At the link, an shameful example of corruption where the “elect few” use intimidation and manipulation of the levers of the election process to retain political power at any cost. This is the type of unfortunate situation where DOJ should be quietly observing the voting process to deter illegal activity that harms voters and provide legitimacy to election results when the rules are followed. Because of the city’s rich history for black Americans, the blatant corruption found in the “Black Pearl” is simply ignored by the Holder Civil Rights Division. The Sun News adds more insight to a concerning situation: Only in Atlantic Beach can a fraudulent election be fraudulently overturned. A new election was ordered after an almost 9-hour meeting that was more akin to a “Saturday Night Live” skit laced with dark comedy than a legitimate display of representative democracy. What also became apparent Saturday is that unless you are among the elect few chosen by the election officials in Atlantic Beach, you don’t have a right to have your vote counted. Irene Armstrong, the former mayor and one of the town’s most well-known citizens, had her vote challenged, as did Bellamy, the outspoken president of the Concerned Citizens of Atlantic Beach. They are on opposite sides of the warring political factions. Rita Tucker is a fairly new resident. To prove her residency, Tucker provided photo identification, a voter’s registration card, documents from Veterans Affairs mailed to her home, a year’s worth of signed rent receipts – and even her landlord – a and her voted was still not counted. If this was 1961 in a Deep South, majority-white town run by closeted Ku Klux Klan members hellbent on suppressing the rights of black voters, there would be widespread outrage. But it’s not. It’s a small, predominantly black town with problems so deeply embedded and tragic most people have stopped paying attention. And that’s what those who are making such incredible decisions are counting on
Why? Perhaps because the minority population under the thumb are the small number of whites and independent blacks outside the official power structure; therefore, apparently subject to abuse without protection or Justice. The result: Atlantic City’s electoral processes are burning so hot that elections are now being overturned.
ATLANTIC BEACH, SC – The Atlantic Beach election commission Saturday overturned the Nov. 1 municipal election after the results were successfully appealed by three candidates. A new election will be held in 180 days. Benny Webb, town administrator, said the commission accepted that the evidence and witness testimony was solid enough to uphold the appeals and overturn the election. Windy Price, Misty Umphries and James Van Fleet appealed after the votes were certified on Thursday. Webb said the three claimed there was intimidation to both voters and candidates and that there was possible voter registration and vote fraud. The trio also questioned some of the voting machines. The commission apparently agreed.
…That’s in addition to testimony that said one voter declined to vote because he was paid not to, a couple of white residents saying they were intimidated – including the lone white candidate vying for a council seat – and allegations that maybe 35 voters, enough to affect the outcome of the election, were denied the vote, either because scare tactics or landlords who supposedly threatened eviction of anyone not voting for the preferred candidate – even though not one of these people was required to come forward to confirm that they actually exist.