Tracing the local origins of the vote-fraud myth
Those who have followed Fulton County politics for a long time will recognize the name Hans von Spakovsky. Back in the ’90s, as a local lawyer active in Republican circles, he started raising allegations of serious voting fraud that somehow never quite seemed to pan out.
Hans von Spakovsky
Apparently, however, somebody somewhere recognized that the fraud allegation itself, even if merely a myth never bolstered by evidence, would be useful in justifying a push for more restrictive ballot laws that might tamp down Democratic turnout. It allowed von Spakovsky to take his schtick national, in time nailing a job in the voting rights section of the Bush Justice Department in which he tried — vainly, despite all the resources of the federal government — to establish that in-person vote fraud posed a clear and present danger to American democracy.
It might be too much to say that von Spakovsky singlehandedly created the mythology of voter fraud, but it clearly created him, serving as a hobbyhorse that he rode to prominence in conservative circles.
Jane Mayer, writing in the current New Yorker, tells his story well, along the way documenting multiple examples in which cases of in-person voting fraud cited by von Spakovsky seem to melt away like desert mirages upon closer inspection. His career is a great example of the power, and the danger, of a useful lie.
ADDENDUM: While we’re on the general topic, it might be useful to try to squelch early, fringe stirrings on the left alleging a conservative conspiracy to fix voting machines in Ohio. As the theory is spun at Truthout.org:
“Through a closely held equity fund called Solamere, Mitt Romney and his wife, son and brother are major investors in an investment firm called H.I.G. Capital. H.I.G. in turn holds a majority share and three out of five board members in Hart Intercivic, a company that owns the notoriously faulty electronic voting machines that will count the ballots in swing state Ohio November 7. Hart machines will also be used elsewhere in the United States.
In other words, a candidate for the presidency of the United States, and his brother, wife and son, have a straight-line financial interest in the voting machines that could decide this fall’s election. These machines cannot be monitored by the public. But they will help decide who “owns” the White House.
The claim is nonsense and without backing in fact. If you’re going to make charges or even raise suspicions of that grave nature, you need much more than a knee-bone-connected-to-the-thigh-bone argument of the sort offered here.
Otherwise, you’re no better than the von Spakovskys of the world.
– Jay Bookman
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
725 comments Add your comment
stands for decibels
October 24th, 2012
7:43 am
If voter fraud is a myth then why are people currently in jail for committing it ?
The myth is that there are sufficient numbers of people committing it that a) it would ever affect the outcome of a statewide or national election, and b) such rarities require that we spend goo-gobs of public resources fighting a non-existent problem.
But you know that, don’t you?
By the way, I’m taking your word for it that anyone’s currently serving time for committing voter impersonation fraud, because I’m nice that way.
TaxPayer
October 24th, 2012
7:44 am
In an exhaustive public records search, News21 reporters sent thousands of requests to elections officers in all 50 states, asking for every case of fraudulent activity including registration fraud, absentee ballot fraud, vote buying, false election counts, campaign fraud, casting an ineligible vote, voting twice, voter impersonation fraud and intimidation.
Analysis of the resulting comprehensive News21 election fraud database turned up 10 cases of voter impersonation. With 146 million registered voters in the United States during that time, those 10 cases represent one out of about every 15 million prospective voters.
Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!
October 24th, 2012
7:46 am
An interesting read on voter fraud…
http://www.brennancenter.org/content/resource/policy_brief_on_the_truth_about_voter_fraud/
GT
October 24th, 2012
7:46 am
I can never tell in this day and time if the public drives television or the creative minds drive the minds of the public. What I have noticed is we want to believe wrestling is real, these reality shows that have a crisis every ten minutes instead of boring television is not staged, girls want any stranger in a crowd to pick them to win a contest so they can go to bed with him, and cable news, like in the health care decision by the Supreme Court will report the news wrong trying to get viewers. And then the same news centers that can’t get it right themselves will promote any agenda to moves the meter, with no social conscience what so ever. On this stage science becomes the work of the devil, real facts boring, and fat greedy people our heroes. This is the conditional the right wing thrives in.
