Fake Voter Fraud

My favorite wingnut correspondent sent me a long email today, chock full of examples of voter fraud which he sees as proof of the crying need in the US for strong voter ID laws that just happen to disenfranchise lots of people who are more likely to vote Democrat.

But the examples are all bogus.  Here are his first few examples, followed by my comments in green:

8/7/12: MASSACHUSETTS: voter registration fraud
The Massachusetts Secretary of State’s Office is looking into possible voter registration fraud in east Longmeadow. The problem came to light when some voters in town say their party affiliations were changed without permission. Secretary of State Galvin Investigates Possible Voter Registration Fraud in East Longmeadow, WGGB ABC40, Aug. 7, 2012. Being investigated- no definite voter fraud- I read the article, and it sounds like an administrative computer glitch or something. Nothing proven. 8/6/12: OHIO: voter registration fraud
"The Montgomery County Board of Elections is investigating a large case of possible voter registration fraud, after receiving more than 100 “suspicious” registration cards from a single organization, many that appeared to have false or nonexistent addresses." Jeremy Kelly, Montgomery Co. probes possible voter fraud, Dayton Daily News, Aug. 6, 2012. Again, "investigating". Usually when these get investigated they turn out to be administrative errors. 8/3/12: CALIFORNIA: nonresident voting
"A Record investigation found McNerney registered and voted in the primary election in Stockton, though his main residence appears to be in Pleasanton." GOP officials file complaint of voter fraud against McNerney, The Record, August 3, 2012. I googled this quote, and found that McNerney was a Democrat running for office, in the middle of moving from one house to another. He didn't vote twice. The filing was basically a dirty trick by the Republican opponent in the race. Here's the link http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120803/A_NEWS/208030318 8/2/12: TEXAS: nonresident voting "Upshur County GOP Chairman Ken Ambrose has filed a new complaint with the Texas attorney general regarding potential voter fraud in the county’s primary election....Ambrose said at least six people participated in early voting for the May 29 Republican Primary with “questionable” addresses." Christina Lane, Upshur County GOP chairman alleges voter fraud, News Journal, August 2, 2012. Again, unproven allegation, "suspicious" according to the GOP chairman- nothing proven. 8/2/12: FLORIDA: Deisy Penton de Cabrera: absentee ballot fraud
"Deisy Penton de Cabrera, 56, was charged with absentee-ballot fraud, a third-degree felony, and two misdemeanor counts of violating a county ordinance that makes it illegal for anyone to possess more than two ballots belonging to other voters. Investigators say Cabrera illegally collected at least 31 absentee ballots for the Aug. 14 primary election." Patricia Mazzei, Daniel Chang, Charles Rabin and Christina Veiga, Florida woman is charged with absentee-ballot fraud, McClatchy Newspapers, August 2, 2012. So the "fraud" was that she was collecting the ballots of other people. By the way, Voter ID laws have nothing to do with absentee ballots. 8/2/12: TEXAS: vote fraud "Political activist Armando Gonzales says in his letter to Kennedy that there was suspect activity both during the early vote and on election day. He claims voters were unduly influenced on their way to the polls and at the voting booth." Complaint Filed Claiming Voter Fraud, Fox, August 2, 2012. Voter Intimidation, again has nothing to do with Voter ID laws. 7/30/12: TEXAS: voter intimidation
"Esiquiel Silva joined the Citizens Against Voter Abuse because he said his father was almost victimized. He claims the elderly man was almost forced into a van headed to the polls to vote for a certain candidate. Silva said it all happened while his father was at an adult day care in Brownsville." Daisy Martinez, Keeping a Close Eye on Voter Fraud, Valley Central, July 30, 2012. Ditto 7/30/12: FLORIDA: vote fraud
"Authorities are investigating a case of potential voter fraud, right before the August primary. A 71-year-old Hialeah woman said she trusted a woman to fill out her absentee ballot. However, the woman took off with the ballot, and the elderly woman said she has no clue for whom she voted." Alleged voter fraud incident under investigation, WSVN, July 30, 2012. Absentee balloting again- Voter ID law wouldn't do anything about this. 7/29/12: TEXAS: vote fraud
"According to the amended petition, more than 30 people cast a ballot who were not registered to vote at least 30 days before the election. The petition states the voters registered between May 14-19. The primary was May 29. It also lists several voters who submitted mail-in ballots stating they are disabled. Barrera's petition asks for those ballots to be declared void because those people are not disabled. Others, the petition states, have permanent addresses in Alice but actually live in Corpus Christi." Julie Silva, Jim Wells Election Contest Goes to Court, Caller, July 29, 2012. So they registered too late, meaning they wouldn't be on a voter list. Don't need an ID law to stop this- they weren't trying to lie about who they were. 7/29/12: FLORIDA: Daisy Cabrera: absentee ballot fraud
"Matilde Galindo, who is 75 and illiterate, has no clue who she voted for last week. She said that late in June, Daisy Cabrera, an acquaintance of a distant relative, offered to help her register as a Miami-Dade County voter... Authorities are investigating Cabrera, 56, after finding her in possession of dozens of absentee ballots last week in Hialeah. It is the first case of its kind since a new county ordinance took effect this month that makes it a misdemeanor to possess two or more ballots belonging to someone else." Melissa Sanchez and Enrique Flor, As Hialeah absentee-ballot probe continues, voter regrets accepting help, Miami Herald, July 29, 2012. Absentee again- not relevant. 7/28/12: HAWAII: absentee ballot fraud
"The FBI has gotten involved in an investigation into allegations of voter fraud on the Big Island, sources told Hawaii News Now Friday...About one week ago, state officials received reports about possible voter fraud on the Big Island, allegations that someone was doctoring absentee ballots, sources said." Keoki Kerr, Sources: State Taps FBI for Help in Voter Fraud Probe, Hawaii News Now, July 28, 2012. Ditto 7/27/12: MISSISSIPPI: vote fraud
"A Hinds County jury ordered Tuesday's election after finding the first runoff between Cooper-Stokes and Jackson was tainted by voter fraud." Report: Some votes not certified in Ward 3 City Council election, MSNBC, July 27, 2012. This is a story about a polling place that messed up and didn't count all the votes that were cast http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48360858/ns/local_news-jackson_ms/t/report-some-votes-not-certified-ward-city-council-election/

There were many more examples, and I didn't keep going down the whole list, but as you can see, this is all just crap.  I'll say it again: Voter Identification laws are being initiated by Republicans purely for partisan reasons, to stop poor people (who are overwhelmingly the ones who don't have IDs or who will have the most trouble getting them) from voting.  It's sickening.