AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine’s Secretary of State has levied new allegations of possible voter fraud and again called on lawmakers to address what he believes are deficiencies in the state’s election system.
In an annual report to the Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee on the state’s Central Voter Registration system, Charlie Summers said his yearlong review of voter registration data was troubling.
He conceded that most of the problems are related to human errors by municipal officials rather than intentional fraud, but said those errors have contributed to inaccurate and unreliable state voter data.
The data “suggests that a substantial number of noncitizens (over 150) may have registered to vote, and approximately one-third of that number may have actually voted in elections over the past few years,” Summers wrote. “I have turned this information over to the Attorney General for further investigation and to pursue whatever action he deems appropriate.”
Lawmakers received the report this week but are not expected to discuss it until the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee meets next week.
Rep. Micheal Carey of Lewiston, the lead Democrat on the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, said the secretary and the attorney general should aggressively investigate any allegations of improper voting.
“What the secretary referenced in the letter, though, was clerical errors,” Carey said. “It’s not clear what he’s asking for that he doesn’t have the authority to do already.”
Summers said he believes the registration system has value but needs an overhaul. He asked the committee to authorize him to undertake a thorough review and then report back to the 126th Legislature in January 2013 with election reform legislation.
“Maine is long overdue for a full review of our election system in order to identify statutory and regulatory changes that will ensure the accuracy and integrity of elections going forward and protect our fundamental right of voting,” Summers concluded in his report.
Shenna Bellows, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine, agreed with Carey that the secretary already has the authority to address deficiencies.
“We don’t believe that his latest allegations point to the need for new laws,” she said Friday. “Certainly, these clerical errors don’t suggest that we need new barriers to voting.”
The issue of voter fraud has been Summers’ top priority since he took office about a year ago. During the 125th Legislature’s first session, election reform came up in the form of two controversial proposals — one to eliminate Election Day voter registration, the other to require voters to present identification at the polls.
The Legislature passed a law to eliminate same-day voter registration, but it was overturned by voters last November after a coalition gathered enough signatures to force a people’s veto.
“Voters spoke forcefully in November to say that Maine’s elections have worked well for decades,” Bellows said. “Despite allegations by [Maine Republican Party Chairman Charlie] Webster and Summers of rampant fraud there still have been only two prosecuted cases in Maine’s history.”
The voter ID bill, which was passed by the House but rejected by the Senate last year, ultimately was carried over from last session. It will come before the Legislature next week where another partisan battle is likely. Summers has testified in favor of voter ID.
After the Legislature adjourned late last spring, the voter fraud debate continued to dominate headlines, thanks in large part to Maine GOP Chairman Webster.
In July, after the people’s veto effort was launched, Webster alleged that more than 200 college students had committed voter fraud and called for an investigation into his findings.
Summers did investigate and released his findings last September. Although he found no instances of voter fraud by students, Summers said then that his investigation did reveal problems with Maine’s election system.
He pointed to clerical errors last year and wrote in his recent report to the Legislature that his office continues to identify clerical errors in the registration system. He said the majority of those errors involve clerks accepting incomplete voter registration cards or accepting cards from people who are clearly not eligible to vote.
If those errors allowed anyone to vote illegally, Summers said that’s a big concern.
“Illegal voting strikes at the very foundation of our representative democracy and could affect the outcome of elections, which in a few instances in the recent past have been decided by a handful of vote,” he wrote.
How ridiculous. How much do they want to spend on this now? Didn’t the voters let them know how we want it done last November? Is this man incapable of comprehending the majority rule? The desperation is pathetic and the money would be well spent on things citizens need not what these ‘people’ hope to find.
We should apply a common sense test to Charlie’s “unprovable but troubling” claims.
If someone is an illegal alien with a fake ID would they:
1) try to keep as low profile
2) register and vote, substantially risking getting caught and deported.
Let’s stop fighting over really really stupid stuff and start working on real issues!
Tyke; … ” Charlie’s “unprovable but troubling”…
Ahyup, Charlie is “unprovable but troubling”.
It’s only a waste of money in their minds if a Democrat does it. When a Republican does it, it’s called being conservative.
Amen brother, its all about the power for the GOP!
Once again, the outside ALEC organization is setting the current administration’s policy agenda in Augusta. So much for an independent Maine.
Look at how selfrightious Dems are on their moral issues and how they justify that the ends justify the means.. I was talking to a liberal at a primary in Maine one time and he told me he and a busload of people from Maine had been to NH to vote.. I have never heard of Repubs loading busses to go vote in other Towns or States. I thought that liberals didn’t like keeping score, ya know no winners or losers!!!
Your dreamed up, off-the-cuff anecdotes never fail to give me a good chuckle.
Laughter: the best medicine…
“I was talking to a liberal at a primary in Maine one time and he told me he and a busload of people from Maine had been to NH to vote” How about some more anecdotal psycho-babble garbage Mrs. Bachmann…?
I’m not sure whether you are a liar or just really gullible.
Yeah, well I saw Charlie and Charlie with a busload of right winged unicorns brought into Maine to vote too!!!!
Unicorns? I could have sworn it was a bus load of illegal
Christmas Elves
Yes, but we’re they those gad-darned COLLEGE STUDENT unicorns?! Those elitist one-horn know-it-alls can NEVER be trusted!
No they had their left wings clipped off, so they were definitely all right winged!
Ever heard of the Dems jaming phone lines of the Repub party?
No but the Repubs did just that… trying to jeopardize one of our most sacred rights….
lol,sorry kennyh,didn’t get to your post before I had to answer the bullsh..er Davidvsgoliath.Or is that Davidtheliar?
Maybe the Repubs have trouble getting a bus load together. But they have been known to tie buses up to prevent registered voters from getting to their local polling places.
‘
I was talking to a liberal at a primary in Maine one time …’
How did you know he was a liberal? Did your liberal-dar (like gaydar) tell you he was one?
He did a litmus test, turns blue, it’s a liberal …
Probably because the wingers are too busy Jamming phones!
No, they just commandeer buses to prevent non-drivers from voting, of course not knowing how they’d vote.
beating a dead horse
You’re right. Didn’t we all just do this dance? Find another hobby Mr. Summers.
We did the Gay Marriage one too but you all seem ready to tango again on that one. Why not this one?
The gay marriage will ultimately pass, as society ages, older voters die and younger voters come aboard who feel no animosity toward gays.
Finding no evidence of voter fraud is now a fact, and no amount of wishful thinking will change that.
The only people I hear claiming there is no fraud are the ones who have been protecting a system that allows them to let anyone vote that they want to vote.
Uggh! You don’t have to “claim” that there are no major fraud issues. Either there are or there aren’t. And at this point how much money has been spent turning over rocks and looking under beds, where every single attempt to expose widespread voter fraud has turned up NOTHING!
If there is fraud, SHOW IT TO US. Simply claiming that there is, and keeping on wasting taxpayer money re-re-re-re-examining the issue won’t make it true.
Again, let me say this plainly so it is easy to understand: don’t just tell us what you “think” or “believe” must be true, show us the facts. If you can point to real instances of widespread intentional fraud, I’ll be the first person to get behind reform.
