U.S. won't delay November elections, official says

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N13672690.htm

WASHINGTON, July 13 (Reuters) - The United States will not cancel or suspend the presidential election this November in the event of a terror attack or other catastrophic event, the government's top elections official said on Tuesday.

Individual states may suspend or reschedule elections if disaster strikes, but that would not change voting in other states, said DeForest Soaries, chairman of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

"I can't conceive of any circumstances under which a presidential election could be postponed or canceled," Soaries told reporters after a commission hearing.

Newsweek reported on Sunday that Bush administration officials were looking at what legal steps would be needed to delay the election in case of an attack.

The United States has never postponed a presidential election even during national crises like the Civil War.

more

[Hobarticus]

1. Attaboy, DeForest!

Wondered how long it would take professional federal employees to put an end to this nonsense.

[grytpype]

12. The Reverend DeForest...

... is the Bushist who started this whole postponement fiasco.

Looks like he's backing down. Good. Democracy dodges another bullet.

[DarkPhenyx]

2. I can.

A Soviet nuclear missle strike would do it. Oh, wait. the USSR dosen't exist anymore. Why is it agian that Condi was the best person for her job?

[Nlighten1]

3. The arrogance

Unbelievable.

[Worst Username Ever]

4. I am bookmarking this n/t

[mctrotter5]

5. Gives some hope that some sane people will speak up but

still concerned about what October surprise is coming.

[tom_paine]

6. Translation: Test balloon failed. Free America would fight!

Maybe in 20 years, after the last generation to live their lives almost totally under Liberty, not Bushevik Tyranny, finishes dying off.

The wretched refuse of Tyrant Fodder remaining (including myself) may be willing.

[ewagner]

7. Walt Starr had it right

The official is parrotting exactly what the US Code says....all they had to do was read it!

Because these guys are sooooo far behind the curve, I wonder if this wasn't really just a trial balloon or maybe even "innoculation" for something else they have in mind.

[unblock]

9. they can, of course, change the u.s. code.

all it takes is a majority in both houses and an oval office signature. which the republicans can order up easily.

[Skip Intro]

21. Yes he did

wtf do we do when it comes?

[unblock]

8. umm, methinks individual delays are unconstitutional

the constitution requires all states to hold the election on the same day, that day being set by congress.

from article 2:
"The Congress may determine the time of choosing the electors, and the day on which they shall give their votes; which day shall be the same throughout the United States. "

[splat]

10. The same "professional federal employee" proposed this!

Soaries urges U.S. to establish election plan


Not long after making his way to Washington, the Rev. DeForest "Buster" Soaries Jr. has found himself at the heart of a discussion about terrorism and security for the Nov. 2 election.

His message: Fill the gaps in the law to make it clear what steps would need to be taken and who would decide whether to suspend the election if a terrorist strike disrupts voting.

Soaries, pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, took over in March as chairman of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, established following the contested 2000 presidential tally to help states deal with election-related logistical problems.

Soaries wrote letters to Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and others April 19 and again on June 25 to discuss election-security issues. When reports of threats of a terrorist strike aimed at disrupting the presidential election came to light last week, Soaries complained he had not received a reply from those officials....

<snip>

[bobbieinok]

20. VERY IMPT POINT .... Soaries STARTED this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sandraj]

25. This confirms it for me

It has seemed to me that the people floating this idea are confused about whether postponing the elections is based on hypotheticals or an actual threat.

In the above story, Soaries said he proposed the idea in April and again in June. He was asking "what if."

Then, lo and behold, Ridge rang the alarm bells for the umpteenth time in three years when a threat "came to light" last week. Then the proposal went public. However, some news stories have reported that this threat was based on old information.

In this CNN story, Rep. Cox talks about the postponment in terms of "doomsday scenarios" but there is no intelligence to suggest that an attack will happen:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/07/11/election.day.... /

(snip)
But the Republican chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Christopher Cox of California, said on "Late Edition" that he sees Ridge's request as part of a prudent effort to plan for "doomsday scenarios."

"We don't have any intelligence to suggest that it is going to happen, but we're preparing for all of these contingencies now," Cox said.
(snip)

In the same story, Rep. Harman says the threat was "more chatter about old threats."

