Fifteen Voters Removed In Rick Scott’s Purge Reinstated By Florida Elections Supervisors

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/06/04/494794/fifteen-voters-removed-in-rick-scotts-purge-reinstated-by-florida-elections-supervisors/

Fifteen Voters Removed In Rick Scott’s Purge Reinstated By Florida Elections Supervisors

By Josh Israel on Jun 4, 2012 at 7:00 pm


Last week, the Clay and Pinellas County Supervisors of Elections’ offices told ThinkProgress that they had already removed names from the voter rolls on the basis of not responding within 30 days to letters demanding proof of citizenship. But after the Justice Department demanded Florida Governor Rick Scott (R) end his extensive purge of registered voters from the rolls because it was in violation of federal law, all 67 county supervisors announced they would suspend the illegal removals.

But what of the 14 voters in Pinellas County and the one voter in Clay County who had already been purged?

According to spokeswomen for both offices, the voters in question have all been reinstated. The data processing manager for Clay County noted that the one woman removed from the rolls had already been restored. It turned out she provided documentation to the office over the weekend proving her citizenship — yet another piece of evidence that the Scott administration’s list of “sure-fire non-citizens” was riddled with an gigantic number of errors.

While the decision by the county supervisors to halt the purge and reinstate the improperly removed voters represents a victory for the right to vote, the Scott administration has still not announced whether it will defy the Department of Justice and continue to purge voter rolls.

[1monster]

1. But even if the elections supervisors refuse to implement the purge, it is immaterial,

other than on legal grounds, if Scott continues to order the purge.

Isn't it?

[MineralMan]

4. Not really. The state doesn't control voter issues in that way.

Every county administers its own voting regulations. The state can attempt to get them to purge voter rolls, but, as seen in this case, the DOJ's letter was sufficient to convince county voting officials not to do it.

The DOJ has very broad powers with regard to voting in national elections. Less power for elections that only have local implications.

[1monster]

6. Isn't that what I said? If the elections supervisors do not implement the purge,

then the purge doesn't happen...

[liberalmike27]

5. Would it not be nice

IF just for once, states in which there are democratic governors and congresses, would do the same thing republicans do--I don't know, maybe get a list of all the places where there are expensive homes, and add all of them to the purge list. Then send them purge letters, with some made up reason, saying we're removing you because there is a felon with that name in (pick your state) and that you'll need to jump through hoops to get back in. Then purge about 400,000 of them, and watch how the corporate media would just jump up and scream about it.

Wouldn't it be nice if republicans and democrats would both play by the same rules, rather than republicans using the most onerous, illegal, unethical practices openly and proudly, while Democrats wimpishly sit, do nothing, and whine anemically saying "oh poor me, I'm incapable apparently of ever doing anything, to combat anything, or speaking out loudly and vociferously against these notorious acts."

It's like Republicans have a RPG, and democrats are using a straightened out paper-clip as their weapon. F**king ridiculous.

[MineralMan]

2. Apparently, the DOJ's letter did the trick.

Complaints that the Obama administration has done nothing are incorrect. The DOJ has acted in other states as well. The right to vote will be protected.

[goclark]

3. It's all an outrage

[ananda]

7. 15 ??

Out of how many that have already been wrongfully purged???

[DCKit]

8. I'd think this was less incredible had I not been told last year that I'd been removed...

from the DC voter roles... because of a piece of returned mail.

I pack my trash better than my mail carrier packs my mailbox, and he/she doesn't carry anything back to the PO, so where did that BS come from?

I wrote back to them that I expected that shit from red states, but DC? C'mon.

[SunSeeker]

9. K&R

[Scurrilous]

10. K & R

[Uncle Joe]

11. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, babylonsister.

[Bake]

12. Fifteen out of how many purged?

Scott is a criminal and should be behind bars. GOPers just hate democracy, because they know if they let the PEOPLE vote, they lose.

Bastards, every one.

Bake

[Henley96]

13. Spam deleted by gkhouston (MIR Team)

[crim son]

14. Fifteen voters who, no matter who they liked before,

aren't liking Scott's team any more.