The Bill Halter saga is entering its endgame, and guess what? That promise Charlie Tapp made to open the Garland County polls is a lie.
A big, fat, LIE.
More after the jump. (Apologies in advance for the shortness -- this info needs to be in a diary, where it can be seen, as opposed to being lost in a single comment that's easily overlooked.)
From Blue Arkansas:
I’m getting word from Garland County that voters were lined up to early vote today, as the election commissioner, Charles Tapp, told Bill Halter and local activists they would be able to do. Tapp lied, surprise surprise. Polls weren’t open today and people were standing out in long lines to do so. I’m told someone got pictures, but none have crossed my desk yet. Hopefully that changes, and if any readers have them send them to me.
Our own Jason Rosenbaum, on the road with the Halter campaign, has confirmed this to the folks at FDL and the Seminal by e-mail: The polls Tapp promised would be open, in Halter's most important county, are not.
Spread the word, people. Tapp lied.
UPDATE: Blue Arkansas has more:
If you are in Garland County, don’t let it stop you. Again, here are the polling places:
Election Commission, 649 Ouachita Avenue just down the street
or
The Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, 4585, N. State Hwy 7, in Hot Springs Village
Beyond that, it’s time for Garland County Democrats to dump Tapp and anyone associated with him. This stuff is bigger than one race or any one candidate. It’s about all of us and the sacred right to vote, a right covered in martyr’s blood that is the cornerstone for all of our other rights. Those in positions of power that would threaten that are poison to a democratic society. So if you’re in Garland County, contact every local Democrat possible and let them know you won’t stand for this. I’ll have a list of emails for the central committee members later.
And if your vote is at risk here, go beyond that. There’s already rumors of a lawsuit floating around the state, though by who and from what corners I don’t know. Still, if your vote is at risk here,contact the DOJ and tell them what’s going on. And if it turns out that you can’t vote because of this, sue their pants off.
This is bigger than Bill Halter and Blanche Lincoln. This is bigger than Garland County. This is about what is sacred and fundamental in America, and if Tapp and his ilk want to stand in the way then it’s time to run them out on the rail.
Call the Garland County Elections Commission- 501-622-3622 – and the Arkansas Elections Commission- (501) 682-1834 or (800) 411-6996 . Let them know that we are all watching and that we won’t let them get away with this, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.