Posted on 10/26/2004 12:23:36 PM PDT by LegalEagle61
Thank you for contacting my office regarding military and overseas absentee ballots in Pennsylvania.
Let me begin by saying that my first priority as Governor is to guarantee a fair election. Let me also stress that everyone’s vote will be counted, including ballots cast by members of our military, particularly those serving overseas.
On Monday, October 25th, I held a conference call with members of the state and national news media to clear up misinformation that has made its way into this election. Pennsylvania’s county boards of elections have certified that all military and overseas ballots have been sent out in accordance with federal law, and that all of these ballots will be counted in accordance with law for the November 2nd General Election.
No one will be denied the right to vote nor will their ballot not count if it is received by the appropriate deadline. Absentee ballots with votes for the entire statewide slate of candidates will be accepted until October 29th. Ballots that come in after October 29th will be counted, only for the office of President, through Election Day.
Just last week the U.S. District Court ruled that all military and overseas absentee voters will have ample time to complete and return their ballots and their votes will be counted. As Judge Yvette Kane noted in her decision, the proposal by the federal government would have “invited unpredictability to an otherwise orderly and time tested elections process” and “may do more to disenfranchise overseas voters than the harm they seek to cure.”
The Court also ruled that sending a second ballot would be “confusing” and would not benefit the 67 county elections offices throughout Pennsylvania. However, I have promised to look into any credible evidence that proves that someone’s right to vote has been violated. I take this responsibility very seriously.
As I wrote to Senator Rick Santorum, there is no greater privilege we as Americans enjoy than that of our right to vote, and as Governor, I have a constitutional obligation to protect that right while ensuring each vote is counted. I do not however have the power to unilaterally extend deadlines set by statute – and it is disingenuous for anyone who believes in the rule of law even to suggest such action.
My administration, namely the Department of State, has worked to help counties with mailing their military and overseas absentee ballots. For instance, with the Court’s permission, we assisted Huntingdon and Venango counties to provide absentee ballots to military personnel via express mail as well as a paid express mail service to return completed ballots.
I believe in the sanctity of our election laws and am offended by accusations of partisan politics. I wish to reassure voters that military and overseas voters will have their ballots counted.
As Governor, I will continue to do all that I can to ensure a fair election where every vote counts and every voice is heard.
Sincerely,
Edward G. Rendell
Governor
Who's Governor Rengel? Is that Ed Rendell after eating too many of Teresa's raisins?
Sorry, I mispelled his name in Title, should be Rendell.
Translation: We got Nader off the ballot and will not be able to count the military vote in time...a double header win!
ping
You can get titles corrected by asking the Admin Moderator.
Thanks I have been looking all over to try and find how to edit! I hate when I make a typo!
You, Mr Rendell, were elected by the voters of Pa. to perform you duties in a fair manner.
If these ballots are not counted, for whatever reason, you have failed the voters and the USA.
There is no reason in the world why any citizen of the USA would expect his vote to be thrown out for any reason.
It is a black eye for this great nation to permit this to happen due to some trumped up court case.
While I never voted for you, you can be assured that I never will vote for you or any member of your party.
This whole mess was caused by your party and is beyound question a discrace.
I would think that the majority of Pa would be upset if the military votes did not count.
Predictable...Slick Eddie knows it will be impossible for a couple hundred military ballots to get from the couthouse to the foxhole and back before the deadline. Sad, pathetic invertebrate--partisanship trumps patriotism.
Since many of the ballots sent out have Nader listed as a candidate, I suspect the Demonrats will use this as a pretext to have them thrown out when they arrive, if they find themselves losing the state.
One of their excuses for not extending the deadline for accepting absentee ballots was that it would "overtax an already burdened system." Of course, the Demons did not hesitate to burden the system with their bogus voter registration drives, nor their anti-Nader lawsuits, nor with the blizzard of post-election lawsuits they will unleash if need arises.
The Federal judge who rendered the decision favorable to Rendell & the Demons is a Clinton appointee who also freed a Palestinian the Administration wanted to hold.
This is the same Rendell who was part of the 'How to disqualify military absentee ballots" pamphlet in 2000.
Keep the pressure on. EMAIL tbarnes@post-gazette.com
It is appalling that Gov Ed Rendell may be once again directing state election officials to cancel military votes, and disenfranchise other Pennsylvania voters.
Some very disturbing reports by various news organs indicate that Gov. Rendell, and the former Kerry campaign official Mr Rendell put in charge of monitoring the state's 2004 election for problems---- such as voter fraud----- are assiduously working overtime to make sure that the votes of some 16,000 military voters aren't counted.
As polls show, roughly 75 percent of the military vote is likely to President Bush, this represents a clear attempt to deny Mr Bush as many as 12,000 votes in Pennsylvania.
Moreover, Pennsylvania mailed out absentee ballots to residents currently living out of state, including military voters overseas but also voters temporarily residing in other states.
Those ballots included Ralph Nader as one of the choices, but a Pennsylvania court later ruled Nader ineligible for the ballot. New absentee ballots were sent out just a few days ago, and Gov. Rendell --- who chaired the Democratic National Committee during part of the Clinton presidency---- is refusing to extend the deadline for voters to return them. Meanwhile, votes already cast on absentee ballots that listed Nader will be tossed out.
Those votes will not count and those voters will not have sufficient time to receive, complete, and return new ballots.
Gov Rendell demonstrates an appalling unfamiliarity with the constitutional guarantees of Pennsylvania citizens and their right to an unimpeded vote.
Dear Ed,
If you are wrong, will you do the honorable thing and count the late votes? And then resign?
Signed,
A taxpaying citizen
It would be better if PA counted votes postmarked by a certain date, like FLA, instead of received by a certain date.
"Slick Eddie knows it will be impossible for a couple hundred military ballots to get from the couthouse to the foxhole and back before the deadline."
There is a way! Contact Fred Smith, owner of FedEx, and explain the situation to him.
He has allowed FedEx jets to be used for several charitable causes. He even let the jets go pick up two pandas in China to be brought to the Memphis Zoo.
If someone of "influence" or a military official called Fred, I feel sure he would have those military ballots flown back here on a FedEx jet.
We talked about this on an earlier thread. Does anyone know a military or PA official who might contact Fred Smith about this?
Please see my post #15.
Do you know anyone there in PA?
I got an e-mail today exactly like this one. Word for Word. I didn't like the one line where he says that all votes will count that "make the deadline" - I think this is their "out". Some of the military ballots probably won't make the "deadline".
Contacting Rendell is a waste of time - better to blitz Sean, Rush, Fox, local media with "Democrats Disenfranchising the Military - Again!"
'Some of the military ballots probably won't make the "deadline."'
What do you think about my comments on using FedEx planes to carry the ballots?
Do you know anyone in the military who Fred Smith might listen to?
(WHOM Fred Smith might listen to......darn grammar rules)
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