Wisconsin Hotly Contested: Allegations Of Voter Fraud Surface

Wisconsin has become one of the most watched battleground states in the country, and forces on both the Democratic and Republican sides have activated their field operations and get-out-the-vote, or GOTV, efforts to woo registered Independent and undecided likely voters. Democrats have been hoping to turn this traditionally red state into a purple or possibly even blue one this year. But just before polls opened last Tuesday for Wisconsin's general assembly primary, numerous, unconfirmed allegations began to surface of a behind-the-scenes effort by the McCain-Palin campaign to manipulate the vote totals in Wisconsin and other key states this November.

On the Monday night before the primary, thousands of Wisconsin registered Independents and voters who have re-registered in the last year received absentee ballot applications enclosed in McCain / Palin direct mail pieces. The pre-printed, re-mailable absentee ballot applications appeared to be customized to the recipient's mailing address, with the addressee's local election office already on the form. Such mailers have been a tool for political campaigns, labor unions, GOTV interest organizations, and state and county election offices for a number of years. Other states reportedly saw similar mailings hit mailboxes, possibly totaling in the millions.

On the surface, the mailings appear to be a legal GOTV effort to re-register targeted recipients for the November 4 general election. But reports in the blogosphere, progressive media, and by other individual sources allege that the forms could instead be part of a larger effort to purposefully manipulate voter registrations in Wisconsin and possibly nationwide. The mailers, if true, may be a type of voter fraud because if someone receives an absentee ballot but does not send it in, he or she cannot go to the polls and vote on election day. The allegations imply that the McCain campaign is sending absentee ballots to people in the hopes that they will not send them in and when they try to vote in person will be turned away.

On Thursday's and Friday's nationally-broadcast Thom Hartmann Show, which airs on Air America Radio Network and streamed online, guest host Lee Rayburn of AAR affiliate The Mic 92.1 FM in Sun Prairie, Wisc., broke the story about the mailings and fielded numerous calls from listeners echoing their concerns about them.

In Wisconsin, the core center of government, the state capitol of Madison, is notoriously liberal. And Milwaukee, the economic center along Lake Michigan, tends to lean left. However, over the last three decades the rest of the state, proud of its independence, its agricultural and green technology industries, and religious conservatism, has proven to be moderate-to-conservative, primarily voting so-called red most of the time. In the last 12 years Wisconsin also has had its share of alleged voting irregularities, although investigations into the allegations have not yet been aggressively pursued by the state assembly or attorney general's offices.

This year, however, may be different. As the economic policies of George Bush have played out, and 3000-plus Wisconsin National Guard reservists were called up last weekend to deploy to Iraq this fall, the state's residents seem to have shifted their opinions of the Republican Party, and the presidential and vice presidential contests. As a result, Wisconsinites are scrutinizing every angle of electing their public officials at a level that has not been seen before. Members of the military who are deployed abroad, by far the largest group of absentee voters, are being courted particularly heavily by the political parties, as dissension in the ranks has swung both political contributions and absentee registrations towards the Democrats and away from Republicans in many states.

Direct mail campaigns containing absentee ballot applications from political parties and campaigns targeted at registered Independents are not new. Wisconsin is an Independent stronghold due to the popularity of Independent U.S. Senator Herb Kohl. Mail campaigns also affect the local and statewide races by activating those potential swing votes. Democrats have been active too, coordinating GOTV efforts for contested Wisconsin General Assembly seats with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). SEIU distributed direct mail pieces to thousands of households on behalf of their endorsed candidates to likely voters in Wisconsin and other states. In Wisconsin both direct mail campaigns hit mailboxes on or before Monday night, September 8, just in time for Tuesday's primary activities. The SEIU mailers did not contain absentee ballot applications, nor did they include endorsements of the national parties or the Obama-Biden campaigns.

McCain's political pitch is targeted squarely at pro-life conservatives. The headline, "A faith that sustains me...," leads to a main story starting with his POW experience in Vietnam, his adoption (with wife Cindy) of a little girl from Mother Theresa's orphanage, and delivers the pro-life position to the reader right between the eyes.

Quoted McCain lines from one of the mailers include these:

"My faith in God sustained me, protected me and gave me the strength to endure."

"That's why I have consistently fought to defend the right to life and the rights of the unborn."

"That's why Cindy and I have worked to promote adoption here and around the world as an alternative to abortion, including adopting our own daughter from Mother Theresa's orphanage in Bangladesh."

"And that's why I will appoint judges that respect the values and protect the rights established in our Constitution, faithfully applying the law without legislating from the bench."