The only ones who are claiming there is vote fraud, like these two goofball Charlies, are paranoid right wingers trying to suppress voters who would tend to vote more progressive. The very definition of insanity is trying the same failed argument over and over again even when you get the same failed result. Mainers have clearly decided this issue. There is NO evidence of a voter fraud problem at all, as prooven by their own investigations, and all evidence that does exist only tells us that there is NO problem and that instances of voter fraud are EXTREMELY rare. What nonsense. The Charlies (along with the rest of their TeaNuts) have truly crossed the bridge to crazyland. Bring it on. We’ll embarrass these zero-credibility fools AGAIN in NOVEMBER.
Isn’t Charlie quoted right here as having “conceded again that MOST (We have to assume ALL since he hasn’t provide even one instance after a year of searching) of the problems are related to human errors by municipal officials rather than intentional voter fraud?” So what fraud might we be discussing here??? Clearly this non-issue is a complete joke. The only thing that keeps Charlie from being totally laughed out of his job is the fact that Mr. LePage thinks, says, and does so many things even more absurd than this.
I think you’ve left out the part where he says he has turned over some things for investigation right?
“May,” “Suggest,” “Things.” You know when you put his quotes together they do start to make some sense! Anyone “may suggest things,” but when we as a people become willing to accept such regardless of evidence from a sitting Secretary of State then we cease to be functional citizens of a democracy.
I will throw in that the 2009 People’s Veto of Marriage Equality was fraught with corruption and lies. Even the head of the anti-Marriage Equality group in Maine admitted the ads were over the top, inaccurate, and misleading. It was an appalling display of misrepresentation and insertion of religious dogma into our secular government. The fact that it is back on the ballot reminds me of the civil rights battles of the 1960’s and 1970’s. We keep trying until the truth wins out – much as did women and minorities of the past. Eventually, equality occurs. Combine this with a national and Maine polls favoring Marriage Equality and we will see it come to pass, hopefully in 2012.
Frankly, it would set a good example if the people of Maine voted in favor of Marriage Equality. The People’s Veto was an embarrassment to the State. Had our Legislature’s action remained in-place, Maine would have been seen as progressive and making it enticing to business and tourism. The Legislature recognized the inequality, corrected it, and could have moved on. Now, the majority must vote on the rights of a minority. They should not need to. Hopefully, Maine will redeem itself in 2012. Estimates are Marriage Equality will bring in an additional $20M/year in tourism. If it is rejected, we truly have earned our nickname of “Mississippi North.”
Contrast this with voter fraud. The numbers are insignificant and restricting access to voting runs the risk of denying a legitimate voter the right to vote. If there was widespread voter fraud as was/is found in some other countries and how it used to be in Chicago, then taking some kind of action might be called for. Right now, I do not see enough of a problem to justify the risk to the legitimate voter.
Requiring ID has never restricted access to one commodity for which we require it. Why would you claim voting to be different?
There are people who do not drive and thus do not have a photo ID. But, that aside, voting should not be impeded in any way. We are not talking about access to money or to alcohol or really anything that critical to the welfare of, or the risk to, others. Voting is a personal right in this country. In all the other circumstances mentioned, ensuring a person is of age, or actually is the person in question is important as it could affect others. While in the broadest sense, a single vote could change the outcome of an election but probably not. The risk of not being allowed to vote is more critical than a few errant votes.
I am willing to trust the ethics and honesty of my fellow citizen on this point. I have not seen any significant amount of voter fraud that justifies providing an ID. If a person shows up at the polls, provides their name and address, and the clerk checks off that person (so as to prevent duplicate voting, or clerical errors) that is good enough for me.
I really do not think this is enough of a problem to really be concerned about it. I fail to see why this is such a hot-button issue for the Tea Party crowd. One could speculate the conservative crowd wants to limit access to voting by younger, more progressive, and more liberal types. But, of course, that cannot be true as a true American believes that all people have the right to cast their vote and restricting access to voting would be unethical, un-American, playing dirty, and reminiscent of the Jim Crow days of poll taxes, property ownership requirements, and voting literacy tests.
For a crowd that claims to want less government interference, it certainly feels otherwise when it comes to voting and bedroom police.
I am willing to trust the ethics and honesty of my fellow citizen on
this point. I have not seen any significant amount of voter fraud that
justifies providing an ID.
Good thing you don’t work in a liquor store, but I do have a bridge I’d like to talk to about…
Well, I did say on the voting issue. If it were money or booze, I’d be checking the hologram on the ID.
It amazes me that there are still people in this country that seem to think it’s their business what two consenting adults do in the privacy of their bedroom.
Yes, it’s the old DEFLECT from incompetence elsewhere by talking about anything else no matter how stupid it may be. What is it that the Maine GOP/Tea Party would like us not to be talking about? Well just about anything Paul LePage is saying or about to do to us again. Keep your eyes on the ball folks…don’t be as dull as the conservatives believe us all to be.
Hmmmm. there does indeed seem to be a close correlation with “Lepage said something incredibly stupid today” and a Charlie or two screeching and whining incessantly about non existent voter fraud.
Of course that could be a false perception since Lepage says incredibly stupid stuff so often.
Yah, right, and Dead people can’t vote either . . .
Don’t believe it? Watch the vid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
Worse, he keeps resuscitating the horse before he beats it to death again.
If there are no rules, there are no rule violations. I think I’ll vote early down here in Florida, then fly up and visit family and vote in Maine. I can do that, right?
No, of course you can’t. And neither Charlie has found any reason for us to believe people are doing anything like that. The only double-registered voters were the college students, and despite Webster’s absolute certainty that they MUST be gaming the system, he found not a single example where a student voted in both their birth state and in Maine where they attended college.
But by all means, let’s start restricting voting as much as possible because of the paranoid delusions of Mr. Webster and Mr. Summers.
Only if you are a person of questionable ethics.
If you become legally registered in both locations at the time of the votes, YES you can actually, as long as you don’t vote in the same election for the same office(s). (i.e. You could, if registered legally at the time in Florida, vote in a local election there at one point in time, and then return soon thereafter for an extended time to Maine, legally register, and vote in your new location in the next national election even if it is in the same year. In know that isn’t just what you are describing, but THAT would be perfectly legal and not fraud of any kind. The thing is, you would have to establish residence and be legally registered when you returned to Maine.) Now, if you were a complete nutcase and wanted to waste the time and money to fly back to Maine to vote twice for the same candidate(s) in the same election thus breaking the law, risking huge penalties, and having no effect on a major election anyhow, not to mention just plain being an immoral and unethical jerk unlike the extreme majority of Mainers, then go ahead and try it.
What law would I be breaking? All one has to do in Maine is declare they live there. No ID or early registration needed. Right? Of course, I would have to tell a couple of lies, but, hey, that’s all one needs to do right now. Right?
A picture ID and early registration is the minimum in Florida. It should be the minimum everywhere. In Maine, however, there are no rules, so there is no fraud. Of course, we all know that’s a load of hooey. You can bet there’s fraud going on, even if it’s just unethical fraud.
