2012 Tuesday: Voter fraud, not suppression, is real
It’s an election year, so we’re being treated to the usual back-and-forth about whether requiring voters to show a photo ID at the polls is an attempt to suppress voting or just voter fraud.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder — never hesitant to politicize an issue — last month likened voter ID laws to Jim Crow-era poll taxes that suppress minority voting. Of course, neither he nor any plaintiff in a court challenge to a voter ID laws has produced any evidence that suppression has taken place. I’ve always thought it is insulting to minorities to suggest they are incapable, or unmotivated, or whatever, when it comes to obtaining a free, state-issued photo ID.
On the contrary: Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp noted in a recent interview that since the General Assembly passed our voter ID law in 2006, the number of minority voters has soared — between both the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections, and the 2006 and 2010 gubernatorial elections. That’s strong evidence against the idea that the law is suppressing voting by minorities. (H/t: Georgia Tipsheet)
Critics of voter ID requirements argue that voter fraud is non-existent, and that champions of these laws are trying to solve a non-problem. A new book by two leading supporters of voter ID laws aims to take away that argument, too.
In “Who’s Counting?”, conservative journalist John Fund and former Civil Rights Commissioner (and one-time Georgia resident) Hans von Spakovsky argue that a current U.S. senator may be in office thanks to voter fraud. Byron York explains in a Washington Examiner column about the book:
In the ‘08 campaign, Republican Sen. Norm Coleman was running for re-election against Democrat Al Franken. It was impossibly close; on the morning after the election, after 2.9 million people had voted, Coleman led Franken by 725 votes.
Franken and his Democratic allies dispatched an army of lawyers to challenge the results. After the first canvass, Coleman’s lead was down to 206 votes. That was followed by months of wrangling and litigation. In the end, Franken was declared the winner by 312 votes. He was sworn into office in July 2009, eight months after the election.
During the controversy a conservative group called Minnesota Majority began to look into claims of voter fraud. Comparing criminal records with voting rolls, the group identified 1,099 felons — all ineligible to vote — who had voted in the Franken-Coleman race.
Minnesota Majority took the information to prosecutors across the state, many of whom showed no interest in pursuing it. But Minnesota law requires authorities to investigate such leads. And so far, Fund and von Spakovsky report, 177 people have been convicted — not just accused, but convicted — of voting fraudulently in the Senate race. Another 66 are awaiting trial. “The numbers aren’t greater,” the authors say, “because the standard for convicting someone of voter fraud in Minnesota is that they must have been both ineligible, and ‘knowingly’ voted unlawfully.” The accused can get off by claiming not to have known they did anything wrong.
York adds: “With 1,099 examples identified by Minnesota Majority, and with evidence suggesting that felons, when they do vote, strongly favor Democrats, it doesn’t require a leap to suggest there might one day be proof that Al Franken was elected on the strength of voter fraud.”
At the very least, those 1,099 examples — and 177 convictions, so far — represent far more evidence in favor of voter ID laws than opponents have ever mustered for their case.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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
472 comments Add your comment
Beyond the Middle of the Road
August 7th, 2012
3:24 pm
I for one see no problem with showing a photo ID to vote so long as it’s free to acquire and reasonably easy to obtain. However, let’s not be silly here. Voter fraud is a very, very minor factor in elections. The real reason why Republicans are pushing for these laws is to suppress the vote. Mike Turzai, the Republican leader in Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives, admitted as much recently, rattling off a list of his party’s accomplishments. “Voter ID, which is going to allow Governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania, done,”
And as for voter fraud itself, well the state of Pennsylvania pretty much quit the idea while fending off a lawsuit by the ACLU.
The state signed a stipulation agreement with lawyers for the plaintiffs which acknowledges there “have been no investigations or prosecutions of in-person voter fraud in Pennsylvania; and the parties do not have direct personal knowledge of any such investigations or prosecutions in other states.” Additionally, the agreement states Pennsylvania “will not offer any evidence in this action that in-person voter fraud has in fact occurred in Pennsylvania and elsewhere” or even argue “that in person voter fraud is likely to occur in November 2012 in the absense of the Photo ID law.”
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 7th, 2012
3:24 pm
Matter of fact Brian Kemp said we have record minority participation since the law went into effect.
I won’t even go into the logic failures in this one! LOL.
So,the huge increase in black voter turnout in 2008 compared to 2004 was dues to Voter ID laws? Of course it had nothing to do with the fact a black (at least part) person was running for the highest post int he land?
mwuahahahahahahahaha. Shuffle them numbers around just so they back your agenda there, td!
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/voting-rights-watch-2012?page=0%2C4#
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 7th, 2012
3:25 pm
So we shouldn’t try?
No we shouldn’t. When we are spending Millions of dollars to find 3 or 4 cases of voter fraud in Florida.
Well thats not worth it by a long shot.
