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FACING SOUTHA News and Politics ReportOctober 29, 2008 - Issue #152
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Uw58J5KkTLwGjAUrFdiJ_J1yUP8EBpLvyC3VR9SE9e86QcCtim-jMTgsJeD_IH62R2eFjQt-ykLfg-EpjDfosI3ZMarLw_rUtVo-Wn7WIo5zOPCZmtz_gw==)Facing
South is your source for in-depth coverage
and fresh perspectives on the South,
published by the Institute
for Southern Studies
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* INSTITUTE INDEX - Voting rights at risk
* DATELINE: THE SOUTH - Voting Rights Watch
* ANALYSIS - Kromm: Is the tide turning in the South?
* ACT NOW - How you can help protect the vote!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DATELINE: THE SOUTH - Voting Rights Watch
LONG
WAITS CONTINUE TO MAR EARLY VOTING
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Uw58J5KkTLxj0QLaCRYPyB4NHCy4ZW4h5lftWSzRe3G0-39DdDF1ZI9vTATqHKyByVcR3nRFqD2NAcoXYXEBfZvx4Hd55xaeeknc6Hlm37lennvW5IzHBUIp9w8s7XhImIMi7NmzMID-7Mdl2cCtGRxuHkC2LJM1vEK8zizGRG6of_P1tH5Z2m61KQmGfphPe2srWQTzgwgKPtRxLXgdwQ==):
With voters in states across the South
waiting up to six hours to cast a
ballot, concerns are growing that the
overburdened system could disenfranchise
voters with work and
family responsibilities. (Facing South,
10/29/2008)
FLORIDA
NO-MATCH LIST GROWS TO 12,165 VOTERS
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Uw58J5KkTLz2BTEqzLC_k6RNJQ4VasHrc4G5UafT1k6YUu5y-AQjFjD3SBc2XODsQVYpfzXHs8_K3XEjiPP0dN4suVckO-GvCwMriVJpmAeG-LSbNt8yLYlgxPOT43-rx4-En3LIKyVWMS2klkYDrD069gOOhluaxymf7vHSS4gGhhNjfKZ3FnetvxDJm9GgL-Lbus1Yl2M99d-JEcS4Zw==):
Thousands of Florida residents could have
their votes go uncounted in the battleground
state due
to problems matching their registration
information with other databases -- and African
Americans, Hispanics, Democrats and South
Floridians are disproportionately affected.
(Facing South, 10/28/2008)
ONE
COMPANY'S MACHINE BEHIND VOTE-SWITCHING
REPORTED IN EARLY BALLOTING ACROSS THE
SOUTH
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Uw58J5KkTLyk5jWVdvGEI9UQqnxnRkkj4hOzImho1OczMqCbXTNwA8J_j89FatFUjiT8mKMZETiiJ9yA3c6h8rRe_eVZquyq72lN90b2I3Vsha-E507T9bAzbk4oNtQUxKWWhIEpq2IDKSysMa4ih9KZhzJ3aBlNcBhMSFrWu44-RKTDupqwCLS0L0OL0kPWtt3OC3imElU=):
The iVotronic machine
manufactured by Elections Systems & Software
has been blamed for instances of
vote-switching in South Carolina, Tennessee
and West Virginia -- and one West Virginia
clerk's failed efforts to show how simple
recalibration will solve the problem are caught
on video
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Uw58J5KkTLxDM-RWMz-gsuh_gd4bmWcP-p7nYDXS2d4bolXGgsJpPqoMk1B-lfpJmaTDUCHQB0x9qHGd_sFKFr3WNM9QDy1P5oM5EDGK-kKcyL-VpJF3VPbUoXrFoTotYKESottXsBeh4jdsW97W_WooRtya77xdg_6cCpkT9ncmXwcUyXunLOeR3RdOsjfTp2ghl9Tcf8A=).