(snip)
"Democratic Rep. Jane Harman of California, ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, said Sunday that she believes planning for the possibility of postponing Election Day is "excessive, based on what we know."

"Six days ago, the leadership of the House and Senate intelligence committees and leadership of the House and Senate were briefed on these so-called new threats," Harman said on CNN's "Late Edition."

"They are more chatter about old threats, which were the subject of a press conference by Attorney General Ashcroft and Director Mueller six weeks ago."
(snip)

Which is it: Hypothetical or actual threat?

[SOS]

15. Could be a problem...

Imagine a massive strike on NYC. No-one in the city votes, but upstate does.
Bush could end up winning the state.
The original post makes sense. ONLY the affected state (or in this example, NY and NJ)
would have a short postponement while the other 48 vote on schedule. As long as Bush leaves in January!

[playahata1]

17. If that happens, NYC will DEMAND that its vote be counted.

Bushco will not get away with THAT. New Yorkers will not be pushed around.

[SOS]

18. Absolutely - NYC must be counted

The entire state could vote a week later. My concern here is that if no contingency plan is in place for a major attack, we (in the city) wouldn't get to vote at all.

[trogdor]

28. No, it has to be the entire country.

Believe me, you do NOT want individual states rescheduling national elections. People in California already complain about early returns influencing their elections. Why make it worse?

Congress has the power to deal with this problem. Let the Constitution do its work. The Founders thought of nearly EVERYTHING.

[struggle4progress]

23. Second clause refers to the day on which the already chosen ...

electors meet in their individual states to cast their votes. Everybody else votes only to choose electors, and Constitution doesn't seem to require that the "time of choosing the electors" be one single day, although it is determined by Congress.

So I think your specific objection is wrong -- but (more generally) you may have raised a legitimate issue.

[Spazito]

24. The elector referred to is not the voter, it is...

in reference to the Electoral College. They must vote on the same day.

Edited to change typo from Congress to College.

[Justice]

11. Interesting Information on Primary Elections on 9/11/01

Many states were holding primary elections on that day.

In Connecticut, the turnout for the primary was significantly higher than a normal primary turnout. Starting about 2 pm, people started coming in to vote at a high rate. I suspect that this occurred in many other races. It is speculated that the reason for the higher turn out later in the day was that people went to vote to express solidarity, patriotism and a determination to show we would not bow to terrorism. Fairly, because so many people went home from work that day, they also had time to vote.

[aquart]

13. Trial balloon deflated. No point in blowing up the country now.

They'll just have to go back to not counting the votes.

[fdr_hst_fan]

14. You don't REALLY believe this

pabulum, do you? Smirk STOLE one election; what makes you think he won't "postpone" THIS ONE? So he can slip in an "October" or "November" surprise!

[tlcandie]

16. I think it may well have been a trial balloon, BUT I also think it will

go underground. Get out your !

I think that, once again, Florida will be the state with an issue and will determine * win. Why?

1) jebbie is still in control
2) jebbie likes devious plans
3) the "purge" list is now too much in the spotlight to be reliable
4) 9.11 Florida was declared under military rule by jebbie w/o the people of this state knowing this... it was practice for THE BIG DAY.

We have a military base which includes Centcom as well as a nuclear power plant/reactor. There's Disneyworld and lots more!

We are surrounded by water except the border with Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama.

Am I worried about it or afraid? Hell no! Call me paranoid, idiot, whatever you choose, but remember I called it. They have to find ANOTHER way to steal the election this year.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

19. so, since they always do the opposite of what they say...

I guess we can all just sleep in that day.

[AlFrankenFan]

22. They damn well better not

and if they go back on their word, Tom Ridge is goin' right up that flag pole.

26. keep the pressure on these idiots

Make them back down.

27. I think it's very odd

that there was thread after thread after thread after thread in the past few days of all this doom and gloom regarding elections & then when it appears that these people floating this balloon in the administration are having to back down, the comments are very slim on any of these new threads.

What gives?

[dolstein]

29. Alt. Headline: Bush Administration Agrees to Hold Presidential Election

NT

[dArKeR]

30. Of course the attack will be on the east coast to make sure it effects

the lagging time zones. Just as Rove and Cheney have planned for some time now!