PHILADELPHIA -- Once again, all candidates are screaming "Voter Fraud! Watch out for those fraudulent Democrats or they'll steal our election again!" Both Democrats and Republicans have filed complaints alleging voter fraud with less than a week to go before Election Day. What they are really saying is "Uh oh, we're losing again, quick do something!" Voter fraud, statistically speaking according to the Brennan Center for Justice, is nearly impossible and happens only very rarely. How is it that about a week or two before every November 2, Republicans can claim voter fraud is taking place?
Statistically Speaking
According to a statement made during an interview between NewsMax.com and David Norcross, the Republican National Lawyers Association's chairman, voter fraud is an epidemic. Because organizations such as the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) have apparently come back to life, Mr. Norcross stated that "there could be an "epidemic" of voter fraud problems this year to change the outcome of the midterm elections."
ACORN was the organization that closed down due to some of its volunteer workers committing voter registration fraud and urging ACORN to commit tax fraud in various states, including Pennsylvania and more specifically, Philadelphia.
Two Coincidental Facts
The funny thing is the allegations is that they started right about the time that a report came out stating that Democrats were gaining points in the polls. Dick Armey, the CEO of FreedomWorks stated in an interview on Fox News that, "Democrats vote early because there's "less ballot security," creating a "great opportunity" for fraud." He was referring to low-income populations living in inner cities such as Philadelphia. The truth matter is that between October 2003 and September 2005, only 95 people were charged with election fraud and only 55 were convicted, how does this translate to an epidemic?
The other funny thing about it is that when the Democrats fight back, using the same tactics as the Republicans, the party is demonized while the Republicans get away with it year after year. Case in point, in 2008, the Republican Presidential hopeful, John McCain, paid off one of his loyal constituent, Nathan Sproul, $175,000 to destroy Democratic voter registration cards and turn in cards that were from Republicans. After this information became known, Republicans alleged Democrats were committing voter and voter registration fraud. While there was a hearing on the mater, nothing was done about the situation.
Dems Fight Back
Now, allegations surface that the Bucks County Democratic Party is behind the over 600 absentee ballots that were determined fraudulent and later thrown out. Apparently, the "Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee" a non-existent organization, sent letters to voters claiming that if they did not fill out their ballots that they would be unable to vote. Voters were directed to send applications o the "Voter Assistance Office" manned by a PO box belonging to Bristol Democrats, which is the incident is that prompted Republicans to file a the complaint.
The problem is that, according to the counter claim filed by local Democrats, at least 82 percent of the discarded ballots were Democratic. Additionally, 24 ballots were legitimate; these ballots were Democratic as well. It would seem that the Democrat vote is once again being suppressed.
The fines and penalties for voter fraud are steep and include five years in jail and a $10,000 fine. The fines for filing false allegations of voter fraud should be the same, if not steeper. Maybe if every time voter fraud allegations were determined false and the people or party making the claim were made to pay the fine, the false allegations would stop and the people could simply vote.
Sources:
Dan Hirschhorn "Fraud Allegations Fly in PA Race," Politico
David A. Patton, "GOP Braces for 'Epidemic' ACORN-style Vote Fraud in Midterms," NewsMax
Rachel Slajda, "Dick Amey: Many Dems are Voting Early to Commit Voter Fraud," TPM
"Policy Brief of the Truth about Voter Fraud," Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
Hannah Strange, "McCain Campaign Paid Republican Operative Accused of Vote Fraud," TimesOnline
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