Beyond the Middle of the Road
August 7th, 2012
3:25 pm
Oh, and I think photo ID would be a good idea when buying a gun too. Especially an assault rifle.
Dusty
August 7th, 2012
3:26 pm
A link! A link! My kingdom for a rink-a-dink link!!
It’s the liberal way to raise a stink!
All is proven and there is no lie
Yet liberals come with a tear in their eye:
A link! A link! My kingdom for a link
They’ll cut my pay without a stink!
My children will starve, my elders die,
So prove your facts but let me tell a…. nice….. lib….. LIE!
Logic was never intended for libs
August 7th, 2012
3:27 pm
“logic, the skinny women never gossip? Is that it? And all skinny women can get dates but no fat women can get dates?”
You don’t get sarcasm do you.
curious
August 7th, 2012
3:27 pm
Reminds me of recess back in grammer school.
curious
August 7th, 2012
3:28 pm
Kyle,
You really need some better posters and not name callers.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 7th, 2012
3:28 pm
“Thats exactly what he/she is. He cant back it up so it will be spin spin spin and move those goalposts.”
Funny, that’s exactly what you just did.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 7th, 2012
3:31 pm
I love it when libs post columns from hard left rags like The Nation and then proceed to tell conservatives that Fox News is not real news.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 7th, 2012
3:33 pm
If showing an ID to vote is so bad then why do people have to show one to fly, open a bank account, drive a car, go into a bar etc?
JamVet
August 7th, 2012
3:33 pm
Coleman lost. Get over it and quit being crybabies and sore losers and making up imaginary bogeyman to explain it away. You are no better than the Dems and boobs in Florida who b*tched that the (W)orst Ever stole the election.
Sadly he won, and the next eight years were a living hell for this country. (Excluding a privileged few.)
But the law of the land was followed and that is what is most important.
So, all in all, I think the Democrats b*tching about picture ID at the polling place is ludicrous.
I think the neocons obsessing over supposed voter fraud is even more absurd.
And I agree with the poster earlier who mildly blasted Kyle for writing about what what appears to be ridiculously unfounded nothingness.
However, it’s his forum and I respect his choice of topics, which are usually much better thought out than this…
JDW
August 7th, 2012
3:36 pm
@td…”Money well spent if it gives 80% of the population a better feeling that their vote is not being stolen by someone voting illegally.”
If that were true I would agree with you. Problem is you just pulled it out of your…lower regions.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 7th, 2012
3:36 pm
“Sadly he won, and the next eight years were a living hell for this country. ”
Maybe for you but for a lot of people they were a HELL of a lot better than today.
DawgDad
August 7th, 2012
3:37 pm
“The real reason why Republicans are pushing for these laws is to suppress the vote.”
You do NOT get to dictate what I think or believe. Thank GOD for that. Go soak in your delusion.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 7th, 2012
3:38 pm
“You do NOT get to dictate what I think or believe.”
Project much?
Logic was never intended for libs
August 7th, 2012
3:40 pm
If Bush was so bad:
Why was unemployment lower all 8 years of his presidency than they have been under Obama?
Logic was never intended for libs
August 7th, 2012
3:40 pm
HAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Obama: ‘I’m not the president of black America’
http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/08/obama-im-not-the-president-of-black-america-131351.html
JDW
August 7th, 2012
3:40 pm
“Reminds me of recess back in grammer school”
Indeed, except of course recess was much more fun…it lacked a certain shall we say…”logic”
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 7th, 2012
3:41 pm
Maybe for you but for a lot of people they were a HELL of a lot better than today.
And for even more they were a HELLUVA lot worse.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 7th, 2012
3:41 pm
BTW, Romney just picked General Petreus as his VP.
Guess JamVet will now tell us all how much of a chickenhawk Petreus us is.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 7th, 2012
3:42 pm
“And for even more they were a HELLUVA lot worse.”
No. No they weren’t.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 7th, 2012
3:42 pm
“Indeed, except of course recess was much more fun…it lacked a certain shall we say…”logic”
Awe, poor baby.
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 7th, 2012
3:42 pm
Why was unemployment lower all 8 years of his presidency than they have been under Obama?
It was at 8 percent and going through the roof when he left office.
Nice try though.
Hillbilly D
August 7th, 2012
3:42 pm
Oh, and I think photo ID would be a good idea when buying a gun too.
You’re behind the curve.
Federal law requires that we obtain a government-issued photo ID, Driver’s License, or an identification card issued by a State in place of a license. These forms of identification must show photograph, address, date of birth, and signature. If the buyer is a member of the Armed Forces on Active Duty acquiring a firearm in the State where his or her permanent duty station is located, but he or she has a driver’s license from another state, you should list the buyer’s military identification card and official orders showing where his or her permanent duty station is located.
http://www.atf.gov/training/firearms/ffl-learning-theater/episode-2.html
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 7th, 2012
3:43 pm
No. No they weren’t.
