Fulton County to voters: Never mind that mailman – your building doesn’t exist
Seniors at a certain residential center in Atlanta were recently informed they would not be allowed to vote, because the address they cited as their living space no longer exists.
How did these voters find out? The Fulton County Department of Registration and Elections sent letters to the building where they live. Which no longer exists.
Click here for the notice from Fulton County. Here’s the letter of protest from state Sen. Vincent Fort, D-Atlanta, to Samuel Westmoreland, the elections director:
Dear Mr. Westmoreland,
I have received complaints from residents of the Atrium at Collegetown (435 Joseph E Lowery Blvd SW). They have received a letter saying they have been purged from the voters list because the address they were on record as living at “no longer exists”. This is a serious issue because the facility at this address does exist. Beyond this, it befuddles me that the notices were sent to the exact address that the department claims no longer exists.
I am concerned that your office is, apparently, more interested in purging voters than ensuring that the right of every eligible person to register and vote. I would like an explanation in writing of how you intend to correct this situation and how this fiasco came to be.
Sincerely,
Senator Vincent D. Fort
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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64 comments Add your comment
Centrist
June 15th, 2012
6:01 pm
Just the latest example of never ending proof of Fulton County government incompetence.
Interesting
June 15th, 2012
6:01 pm
So a democrat complaining that a democratic country is purging the voter roles. That’s pretty funny
Devil's Advocate
June 15th, 2012
6:08 pm
Of course Intersting will be the first one complaining when something similar happens to a homeowner who tends to vote Republican…
Devil's Advocate
June 15th, 2012
6:09 pm
And I meant Interesting before the spell check police jump in…
GT GRAD
June 15th, 2012
6:22 pm
I am certain the TRUTH is somewhere in this story; however, the actual truth will be left out to support the suggestion that someone in America is being denied the legal right to vote.
I would imagine the truth is that the letter indicates these potential voters must provide additional information to confirm they are full time residents and/or meet the simple requirements to vote in November. Incompetence is not out of the realm of possibility, but I would imagine there is probably good reason these potential voters have received the letters……..come on people use you brain every now and then; don’t believe very much this reporter (Mr. Galloway) states (you will be mislead more often than not if you believe what he says is the whole truth and nothing but the truth!). I suggest you do a little research if you want to know what is really going on.
Donaldo
June 15th, 2012
6:23 pm
Your tax dollars at work, isn’t America great!!!
Auntie Christ
June 15th, 2012
6:26 pm
Dear Senator Fort: Go pound sand.
vinny sounds like one of those “good Amerkin republicans.” You know the type, they wear their flag pins, they “support our troops” they raise the flag everyday, but when it comes to real American principles, like everyone having equal justice and the right to vote, he does his best sieg heil. We took a vote vinny, something you don’t approve of of course, and we think you should go pound sand.
Auntie Christ
June 15th, 2012
6:28 pm
Looks like vinny’s comment was removed, I guess Mr Galloway took our vote to heart.
Auntie Christ
June 15th, 2012
6:33 pm
(not) interesting said: So a democrat complaining that a democratic country is purging the voter roles. That’s pretty funny.
Fulton is a county, not a country. That is, at least until the North Fulton republicans decide to secede and form the country of milton. Not that far fetched.
Drew
June 15th, 2012
6:46 pm
“So a democrat complaining that a democratic country is purging the voter roles. That’s pretty funny”
It’s almost as if Democrats are concerned about the right to vote regardless of whether the people in power are Democrat or Republican – imagine!
td
June 15th, 2012
6:59 pm
I bet if this was from a Republican neighborhood in North Fulton or in Buckhead that Senator Fort’s silence would be deafening.
Centrist
June 15th, 2012
7:01 pm
Even if it doesn’t get fixed (it certainly will), the dead and illegal vote goes 99% for Democrats and will more than make it up.
td
June 15th, 2012
7:17 pm
OK libs with all the answers. Tell us how you purge the voter rolls if this method is not acceptable? How do you get rid of the people that have died? How do you get rid of the people that have moved? What do you do when you receive notice of a convicted felon?
