What's That Smell in Brighton?
Blue Mass Group has an important post about possible voter intimidation and disenfranchisement aimed at Boston University students in Tuesday's Democratic primary for state representative in the 18th Suffolk District.
"According to Mike Jervis, VP for Communications of the BU College Democrats, by early this afternoon as many as several dozen students had faced challenges, and at least one or two were actually prevented from voting. Jervis said that as far as he knew, the students who were turned away were not allowed to vote provisionally or otherwise; they were simply sent home."
These events come in the wake of a column by Howie Carr in The Boston Herald last week, which was substantially devoted to a small voter registration drive by BU students. Carr was worried that the students might be gay, and be supporters of the openly gay candidate Tim Schofield." [I]f I were one of the other two major candidates," Carr declared, "I'd be plotting a dirty trick for this weekend."
On March 12th, a member of the Ward 22 Democratic Committee in Brighton, apparently also concerned that BU students might vote for Schofield, issued a press release alleging that students might be registered improperly, and that their registrations should be challenged by operatives of the candidates at the polls. Perhaps coincidentally, the Ward 22 Democratic Committee voted to endorse Schofield's opponent, Mike Moran.
Attorney General Tom Reilly should take immediate action to determine if anyone was illegally denied the right to vote -- or to clear the air -- because something stinks.
"According to Mike Jervis, VP for Communications of the BU College Democrats, by early this afternoon as many as several dozen students had faced challenges, and at least one or two were actually prevented from voting. Jervis said that as far as he knew, the students who were turned away were not allowed to vote provisionally or otherwise; they were simply sent home."
These events come in the wake of a column by Howie Carr in The Boston Herald last week, which was substantially devoted to a small voter registration drive by BU students. Carr was worried that the students might be gay, and be supporters of the openly gay candidate Tim Schofield." [I]f I were one of the other two major candidates," Carr declared, "I'd be plotting a dirty trick for this weekend."
On March 12th, a member of the Ward 22 Democratic Committee in Brighton, apparently also concerned that BU students might vote for Schofield, issued a press release alleging that students might be registered improperly, and that their registrations should be challenged by operatives of the candidates at the polls. Perhaps coincidentally, the Ward 22 Democratic Committee voted to endorse Schofield's opponent, Mike Moran.
Attorney General Tom Reilly should take immediate action to determine if anyone was illegally denied the right to vote -- or to clear the air -- because something stinks.
posted by Frederick Clarkson at 8:37 PM
5 Comments:
I don't understand this belief that challenging the voters was not fair. What they did is in the rules and is perfectly legitamate. To imply it was a dirty trick is sour grapes. If Schofield registered a lot of students in one precinct his campaign should have been prepared. Especially when it was suggested by a Boston Herald columnist recently. They should have had the rules and regs regarding residency with them at the the polling place to show and argue to the precinct warden when a challenge was made. And they should have been prepared to run to court to get an immediate injunction allowing the students to to vote. Schofield is an attorney.
Don't whine. Learn from this.
No whining from me. I was not involved in the campaign and have no idea what they were or were not prepared for.
But what I have learned over many years is not to listen to people who blame the victims of intolerance and political disenfranchisement for thier plight. It may be that everything that was done was fair and square. But from what we have heard so far, I doubt it. Reilly should look into this and either identify wrong doing or clear the air -- so we all learn from it.
I don't follow. What aspect of the challenges may have been illegal. Are you saying that the act of challenging a voter at the polls, which is allowed under the state regs, is intimidating to the challenged voter and disuades him/her from going through with process and disuades other potential voters from voting. I am not sure. Is that your argument.
"I don't follow. What aspect of the challenges may have been illegal."
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That would be the part where voters were not allowed to use provisional ballots. Provisional ballots are designed for people to use when their status is deemed uncertain, and once their status is verified, they are to be counted.
Are you afraid that an investigation might show fraud? I can't think of any other reason to be fighting the idea.
It would be best to lift the cloud of suspicion and, if necessary, fix any problems that are discovered. Who knows, it could be your vote that doesn't count next time.
No, i am not afraid. I am not involved with any campaign. Just thinbk that Schofield camp should have seen this coming and had someone there to prevent it.
An investigation? What are you kidding me?
Toughen up puppy!
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