And you claim that the extreme majority of Mainers are ethical and moral. You’re probably right. But, what about that extreme minority that isn’t? They’re the ones that are screaming FOUL!!
The extreme minority? He moved away. Some other State has to deal with him now.
You would be breaking the law in both Florida and Maine, but the most obvious thing to say here is that a voter ID law would be not increase the difficulty of your scheme at all. It is possible to get ID in both states.
You most certainly can EJ. We will have the boys with the badges waiting for you.
Nope. And we’ll be waiting for you to try.
How many times does the Penguin administration expect us to fall for their lies about voter fraud?
The majority of Maine voters have already stated their case on this issue. They want no protection from voter fraud. They do not have, nor will they accept any kind of standards or values. Some of them are so stupid they don’t even think you should have to be a US citizen to vote. And they certainly don’t want those who do have standards or values to impose them by way of law. Maine is a liberal state and this is what liberals do. If you keep defining downward what voter fraud is, then of course there will be no voter fraud. So please drop it Mr. Summers and Webster! Let the children have their way.
I’d like to belive it’s a dead horse, but what we’ll see next is voter ID.This is part of the r’s national agenda, and just because they lost once doesn’t mean that they won’t try to get a state ID law to see how wmany people they can keep from the poles. Doesn’t the Sec. of State have any real business to do?
Here we go again. What part of 60% don’t these guys understand?
See you at the polls…….the answer is NO!!!
Time to throw the bums OUT!
“Time to throw the bums OUT!”
At the this year’s State Republican Convention, might be good place to start .
RINO’s unite ! …
Get the TEA Party out, and make them stand for election on their own.
: 0
… before the Heritage Foundation “election reform” plan comes to this sort of disrespect for democracy, in Maine, too :
Va. GOP primary to require voters support eventual nominee
… Anyone who refuses to sign the pledge will be barred from voting in the primary. … Va. GOP primary to require voters support eventual nominee … Committee voted to rescind its demand for a loyalty pledge in Virginia’s Feb.
http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2011/dec/28/va-gop-primary-require-voters-support-eventual-nom-ar-1573779/
Connect the dots.
Yes, and get our Mural back to the people of Maine!
Can we apply this same logic to the “Gay Marriage”issue?
Well Rocky there is difference … equal rights… and you are looking like a fool because you don’t get it.
If we did as you say, mixed marriages would still be illegal because some fools think that race mixing is an abomination to God, too. No Tiger Woods, huh ?
If we outlawed whatever some people think is an abomination to God that would end the lobster, no, the whole shellfish, industry, wouldn’t it ?
Is that not the path you are advocating as if it were sane and normal in a free country?
I think I “get it” more than you my friend. My question was in response to kc’s statement and it is a logical question to ask if he promotes that standard.. but why the two standard’s? The wishes of the electorate should only be observed when it fits your narrative,a floating scale. Picking and choosing when rules or laws apply to them has become the M O of the liberals these last few years, any any who point out these instances is a fool.
As for your Tiger Woods scenario , look to the Democrats and their history on the Equal Right’s struggle in our Country.
I’m Not sure how you brought God into this, But I am sure He would love a good Lobster ,or a Clam chowder now and again. …Nice fb trolling catch by the way.
So long as they voted for democrats, no harm done.
what part of no fraud found dont you understand?
sounds like you– poor victim
conservative filter”** conservative filter: the ability of conservatives to only notice things negative concerning conservatives and positive concerning liberals in the media or in discussion, creating a false sense of bias. Positive conservative news/discussion or negative liberal news/discussion is ignored and filtered out from the conservative brain, further enhancing the conservative sense of perpetual victimhood.
That’s when you know you’re supporting a lost cause. All you have are zingers and no facts : (
Thats right Charlie make busy work cause your boss LePage is watching you ! He’s gonna cut your lunch money that the State pays.
ALEC/MHPC/Tea Party are both Governor LePage and Charlie Summers boss. They are mere puppets to the ultry right wing.
When Bangor has local elections they don’t even lokck the little black boxes you put the ballots in.. I asked a box watcher where the locks were and he opened the box to show me the ballets and said we don’t have locks… I thought that was illegal??? Please don’t confuse Local with State wide which we use the electronic ballet counter…
I am glad to see our state sparing no expense to root out every last ballot that doesn’t conform to the two Charlies’ standard. Also, I like the initiative to ban all young non-Republicans from getting driver licenses to keep them away from the ballot box too! This is a great example of what government can be, a legal way to discriminate against those who oppose your way of thinking. Keep up the great work Big Paulie and his soldiers.
This is garbage. There is no logic behind this, it’d be like: “I think my roof might be leaking, I have no proof of it, no water anywhere, but I think it might be! Guess I will replace it then.” There is no evidence of a problem, it’s just conservative politicians trying to sway elections and it is wrong. Notice you don’t see them screeching about election reform in regards to their primaries for choosing their presidential nominee?
Considering no one is checking IDs and no one is investigating where exactly would you expect the problem to turn up?
You’re right, we have solved every problem that is facing this state, it is about time we go searching for some new ones that probably don’t exist.
That’s because democRATS do not vote in Republican primaries.
So, many of the same people who were howling about the MTA’s Board not doing their job in preventing corruption are complaining that Secretary Summers IS doing his job.
Go figure.
Actually Baldacci’s crew and the rest spent years claiming there was nothing to see at MTA and any investigations would worthless and too much of a bother. No fraud to see there because they spent years not looking.
Not too surprising that they want us to keep not looking since it is what kept them in power for so long.
Yup, they’ve been using that template for a long time now.
According to real template used in America;
If A) if you are innocent until proven guilty, still,
then B) there is STILL no voter fraud in the past election.
I expect that will confuse Newporter, something wicked, but the Sec.of State should understand it, we should expect.
I have consulted with Madame Pelosi, and she has said that the liberal democrat machine and their worthy warriors will down play this information and declare “NO VOTER FRAUD HERE”.
Actually I believe the article said that it’s Charlie Summers that admitted there’s no voter fraud ….
Actually, I believe you’re wrong.
And what do the Koch, ALEC, and MHPC machines say?
What? “May have voted”…does he know or not know? Not wonder he has had trouble getting elected to any post….I think he should keep his mouth shut unless he has concrete information. Otherwise he’s guilty of McCarthyisms and lies.
This guy is the biggest poser dufus I’ve ever seen. He’s totally incapable of original, independent thought. Talk about no substance.
I say second biggest poser dufus. First place is Poliquin.
Did you say Poliquin or the Penguin?
Anyone know where Ken Allen and Mike Flood are these days?
This joker has gone from annoying to buffoon. If we took the money he continues to waste on these witch hunts away from him we could afford to fund something worthwhile that we are being told we can no longer afford to do. Priorities please gentlemen? Cudos to the democrats and others who are insisting we look at the total state budget before we go making draconian cuts on invalids and old folk. I’d like to see us start with his.
You thought wrong. We’re keeping score all right. Speaking of scores, I think yours is a crock of week old beans. Stinks to high heaven!