Yes. Yes they were.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 7th, 2012
3:43 pm
If Bush was so bad: Why was unemployment lower all 8 years of his presidency than they have been under Obama?
From someone who uses the term “Logic” in their moniker? LOL.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 7th, 2012
3:43 pm
“It was at 8 percent and going through the roof when he left office.”
It was 7.8% when Bush left office. Unemployment has been over 8% Obama’s entire first term.
MrLiberty
August 7th, 2012
3:44 pm
Vote fraud has plagued the GOP presidential nominating process since it began. Every changed vote has been in favor of the Goldman Sachs candidate Mitt Romney. Every other candidate has been impacted and the evidence is staggering.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 7th, 2012
3:44 pm
“From someone who uses the term “Logic” in their moniker? LOL.”
Diverting attention away from facts will get you nowhere, sport.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 7th, 2012
3:44 pm
“Yes. Yes they were.”
Nope, try again.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 7th, 2012
3:45 pm
“Vote fraud has plagued the GOP presidential nominating process since it began. ”
Lie.
“Every changed vote has been in favor of the Goldman Sachs candidate Mitt Romney. ”
LIE.
“Every other candidate has been impacted and the evidence is staggering.”
Lie.
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 7th, 2012
3:45 pm
DOW up another 73 points today. Up over 13,000
It was at 8,000 when he took office.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 7th, 2012
3:47 pm
For Cheesywhatever
http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 7th, 2012
3:47 pm
Shouldn’t you right wingers be off planning your next mosque shoot-em up?
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 7th, 2012
3:47 pm
It was 7.8% when Bush left office. Unemployment has been over 8% Obama’s entire first term.
7.8 percent and Skyrocketing.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 7th, 2012
3:48 pm
“It was at 8,000 when he took office.”
Not sure what that has to do with his horrible economic record.
8.3% and climbing, Cheese.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 7th, 2012
3:48 pm
“7.8 percent and Skyrocketing.”
It skyrocketed under Obama.
Rightwing Troll
August 7th, 2012
3:48 pm
“Those of you who are following the Wisconsin recalls probably remember the name Kathy Nickolaus. She’s the scandal-plagued Republican county clerk of Waukesha County — a Scott Walker stronghold — who earned national scrutiny after she suddenly found thousands of votes that had disappeared through “human error” — helping Republicans win last year’s nationally watched state Supreme Court race.”
Yeah… because wingnuts never engage in such activities…
Logic was never intended for libs
August 7th, 2012
3:51 pm
“Shouldn’t you right wingers be off planning your next mosque shoot-em up?”
Can’t wait for Kyle to see that one.
Have fun getting banned, Finn.
BTW, you obviously have no idea what you’re talking about since A MOSQUE HASN’T BEEN SHOT UP ON US SOIL.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 7th, 2012
3:52 pm
Rightwing Troll
FYI, Kyle will ban you for not posting a link to your copy/paste hit.
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 7th, 2012
3:53 pm
It skyrocketed under Obama.
LOL. Your a clown.
It was going up like a rocket before Obama took office and you know it.
You are a very very small man.
Sucks to be you.
See ya guys.
Kyle has allowed one clown to take over his blog. It gets old going in circles with a 5 year old.
Rightwing Troll
August 7th, 2012
3:53 pm
No… just set on fire… twice in a row…
Logic was never intended for libs
August 7th, 2012
3:54 pm
Finn
FYI, before you spout hate speech you should really know what you’re talking about, sport.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 7th, 2012
3:54 pm
http://rt.com/usa/news/mosque-arson-fire-joplin-999/
No but they sure have been burned.
Mike
August 7th, 2012
3:54 pm
stupid people should not be allowed to vote. Period
Logic was never intended for libs
August 7th, 2012
3:56 pm
“LOL. Your a clown.”
IRONY: A blogger calling someone else a clown and doesn’t know the difference between how to use YOUR and YOU’RE.
Priceless.
“You are a very very small man.
Sucks to be you.
Kyle has allowed one clown to take over his blog. It gets old going in circles with a 5 year old.”
Like I told Finn, have fun getting banned.
Dusty
August 7th, 2012
3:56 pm
Well, here’s much ado about nothin’,
With lots of huffin’ and puffin.’
I hate to say it, Kyle,
But somethin’s outta style,
With libs stuffing the place with bluffin’.
…
Don't Tread
August 7th, 2012
3:56 pm
“I love it when libs post columns from hard left rags like The Nation and then proceed to tell conservatives that Fox News is not real news.”
Then the non-Christians attempt to tell the Christians how to be Christian.
You really can’t make this stuff up.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 7th, 2012
3:56 pm
“No… just set on fire… twice in a row…”
Gotta love the ignorance of the left.