Tuesday, August 07, 2012

Michigan Democrats decry ‘mass confusion’ during primary elections


By Eric W. Dolan/Raw Story
Michigan Democrats on Tuesday blasted Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, claiming she neglected her duties in administering Michigan’s primary elections.
“Ruth Johnson has completely fallen down on the job based on her performance in this primary election,” Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer said.
Johnson added a question to the February presidential primary election ballot requiring voters to affirm their U.S. citizenship. The state legislature later approved a bill that would have made the citizenship declaration a state law. But Republican Gov. Rick Snyder vetoed the legislation, saying it would confuse voters.
However, the question has remained on the ballots.
“The secretary has the authority to prescribe forms, including ballot application forms. She put that check box on the ballot application,” secretary of state spokesman Fred Woodhams told the Associated Press. “Up until a few years ago, the secretary of state wasn’t able to track citizenship. Maybe there was a language barrier, but some non-citizens were asked if they were ready to vote.”
The citizenship question has reportedly caused confusion at a number of polling places in Michigan, according to The Detroit News andDetroit Free Press. Both Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Project Vote said they had received numerous complaints of people being turned away from the polls for refusing to answer the question.
Just before noon, the secretary of state sent out a clarification to election officials, telling them not to enforce the citizenship declaration question. But Democrats said the clarification came too late for many voters.
“We also saw that her insistence in putting a citizenship checkbox on ballot applications — despite Governor Snyder’s veto — caused mass voter confusion,” Brewer said. “That confusion was compounded by her office issuing a directive telling clerks not to issue ballots on Monday and then finally issuing the correct instruction today. That’s a recipe for disaster on Election Day.”
“It’s time for Ruth Johnson to give up the ghost and focus on her job requirements: making sure Michigan’s elections run smoothly and every eligible voter that shows up to the polls is able to vote. Her pointless obsession with voter fraud is clearly affecting her performance as Secretary of State and Michigan’s elections as a result.”

4 comments:

Honkey Honkey Honkey said...

Stupid people shouldn't vote, but then that would eliminate The Amateur's base, so I guess we should continue to allow them.

We'll just have to be amused.

Motor City Liberal Returns said...

Then you and your wingnuts shouldn't be allowed to vote then.

Honkey Honkey Honkey said...

That was a BRILLIANT comeback. You could probably retire after that one. I imagine your brain hurts from having to come up with such a witty, original reply.

Motor City Liberal Returns said...

Boy you right wingers are so sensitive, what's the matter you just realize you're on the sinking S.S. Willard? It's clear the only way possible path for a Republican victory is to try to restrict people ability to vote.

And I don't blame you if Mitt Romney was my candidate I would try my hardest to make sure sane people can't vote while at the same time making it easy for the racist for Romney base to vote.