If most of the problems are related to human error how will changing the law correct that … unless he’s going to propose that “making a mistake” become an illegal act….
They plan to build androids and robots.
No humans allowed – no human error!
Of course the androids and robots will be built by Diebold, the company that publicly promised a Bush win in 2008.
Charlie, get off it!! Go chase some “pink rabbits”…
Go back to worrying about teen drivers, Charlie. They’re a threat. Voter fraud isn’t. The real problem is, you define “fraud” as “not voting Republican.”
The thieves of democracy are at it again.
Red Herring!
How much money are they going to waste now!
What about jobs!
Words are wonderful things aren’t they? They allow us to communicate with each other. Everybody has a favorite word. In my case I think it is eat. I really like to eat things that taste good. “Is it time to eat?” “What do we have to eat?” “Are we going to eat soon?” I am sure other people have favorite words as well. Charlie Summers seems to have a favorite word. In fact going back over some of the things he has written , especially when it comes to the issues of the system we use to vote in Maine he really seems to have a favorite word. One word seems to show up in just about all of the articles in reference to quotes from Charlie. The word is “may”. It really is an interesting word. It can be a noun as is the case when referring to the Month of May. I noticed though that Charlie doesn’t seem to use it much as a noun. He prefers to use the word “may” as a verb. Usually when he is trying to make something sound like it is factual. He uses it to kind of imply that there is a possibility that something bad could or has happened. It allows him to give the impression that something is true when it might not be. Today Charlie has used the word again in the hopes of getting us to believe, as he has done in the past that our voting system is under attack. ”
The data “suggests that a substantial number of noncitizens (over 150) MAY have registered to vote, and approximately one-third of that number MAY have actually voted in elections over the past few years,” Summers wrote. One thing I can say for Charlie is that he is persistent. He doesn’t give up easily. A lot of folks would have given up after the peoples veto on voter registration won by 60%-40% last fall, but not Charlie. He is back once again warning us about all the terrible things that MAY be going on with our election system. The Oxford dictionary defines the word “may” when used like Charlie likes to use it as a verb as, “1 used to say that something is possible
That may or may not be true.”
good points.
Great post! Maybe someone should get Charlie a chicken suit. The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
Truly, the Maine Republicans need to drop this issue in an election year. They looked foolish last year when the fight against election-day registration came up– legislation to fix a problem they couldn’t prove existed, which wouldn’t actually address voter fraud.
I agree that our voting system needs to be reliable, ensuring against noncitizens voting. But this year is not the time to tilt at windmills that make Republicans look out of touch with what the citizens of Maine want them focused on.
Here we go again – making a snowman out of a snowball when 60% or more of the populace doesn’t even vote – or care to – cause it really doesn’t make a rat’s tail of difference who gets elected.
I do not believe a word this man says.
you’re a wise woman.
Someone shut this goose-stepping goon to the Maine Heritage Policy Center up. Issue was settled by Maine voters…and by a wide margin.
You took the words right out of my mouth ! …. Apparently we’re going to have to settle it again.
Summers has to make another moronic statement to get the heat off from LIEpage for saying he’d close schools on May 1. More bs from the original manufacturers of the product.
Déjà vu?!
I was wondering how long it would be before the opening of the Republican push for a voter ID law! It was bound to come sooner or later. I’m only a little surprised that they’re using the same old tired methods of pushing it though…lots of “may have voted” and “possible fraud” and stoking fears of out-of-staters corrupting our electoral process. Summers claims that as many as 50 people “may have voted in elections over the past few years.” 50 votes…50 votes possibly cast by people who may be non-residents who might have registered and even may have voted…and he claims that because of that, we need new regulations and laws to protect our fundamental right to vote. It’d be laughable if it weren’t actually being proposed.
Lame. This is what those who cannot hold power on the merit of their ideas do…stoke the fears and prejudices of the fearful and the weak-minded to push their agenda.
The truth bears repeating.
Repeat it as much as you want and we will vote it down every time : )
No matter how often you repeat a lie it does not make it true.
Mr LePage and crew are continually complaining about the waste of our tax dollars. How much have we spent and continue to spend on this witch hunt ?
Let’s look at this article:
” … suggests that a substantial number of noncitizens ( over 150 ) may have registered to vote …” Suggests ? With the money spent one would expect a definitive answer. Over 150 … is that 151 or 152 ? Why is it that this administration can not seem to come up with real numbers. May have registered — they either did or did not.
” He conceded that most of the problems are related to human errors by municipal officials rather than intentional fraud … ” That said my tax dollars would be better spent helping the municipal officials rather then carry on this witch hunt for the 150 or was 151 noncitizens who may have registered.
395,748 people voted in the last election. If all 150 noncitizens ,who may have registered, had voted they would have made up 0.03 % of the vote. Is Mr LePage afraid this may cost him the next election.
Surely we have better places for our tax dollars to be spent. Maybe on some fuel for an elderly person or a bottle of medication.
If there is ONE fraudulent vote cast, that is too many.
That bad vote esentially cancels out mine, or your’s, or somebody else’s.
Why should it be so hard to procure and produce an ID to vote.
Methinks there is a rat in the woodpile with so many liberals against this common sense proposition.
Be careful with your liberal paint brush. I have voted for 47 years — for more republicans than democrats — happen to think Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton were pretty good presidents. But I do take issue with this current state crew who deal in maybes and perhaps — we have real issues that need to be dealt with and not by wielding some political agendas around. Let’s deal in real numbers and real facts. In my profession real numbers and real facts are the answer.
well there isn’t so don’t worry about it dude!
So if the LePage Administration makes no arrests when the laws have been broken,
by fraud or incompetence, no matter which, why aren’t they weak on crime ?
….
I knew it all along….and I would wager they all voted for Mr. Cutler and Ms. Mitchell too……
They havn’t found them yet.
Maybe voter fraud by noncitizens is grounds for deportation. Get some convictions and ask the federal government to take it from there.
But, if the illegal shows up with a fake ID after registering to vote in that town with the fake ID, wouldn’t that mean that all votes cast by this person are perfectly legal or are you judging the illegal voters by the color of their skin? Just curious.
It’s about non-citizens voting. Doesn’t matter if they are here legally or not. You could get into this country by marriage and get kicked back out for criminal activity.
You know what? Do what ever you want, Maine people will keep voting it down!
Doesn’t this guy have anything to do?
Doesn’t this guy have anything to do?
The Maine Sec. of State ?
No, at least not that his handlers, his real bosses at the Heritage Foundation have approved.
Good God…let this issue die a dignified and final death. Let’s work on other issues, issues that are real…. like….how about making healthcare outcomes better and making patients safer???!!! Reduce medical costs and make patients safer by eliminating payment to Hospitals for harm from medical errors and Hospital acquired infections. How about keeping Maine Care intact and not taking the feet out from under people who need it….like the elderly, disabled and children. Let’s stop the issue of getting safe care from becoming the issue of getting “any care at all”. How about equal access to healthcare for all?? Let’s work at stopping tax breaks for the rich and getting them to help pay for needed services for the less fortunate. Lets keep women’s access to safe and affordable reproductive services. Let’s stop the Governor’s new plan for”choices” in education. We have a difficult enough time funding for our public schools let alone private Christian schools with limited programs. We absolutely must protect our public school systems. How about we stop wasting time on praying in the State House and start spending more time working on the real rather than percieved issues at hand. Get real down there in Augusta!!
