Rich Chandler writes in response to a post from Russell Peterson:
"Wow! Totally surreal! Calling for the resignation of a statewide official
over this. I don't recall any harsh words spoken about Joan Growe when the
unexpected hordes of Jesse voters used up all the ballots and had to wait
for more to be printed. Do you have some sort of grudge against Mary
Kiffmeyer?"
Well, I don't know about Russell, but I certainly do. Mary Kiffmeyer is a
conservative Republican who has made the Secretary of State's office a highly partisan
enterprise. Her point--and she's cagey, but still pretty explicit---is that voting is
a high honor and we don't need to make it too easy for people.
Remember last year, when the Sec. of State's office, sent out a state-wide
mailing about caucus times on Tuesdays----and failed to mention that the Democrats
were holding their caucuses on a Saturday? Her office was well-aware of the
difference. This wasn't an "accidental" mistake. I wrote to Kiffmeyer's office and
complained about use of state funds to publicize caucus times primarily for
Republicans. Never got a response.
Unlike Joan Growe, who was dedicated in making voting totally accessible,
Kiffmeyer goes the oppposite direction--all in the name of reducing voter fraud, etc.
Of course, we've never had a big problem with voter fraud in Minnesota. But if you
make it harder to vote, fewer minorities or poor people show up. Sure, making it easy
to vote clearly benefits the Democrats. But it's also The Right Thing To Do in a
democracy.
Kiffmeyer is from the same party and ideaology as the Republicans down in
Missouri who went to the Court of Appeals on Tuesday in an effort to close down polls
in St. Louis at 8 p.m.---no matter how many people were in line. Because the people
in line were African-Americans who presumably were going to vote Democrat.
Can you imagine these same Republicans trying to shut down polls in the
wealthy suburbs if there were a bunch of rich, white people still standing in line at
8 p.m.? I don't think so.
The Minneapolis link to this topic? Well, in Minneapolis, we have a higher
concentration of poor, minority or immigrant voters who need all the help we can
extend to make it easy for them to vote. And we have a Secretary of State who has no
intention of making it easy.
I hope the DFL nominates a good opponent for Kiffmeyer in the next election
and Minneapolis voters play a strong role in booting her out of office.
Lynnell Mickelsen
Linden Hills, Ward 13
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