Pentagon Seeks Power Over Elections in Arizona

[Wilms]

Pentagon Seeks Power Over Elections in Arizona

By Michael Shelby, Arizona Citizens for Election Reform

January 27, 2006

The Pentagon has made a written request of the Arizona Secretary of State, Jan Brewer (photo at right), to allow her sole determination in postponing elections. In the event of a natural disaster, a state of emergency, a civil disorder, or any other catastrophic event, the SoS can unilaterally postpone an election. These overly broad circumstances have no definitions in Arizona statutory law.

Given these frightfully ambiguous categories, Ms. Brewer or any Secretray of State, after consultation with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, would have wide latitude to put off an election for up to 14 days. How would a natural disaster or state of emergency be defined? Would an earthquake or a hurricane suffice—how ‘bout a water main break? What would constitute a civil disorder— rioting in the streets, people carrying signs, a Cinco de Mayo parade? Maybe a Quaker meeting (they spy on Quakers don’t they?)?

The letter from the Pentagon, dated January 3, 2006, basically asks that in the event of early deployment of military and National Guard troops that early ballots, including the ability to vote electronically, be provided. Bad enough that the Department of Defense appears to be trying to sneak in internet voting, but HB 2148 seeks provisions that go beyond the Pentagons request.

HB 2148 seems to exploit the Pentagon's request by placing provisions in it that exceed what was asked for by the Department of Defense. In it's current form, HB 2148 seeks provisions that might deliberately complicate early voting–which includes vote-by-mail (VBM)–by requiring the official in charge of elections to provide a specific marking device or a supply of stickers suitable for use with tabulating devices. Since when have we ever used peel off stickers that could be removed and reattached in an election? It also provides for the rejection of ballots that don’t meet the standard “of not being marked according to instructions” by giving over determination of intent of the voter to “The Board.” HB 2148 also seeks to make several various alterations in Arizona voting procedures that might negatively impact the interpretation and counting of provisional ballots, the decision to count ballots that are “stuck together”, and what constitutes acceptable forms of identification. The bill adds language that narrowly defines an expatriate voter, directs elections officials reconcile the number of provisional ballots with the number of ballots cast on only the poll list, and appears to repeal sections of the Arizona Statutes that are designed to catch attempts at ballot stuffing. None of which is asked for by the letter from the Pentagon!

And, who directed the Pentagon to ask for this power in the first place?

snip

http://www.votetrustusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=846&Itemid=113

[Hissyspit]

1. WTF? K&R

[texpatriot2004]

16. You are so right, WTF? nm

[CrazyOrangeCat]

2. jeebus.

yeah, gotta watch those damned Quakers.

"It's hard work keepin' up with those Quakers, ain't it KKKarl?"

[cdsilv]

3. Damnit! Why don't they just outlaw voting?

...this is outrageous.

I guess we need to rally the NRA to support armed insurrection as provided in the Constitution to take these bastards down. It seems that nothing else is going to work.

Bastard neocons!

[GreenPoet64]

4. Whaaaaaat???? Another power grab.

Kicked and recommended.

[mom cat]

5. Damn, power grabs are geting to be contageous. It is hard to believe

that there is not some master plan afoot and that we are the pawns.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

7. yes, it is very hard to believe.

'course that makes us conspiracy nutjobs.

oh well.


Here's a message to any lurking freeptoids: "Kiss up to your neo-con, corporate masters all you wish--their wars will still devour your children."

[Syrinx]

13. exactly

Scary times in our little corner of the globe.

[MelissaB]

15. It make me wonder what the hell they are going to pull

in Arizona. :slapshead:

[jillan]

6. Funny how this comes out right after my SOS (r)

ordered new diebold machines.

We have a wonderful Dem Gov in our state.
Rated #5 in the US....and it is driving
the right-wing-wackos in this red state crazy.
And she is up for re-election. (Janet Napolitano)

[NVMojo]

8. Gawd, isn't there anything hopeful for us out there? The borg wins!

[alittlelark]

9. Given that they have YET to release the militarys' 2004 voting results...

As they did with great gusto in 2000....... I feel as though I have fallen down the rabbit hole.

I may need to check out of reality for awhile. Perhaps I'll take up shopping as a hobby.

PS - this is not the only reason.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

11. I definitely check out of reality . . .

. . . every now and then!

Makes it easier to come back . . .



:toast:

[bvar22]

10. The forces of darkness

are gathering in Arizona.

[Nothing Without Hope]

12. This is both weird and scary. Thanks for posting. Recommended. n/t

[liberalla]

14. OMG. Why Arizona? Are they doing this in other states too?

Maybe it's a test to see how difficult it would be... Before they do this in many more states?

Is Jan Brewer the next Katherine Harris? Ken Blackwell?

Damn! We gotta get people talking about this --- AFTER the Alito nomination is sunk (positive thinking). ;-)

[Angry Girl]

17. WTF?????? Is this April 1 or did I wake up in Kafka-World?

Arizona is a pit of stupidity, let me tell you that much. Granted, we have some absolutely AWESOME folks down here too (you know who you are!), but the majority living here are senile or dumb as a box of rocks. I've never visited a more uneducated state (but I've never been to Florida, Georgia, Texas, or Alabama either, so.....)

[mod mom]

18. Isn't this the woman who said those who want transparent + verifiable

elections were anarchists?

[Wilms]

22. Correct n/t

[liberalla]

19. How can we learn more about this?

Bump!

Don't want this sink...

[liberalla]

20. hmmm...

[Einsteinia]

21. No doubt this is asked of ALL Sos's

We need to ask each and every SoS Point blank about whether they, too, have been contacted with this question and what was the response. California election code is interesting in that if an election is interrupted by a power failure or whatever, the results are binding. In other words no matter what, we've got to lump it. If only 10% voted, so be it. That's it.