Republican Efforts to Disenfranchise, Confuse and Scare Voters Not Limited to Wisconsin

More sleazy attempts from Republicans to keep voters from the polls this November:

Colorado Democrats accused a Republican county clerk Wednesday of falsely informing Colorado College that students from outside the state could not register to vote if their parents claimed them as a dependent on their tax returns.

At a news conference in Colorado Springs , Democrats also charged that county clerk Robert Balink took several steps to dampen voter registrations among college students, who are likely to favor Democrat Barack Obama . Balink was a delegate to the Republican National Convention. McClatchy

The overall Republican strategy is clear for this November’s elections: Disenfranchise, confuse, and scare as many voters as possible to keep turnout low among key Democratic demographics.

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  By Sean, September 26, 2008 @ 10:29 am

  One, how are Wisconsin Republicans disenfranchising, confusing and scaring voters? Two, you are going to use Robert Balink, and a HANDFUL of other situations as a blanket analysis of the overall Republican strategy? Dan, I realize I’m commenting on a liberal blog, but to throw out that kind of accusation(s) is irresponsible.

  If you want a debate or conversation about voting, and who’s disenfranchised, let’s do that, but stop with gross generalizations. There are, or should be, legitimate concerns by everyone as it relates to voting, passing along incorrect information, voter fraud, and the like. Let’s discuss that, not the stupid actions of those goofs in CO, MI, or OH.
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  By Dan Cody, September 26, 2008 @ 10:39 am

  How about the fact that Democratic voters in at least two Wisconsin communities have received absentee voter forms from the McCain campaign that if mailed back could cause their votes to be ignored.

  This is direct action from the McCain campaign and is taking place in Florida, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Iowa, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon and Wisconsin.

  All swing states, go figure. These aren’t small coincidences and spotty mistakes being made, it’s a concerted effort to lower the number of votes cast this November.
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  By Sean, September 26, 2008 @ 1:32 pm

  At least a whole two communities?!?!? Wow, that’s confusing and scary. Come on. I’m guessing there were many of those absentee voter forms that were distributed to both independents and Republicans as well. If in fact it only went to Democratic voters, I’m sure that will easily be made up with the Democratic party’s voter recruitment…..
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  By DaveS, September 26, 2008 @ 3:14 pm

  Dan, if you are really concerned about voter fraud, I have just one word for you: ACORN
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  By Smitty, September 26, 2008 @ 4:18 pm

  Voter fraud in Milwaukee—guess what party?

  http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=788738
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  By Smitty, September 26, 2008 @ 5:02 pm

  Obama “Truth Squads” formed by Democrat officials in Missouri to intimidate critics.

  http://www.kmov.com/video/index.html?nvid=285793&shu=1
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  By DaveS, September 26, 2008 @ 5:02 pm

  Knowing that this sinister sounding since story was posted on a lefty blog, I suspected that there was more to the story. From Channel 4, the CBS affiliate in Denver:

  “Balink issued a statement late Tuesday saying he had misinterpreted state law. He said his records show no person was denied a chance to register to vote based on the false information.

  “This is a blatant misstatement of the law,” said Democratic Party attorney Martha M. Tierney, adding that “chilling the votes of college students of any political persuasion is not appropriate.”

  She congratulated Balink’s office for correcting the mistake but said, “I wish that they had done it much sooner than now.”

  The incorrect information was in a newsletter Balink had sent to the Colorado College president’s office. It was unclear how far it went from there.

  Weddell said the college never distributed the March newsletter en masse to students.”

  Hardly sounds like a sleazy attempt to keep voters from the polls. As Paul Harvey used to say, “And now you know the rest of the story.”
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  By Bruno Wolff III, September 27, 2008 @ 12:33 am

  Democrats have been guilty of similar things in the past. They made efforts to keep Ralph Nader off of ballots to make it harder for people to vote for him in past elections.

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