Bobby
June 15th, 2012
7:38 pm
TD, the rolls can be purged in professional manner. In this case obviously the rolls being purged were of registered, living voters at a valid address. I don’t understand your beef.
Beck
June 15th, 2012
7:44 pm
Bobby – it’s not going to be worth trying to explain something that advanced to TD.
TD – Let’s start really SLOW. North Fulton is NOT IN VINCENT FORT’S district. This area IS IN VINCENT FORT’S district.
Try passing 9th grade American Gov’t class BEFORE posting and showing your ignorance and prejudice.
td
June 15th, 2012
7:49 pm
Beck
June 15th, 2012
7:44 pm
You just proved my point. Fort says he cares about everyone being able to vote but in reality he only cares about Democrats being able to vote.
td
June 15th, 2012
7:52 pm
Bobby
June 15th, 2012
7:38 pm
And what do you call a professional manner? We are talking about government here. The same government that can not count the population in a professional manner and can not get property taxes correct in a professional manner. Are you saying that the job of purging of voter roles should be outsourced to professionals and out of the hands of government?
Beck
June 15th, 2012
7:53 pm
Let’s try this again: Not everyone who lives in Senator Fort’s district is a democrat. But he is the person to appeal to for help in this situation. Anyone in that district and even in that building who is a Republican would appeal to Senator Fort.
Anyone in North Fulton, Democrat or Republican would appeal to THEIR state senator (I believe, but could be wrong, that there is more than one in that area.) This isn’t a PARTY issue, it’s a RIGHT TO VOTE and POLITICAL REPRESENTATION. Not everything is red and blue… …or black and white.
david c
June 15th, 2012
7:57 pm
Idiot America. Hello.
Amazing
June 15th, 2012
7:58 pm
The ignorance of some of these posts is astounding. This is not a partisan issue. These are American citizens who have the right to vote and it appears that has been an error made by the Elections Department. The citizens did what any Republican would do under the same circumstances; they went to their elected official for assistance. I seconded Beck’s comments!
Thomas
June 15th, 2012
8:02 pm
Real ID will take care of that!
ld
June 15th, 2012
8:15 pm
Did the county recently hire one of those Florida “yankees”?
Auntie Christ
June 15th, 2012
8:16 pm
centrist and s td, do your lives revolve around repeating inane memes from “pox and friends?” td you wouldn’t know vincent fort from vincent van gogh, yet you feel free to assume who/what he cares about, and make accusations about what he would or would not do. centrist repeats the republican mantra of rampant voter fraud, yet neither he nor his beloved repubs can cite more than 1 case out of every million votes cast. You two need to join the circus where at least your clownish buffoonery can be appreciated by 4 year olds.
#occupy reality...
June 15th, 2012
8:17 pm
Sounds like Voter ID Law would clear this right up…
#occupy reality...
June 15th, 2012
8:19 pm
OH AUNTIE – I am from Chicago, I can cite millions of cases of voter fraud. You get a quart of vodka and a pack of newports from cabrini green or robert taylor homes – bussed to the polls and given a pre-populated ballot. This is where your president is from, BTW.
But one only needs to look at ACORN or the fact that in Madison WI last week, 114% of registered voters showed up to vote…meaning somehow they had 100% turnout, then 14% more showed up too.
td
June 15th, 2012
8:22 pm
Beck
June 15th, 2012
7:53 pm
You are assuming a great deal in your post. Why is the Senator the one to appeal too and not the local election office or better then that the Secretary of state who is responsible for elections in Georgia?
I think if you read the election laws in this state then you will see that none of these residents would have been denied the right to vote. The law talks about situations in which people that feel they are legally registered and are not on the roles. They go to the polls and receive a provisional ballot and then the matter is handled by the election board.