Local party officials and labor union organizers are mixed on the effect the national efforts will have on the races at the local level, and on the results in November. Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District Democratic Party Chairman Peter Rickman, an experienced political operative and labor organizer for the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), indicated in a Thursday phone interview that the national campaigns are prioritizing their efforts in Wisconsin towards GOTV efforts, but that more statewide and local media buys would be necessary to sway the voters in his district. Rickman insisted that the local candidates and parties were more focused on winning the Wisconsin General Assembly for Democrats, because local politics, he said, is where "real governing happens," and was pessimistic on whether the Obama campaign had done enough to support the entire ticket in an effort to spur the kind of change Obama spoke about in his Democratic National Convention acceptance speech.

"They're focused on their guy and getting him elected, and that's great, but the Obama Campaign could do a lot more to help out in local and statewide races, supporting the whole ticket," Rickman said. "If they really want to make change happen, it's going to have to be at the grassroots level, and although they have raised a lot of individual contributions and support from the grassroots, I haven't seen much of that money coming back in the way of paid media." Rickman did say, however, that the Obama-Biden Campaign and other national organizations are mobilizing large numbers of volunteers and paid staffers in his state and others to bolster GOTV efforts, which would go a long way to insure that likely voters are delivered on November 4.

Wisconsin Republican Party officials at the state and county levels in several areas were contacted for this report, but numerous requests for comment about the allegations surrounding the McCain-Palin mailings went unanswered. Democratic officials, including Rickman and Dane County Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Bigelow, did not mention the absentee ballot allegations in their respective interviews, but have been contacted for follow-up on this story. Efforts to contact state election officials about the allegations are still ongoing, but at press time, requests for comment have yet to be answered.

Follow Scott Foval on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ScottsBigMouth

Comments

[Ann2008]

I too am surprised to see Wisconsn described as a Red State. Please clarify what election history you are referring to. Our last governor was a republican. I always think of us in light of our socialsit historyy and Fighitng Bob LaFollete. I would guess that many in our state would describe themselves as independent, voting not for a party but for a person.

[scottsbigmouth]

Ann-

I addressed this in a previous comment. As I was referring to the overall officeholders at all levels of the state, elected in the past 12 years. Indeed, even though in the Presidential elections there has been a shift over the past few years, at the local and state level the Republican Party has continued to maintain an overall edge in overall elected officials. That does not mean, of course, that progress has not been made as of late...it has.

That said, you and others are correct in your assertion (and justified in your surprise) to hear WI described as a "red state." It really does come down to which numbers the author (in this case, my responsibility) is referencing. I'll keep this in mind in future reporting, so as to be as specific as possible.

The last thing I wish to do is confuse anyone, lest someone lobs a block of cheddar at my head the next time they see me at Woodmans in East Madison. I know the pain of a hunk of aged cheddar impacting the back of my noggin, and of the Bears getting their butts kicked by the Pack.

Thanks for keeping me in check!

ScottsBigMouth
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[Ann2008]

I also was surprises to see you describe Wisconsin as a red state? What election history are you referring to? While my read of our history is socialist - Fighting Bob LaFollete, I believe that there are many who would describe themselves as independent and do not always connect with a party.

[waitforme]

This is the time before an election when be remember the 2000 election, which was so mucked up by people like Kathryn Harris who helped steal the Florida election for George Bush. This should not happen again!

But today, when I was thinking about the lying, manipulative Harris, I remembered where I had seen her before: Palin! Miss KathrynHarrisclone Palin, who has such similar personality traits and visage that it is eerie.

[chf2go]

I think everyone should be very concerned if not downright scared. The Republican party's dark underbelly is showing itself to be like the Gestapo or the old Soviet Union regime where votes are manipulated in order to stay in power. We've got to make this a transparent process! It unfortunately has been going on for several election cycles, but I think the American public really has not been willing to accept that our fellow citizens could be this sinister. The writing is on the wall and this year, this time in John McCain, they picked a candidate that is too flawed and willing to win at the cost of his lies becoming so obvious, it makes the main stream media news. Every discrepancy needs to be outed by the media in order for us to remain a country that values each vote and does not disenfranchise it's citizens.

[walk0nwalls]

I find it ironic that my relatives just moved here from Vietnam to avoid an oppressive totalitarian, dictatorial regime only to find this.

[WeSeeYou]

I've been really concerned about this trend as well. Baratune Thurston, a HuffPo blogger, wrote an excellent article regarding this very thing - you can read it on the HuffPo's Politics page right now.

but to sum it up, a wiki has been established to help track this very thing:

votersuppr­essionwiki­.wetpaint.­com.

Please check it out . Please spread the word anyway and every way you can - especially to those voters who may not have access to this useful information. It is going to take all of us, every last single one of us, to stand up and take back our government....

