrity of our electoral process.

Dutchess Democrat Elections Commissioner pleads guilty, will resign


 


Originally indicted for 46 felonies and 48 misdemeanors, “Dutchess County Democratic Elections Commissioner Fran Knapp pleaded guilty on Friday to two misdemeanors and agreed to resign…


 


“Knapp faced 41 felony counts of misconduct by an elections official and 41 misdemeanor counts of official misconduct for allegedly changing the designated agent to receive absentee ballots of 41 individuals authorized to vote absentee in 2010.”


 


More voter fraud made “non-existent” by a plea deal


 


Voter fraud charges dropped in plea agreement:


 


“Erik Ray Jackson, accused of voter fraud in the 2011 municipal elections in Montgomery County, had the charges dismissed in a plea agreement in Superior Court on Wednesday in Troy… Jackson pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of giving false information to law enforcement. The charges of fraudulent voter registration and fraudulent voting were dismissed.”