Tag Archives: voter fraud

Coffee Break Ballot, June 12: Current Trends in Voting Rights

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If today’s post had a subhead, it would be: Current Trends in Florida Voting News.

Yesterday, we tweeted a hypothetical “Florida v. non-Florida” voting rights news day tally, and today fits squarely in the former category. All sides of the political spectrum have been reacting to the legal battle put into play yesterday when Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced his state’s intention to sue the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Justice countered with an announcement of its own suit against the state.

What We’ve Been Reading

“Florida and feds sue each other over noncitizen purge controversy,” (Marc Caputo, 06/12, Miami Herald)

“The ‘Voter Fraud’ Myth Debunked,” (Slideshow, 06/12, Rolling Stone)

“Ramsey County voter ID costs could hit $1.7 million per biennium if passed,” (Frederick Melo, 06/12, St. Paul Pioneer Press)

“AFL-CIO to fight voter ID laws in six battleground states,” (Kevin Bogardus, 06/12, The Hill)

“Rick Scott: Voter Purge Turned Up ‘Over 50’ Non-Citizen Voters — ‘The Debate is Over,'” (Nick Wing, 06/12, Huffington Post)

Twitter Trends

Twitter mentions of any of our main search terms today swirls around the Sunshine State, and a new Rolling Stone voter fraud slideshow.

Twitter search engine Topsy.com shows searches for voting rights, voter ID and voter fraud all are pretty fixed on Florida. That trend will probably continue through the summer, but we’ll be the first to tell you when that changes.

Follow us @WhoCanVote for the latest stories in voting rights news.

Coffee Break Ballot, June 8: Current Trends in Voting Rights

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We promised that this day would come — and it has. All signs seem to indicate that the digital uproar over the gubernatorial recall election Tuesday in Wisconsin has slowed down. That isn’t to say that all of the allegations and investigations in the election have been resolved. A recount in one of the Wisconsin Senate races still is possible.

But largely, comments and criticisms of that election largely have faded.

More on that after our latest reading list.

What We’ve Been Reading

“TN felons seek to have voting rights restored as election nears,” (Brian Haas, 06/08, The Tennessean)

“What’s the Deal With All These Voting Restrictions?” (Clare Malone, 06/08, The American Prospect)

“Reflections from a Poll Observer,” (Jeanette Senecal, 06/08, the League of Women Voters)

“Republicans clash with Attorney General Holder over voter ID laws, gun sting,” (Sari Horwitz, 06/07, Washington Post)

“Rep. Rooney to DOJ: Why are you allowing potential voter fraud?” (Marc Caputo, 06/07, Miami Herald)

Twitter Trends

Even though we’ve said the digital buzz from the Wisconsin recall is fading, some relevant tweets still are bouncing around the Twittersphere. In particular, a tweet from former GOP Representative / Presidential candidate / actor Fred Thompson seems to have real legs:

@FredThompson: Despite the blowout, some WI Democrats crying voter fraud. Apparently some Republicans had been going around locking cemetery gates.

It’s been tweeted and retweeted almost 500 times. (And while we’re on the subject on retweets, we should direct you toward this fascinating article in the New York Times last weekend on the staggering Twitter cachet of leaders in the Christian community.)

But another state seems to be dominating the digital conversation on voting rights — Florida. An admittedly non-scientific analysis of social media search engine Topsy.com‘s pages for voting rights, voter ID, voter fraud and voter suppression centers on the Sunshine State’s recent high-stakes battle with the U.S. Department of Justice.

That attention likely won’t end until November. Be sure to follow us @WhoCanVote for more voting rights news.

Coffee Break Ballot, June 6: Current Trends In Voting Rights

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Much of the buzz in the digital conversation on voting rights this morning is a holdover from yesterday’s hotly contested Wisconsin recall election. Supporters and activists on both sides are alleging fraud, suppression and misinformation for voters in Wisconsin.

We’ll discuss some Twitter trends on those issues later, but first — a roundup of what we’ve been discussing in the News21 newsroom this morning.

What We’ve Been Reading

“League of Women Voters and Rock the Vote Announce Resumption of Voter Registration in Florida,” (LWV Florida / Rock the Vote Florida Press Release, 06/06)

“Voter thwarted in Waukesha for lack of ID,” (Laurel Walker, 06/06, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

“Photo ID, please,” (Editorial, 06/06, New York Post)

“Voting Hot Report, 1996-2010,” (Special Report, U.S. Census)

“Statistics show voter fraud is a rare occurrence in Florida,” (Kathleen Haughney, 06/06, Orlando Sentinel)

Twitter Trends

We tweeted early and often last night, but there’s nothing like a busy day of elections to spike mentions of voting rights-related phrases on Twitter. Thanks in part to alleged improprieties in the Wisconsin recall election, users around the Web mentioned “voter fraud” more than 7,600 times and “voter ID” more than 3,500 times, according to Topsy.com.

This morning, users have been tweeting and retweeting accusations of voter suppression, voter fraud and improper demands for voter ID in the aftermath of the Wisconsin election. (Note: Part of the state’s controversial voter ID law is suspended, pending a court review.)

For more of what we’re reading and where we’re reporting, be sure to follow @WhoCanVote.

 

Peter Mundt: Milwaukee voter offers father assistance

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Peter Mundt: Milwaukee voter offers father assistance

Peter Mundt joined his father at the polls in Milwaukee Tuesday. Photo by Tasha Khan/News21

Peter Mundt was helping his father complete a same-day registration form at Engleburg Elementary school in North Milwaukee when an election observer reported Mundt to the chief inspector.

The inspector asked why Mundt was helping his father; he explained that his father has difficulty reading and needed assistance.

The Wisconsin voter registration form allows assistance if those aiding voters provide a signature and address. Mundt signed the form, and his father was able to vote.

Mundt did not have a problem with the inspector’s question, he said.

“I was comfortable with it,” Mundt said. “I mean, they are there to do their job, to make sure the voting process is going correctly.”

By Tasha Khan, News21