[FortheTruth]

I am from Madison, Wisconsin and live in a district that is 90% Democratic. Tammy Baldwin lives down the street from me. No one is even putting out Obama signs for the most part because we're all voting for Obama. This year I received an absentee ballot from John McCain. I am a well-informed person with a PhD but had NO idea that tossing away this ballot would put me at risk for this. If McCain has done this with all of my neighbors, this is a serious problem. What's the next step?

[M.S. Bellows, Jr. - Huffpost Blogger]

You may not be in trouble, actually -- all the parties can do is send absentee ballot APPLICATIONS; only if you return it will you be sent an absentee ballot (and therefore become barred from voting in person). Hope this helps!

[LemonMeringue]

Lawsuit.

Bring this into the light of day so everyone can see how Republicans win elections.

Every time it happens, in every state.

[M.S. Bellows, Jr. - Huffpost Blogger]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/m.s.-bellows/dems-sue-gop-for-voter-su_b_127300.html

[justtalktome66]

I am a registered Republican, who will not vote for John McCain, because he abandoned what he stood for and adopted the Bush hard line.
John McCain told us he would not run a nasty campaign, which he has done. He stated if Barack Obama had done what he had suggested his campaign would be more civil.
John McCain assured us he would have an experienced Vice President, in case something happens to him. He nominated Sarah Palin, who has limited experience.
She was introduced at the Republican convention as a maverick, a reformer, did not take earmarks, and did not support the bridge to nowhere. She is an expert on the economy, versed in foreign affairs, and more experienced than Joe Biden and Barack Obama.
Sarah Palin was interview by Charles Gibson (reporter for CBS) he proved the claims about her to be false. She is a Christian, who refuses to tell the truth. She is compromising her religious faith to be the next VP.
She has extreme beliefs like she thinks the Iraq war is God's will, and does not believe in abortion even in circumstances of incest and rape and wants to overturn Roe V. Wade. Her church stated Jews have been persecuted for not believing in Jesus.
September 15th through 16th market fell more than 800 points, and Lehman Brothers filed bankruptcy. McCain made the following statement “he thinks the economy is fundamentally strong”. Does anybody really think McCain is in touch with this economy?
Melissa

[KahneO]

OBAMA BLUE DAY!!!September 30, 2008
Its time to REPRESENT!!!!!

This election season has remained too close for comfort and to close to call! We have 100,000s of unregistered and millions who remain on the fence! Its time for us to come together, voice our unity, and make a difference!

Tuesday September 30, 20008
everyone is asked
to do two things
1) WEAR BLUE
2) REGISTER TWO VOTERS!
(If you can't register two voters talk to two people who may be on the fence/and sway them to become an Obama Supporter).

LETS MAKE OBAMA BLUE DAY a DAY OF ACTION!!!!

BARACK THE VOTE!!!!!!


PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO EVERYBODY WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING!!!

[KarenJW]

Cool!

[billw8017]

I don't fully understand the logic behind the mailings. Don't laws establish that the recipient is not responsible for unsolicited mail? I know who I am voting for and could just as easily fill out the ballet and send it in; so, why don't I? Wouldn't this enlarge the Independent and Democratic vote? How exactly does this work out?

[Bryony]

these WI absentee ballots are overly complicated and in some instances incorrectly adressed, so that the ballot would be sent to the wrong voing precinct, invalidating the vote! The McCain camp is sending them to life long registered dems. I am grateful that people are finally talking about this story, but there is so much more going on that what this article reports.

[scottsbigmouth]

Bryony- Actually, the evidence we have now is being backed up by lawsuits that are pending in MI and other states. In fact, this entire mailing issue may frame a widespread strategy by the McCain-Palin campaign and state/local/RNC to exercise a "caging" program. When the mail is returned, then the local election officials attempt to "challenge" a vote by someone who lives at the address that the mail was returned from. In other words, the vote can be challenged and thrown out. (Hanging chads, anyone?). The Obama campaign has filed suits in MI about this type of strategy, as the mail was sent to lists of foreclosed homeowners. The overall "caging" technique has been around for a long time, though, and there is nothing preventing either political party from using it to disenfranchise groups of voters they identify as against them.

[BeltwayBette]

Reported on HuffingtonPost "
"On the surface, the mailings appear to be a legal GOTV effort to re-register targeted recipients for the November 4 general election. But reports in the blogosphere, progressive media, and by other individual sources allege that the forms could instead be part of a larger effort to purposefully manipulate voter registrations in Wisconsin and possibly nationwide.

The mailers, if true, may be a type of voter fraud ****because if someone receives an absentee ballot but does not send it in, he or she cannot go to the polls and vote on election day. ***The allegations imply that the McCain campaign is sending absentee ballots to people in the hopes that they will not send them in and when they try to vote in person will be turned away."