Ol' Timer
October 24th, 2012
7:46 am
I have no idea how this thing is going to turn out, but if the winner was based on the party that has made the most idiotic and off-the-wall comments. . . .waffled on virturally every major issue. . . . and re-ignitied the notion of voodoo economics. . . . then ol’ Mitt would win by a freakin’ landslide and bring along with him a battalion of baffoons.
“Get all the fools on your side and you can be elected to anything.” ~Frank Dane
Doggone/GA
October 24th, 2012
7:47 am
“If voter fraud is a myth then why are people currently in jail for committing it ?”
Voter fraud isn’t a myth. What is a “myth” is that it happens in great enough numbers to affect a national campaign.
TaxPayer
October 24th, 2012
7:48 am
The News21 analysis of its election fraud database shows:
• In-person voter-impersonation fraud is rare. The database shows 207 cases of other types of fraud for every case of voter impersonation.
“The fraud that matters is the fraud that is organized. That’s why voter impersonation is practically non-existent because it is difficult to do and it is difficult to pull people into conspiracies to do it,” said Lorraine Minnite, professor of public policy and administration at Rutgers University.
• There is more fraud in absentee ballots and voter registration than any other categories. The analysis shows 491 cases of absentee ballot fraud and 400 cases of registration fraud. A required photo ID at the polls would not have prevented these cases.
Republicans need to remember to send their heads along with their photo ID in by mail when absentee voting.
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
October 24th, 2012
7:54 am
The big Trump announcement this AM about Obama is rumored to be: ( and it won’t matter one bit to say 35% of his supporters, 100% on here, but here are the possibles according to the rumors.)
1. He not only used cocaine in college, he sold and pushed it.
2. His college apps say ” Foreign National”
3. Member of some Muslim group.
nothing here to stop 35-40%…. In fact, if true, may pick up a few votes.
Ken
October 24th, 2012
7:57 am
Another fact not to vote for BHO
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Officials at the White House and State Department were advised two hours after attackers assaulted the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11 that an Islamic militant group had claimed credit for the attack, official emails show.
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
October 24th, 2012
8:00 am
Ken, 40% of those who will vote for Obama are NOT EVEN AWARE OF THIS STORY. They are low information voters.
Jay
October 24th, 2012
8:05 am
Liberal, anybody waiting breathlessly for “the big Trump announcement” is, well, doomed to disappointment, shall we say?
Although apparently that won’t stop you from being suckered in the next time he makes a similar play for publicity. By the way, what did his private investigators discover in Hawaii? Did he ever say?
loyd george
October 24th, 2012
8:07 am
Jay, Jolly good, 2 sides to every story-proud of you young man…Overheard Al G. saying something about CHADS as an expletive to describe your republican party…Tricky Dick,still grumpy about 1960,chicago……Hmmm. In my day sending a few quid to the voters was just part of the fun,of course we, in the Labor party NEVER condolled such a base activity….Harding and R. Daly are making such a ruckus with their laughter..Dear me, FRAUD in an election(?),dear,dear,dear……
stands for decibels
October 24th, 2012
8:08 am
well, doomed to disappointment, shall we say?
Jay, that’s so much nicer than saying “too stupid to breathe.” That’s why ya make the big bucks.
/drive-by
phdroberts
October 24th, 2012
8:09 am
I have seen and heard a lot of hatre and misguided comments made by various people concerning this election. We never know what will come if we continue to be about racism which get’s us nowhere in life just more problems! No man can solve every issues no matter what he says and those who say’s things to get elected or just because he think’s he is better than other often fails from the beginning. Newt tried and tried again, can’t hack it being out of the center attention in the light of others and he is deeply impacted by our current president knowing he will win again. All of those CNN journalist who speak ill or talk on the side of their mouth about the presidents trying to make him look bad or appear he is not operating this country as they would. I always know that the Bible tell’s us about changes in this world and it is coming true no matter what we think or feel. Sad to say Mitt is on his way out, and he perhaps know that but it would be better to conceed at the appropriate time. The world has to change and it must begins with us first right in in America!