This is really nothing more then a continued political BS from the Dems claiming that people are denied access to the polls. They want a story to fire all the libs up to vote since they can not talk about Obama’s accomplishments (or lack thereof).
td
June 15th, 2012
8:28 pm
Auntie Christ
June 15th, 2012
8:16 pm
“centrist and s td, do your lives revolve around repeating inane memes from “pox and friends?” td you wouldn’t know vincent fort from vincent van gogh,”
You are so wrong there. I have had at least two chances to lobby Senator Fort at the capital. One time he was very nice and listened to what I had to say and the other time he was a complete a$$ and would not even let me finish my statement.
ld
June 15th, 2012
8:33 pm
This is a good reason to “merge” certain departments, agencies, tasks or at least make them be able to communicate with each other and, in some instances (death), require it.
USPO, Census, and SS should be able to compare notes with each other and with state and county/parish officials for names, legal residence address), and, in some instances (birth/death) require they do, as well as determine if, when and where an individual has voted before. Isn’t there a bureau of federal records (by whatever name) that could do be federally legally authorized to do this?. If so, much of the problem solved.
It’s up to those without birth records (elderly and/or born at home or w/midwife) to acumulate evidence (with aid of congressional rep?) to prove their citizenship. If, they whine, that it is too late for this election, the correct response is that THEY should have cared about the 2012 election (no pity) AND it is soon enough for the 2014 congressional elections.
That leaves the poor that say they lack knowledge and/or money on how to get a photo ID (pay for certified copies of their birth certificates and photo ID)… So, every state that, understandably, wants to require a photo ID should be required to set up toll free lines, at state expense, to aid these people get the knowledge and waiver$ (w/strict guidelines) to enable them to get the records needed for a photo ID — for free or at a reduced cost (w/ severe criminal penalty for knowingly providing false info) and the photo ID itself with a “waiver” for costs.
What’s left? the apathetic? lazy — too lazy to even TRY to get photo ID (but just like to whine about it? They’re likely too lazy to be voters — at least not informed ones — anyway.
It is NOT unreasonable for a state to want only American citizens who are residents in their state to vote in elections in their state.
ld
June 15th, 2012
8:35 pm
add state and federal prison systems to that list.
Isn’t there already a move to stop inmates from getting SS benefits? So, if there is already the beginning of an info share system, expand it w/i the bounds of reason.
td
June 15th, 2012
8:35 pm
Auntie Christ
June 15th, 2012
8:16 pm
BTW: I have also lobbied Kasim Reed. After having conversations with him I supported his campaign for mayor and gave him some money.
The Hussein
June 15th, 2012
8:38 pm
Oh my God Oh my God
Is this news? Popular media theme today since the chosen one christened a million new ‘citizens/voters’ with a click of a pen.
Thank God for the AJC. What is their angle in the con?? Does it sell papers?? Who is behind the wall?
pw
June 15th, 2012
8:39 pm
Oh my goodness – Georgia just has too many stupid people as evidenced by some of the responses to this article.
Devil's Advocate
June 15th, 2012
8:40 pm
What happens when your ID is deemed invalid because your address is invalid?
Red
June 15th, 2012
8:51 pm
td – these were his constituents that complained. As their elected official he has a duty to investigate his constituents’ complaints. His party ID has nothing to do with this. I lived in former State Senator Floyd Griffin’s district and worked actively in unseating him. But I had a complaint and he professionally looked into it for me. We even joked about him helping out “the enemy”. Fort may have a view on an issue beyond his district lines but this story and this instance has to do with his own constituents. And seeing how he is on the same side of the issue as other members of his party with purging the voter rolls, I’m not seeing any big deal here. If anything, the Dems have a real life example of how careless the purging process is.