BOGUS
FLIER IN VIRGINIA TELLS DEMOCRATS WRONG DATE
FOR ELECTION
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Uw58J5KkTLx-KzFLjwaMY1Neuc2p09oq8mh5b5EWwxEksZpqvvHYya9Baog5ZJ5wPJKrxF2qvRWgI0jzv1jd3HFNFr4NiNZHzoNTAKQTT_yfvT7CFCU_i3QzdG1r4BA24EEknoQH-kXAws0pipk5wwyGcqg-V6hRwMIo5N0QqFBeGM4NTlaNUxgF2RSiG0OOm0w0JN2lv7SqiO2nsBEqwA==):
Residents of Virginia's
Hampton Roads area have been getting
official-looking fliers wrongly instructing
Democrats to vote Nov. 5, the day after the
election -- a classic example of
dirty tricks aimed at suppressing the vote.
(Facing South, 10/27/2008)
SETTLEMENT
ALLOWS ALABAMA PRISONER REGISTRATION TO
CONTINUE
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Uw58J5KkTLxiC0ci_nCOUdU6YIz7XyIG9KrUZ9DYjiOWr5t0E5RviDuMaIbhvtO95tCNopbRQCU8fvqDwxIL665bl6gn4g39Q1za74tkiaNSu_T_D7E7kqWpXH5cEOSMhuKVo5h09K_9m8wKh2RLLmI15Z1J3hDh9HpbmUcXfR8YOcm8TNcbFyrX-hH5GkCq0HoA7lUA3CklW1nOZgZm2A==):
The outcome of a lawsuit
means that a minister's efforts to register
eligible voters incarcerated in Alabama's
prison system can continue, despite protests
by the state's Republican Party. (Facing
South, 10/24/2008)
INVESTIGATION
SAYS THOUSANDS WRONGLY DENIED VOTING RIGHTS
IN HOUSTON
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Uw58J5KkTLwGUlgS78pD1rZV1RPig8XJ281efqUzspATiQP3iWx6K22Po521B32CXSkocs806Z4baKc940p0_h_N24_um_Xcp12FAaKiE6R__VBlXslCW494qHq_zFK9BU8b1jiyJRTFOac2qo_yUuwAQKkgLH46RLf-UAeC1GKx1OC_nJxzILeJl7otU5kfx7vFuwcplvKdaOb_fQBdSA==):
TV station KHOU has found
that an unusually high number of Houstonians
are having their voter registrations
rejected for trivial or unjustified reasons,
and experts say problems with reviewing
applications are to blame.
(Facing South, 10/28/2008)
TEXAS
CASE SHOWS WHY THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT STILL
MATTERS
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Uw58J5KkTLx6n4k3AgVIbKkF4WJr8S9EmFJgRrfppX_IWbmsWp97gXNBIQAbpQs2hUStYQt0Y-QKvNhHVfNIUWl6-IPOi-D3Zgv6yxA0HdkENzL6OlpA_dkdWG7fITJAFQd89Zjlf6amYthrLaRYfu95ar8r-ZTqWheUOMcxBLJN7BWHnFPpeHGQI03TWrXCQR_Bdtzf5ReaFbNQu3DdDg==):
Though some pundits argue
that the Voting Rights Act is no longer
relevant, a recent decision under the law
will help protect the voting rights of
students at a historically black college in
Texas. (Facing South, 10/27/2008)
WHICH
WAY TO REFORM?
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Uw58J5KkTLxp1f9nxrHc5gTz2FXFCxk4ub6_RE5zBJShi2XQfFINY_T-Aa2LAMckveydyZiDPofjjFHr-kPcCqKNFnfgnuqoyLtLZHzA0JD5N0c8UjDuwKjCkiSfWKh2p4JWBBz-qzarBkkicX4Bvgn6lGjACHFtwpeM0-4YYBuu6ub4HwWjM1338YbKcXtEzNrQADBCVDo=):
Transfer responsibility for voter
registration to the government. Get more
creative about recruiting and training poll
workers. Expand opportunities for early and
absentee voting. These are some of the
suggestions for election reform being offered
by legal experts. (Facing South, 10/29/2008)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ANALYSIS - Kromm: Is the tide turning in the South?