Brosephus™
October 24th, 2012
8:12 am
Charter school sheets!!
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
October 24th, 2012
8:20 am
Is Phd clapping to himself in the mirror about now i wonder.
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
October 24th, 2012
8:22 am
Why is Barry trending down in the polls daily?
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
October 24th, 2012
8:23 am
Sad to say Mitt is on the way out…………….??………Is your cable out?
JKL2
October 24th, 2012
8:25 am
getalife- You cons called him every name in the book.
Another example of someone who slept thru the Bush years…
fair and blanced
October 24th, 2012
8:26 am
Sorry Jay but conflicts of interest that could lead to a repeat of the 2004 voting fraud in Ohio giving W the election:t
If this year’s presidential election comes down to the electoral votes in Ohio, the deciding votes could be cast on electronic voting machines manufactured by a company – Hart Intercivic – with deep financial ties to the Romney family.
Hart Intercivic is majority owned by H.I.G. Capital which controls two of the five seats on the Hart Intercivic board. An investment fund with deep ties to the Romney family and the Mitt Romney for president campaign, H.I.G. Capital was founded by Tony Tamer, a major bundler for the Romney campaign, and it is one of the largest partners of Solamere Capital, an investment fund founded by Tagg Romney and Spencer Zwick, Mitt Romney’s chief fundraiser from the 2008 presidential campaign. This makes the Romney family part owner of the voting machine company, through it’s interest in H.I.G. Capital.
A 2007 study conducted by Ohio’s Secretary of State showed that Hart Intercivic’s touch screen voting machines could be easily corrupted.
I just signed a petition telling the Department of Justice to not let Republicans steal the election in Ohio with Romney-owned voting machines. Click on the link below to find out more and sign the petition.
http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/romney_ohio/?r_by=49263-6210452-M7s0AQx&rc=paste1
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
October 24th, 2012
8:36 am
Republicans steal the election?…….That’s funny….That’s the party that votes once, just say’n
JKL2
October 24th, 2012
8:49 am
-nothing here to stop 35-40%…. In fact, if true, may pick up a few votes.
I’m guessing that number is closer to 47%…
JKL2
October 24th, 2012
8:52 am
Jay- Although apparently that won’t stop you from being suckered in the next time he makes a similar play for publicity. By the way, what did his private investigators discover in Hawaii? Did he ever say?
I think Trump is an idiot, but it is funny how obama “miraculously” found his birth certificate after Trump said that.
loyd george
October 24th, 2012
8:57 am
Jay, reading some of your readers comments makes me wonder why anyone would run for your presidency, much less steal it! Then again, coffee on the south lawn during cherry blossom season is quite wonderful…..
Dave Francis
October 24th, 2012
10:27 pm
In a report issued by the Conservative think tank, the Heritage Foundation in June 2007, which under those conditions to pass an Immigration Reform package will cost over $2.6 Trillion dollars to taxpayers. As an addition the 50 states must follow the rulings of the court to pay for any illegal aliens medical care treatment, the education for their children to k-12, welfare payments for every child, low income housing if they have 3 or 4 extra babies, cash payments and receive without paying into the system over $2.4 Billion dollars annually for child tax credits, even if the child doesn’t reside in the U.S. This is an abomination for every hard working citizen and legal resident and now Obama has admitted a Comprehensive Immigration Reform that will devastate our ailing economy. A conservative amount paid out by just states is somewhere around $113 billion dollars, but this was the projection some years back. Every year it strains the treasuries of each state, so citizens and legal residents must ask themselves what is being taken from their pocket books for taxes to pay for this indignation. ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION drastically and financially effects all Americans—no matter who you are—Hispanic, Black, Caucasian, Asian if you are legally here, as you are paying for the illegal aliens and all those who broke into this nation.
