Needles in a haystack
Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz just finished a $250,000 taxpayer-funded investigation into voter fraud in the state. For three years in office, Schultz has been warning Iowans that their democracy is under attack from illegal voters-- unregistered and illegals, convicted felons, and the like. Out of 238 individual investigations, Schultz's efforts produced 27 criminal charges, four of which were dismissed, two delivered not guilty verdicts or deferred judgements, and 15 cases are still pending.
The ones that remain are suspect as fraudulent as well because the voter's intent cannot be easily proven, and certainly no elections at any level of government, during the period of study, have been swayed by so paltry a number. To put the number 27 into some perspective, I received 1,876 votes when I ran for the state legislature in 2008 (and certainly I attracted my share of ineligible voters, amirite?). The number 27 fits inside 1,876 sixty-nine times. I got only 22% of the votes cast in my district-- a land mass whose entire border I could walk in one day. And I ran for office under the ticket of the Green Party, which most eligible voters have never heard of. That's how meaningless the number 27 is in a state of three million people and two million eligible voters.
Oh American politics, you're silly. Do you know that? Schultz, with this investigation, was taking his marching orders from a well-funded right-wing movement nationwide that's designed to disenfranchise minority voters. Virtually all of our government representatives and their top electoral opponents are taking legalized bribes from corporations under a system in which no upper monetary limit is taboo. Meanwhile, our advocates in office are beating the bushes for criminals among the voters.
posted by CM @ 7:20 PM
3 Comments:
Branstad handed Schultz these headlines on a silver platter. For years most convicted felon's voting rights were restored once time was served. Branstad changed this rule before the last voting cycle and many of those felons were not aware that the law changed. Not only that but even the Secretary of State's records were not up-to-date as to whose rights were revoked. So these felons weren't even given a straight answer when the election was held. Of course, Schulze's true colors are now starting show with months of paid leave he was giving his staff. He's not going to be able to ride his witch hunt into Congress.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/local/government/2014/02/12/election-officials-unable-to-verify-felons-rights/5432837/
Like.
Post a Comment
<< Home