I’ve disagreed with many on my side of the aisle on this issue. I know quite a bit about voter rolls and see how little resources local government has to verify if someone is illegal, dead, etc. Unless you have a very good means of verifying this, you may want to be hands off of this matter. Nothing will flip the opinions of voters like an issue of them not being allowed to vote – either party. While there are issues with dead, illegals, etc., until enough resources have been made to verify this, they need to sit back and think of better ways of verifying this. Denying a right to vote, a bedrock of this country, on poorly funded and resourced efforts will cause serious problems.
woodrow
June 15th, 2012
8:51 pm
This is hilarious. Send mail to a non existent address informing the non-existing residents they cannot vote. I’m telling you. The government employs people who are dumb as rocks.
atler8
June 15th, 2012
8:51 pm
TD,
You sir, or madam, are continually a broken record.
#occupy,
You are incredibly wrong about the turnout in Dane County (Madison) . According to Charlie Mahtesian at Politico, writing on 6/5/12, the final result was more like a voter turnout of 41%.
Alderman Mike Verveer of district 4 in Madison noted that the student population mostly being absent from on-campus locations (i.e. dormitories largely emptied for the summer) resulted in a lower campus vote than in normal gubernatorial contests.
But don’t simply take my word for it. Go check it out for yourself from a non-partisan news source.
atler8
June 15th, 2012
9:00 pm
#occupy,
Regarding your post at 8:17, sorry to burst your bubble but I must inform you that Georgia already does have a voter id law in place.
Care to try again?
Devil's Advocate
June 15th, 2012
9:01 pm
The sad thing about TD is that he has bought into partisan politics as have many Americans. People are so brainwashed by the left and the right that they honestly carry election time party affiliation into seated terms. Your elected officials are your elected officials whether you voted for them or not. Ignoring a clear problem because you *think* it only effects “the enemy” is a sure way to have it come back around to bite your cause one day.
Ugh
June 15th, 2012
9:08 pm
occupy reality – the 114% voter turnout thing? They allow same day registration. So, those “extra” votes you seem to think were fraud were….actual legit voters.
Democratic Plantation Dweller
June 15th, 2012
9:09 pm
What?????
We need everyone voting to keep the checks coming!!!
Kris (?)
June 15th, 2012
9:13 pm
Sounds like some more republican debauchery to eliminate the older voters.
Rest assured
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
Vote the thieves out (GOP)
OBAMA 2012
To Tell the Truth
June 15th, 2012
9:26 pm
Kris(?)
Do us all a favor and DON’T VOTE since you have to be a MORON to vote for that Racist, Socialist, LOSER, Barry!!!!
He is Done in November!!!!
Hugh Jass
June 15th, 2012
9:39 pm
Democrats love for people to not work and get free stuff.
double
June 15th, 2012
9:45 pm
Sen.Fort must have a good memory.Once was enough.
Kris (>>*.*
June 15th, 2012
10:20 pm
To Tell the Truth
Kris(?)
Do us all a favor and DON’T VOTE since you have to be a MORON to vote for that Racist, Socialist, LOSER, Barry!!!!
MORON….Ya say….Well to tell the truth Do not pee into the wind….ya might get wet…
Reelect President BARACK OBAMA. 2012 (For tell that’s November 6th 2012)
To Tell the Truth
June 15th, 2012
10:27 pm
Why would we want to relect someone who has DONE NOTHING but point fingers while the economy continues to tank!!!
Your boy is done in November!!!!
mebeau
June 15th, 2012
10:41 pm
Another bank failure.79 since 2008.Obama caused all the failures.Now buildings are missing.Guess Obama took it.
double
June 15th, 2012
10:44 pm
It ain’t all bad the braves won.
RGB
June 15th, 2012
11:00 pm
My father was a staunch conservative and voted straight line Republican until the day he died. Now he votes Democrat.
td
June 15th, 2012
11:03 pm
Time to sign off for a week. Taking the kids to see Mickey, Goofy and Donald (Yes the real ones not Obama, Reid and Pelosi). I know you all will miss me but I shall be back and ready for the run to election day.