The concept that we will ever have a 100% ANYTHING is absurd. The amount of regulation that is being proposed to “close any loopholes” in government is the exact opposite of “remove all barriers” for business. But running a government is like any other entity. Some people won’t be qualified for the positions they hold; some people will cheat; some will exceed every expectation to be good.
You cannot expect voter registration and vote casting to be perfect. It never will be. Credit card companies and banks expect a certain degree of fraud. Stores expect a certain degree of theft. No classroom yet has every student getting 100% on the tests, etc. Imagine what a store would be like if it set out the goal to prevent 100% of any form of theft.
Middle ground and common sense are needed here.
If there is ONE fraudulent vote cast, that is too many.
That bad vote esentially cancels out mine, or your’s, or somebody else’s.
Why should it be so hard to procure and produce an ID to vote.
Methinks there is a rat in the woodpile with so many liberals against this common sense proposition.
In the matter of settingvoting policy you should quit while your still ahead.
Because 10% of eligible Maine voters don’t have an ID. If one vote is suppressed/discouraged because of this imagined problem, that is one too many.
How about the number of registered voters without a ID……..Did you find any numbers on them to share? Just wondering?
Can anyone doubt that Maine is under attack by the extreme right? We see this happening in other states around the country which have extreme Governors and henchmen acting as legislators. They all know that without these extreme measures we read about every day they will experience firsthand the meaning of what it is to be dropped like a bad habit when 2012 elections roll around. The only question is can we wait that long?
Look into the face of fascism and realize that these extremists are not doing our bidding but rather the bidding of a central command that all legislation springs from. Look to the west but no farther than Wisconsin as an example of how to rid our great state of this extreme pestilence.
If left unchecked these extremists will do to our state what they did the country’s economy as Bush exited. It’s happening right before our eyes we have only ourselves to blame if it is allowed to continue.
this is all about the national Republican parties push to limit voters. the moe people who vote, the more often the Republicans lose. Cheating the only way they feel they can win, the only voter fraud i can remember in Maine is the Republican that got arrested for continuous crank calling a Democratic “get out the vote” phone bank, tying up their lines. Why are they so afraid to let people vote? Isn’t that the democratic, American way? I think we should be passing laws that require everyone to vote.
I love it Mr. Summers, your strategy of angering the
majority of Maine Voters before November is going to pay off big for you guys.
May I make a few suggestions for the next couple of months? I think you guys
should bring back the dangerous chemicals for the children’s toys. If we could,
maybe destroy the labor mural publicly, that would help. And if it’s possible
perhaps Mr. Lepage could wear a top hat and carry an umbrella, that would be
wonderful. We’ll see you guys in November!
Why are so many against preserving the sanctity of my vote? With the recent videos of voting in NH, I’m concerned about this.
You mean the illegal voting/signature gathering in the New Hampshire Primary by republicans? You don’t SAY! Really? I wouldn’t have guessed that there were questions of voter fraud being committed by republicans. Shocker!
No.
Yet another solution looking for a problem.
So, 1/3 of 150, or 50 people may have voted? Hardly worth mentioning. Has anyone heard of the “point of diminishing returns?”
Bigger fish to fry, in my opinion.
Excellent point, only 50 may have voted, out of how many votes actually cast in the elections that were investigated. This state does have bigger fish to fry, but they use this to distract voters from the bigger issues that they cannot resolve.
True enough. I might also add that clamping down on who can vote runs the risk of preventing people from voting who are entitled to vote. That risk is not worth the 50 votes.
Much like the old saw – it’s better to let ten guilty people go free than convict one innocent person.
Cry wolf again, still waiting for the evidence of voter fraud from the last time. And the irony is that I have no problem with requiring a photo id, I just wish they wouldn’t use false arguments to support it.
It is becoming increasingly clear that Mr. summers is perusing a personal agenda in the guise of a Public figure.
His earlier “investigation” into “voter fraud” yielded no results but was, nevertheless, spun as revealing nefarious “possibilities.”
This is a despicable position for Charlie to continue to advance as Maine’ Secretary of State.
If his personal opinion is that Maine harbors felons intent upon subverting the election process, so be it; however, to use his office as the messingr for speculation and conjecture is intolerable.
Who’s fooling whom? Repeated public announcements that the wolf is coming are little more than partisan propaganda and should be called out as such.
He’s just another LiPage puppet, taken orders .
Charles Summers, do you have evidence of illegals voting in Maine? If so, did you have them arrested, tried in a court of law and imprisoned for their crimes? I do believe that it is your responsibility to see to these matters of great importance to the security of this state.
We don’t arrest illegals Pa. It’s not their fault so we release them back to the street for minor crimes.
If he had evidence of this happening I would think he would put that evidence out to the public to see. Until he trots out the evidence, I’ll think that what he is saying is BS to hide his real agenda. That agenda seems to be whatever the ALEC/MHPC/Tea Party tells him to do. I will give him credit for having the ability to make all these accusations with a straight face. Another actor.
Im currious, 1/3 of 150 over the last few years means what exactly? If a few years means 3 years and 1/3 of 150 is 50, are we saying 16.6 non-citizens on average over the past 3 years have voted in Maine? Now, how many people actually voted all together? Looks like 565,542 people voted in Maine’s 2010 Gubernatorial Election.
So that means approximately 16.9 people out of more then 1/2 a million shouldn’t have voted. >.<
Anyone care to guess what percentage 16.6 is of 565,542?
16.6 is is ~.003 percent of 565542. I'm not sure this is a newsworthy level of error.
I think that's somewhere in the ballpark of the statistical likelihood of winning the Megabucks.
“Despite allegations by [Maine Republican Party Chairman Charlie] Webster and Summers of rampant fraud there still have been only two prosecuted cases in Maine’s history.”
The left keeps spouting this without bothering to mention they never once did anything to look for fraud the whole time they were in power. Not one protective measure was ever put in place to prevent fraud ever.
So if no rules are in place and no one is watching how could they ever catch anyone?
Take the Troopers off the highway and I bet you stop catching speeders there too.
No rules? Nothing in place? I’m sorry but your comment makes no sense. There are laws that have always been in place. I don’t think anyone can effectively argue that either side of the isle would endorse voter fraud even though its a favorite non issue to get the bases all fired up.
It looks like Summers has looked very very hard and found that we are as likely to have voter fraud as you are to win the Megabucks. Just saying.
Laws Huh?
Please feel free to tell me what prevents me from going to vote as you, and how Maine makes sure that doesn’t happen.
Sure thing:
http://maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/votreg.htm there you go.
Nothing there stops me from stealing your vote by claiming I am you and nothing there provides for any policing of the system.
