BACKGROUND: There are two high profile voter suppression and intimidation situations taking place in Nevada right now.
1.0 VOTER REGISTATION FRAUD
This week, Channel 8 Investigative Reporter George Knapp, broke a story about a company that sought to register only Republican voters and destroyed voter registration forms completed by Democrats.
It was exposed that this group hired and trained employees to solely register Republican voters and walk away from anyone who considered registering Democrat.
Even more shocking is the fact that voter registration forms that were checked Democrat were torn up and thrown in the trash.
Eric Russell, a former employee of Voters Outreach of America, said he saw his boss destroy forms and came forward to shine the spotlight on this problem. The televised investigation also featured an individual who, when shown a copy of a completed registration form that had been destroyed, confirmed the form was his.
But what is most disturbing is that the investigation pointed out that Voter Outreach of America was being paid by the Republican National Committee. Now, as a result of the desire of Republicans to steal this election, thousands of voters may have lost one of the most fundamental rights of our country, the right to vote.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) paid to solely register Republican voters in Nevada. A Chandler, Ariz., political consulting firm, Sproul & Associates, was hired by the Republican National Committee to register Republicans in Nevada, according to the Associated Press. According to FEC filings, since July 14, 2004, Sproul and Associates has received $488,959 form the RNC.
This Classified ad from the RNC ran in the Reno Gazette Journal:
8.50/hr part-time,
$10.00/hr full-time
Canvassing Neighborhoods in Support of the GOP!
Voter's Outreach of America is hiring door-to-door canvassers asking people to register to vote. Must be at least 18 yrs of age, no felonies, registered to vote and have own transportation. Need good communication skills and professional appearance. Hours are 4pm to 8pm Monday-Friday and 8am to noon Saturday.
Call toll free 702-307-1320 for more information.
Paid for by the Republican National Committee. www.gop.com <http://www.gop.com> . Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
Source - Reno Gazette Journal - Reno, NV
NEVADA DEMOCRATIC PARTY FILES LAWSUIT
Nevada State Democratic Party files lawsuit. NSDP filed a lawsuit near the close of business on Wednesday, October 13.
The suit filed by the Party seeks to allow Larry Lomax, the Clark Counter Registrar of Voters, to re-open voter registration to victims of Voters Outreach of America.
The suit alleges the company violated four Nevada laws:
NRS 293.5045 (b) whichprohibits anyone engaging in the registration of voters from taking anyaction to discourage an applicant from registering to vote.
NRS 293.805 which prohibitscompanies from paying individuals based on the number of forms theysubmit. Voters Outreach of America deducted employee pay if theyregistered Democrats to vote.
NRS 293.505 (12) whichprecludes the alteration or defacing of a voter registration applicationthat has been signed by a registrant.
NRS 293.710 (d) because the actof destroying completed Democratic voter registration forms constitutesvoter intimidation and voter fraud.
It is difficult to know how many people may have been victimized by this company. Voters Outreach of America was in business for at least 50 days, and it is unknown how many Democratic voter registrations were destroyed during that period. It is also unknown how many people were turned away in malls and other public venues where the company registered voters.
We are waiting for a hearing.
Additionally, in Washoe County the voter Registrar has called for an investigation into alleged widespread voter registration fraud by Republican front groups.
2.0 VOTER SUPPRESSION
On Friday, October 8, Dan Burdish, the former director of the Nevada Republican Party attempted to throw out the voting rights of 17,000 Clark County Citizens.
Dan Burdish admitted in the Las Vegas Review Journal he is "looking to take Democrats off the voter rolls." [Las Vegas Review Journal, 10/10/04]
The 17,000 votes the GOP is trying to throw away belong to people who have been categorized as "inactive voters".
Inactive voters still have the right to vote in Clark County. They have only been moved to that category because the Clark County Election Department's efforts to reach them by mail were unsuccessful. But, again, they still have the legal right to vote.
Burdish filed a challenge with Clark County Voter Registrar Larry Lomax. Mr. Lomax referred the challenge to the District Attorney's office. The DA rejected the challenge and said that it would have to be filed by an individual living in the precinct of the challenged voter.
Desperate Republican times call for desperate Republican measures to suppress the vote. This situation is regrettable, but not surprising. Republicans are using these same tricks and pressure tactics in other Southwestern states and across the country.
VOTER RIGHTS PROJECT
We saw it in Florida, now we're seeing it here, Republicans want to steal this election. We won't let that happen.
This is an election about serious life and death issues and it is critical that every person who wants to vote can do so without interference and with confidence that their vote will be counted. We must work together to promote voting and voting rights. So the Nevada State Democratic Party has launched a statewide "Voter Rights Project". Our efforts are in conjunction with the Kerry-Edwards Campaign and the Democratic National Committee.
The goal - a voting rights attorney in every priority precinct in the battleground states
- We have created the world's largest virtual law firm in the country dedicating to promoting and protecting the vote.
- We have a Kerry-Edwards counsel in every state and every key county in Battleground states to protect voting rights on election day.
- We have hired DNC Voting Protection Coordinators in every battleground state to design and implement voting rights and election protection plans.
- Nationally, we will have thousands of Volunteer Voting Rights Attorneys in every priority precinct on Election Day.
- From now until election day, we are conducting intensive trainings on line, in battleground states and in coordination with our field staff.
- We will promote Early Vote and Vote By Mail and protect voters who vote early or by mail.
- We are investing record amounts in voter education and empowerment via Mail, Phones, Print and Electronic Media
DNC and VPC lawyers are reviewing the ballots in every priority county and state to make sure ballots are clear and easy to vote.
Our Kerry-Edwards, DNC, and VPC lawyers are also ensuring that election officials have made met all bi-lingual requirements and have made appropriate provisions so that disabled voters and older voters can cast their votes.
We are working to ensure that everyone who is registered can cast a ballot on Election Day by fighting to ensure states and counties provide provisional ballots so that everyone who is eligible to vote is able to.
Today we will also launch a toll-free number that voters can call if they feel their right to vote is being threatened. We are encouraging people to call this number if they feel they are a victim of voter intimidation or if they see anything strange at any point between now and Election Day.
The number to the Voter Rights Project Hotline is 877-WE-VOTE-2.
MESSAGE:
The Republican effort to intimidate citizens and suppress the vote must not be allowed to succeed.
People must turn their anger into votes. You cannot allow people who are trying to take away your right to vote to win. Your vote takes away their power.
You won't see a lot of Republicans in minority communities urging us to get out to vote - but sadly you will hear a lot of Republican trash on the radio and in the mail. Don't be confused, discouraged or brought down by what they try. They are scared of the power of your vote .
John Kerry and the Democrats will not stand by quietly and let them stop you from voting for positive change. We will be there to promote and protect your rights.