THE FAKE ABSENTEE BALLOTS REPORTEDLY COME IN MCCAIN PACKETS. TRASH THEM.

IF YOU NEED AN ABSENTEE BALLOT, CALL YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION OFFICE IN YOUR AREA. MOSTLY YOU WONT. DON'T LET ANYONE STEAL YOUR VOTE FROM YOU.

Former POW says McCain is "not cut out to be President"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KjsEs46C70

The voice of a Medal of Honor recipient.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYXCplJN1uo

Another female vereran for Obama/Biden -- the honorable guys

[scottsbigmouth]

Actually Bette...thanks for your passion...but people need to HOLD ON to these absentee ballot applications so that if there is a challenge later, the ballot applications can be used as proof of that effort. In a previous comment I have asked people to scan and send me a copy of what they received. We need to hold on to evidence in order to keep all parties honest.

[Bryony]

Send a copy of any defective ballot you receive to the District Attorney for your COUNTY with an brief letter of explanation. We cannot wait until after the TV news has announced the next President to act. We cant let another election be stolen.

[ObamanextPresident]

Thank you for this informative blog. We must all be vigilant every second to fraud and abuse, the gop sop.

The Barack Obama website makes it real easy to check our voter registration status no matter where we live. It takes about 2-3 minutes to make sure everything is in order. (I would give link but I am not computer up-to-speed).

Also, all states need volunteer poll workers on 11-4. This is a great way to let everyone know we are watching, engaged, and will not let this election be stolen.

Also, another poster suggested we all wear blue on 11-4 to let the world know we voted for Obama.

[strangelet]

I may be misunderstanding something here, but this seems like a non-story to me. If the McCain campaign is mailing out pre-filled applications for absentee ballots, with messaging targeting conservatives, it seems like a perfectly ordinary GOTV tactic. They are trying to increase the turnout of conservative voters by making it easy for them to request an absentee ballot.

Even if it were true that a voter who used the pre-printed form to request an absentee ballot would be prohibited from voting in person, it would seem that this "vote-suppression" tactic is aimed at likely McCain voters.

BTW, I have voted straight Dem for 40 years, will do so this time, and, coincidentally grew up in Wisconsin. I now live in California, where local registrars of voters periodically send out applications for PERMANENT vote-by-mail status, which means you always get a vote-by-mail (absentee) ballot.

In California, at least, you can mail it in, turn it in at your local polling place, or -- if you change your mind after filling it out -- take it to your polling place and trade it in for a regular ballot. If you lose it, you can vote a provisional ballot. Perhaps Wisconsin election law is different, but I cannot see how sending out vote-by-mail applications could lead to vote suppression in California.

[scottsbigmouth]

strangelect: mounting evidence suggests this is not a non-story. There are numerous stories across the country of different type of "caging" tactics. This is just one example. Wisconsin is not alone, nor are states like MI, FL, OH, even CA. The story is just beginning, and in this particular case...the mailers were targeted at Independents and newly-registered voters; Democrats included.

[M.S. Bellows, Jr. - Huffpost Blogger]

If the ballots are sent to likely R voters, it's GOTV -- because the party will follow up with phone calls and canvassers to make sure they mail them in. If they're sent to probable Democrats, the GOP won't follow up and will hope the voters mess up. That's the theory, anyway.

[ltva]

Why hasn't this been in the MSM?

[scottsbigmouth]

ltva: The MSM is corporate-owned. They have significant motivation to cover "the horse race" rather than the real depth of the story. Alas, the real quality journalism has been executed by the new generation of journalist, many of whom write here at HuffPo, on Blogs, Vlogs, or for smaller independent news outlets. This is why it is so important that we continue to dig into the story and bring out the truth.

[plafayette]

Wake up America! This is the hand writing on the wall pointing to a direct lost of our freedom. The GOP is demonstrating that we the people are losing our right to chose......not birth just options, but the right to chose our own governance. The GOP hijacked our vote for GW Bush and they are up to the same dirty tricks. Falsifying everything about the McCain/Palin ticket to give the impression of a widespread support when in fact they are not being well recieved at all. We, the people must rise up and make sure tht this does not happen again. We must speak out. We must stand up nd say no, not this time. We must let them know that we are on to them.

[scottsbigmouth]

plafayette: There is a clear pattern here, and you are correct to be concerned. This has been a tactic used by Karl Rove and his minions, many of whom now work for other campaigns in senior roles. Some of these operatives believe that in the U.S. "hijacking" the election, to use your words, is in fact an acceptable way to "win." They don't think there is anything wrong with using caging tactics to manipulate the vote. If we truly believe that it is wrong, we must actually take action...sign up to be a poll worker in your local area, and keep the election honest.