Unless people show ID as they do for a million other things we do in this State there is nothing stopping me from pretending to be you.
Ok, give it a shot. Hope you don’t get caught. It could also be argued that it’s identity theft. Consider how easy it is to use someone else’s identity and run off with all kinds of cash without ever having to show ID.
My point: If you want to hate Democrats or Republicans there are “millions” of ways to rationalize it. You are arguing there are no rules, no consequences, no expectations of honesty, no enforcement, etc. When really what you mean is you have a particular political persuasion and you want the other side vilified. /sigh. What good does that do us?
No vilification to it. I want steps taken to protect my vote. I want my ID checked and when you come in and claim to be me I want them to look for an ID, not just nod their heads like the doggy in the back of the window.
So you are conceding that right now we are just on the honor system.
Why can’t we be that way with other things like Cigarettes and Booze? Things that are far less important than my right to vote.
Not sure how you got I was conceding anything. I said “You” are arguing there are no expectations… then I provided a litany of complaints you seem to espouse, of which honesty was one thing. Not my thing.
Your logic is circular. The reality is this, its about who benefits from voter turn out. Republicans tend to do better when a few people vote, and Democrats tend do better when lots of people vote. That’s it, end of story. There are loads and loads of studies that show just that. Its accepted in the world of thinking people as a fact.
If it was the other way around I guarantee you the arguments would literally flip flop and each would adopt the others perspective and arguments likewise. Neither side endorses voter fraud, or crime, and no data anywhere suggests voter fraud has any kind of sway or significant impact on elections in our country.
Your arguments are intended to argue you care and others don’t and that is ridiculous.
My arguemnet appears to be on the money. You do not seem to care about the identity of people voting and there is no reasonable case to be made of ID checks causing fewer voters anywhere. It certainly doesn’t adversly effect alcohol sales.
Here’s an idea, how about what other countries do. A simple inkpad and finger print, thumb print, palm print etc. That way we eliminate the need for the state to suply eveyone in the state with a photo ID? How about everyone when they check in for their ballot to vote we have a running survailence camera with sound. That way if you show up and someone has taken your vote, they can run the tape to see who has done that. Or if they suspect that they came in on a bus from N.H. or Mass. to vote here. We will have photographic proof. The Republican/Tea/MHPC/ALEC party seems to have the money to spend and want things all nice and safe to prevent fraud so let them foot the bill.
Why would ID be acceptable for everything else in daily life but not this one?
As for who can and who can’t afford ID I’ve never seen anyone who has a problem buying their booze or their smokes. Yet somehow they can’t prove who they are to vote.
The only people who don’t want to show ID are the dead people you dems claim to be on the rolls when you vote the 3rd or 4th time.
Once again, what is the underlying reason behind the Rep/MHPC/ALEC/Tea Party wanting to fix something that has not been shown to be broken??
Who would catch me?
Unless the person checking names actually knows you by sight there is nothing stopping me from stealing your vote.
Perhaps you are right newportres. How about you list the million other things we have to show ID for here in this State. And you are right there is nothing preventing you from pretending you are someone else. But wouldn’t it be dishonest for you to do a thing like that?
I think you’re well aware of the things you need to show an ID for in this state and you’re probably also well aware that the people you claim will not be able to get an ID have no problem with the laws when it comes to buying the booze or the smokes. Last time this issue came up it was revealed that there are more IDs issued right now then there are voting age citizens so it sounds to me like the people who need one for voting should be mostly accounted for. There is not one reasonble reason not to show that you are who you say you are when you vote.
Have you ever gone down to the polling place to vote as your neighbor? If so, what happened?
thing is … this isn’t just about Maine, this is the Extreme Right gearing up for the next election. They know the only chance they have is to become thieves and try to steal the next election any way they can that is truly all there is to it.
They are Thieves of Democracy.
Rhetoric, while you avoid the point in the post that there are no police in this system and you and other Dems are intent on keeping it that way. You took your eye off your cheating ball this last election but you still want the ability to fall back to your old ballot stuffing ways in the next one.
There is not one legitimate reason why we shouldn’t be sure that the person voting is actually the person registered to vote.
It’s not rhetoric. It’s very obvious that Republicans are trying to suppress votes. Why haven’t they tried to ensure that their primaries/caucuses were safe by requiring IDs and pre-registration? Why isn’t it an issue for them?
How do you know what they will do at their primary? They don’t need to do a law change to manage it.
talk about Rhetoric. Are you telling me that they don’t know who you are when you walk into the SVCC? thats pure BS
So as long as I’m OK with who I say I am than there is no need to check my ID?
That is how you protect our vote?
Great plan!
So you’ve been scammin’ the system up till now? … nice. all the years you’ve been voting and all those that know you when you walk into the SVCC you’ve been lying to? interesting. But now that the wingnuts are in charge there’s a need to show your ID … interesting too.
2 cases of voter fraud in 40 years. You think this means there’s rampant voter fraud in the state and Charlie is the man to quell it? Seriously? You nimrods need to get your heads out of the sand, because you’re embarrassing yourselves!
How many cases of speeding would we have on I-95 if we had no one patrolling the highways? You people keep throwing that out there as if it means something without adding (oh by the way, we have no one patrolling the system). You’ve spent decades not even looking at the process because having no checks in place benefits you. Only on this latest election did you take your eye off the ball and lose control of the process. I’m willing to bet that without these checks in place your part will throw all the fake people it can back at the system again to get back in power. Since you make sure the system can’t be monitored or verified once the dust is cleared you win again.
Shouldn’t he be busy deciding whether Bruce Poliquin business activities violate the state constitution? He’s got REAL work to do and he’s still crying voter fraud. Hey everybody the sky is falling!
You got evidence of voter fraud Charlie?
Great.
Now go get some convictions and then get back to us!
So is this all the Secretary of State does? Spread rumor and innuendo? He’s got a whole department of workers, working hard so he can go out and be a politician, gassing on about voter integrity. Maine has voter integrity and always has, no proof of his rants. There is clearly an agenda here, from the national level, maybe? For shame, badmouthing the great State of Maine in his role of a constitutional officer. More like a figurehead and mouthpiece of the other groups.
EIGHTEEN (18) MILLION ILLEGALS ARE living in the USA. NOT the “politically” correct term “non Citizens” but Illegal Aliens.
What IMPACT does EIGHTEEN (18) MILLION ILLEGALS have on the GOVT SUPPORTED “SOCIAL” sytem(s) cost of living ?? What IMPACT ON retired, true citizens that are living on a FIXED Income after working their entire lives ?? AS CONGRESS pretends their interested in what normal folks think as their battle for Re-Election looms. HOW many FED & STATE JOBS as opposed to the private sector unemployment problems?? HOW many ILLEGALS will vote in the NOV Elections & will that make a difference in the LARGE ELECTORAL COLLEGE STATES OF NY, Texas, CA, etc that will determine who the NEXT President is ??Do you suppose any of the EIGHTEEN (18) MILLION ILLEGALS are working “under the table” and not paying taxes AND their LIBERAL employers aren’t paying taxes either ??BUT IT’S ALL THE MAINE SEC OF STATE’S FAULT because he is trying to eliminate what will be a REAL PROBLEM IN NOVEMBER !!!
