Election Law Center: Recent Comments

Comment on Section 8 Cases Cometh

Christian Adams — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:13:16 GMT

Spot on Texas Tea. This started because the intial story has an error - namely the GOP branding. Everything a Democrat does does not make it a DNC policy. The reporter was notified. We'll see.

Comment on Section 8 Cases Cometh

TexasTea — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:08:13 GMT

"Republicans are mounting an aggressive pre-election bid to cleanse dead and illegal voters from state lists in time for the fall election."

"Republicans" - hmpf. If ONLY any GOP officials would ever bother to stand up and fight for anything. Motor Voter was a bad enough deal with the Dems, practically institutionalizing voter registration fraud. Yet Repubs refuse to enforce compliance with the one section designed to maintain some semblance of voter roll integrity.

Until now, of course - now we have "Republican elections lawyer" Adams on the case! And I'm sure once you've succeeded, the Party will be right behind you all the way.

Comment on 53,345 hits on Virginia State Board of Elections

Follower — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:43:36 GMT

Amen

Comment on 53,345 hits on Virginia State Board of Elections

FreeLancer — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:53:07 GMT

It should be noted that the Business Manager (25 years of service and a military veteran) and the Procurement Officer (28 years of State service) participated in the investigation that found Rodrigues guilty of entering into an illegal contract using federal funds from the federal Help America Vote Act.

Shortly after the fraud report was released substantiating her misconduct, Rodrigues terminated both the Business Manager and the Procurement Officer under pretext. Her charge for termination of the Business Manager were found to have no merit during an administrative hearing. However, in a puzzling ruling by the Hearing Officer, Rodrigues' termination of the Business Manager was upheld based on an untried assertion that the Business Manager did not tell Rodrigues about a payment to the federal government.

What's disturbing about this decision is that according to the charging documents, the Business Manager was not charged with this offense.

In the case of the termination of the Procurement Officer, State records show that the State Board of Elections administrative expenses for procurement and contracting materially increased as a result of Rodrigues' actions.

As a political appointee, Rodrigues has thus far proved to be 'above the law'. She is protected by the McDonald administration and reportedly has a close friendship with the Secretary of Administration. With the blessings of the Administration, she is continue to conduct business with State agencies.

Once the full details of her conspiracy to enrich her friends with federal funds is brought to light, it will be too late for the current Administration to distance themselves. They are fully accountable for harboring and protecting such a person.

Comment on Nomination of Myrna Perez adds to EAC woes

Richard A. Strong — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:36:52 GMT

I wonder where in the Constitution it says that felons cannot vote.

Comment on Minnesota Legislature: A Voter ID constitutional amendment a near certainty

Jeff — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:58:00 GMT

I was one of the principal staff members working for the passage of our state amendment to lower the voting age to 19 and the passage of the US amendment to lower the voting age to 18. I was also president of a foundation that funded voter registration following their passage. I am watching the voter ID amendment with some concern.

Comment on Someone took my coat in the federal courthouse

Fred — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:51:23 GMT

Clearly, we need a coat ID law.

Comment on 53,345 hits on Virginia State Board of Elections

Que Pasa — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 23:05:15 GMT

Update on Rodrigues’ Tenure at the Virginia State Board of Elections

Rodrigues’ appointment ended at the State Board of Elections (SBE) on January 31, 2011 and not a moment too soon. As it was reported at the Election Law Center, Rodrigues was centered around allegations of thuggery, racial disparities, corruption, abuse of power and most troubling the letting of a contract to Paul Stenjborn, a former SBE employee, totaling $176,000 in violation of the Virginia Public Procurement Act (VPPA) and other public policies.

Two former employees of the State Board of Elections, the agency’s Business Manager and the Procurement Officer, both of who’s employment was terminated, sought to bring light to Rodrigues’ transgressions through the state grievance process and the federal EEOC.

The Business Manager did not prevail during the grievance hearing and did not win re-instatement of his employment. Readers should understand that in the state process, you are asking it to rule against itself, which is highly unusual. However, there is a silver lining found in some of the evidence presented at the hearing. Several of the Written Notices against the Business Manager brought on by Rodrigues were either reduced or dismissed. Even the allegation that the Business Manager had threatened Rodrigues’ was dismissed after the testimony showed that because the Business Manager forwarded an email he received which contained a statement, “May God have mercy on your soul”, was the source of the assertion made by Rodrigues. Additionally, staff from the state’s Fraud, Waste and Abuse Hotline office provided testimony that they stood by the report that the office issued indicating the contract was procured in violation of the Virginia Public Procurement Act. Paul Stenjborn had written at the Election Law Center that was the initial report and another report was issued indicating no wrongdoing was found. This is clearly not the case.

The Procurement Officer is seeking to be heard through the U.S. District Court, Eastern District Division, where a lawsuit has been filed. One can only hope that truth seekers will prevail and that Rodrigues will be exposed for who she is and will be held accountable.

It is also worth noting, since criminal activity was involved, shouldn’t Rodrigues be investigated by the FBI for corruption? The question is being asked. She does not have the weight of her former office and position to throw around now, let’s see how she reacts and responds as a regular citizen!!!!!!

Comment on On Voter ID, the DOJ Voting Section Chief Overrules . . . Himself!

Federale — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:57:37 GMT

Or the quinissential bureaucrat, serving whatever master. Sort of like former Gestopo agents who went on to work for the Stasi.

Comment on Florida Woman Charged with Voter Fraud

Federale — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 01:17:30 GMT

And with that name, probably an immigrant.