OHIO: Nearly 13,000 Dead Voters Still On Registry: Prosecutor ready to prosecute

News 5 Ohio ^ | Nov 3, 2006 | Duane Pohlman

[rface]

CLEVELAND -- After watching the 5 On Your Side investigation on dead voters, Cuyahoga County prosecutor Bill Mason said he will prosecute anyone who knowingly cast a vote in the place of a dead person.

In his report, NewsChannel5 chief investigator Duane Pohlman uncovered dozens of votes being cast from the grave, and Mason said the trouble is just beginning for whomever is responsible for casting votes in the name of the dead.

"This really is an attack on the entire system, and it's of paramount importance that we find out how this is happening and we stop it so it can't happen again, one, and, two, find out who's doing it, so we can prosecute them if possible," said Mason.

So-called "ghost voting" is a felony, and Cuyahoga County Board of Elections Director Michael Vu has already launched an investigation into the problem.

"We will investigate that, send it to the county prosecutor's office and determine what had occurred," Vu said.

Mason said prosecution is possible only if the investigation can prove intent.

NewsChannel5 compared the county's voter registration rolls with death records from the Social Security Administration, finding 12,688 people who have died but are still registered to vote.

Many of the dead voters passed away years ago, and a good number of them more than a decade ago.

Vu said slow reporting combined with federal rules require him to keep dead people in the registry.

"It's something that needs to be corrected," he said.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, stunned by what was uncovered, said he will help do the correcting.

Kucinich said the investigation has convinced him to introduce a bill to clean up all voter registration rolls and close the gap on corruption.

"One thing is for sure: There is an opening here for the commission of fraud that needs to be close," he said.

[Right Wing Assault]

Kucinich said the investigation has convinced him to introduce a bill to clean up all voter registration rolls and close the gap on corruption.

Dennis is going to lose a lot of his voters. Not too many Repubs in Cleveland.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

OHIO: Nearly 13,000 Dead Voters Still On Registry: Prosecutor ready to prosecute

Please ping me when this prosecutor successfully prosecutes all of these dead people

[mikeybaby]

Dem voter fraud prosecuted?
Is this a stand up comedy act?

[edpc]

The importance of this election is far reaching.

[hnj_00]

"Rep. Dennis Kucinich, stunned by what was uncovered, said he will help do the correcting."

right after the lib/dems are declared winners!!!!

where are all of the lib/dem lawyers contesting this problem????

[RasterMaster]

[RetiredArmy]

Many of the dead voters passed away years ago, and a good number of them more than a decade ago.

Do voting records indicate ANY of these individuals voted in past elections. I R-E-A-L-L-Y wonder which party they VOTED FOR? Odds?????

[Charles Henrickson]

[T Minus Four]

Bill Mason said he will prosecute anyone who knowingly cast a vote in the place of a dead person

Please explain how one could UNKNOWINGLY cast a vote in the place of a dead person.

[GSlob]

"he will prosecute anyone who knowingly cast a vote in the place of a dead person. "
So the only ones left will be those doing so unknowingly [unknown knowns?} - those who are dead but do not know it yet. Makes sense.

[magslinger]

That is pass a law that when a coroner issues a death Certicate there needs to be two copies, One sent the the local register of voters and the other to the Secretary of State so the name can be taken off the list.

I have no problem with it, but my first name in combination with a very uncommon last name is, as far as I can determine, unique. Jim Smith (James Smith was, and may still be the most common name in the US) OTOH may feel differently.

[stompk]

" those who are dead but do not know it yet."

which is by definition "democrat" - so it's all good !

[JRochelle]

Clue me in.

What is she crying about?

[mcg2000]

[TigersEye]

- those who are dead but do not know it yet.

Jawn Chari votes in Ohio?

[Irish Eyes]

I hear that in some districts the Police departments are sending cops out to the cemetaries to block the dead from voting......

That's great!! LOL

[just me]

Disenfranchising dead voters "oh the humanity"

[MichiganConservative]

What is she crying about?

She was crying about "voter fraud" in Ohio in 2004 that denied John Kerry his birthright.

[ThomasThomas]

Many states drop people after they miss two federal elections or have sample ballots (or two) sent out by the state returned as undeliverable.
So if you vote and die on the way home the next election would 4 years away and the second 4 more. If the mailing address didn't change because other family members still living in the house it could be eight years before they are remove from the voting rolls after they die.

And then their are scumbag cheats that need to spend every election day (because they no longer vote) cleaning roadside stops and run down gas station toilets..