By Ken Silverstein
Harper's
Magazine
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Uw58J5KkTLzGGar15_77nYDArLUt9uCE1lG0QIiX-ona7hF3XtU4kHTYJQCn63MXiKXBuGDnS6jIMECFoZmJPJydP61YGwP2LhbVb9uARwN1M1MoxG5ro22A8wITkzEfQtgrh0XEpB013rTrNWZSzp1s5Zp3Apv5)
October 24, 2008
Chris
Kromm
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Uw58J5KkTLz6jc3JeeehBcUusdMOD3p8_yu-NlsZXruAPNvcsklX71Ioub_uiNZbYZ6nXMh4-h6wL1fcwALQcFdKMnXUslbSJt2546Bx6u89y-mryui7vSzL_TCgCsaEg8sYhb29hJptzTtG_RFdfpP-QHMaVHG3QW67DG7zXDE=)
is the Executive Director of the
Institute for Southern Studies and the
publisher of Southern Exposure. A former
community organizer, Kromm also writes for
the Institute's blog, Facing
South
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Uw58J5KkTLwtWSTv3ffJFM1GL79VXHNTBWclqi-Pqc0GISk-JMn-RbH9yZz6ZUUDGfWY8N-RiW4i1Swoph8K0uFhGGu5jo1X-OTlH-C46JsnofyVyHwgt9TGtUuTXnUezEJJDiMIiQGljwA36DEEwA==).
I spoke to Kromm earlier today
about the presidential race in the South,
focusing on the hotly contested campaign in
North Carolina. This interview was slightly
edited for length and clarity.
1. The race in North Carolina is
surprisingly close. Does Obama have a real
chance to win the state?
He could definitely pull it off, and his
chances are growing. If he wins, it will be
for a number of factors, starting with the
economy. Unemployment could hit 8 percent
here, and two key sectors of the
economy-manufacturing and finance-have been
devastated. That's been critical in terms of
Obama winning support from unaffiliated white
voters and conservative Democrats who often
vote for Republicans. Second, Obama has
really mobilized the core Democratic base of
African Americans and urban voters, far more
than Al Gore or John Kerry did. And third,
core Republican voters here are just not
excited about McCain. A lot of Christian
conservatives don't identify with him. The
situation is ripe for Obama to take the state.
2. What about demographic changes,
especially people moving to North Carolina,
and the South in general, from other states?
A lot of people have pointed to that, but
people have been moving here for several
decades. It's a factor, but it's more than
that. One recent poll showed Obama making big
gains in mountain areas of North
Carolina-that not an area of in-migration. It
has more to do with the fact that those
places are struggling economically; you've
had local industries like furniture
manufacturing and textiles wiped out.
3. Will voter turnout be a big factor?
Some people predict Obama's core supporters,
especially African Americans and college
students, won't come out in big numbers.
We've had a week of early voting in North
Carolina, and about one of six
African-American voters have already cast
ballots, versus about one of every ten white
voters. They are clearly mobilized and, so
far, voting in hugely disproportionate
numbers. The African-American share of the
electorate was 18 to 19 percent in 2004, and
it should be around 21 percent this year.
That could be a big factor in this election.
Statistics on early voting aren't broken down
by age, but there has been serious turnout at
colleges thus far.
4. No Democrat has won the presidential
election in North Carolina since Jimmy Carter
in 1976. How solidly red is the
state?
Read the
rest of Chris Kromm's interview with Harpers'
magazine here
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Uw58J5KkTLwGMrxkc5ZFBvAe36zBcueDHIM0btnmjDXJOa_ABlt6pAvoMK4_nv1KTq-B5PX48OpShwiYblxndOLmHr_5Y2xw5Nl4-rxOtgZuSqYsGWtXD0JvVHTzJ7ttNDXOZMdBMH3CoI8Yx6CKC8mCve9kxaTU)
for more on threats to
voting rights and what's happening in other
Southern states.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ACT NOW - How you can help protect the vote!
Voter "purges" that could kick tens of
thousands of voters off the rolls. Faulty
machines and 6-hour waits. Deceptive tactics
and dirty tricks.
This historic election year, we face some of
our greatest threats to democracy yet --
threats that could keep thousands of voters
from having a say.
