GOP Trying to Steal Election by Shredding Dem Votes

This diary is a followup to one I wrote last night about the mayor's election in my hometown, Muncie, Indiana.  The only thing that's positive about this update is that at least the precinct being targeted isn't majority-minority. It's just poor white folks.  First, some background.

In this year's mayoral election, the margin of victory was razor thin.  9 votes of more than 12,000 cast. Less than 1/10th of 1% divided the winner, Democratic candidate Jim Mansfield, from the loser, Republican candidate Sharon McShurley.  After absentee and provisional ballots where counted, Mansfield's margin of victory rose to 11 votes.

Tonight, word's come out that 19 absentee ballots might disqualified due to a clerical error by the Republican controlled clerk's office.

The odds that Republican Sharon McShurley could be this city’s next mayor increased today after an unexpected turn of events in the election recount.

The recount commission discovered 19 absentee ballot cards from voters in Precinct 46 that were not endorsed with the initials of a member from each political party as required by law.....

The ballot cards were endorsed by a Democrat but not a Republican, Brooks said.
Both parties must endorse the ballot cards in the election room before they are mailed out to voters, according to state law.

Democrat attorney Joe Hunter blamed the discrepancy on the Delaware County Clerks Office, which is controlled by Republican Karen Wenger.

So that's if folks.  Your vote can be cast out because of a clerical error in the clerk's office.  And we dare to call this democracy.

•  Appreciate the update.

  This (series) is a fascinating look at vote suppression in action.  

  by prodigal on Fri Dec 14, 2007 at 04:22:20 PM PDT

•  Democrats

  ask for recounts to make sure all the votes are counted.

  Republicans ask for recounts to disenfranchise voters.

  by ManfromMiddletown on Fri Dec 14, 2007 at 04:22:21 PM PDT

•  "Get on the bus"

  It is time for the democratic leadership in Indiana to start chartering the buses and making a move on Muncie.    

  by Gator on Fri Dec 14, 2007 at 04:25:46 PM PDT

  •  The state party is sadly absent on this.

    I wish that wasn't the case.

    by ManfromMiddletown on Fri Dec 14, 2007 at 04:32:24 PM PDT

•  So telling

  Democrat attorney Joe Hunter blamed the discrepancy on the Delaware County Clerks Office

  Democratic Attorney Joe Hunter you moronic tool(the reporter, not the diarist).  Those familiar with the Republican machine's assault on language know what this is about.

  by Mr Bofothum on Fri Dec 14, 2007 at 04:27:59 PM PDT

•  Question

  Could the voters involved sue? That is, their votes are being denied them because of clerical negligence.

  by oceanstar17 on Fri Dec 14, 2007 at 04:34:41 PM PDT

  •  That's an interesting question.

    And one I don't have the answer to.

    In the previous diary I mentioned how the Republican party has apparently been sending out people to intimidate voters in an heavily black precinct.

    I wondered whether a civil suit could be filed against the Republican party by those voters for harassment.  It would be sweet irony if those voters could be awarded a monetary settlement, which would probably take the form of the Republican Headquarters.

    by ManfromMiddletown on Fri Dec 14, 2007 at 04:39:02 PM PDT

•  Someone told me

  that many area republicans have joined and are active in the local democratic party.

  That would explain a hell of a lot....

  by Alexandra Lynch on Fri Dec 14, 2007 at 07:27:49 PM PDT