Less caps… thanks.
Mr Summers did make one definitive staement in this article and that was that most of the problems arose from errors made by municipal officials not intentional fraud. That being said if the illegal immigrants are to influence the next election the real fault will lie with the local officials due to their mistakes in registering. As I said in a previous post perhaps his time and our money would be better spent helping the local officials to reduce their errors.
You might want to rethink your comment on illegals working under the table for their liberal employers. The bulk of illegal employee raids have occured with Walmarts who are controled by the ultraconservative Walton family — true republicans.
Mr Summers’s maybes and perhaps are not any effort to eliminate a real problem in November. They are just useless inunedo that lack substance. Stop wasting my tax dollars on non issues.
It’s 18 million now? Went up 4 million in a couple of years? LOL Where did you get your numbers????
I highly doubt the majority of illegal immigrants are going to show up to vote in America, even with a fake ID, because I bet voting is the last thing on their mind in our great country!
The last time I went to vote I was greated as a person who was not me. I corrected the mistake but it left me wondering. If I was adressed as Mr. X by the election worker it was because they thought I was Mr. X. But they made a mistake and I told them I was Mr. Y. So how they had no idea who I really was in the first place but now they are accepting that I really am Mr. Y? How do they know for sure.
Would ID really hurt? Yes this was a clerical error but clerical errors could be exploited by people looking to committ true fraud.
Always. Interestingly enough, over an over again we find that’s not really an issue when it comes to voting. Identity theft, now that’s another issue.
If you had lied and said you were Mr. X when they addressed you as Mr. X and they went to his name on the list and saw that he had already voted as Mr. X, then YOU would have been in trouble if you had decided at that point to commit voter fraud. :D You were honest, though. Why wouldn’t you be We all are when it comes to voting. If there’s ever any question, we will gladly produce our ID that we had to use when we originally registered to vote before voting.
Maine doesn’t have a large population, but in the big cities where there are many people with the same names on the list, I’m sure those voters feel the need to show an ID to make sure the right name is being checked off.
The trouble in this case is I know Mr. X and I knew that he had not voted. Then when I said I was Mr. Y she just accepted it even though she thought for sure I was Mr. X. The other issue is this happened in a town where I have lived almost all my adult life and my entire childhood. It is a town with less than 1500 people in it. I would have no problem showing an ID either, I dont know why anyone would.
Personally, I’m very concerned about the Franco-Mexican strategy to pass socialistic laws requiring Islamo-vegetarianism.
Finally, a real issue we can all get behind!
The majority of Maine voters have already stated their case on this issue. They want no protection from voter fraud. They do not have, nor will they accept any kind of standards or values. Some of them are so stupid they don’t even think you should have to be a US citizen to vote. And they certainly don’t want those who do have standards or values to impose them by way of law. Maine is a liberal state and this is what liberals do. If you keep defining downward what voter fraud is, then of course there will be no voter fraud. So please drop it Mr. Summers and Webster! Let the children have their way.
Again with the vague and idiotic voter fraud crap. Didn’t Summers read about the People’s Veto? He needs to shut up about faux voter fraud and do some real work.
Does Charlie Summers look like the kind of man you would want to buy a used car from?
You left a comment The majority of Maine voters have already stated their case on this issue. They want no protection from voter fraud. They do not have, nor will they accept any kind of standards or values. Some of them are so stupid they don’t even think you should have to be a US citizen to vote. And they certainly don’t want those who do have standards or values to impose them by way of law. Maine is a liberal state and this is what liberals do. If you keep defining downward what voter fraud is, then of course there will be no voter fraud. So please drop it Mr. Summers and Webster! Let the children have their way.
There is no voter fraud in Maine, thus, we ARE protected. Charlie and Our Other Brother Charlie are liars and they want to make sure on behalf of the billionaire Koch Brothers that Maine has electronic voting machines/ballots in the future for them to steal our elections but under the guise that these machines are protecting our rights. See?
Disqus generic email templateYou are exactly what I meant when I said Summers and Webster lost the voting to those who have no standards. It’s obvious in your reply. Maybe you’re not so smart but you are in the majority when it comes to casting votes. I’m sure the whole bunch of you don’t have the collective integrity of either Summers or Webster. You state there is no voter fraud in Maine, like you know that. Well you don’t. You said Charlie and Charlie are liars. Exactly what is that lie? Let’s have it! You say that they are acting on behalf of the Koch brothers to steal Maine elections. How do you know that? Are you privy to information of possible criminal activity? Be specific and state exactly what your proof is. If you can’t do that, than could it be that YOU may be the liar, and not the Charlies?? And for what it’s worth, anyone who ends a reply that has no fact at all with “See?” is not worth my replying to but for you I’ll make an exception.
The majority of Maine voters have already stated their case on this issue. They want no protection from voter fraud. They do not have, nor will they accept any kind of standards or values. Some of them are so stupid they don’t even think you should have to be a US citizen to vote. And they certainly don’t want those who do have standards or values to impose them by way of law. Maine is a liberal state and this is what liberals do. If you keep defining downward what voter fraud is, then of course there will be no voter fraud. So please drop it Mr. Summers and Webster! Let the children have their way.
He has to have something to be in the media for!
My question Mr Summers, can you name 1 person that voted illegally? If so,why didn’t you do something about it?I don’t believe you have found anything illegal,you and your ilk just want to limit peoples rights!
If this man were my employee I would make him take a medical leave and go in for a psychiatric evaluation. He is clearly incapable of comprehending his job description and doing his job.
Great idea, the only problem is he doesn’t work for us or even the state, his allegiance is to the national extreme team and probably signed a pledge to them swearing his undying commitment to them like all those idiots did for Norquist.
Summers is an Iraq Veteran. Your disrespect is troubling.
Please find and post the job description for Maine Secretary of State, so that we can see what portion you feel he isn’t addressing, with the voter fraud issues.
The problem with your defense of Chuck is the voters of Maine
have spoken on this issue and your crew continues to push an obviously national
agenda to restrict voters rights based on the most infinitesimal evidence. Voter
fraud is a Republican myth and as your boy O’Keefe has proven voter fraud is
truly a Republican issue.
veterans from any war can also be idiots in life.
respecting their service is one thing, agreeing with them is an entirely different matter
I see Moonbat Summers is hacking his way into 15 minutes of Andy Warhol fame again.
If this poster child for hacks was serious about voter fraud he would restore the paper ballot
make sure every voter got a hard copy of how they voted with a bar code that would allow the voter to
see their vote online and how it was tabulated, all Maine’s electronic voting machines would be donated to the Republican/Democratic parties in China.
Summers would take full page ads out in all the Maine papers once a week for the next
six months explaining to voters how FBI agents got caught hacking into the voting machine
computers in the 1980’s and have been doing it ever since according to Leonard Gates who
was committing voter fraud for the FBI in Cincinnati see
http://www.thelandesreport.com/Donsanto.htm
Moonbat Summers would eliminate all electronic vote tabulating devices and keep law enforcement away from the ballots.