<blockquote>We can't let that happen. Not
this time. Too
much is at stake.</blockquote>
Our Voting Rights Watch initiative has
been a
leader in exposing threats to voting rights
and democracy. Our daily reports and in-depth
investigations have been featured on ABC
News, CNN, The New York Times, NPR and dozens
of other major media.
Now we need your help. It takes money to
deliver quality reporting and
up-to-the-minute coverage of key voting and
election issues.
Voting Rights Watch is almost entirely supported
by readers and friends like you
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Our goal
is to raise $15,000 by November 4 to support
our one-of-a-kind coverage.
<blockquote>Can you help
out with a tax-deductible contribution of
$25, $50, $100 or more today
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Uw58J5KkTLx1LoYHtGXM7kXai6RCV-gi5a3XrPGedsveG1z8zDL3Jx51hqfhS1D51PYn7XHGmqvmSTHs6bvGVZr_-cqQrYepnQ851WcJzFzZmySKKcwXi5x49Ir_BA206hET71l57UM=)?</blockquote>
If each of the 7,000 people who read Facing
South kicked in just $5, we'd reach our
goal instantly.
Thank you -- together, we can defend
democracy and our right to vote!
-- Chris, Desiree and Sue for Facing
South/Voting Rights Watch
P.S. -- Thanks to readers like you, we've
already raised over $3,500 to expand Voting
Rights Watch -- help
out however you can today
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Uw58J5KkTLx1LoYHtGXM7kXai6RCV-gi5a3XrPGedsveG1z8zDL3Jx51hqfhS1D51PYn7XHGmqvmSTHs6bvGVZr_-cqQrYepnQ851WcJzFzZmySKKcwXi5x49Ir_BA206hET71l57UM=)
to help us
reach our goal!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
INSTITUTE INDEX - Voting rights at risk
Number of voters now on Florida's "no match"
list whose votes are at risk of going
uncounted on Election Day: 12,000
Percent of those on the no-match list who are
African-American or Hispanic: 55
Of 20,000 registration applications
processed in Florida over a recent three-week
period, percent that came up as mismatches
due to typographical or administrative
errors: 75
In 2004, the number of ballots cast in North
Carolina that didn't include a vote for
president, a problem blamed in part on a
ballot design in which a straight-ticket vote
excludes the presidential race:
75,000
Number of votes by which elections experts
say the tight presidential race in North
Carolina might be decided: 55,900
Number of new voter registrations submitted
this year in Mississippi, where Gov. Haley
Barbour is questioning the legality of
thousands of them: 189,000
Number of states that got letters from the
Social Security Administration questioning
the "extraordinarily high" number of requests
to match newly registered voters with Social
Security information: 6
Number of those states that are in the South:
3*
Number of match requests submitted by
Georgia, excluding duplicate submissions
caused by computer error: more than
747,000
Number of new voters registered in Georgia
this year: 406,000
Hours that voters in Cobb County, Ga. waited
in line to cast early ballots earlier this
month: 2
Hours waited in some parts of Florida:
5
Hours waited in Georgia's Clayton County, a
predominantly African-American community:
12
Year in which Florida's Republican-controlled
legislature restricted the capacity of early
voting sites: 2005
Date on which Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R)
issued an executive order reversing the
legislature and extending early voting hours:
10/28/2008
Date on which elections supervisors from
around the state began talking about filing
an injunction against the order:
10/28/2008
Number of provisional ballots cast in the
2004 U.S. election: 1 million
Proportion of those ballots that were never
counted but simply discarded: 1/3
Number of new voter registration forms
submitted this year by the community
organizing group ACORN: 1.3
million
Estimated percent of those registrations that
were faulty, leading Republican president
candidate John McCain to accuse the group of
"maybe perpetrating one of the greatest
frauds in voter history in this country":
30
Proportion of those registrations estimated
to be deliberately falsified by canvassers:
1 to 2 percent
>From 2002 to 2005, number of people in the
United States found guilty of voting while
ineligible: 20
Number found guilty of voting more than once:
5
Number that voters who experience problems
can call for legal assistance on Election
Day: 1-866-OUR VOTE
*Alabama, Georgia and North
Carolina
All sources on file with the Institute for
Southern Studies; for more information,
e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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