Be very aware that because this election is of the overriding importance to Americas future, Democrats will pull out all stops either intentional or through incompetence backed by the Liberal heavyweights to ignore non-citizens voting in the elections. Overwhelmingly—all prudent Americans voters should be vigilant of anything that looks suspicious in the voting booth or through absentee ballots. The TEA PARTY and TRUE TO THE VOTE will be out in force, to guard against odd situations. Voting illegally is a felony, which can lead to prison. Our nation must retain FAIR ELECTIONS no matter the consequences to either party. The Democrats have requested foreigners from the corrupt United Nations to monitor large metropolitan regions, when the overall majority of voter fraud is within the Democratic Party. In states as California, a liberal Sacramento stronghold with large populations of illegal aliens, which have no restrictions on who is voting? No official picture ID is needed, so anybody can easily vote even, if they are not a citizen. THIS GENERAL ELECTION WILL NEGATIVELY AFFECT ILLEGAL ALIENS, UNLESS PRESIDENT OBAMA GAINS A SECOND TERM. THE PRESIDENTS ABSOLUTE PROMISE TO PRESS FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM—AMNESTY BY ANY OTHER NAME.
Accentuated enforcement: In 1986, the U.S. approved amnesty to some three million illegal immigrants as a quid pro quo for an exclusion on the future hiring of illegal immigrants. The amnesty was granted, but the prohibition on the future hiring of illegal immigrants was never enforced as it is seemingly today. This would repeat the same mistake; mass amnesty if it should be permitted, however the border and employment enforcement provisions of the act would be as likely hollow and will probably never be enforced. In fact funding was cut off to enforce these laws, so that businesses were not held accountable for hiring unauthorized labor. To avoid repeating the mistakes of 1986, enforcement must come first.
Do not grant amnesty: Amnesty is unjust and would be very expensive. Obama Proponents will dispute that there is no feasible alternative to giving citizenship to all the illegal immigrants in the U.S. But serious, phased enforcement of a ban on hiring illegal immigrants would cause many, if not most, illegal immigrants to voluntarily leave the U.S. and return to their native countries. This would definitely be the “Cause and Effect” of the “LEGAL WORKFORCE ACT” nationally known to the public as mandatory E-Verify to minimize economic interference. It could be possible to give some current illegal immigrants temporary work visas, especially in the field of farming, but carefully regulated and with the unequivocal stipulation that they must return home when these visas run out. Such temporary visas would not grant access to welfare, Social Security, Medicare, or citizenship. The farmers should be wholly responsible and not the U.S. taxpayer? If necessary, the exiting illegal workers could be replaced by legitimate temporary workers or by permanent immigrants who have never violated U.S. laws and have been inspected by agents of the government. For the record an estimate of a million legal immigrants are admitted each year, but we should recognize in this global market we should allow a steady stream of the paramount top list of Scientists, Technology, Engineering and mathematicians (STEM WORKERS) who would be highly beneficial to Americas future. What we don’t need are more people with no qualification, no education and adding to our own poverty.
Close the “BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP ” loophole: Under current law, when U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants turn 21, they can petition the government to grant their illegal immigrant parents legal permanent residence, thereby conferring an automatic path to welfare entitlements and citizenship upon the parents (hence the term “anchor baby”). The popular concept of “birthright citizenship”-that anyone born in the United States is automatically a U.S. citizen-is historically and legally imprecise and ought to be corrected by Congress. Despite the consequences, this backdoor path to citizenship for illegal immigrant parents should be closed as this original law was protect slaves after the Civil War. Pregnant mothers, who smuggle their own children into the United States, are the instigators of what has become President Obama’s “Dream Act.” Then again, it’s not the children’s fault, the blame falls like a ton of bricks on the parents as they have caused the massive monetary problems for decades. Learn everything you want to know about the outrageous costs to Taxpayers, the cycle of illegal immigration that never ends and what you the taxpayer voter can restrain this silent invasion at NumbersUSA, Tea Party.org, American Patrol and Judicial Watch.org.