Penalties for voter fraud would be increased to a mandatory 15 year prison term with no good time no parole and no pardons. There would be no statute of limitations regarding the crime of voter fraud
and anybody assisting with the crime would get the same penalty.
All the assets of the perp would be confiscated and turned over to the State of Maine General Fund
It doesn’t say how many voters should not have voted if any.
150 may or may not have voted, 150 out of 1,000,000 Maine adults, 150.
According to the loose approximations the Secretary offers about irregular voting, a person is as likely to win the Megabucks as they are to vote illegally. Not too shabby.
He must have nothing better to do, so in my opinion he is wasting tax payer money beating a dead horse. He should be removed from his position !
TO clarify “Under the table ” A job where person(s) are paid cash by the person employing. NEITHER is paying taxes, social security, health ins, etc., which means the taxpayers inherit the expense. NYC, LA, NY State, California have thousands of people working under the table.
1/2 of 18 Mil =’s 9 Million that are not paying taxes, social security, health ins, etc.
A pretty large amount of MONEY $$, which contributes to the financial “Depression” the USA is in. How many Trillions are we in debt ??
MAINE has four (4) Electoral College votes. Whether Maine goes Dem or Rep will NOT matter or determine who wins the Presidential Election.
Oddly, they cared enough to vote.
We need reform alright…reform that gives the people the power to eject these fools from state government and exile them out of this state.
What stories like this prove to us as voters is that people like Charlie, Charlie and Paul and the others on the extreme teams around the country would better serve the people if they were relegated to things like running sewage treatment plants, amusement parks, road work, lingerie sales and things like that because they sure as hell have no idea how to administer their current positions. In addition they (the lot of them) should never be allowed back into elected office or any government positions based on their total disrespect to the electorate.
There is no way I would want either of the two Charlies to run a sewage treatment plant, maybe not even Paul. Screwing up a state is one thing, but screwing up a sewage treatment plant is too grotesque to even imagine. I’ve got to watch something funny on TV to get the image out of my mind.
sorry Pat LOL
B.S.
Rhode Island has enacted mandatory photo ID laws.
http://www.elections.ri.gov/voting/id.php
Common sense, and they figured it out, even with a majority Democratic legislature.
Please isn’t there anything else you could be doing. Perhaps focus on real problems…that is just one idea. How does one fire this incompetent idiot? This entire administration needs to go and sooner rather than later. Let’s start at the top with idiot#1 and then move on to this one, Poliquin, and let the dust settle.
“…may have registered…”, “…may have actually voted…” This is another instance of governance by implication. As Stephen Colbert said, “I can’t prove it, but I can say it.”
Yawn….
Buh-bye Charlie.
What a fool.
OMG …………. Give it a rest …………. enough already
Wouldn’t a photo ID put a end to all this “fraud” once and for all? I don’t have a problem with showing a ID. The woman who took my picture did a terrible job ….. kinda looks like the guy in the mirror though.
I vote in three different towns… nobody cares.
What a miserable life Charlie Summers has. Didn’t we just go through this same song and dance bit before? He and his tea sipper pal Le Page are just a bit too much for Maine.
The majority of Maine voters have already stated their case on this issue. They want no protection from voter fraud. They do not have, nor will they accept any kind of standards or values. Some of them are so stupid they don’t even think you should have to be a US citizen to vote. And they certainly don’t want those who do have standards or values to impose them by way of law. Maine is a liberal state and this is what liberals do. If you keep defining downward what voter fraud is, then of course there will be no voter fraud. So please drop it Mr. Summers and Webster! Let the children have their way.
The children are in charge of Maine right now. You hadn’t noticed?
Hahahahahahahahaha! Charlie Summers is a fraud! And it felt good to say it because it is the truth.
since all of our elected official are spineless on illegal immigration.I say get it over with just send out 14million absenty ballots to canada and an other 14 million to mexico.every state in the union knows whats happening and so does the feds to send the ballot would be business a usually.
He just can’t stand not being in the press! Give it a break Charlie. You look like a geriartic Ken doll just waiting to say something stupid.
Looks like Summers has lost it. If you are worried about Illegal Criminal Aliens voting in Maine then lock them up and DEPORT THEM you FOOL. Don’t punish Mainers by passing more laws. Do your job Summers, prosecute the Illegal Aliens and Deport them.
By the way this guy looks like that kids doll they sold years ago called Plastic Man.
PASSED BY THE DEMOCRATS IN THE R.I. LEGISLATURE LAST YEAR
The R.I. House is 87% Democrat. The Senate is 76.3% Democrat.Rhode Island state law. 17-19-24(e) requires all voters to present valid identification prior to voting in all elections beginning in 2012. Voters will need to present one of the following forms of ID:
Photo ID
Rhode Island’s driver’s license
Rhode Island voter identification card*
U.S. Passport
Identification issued by a U.S. educational institution
U.S. military identification card
Identification card issued by the United States or the State of Rhode Island
Government issued medical card
Non-Photo ID
Birth certificate
Social security card
Government issued medical card
*The Rhode Island Secretary of State’s office will be issuing free voter identification cards to individuals who do not possess any of the valid Photo IDs listed above. See the Secretary of State’s website for additional information on the program.
Any voter who is unable to present valid identification at the polls, will be required to cast a provisional ballot.
Identification is not required for voting by mail ballot.
Beginning in 2014, only a Photo ID will be acceptable identification in order to vote at the polls.http://www.elections.ri.gov/voting/id.php
This is probably only a preliminary news flash. Expect a sensational revelation in the near future that poll watchers have confirmed deep space aliens all registered democrats have voted illegally in Maine elections. Mainers can take what comfort they can from knowing Mr. Summers is on the job.
Still at it, Charlie? Get a life. On your dime, not ours.
Mr. Summers needs to find a job he is more suited for. I don’t think he has enough work where he is, so he is just LOOKING for trouble. How often does he have to hear that voting is going quite well in the great state of Maine before he believes it? I do not want anymore of MY taxes used to pay a man who keeps running at windmills while calling them dragons. ENOUGH!
The more idiotic the Republican contenders reveal themselves to be, the more desperate the Koch brothers and their helpers (ALEC, Heritage Foundation, Summers, LePage, etc) are becoming. They realize the only way ANY Republican can win ANY post now is for them to rig elections. So they’re trying to push through restrictions on voting.
geez, how much are the Koch brothers paying Charlie? I mean, this is insane….i hope its a lot cause……the guy is looking like a stone cold fool now.
Yet another attempt by the Blaine House Thugs to push their campaign of lies and fear. If these so-called “clerical errors” exist, I would suspect that it involved snow-bird Republicans who have their cars registered in places like Florida to avoid Maine’s excise tax (but doing so requires Florida insurance and a Florida drivers license thus making them a citizen of THAT state) but stuck around to vote in order to push LePage’s agenda. There are plenty of laws on the books to deal with them, however. Summers and his McCarthy-like attacks have NO BUSINESS IN MAINE.