Democrats fear inconsistent new law will discourage Black voters

The Indianapolis Recorder ^ | 11/01/02 | AMOS BROWN III

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Democrats fear inconsistent new
law will discourage Black voters

By AMOS BROWN III
Recorder Correspondent

When voting this Tuesday, Indianapolis and Marion County 's estimated 110,000 African-American voters are being warned to be especially alert for attempts by rogue Republican polling place workers to deny African Americans their legal and legitimate right to vote.

At issue is a new conflicting state law which asks voters to "voluntarily" provide a "voter identification number." According to new state election regulations, poll workers must "ask" persons at the polling place for a "voter identification number." However voters are NOT required to provide the information. This number is designed to help state and county election officials clean up the thousands of duplicate names in the state's voter rolls.

However, Democratic officials in Indianapolis/Marion County fear the new conflicting regulations will lead to blatant voter intimidation.

For the benefit of Indianapolis Recorder readers, here is the exact text of the instructions for poll workers as contained in the 2002 Indiana Election Day Handbook, published by the Indiana Election Division of Republican Secretary of State Sue Anne Gilroy's office.

"There is a new requirement under state law that a voter shall be asked to provide the voter's "voter identification number." This number is the voter's driver's license number, the voter's state identification number or, if the voter does not have a driver's license or state identification number, the last four digits of the voter's Social Security number. The poll clerks shall: (1) ask the voter to provide the identification number; (2) tell the voter the number the voter may use as a voter identification number; and (3) explain to the voter that the voter is not required to provide a voter identification number at the polls in order to vote."

The important distinction is that poll workers must, under state regulations, "explain to the voter that the voter is not required to provide a voter identification number at the polls in order to vote."

Democratic officials are concerned that in some precincts, particularly Black Center Township precincts, Republican inspectors, sheriffs and poll clerks will "selectively" enforce these new rules.

"In the primary we received phone calls from inner city precincts where Republican workers were challenging people's right to vote," Ed Treacy, chair of the Marion County Democratic Party told The Recorder.

Marion County Clerk Sarah Taylor, a Republican, feels that Treacy and Democratic officials needn't worry. In a live interview Monday on WDNI/Channel 65's Amos Brown Show, Taylor said "The law is clear that voters don't have to provide a voter ID number in order to vote."

Responding to Democratic concerns that poll workers won't be properly trained, Taylor said there will be numerous training sessions for polling place clerks, sheriffs and inspectors in the days leading up to Tuesday's election.

Treacy remains skeptical. "It's typical of the old history of the Republican Party," he said, "to intimidate Black voters."

According to Treacy, during the rule of the local GOP by the late Keith Bulen in the 1960s and 1970s, Republicans created a campaign of voter intimidation that was so successful; the GOP copied it in other states.

"Republicans would place lawyer-types in front of precincts," said Treacy. "There would be police cars on the block. If voters looked suspicious their right to vote would be challenged."

But in her television interview, County Clerk Taylor insisted that police and sheriffs, who volunteer to work the polls, must park their cars away from the polling place, not wear their uniforms and their badges and weapons must not be in evidence.

"The only time uniformed law enforcement officers come into a polling place," said Taylor "is if someone calls 911."

Democratic County Chair Treacy says there's never been evidence of voter corruption in Black precincts. While admitting that Republicans haven't had an organized voter intimidation effort in some years, Treacy said, "I'm concerned that there could be selective enforcement on Nov. 5 by Republicans in precincts and in neighborhoods, Black neighborhoods, where they're outsiders, I'm concerned the hassle over voter ID numbers will slow down the lines of people waiting to vote. Voters may get frustrated and leave, without exercising their right to vote."

County Clerk Taylor wants voters to understand that even if they have moved they could still vote Tuesday. Taylor explained that voters who've moved in the past month within their same precinct can still vote.  The clerk also explained that persons who have moved within the old 10th Congressional District since the November 2000 election, can vote at their old polling place, without penalty.

"If people have questions they should call the ( Marion County ) Election Board at 327-5100," Taylor told the television audience.

Treacy wants to make sure that the election laws are followed this Tuesday. "I'll be sending letters to the U.S. Attorney, to Mayor Peterson, the Mayor of Lawrence and the Chief of the Lawrence Police and IPD to make sure that the election laws are enforced."

Most of all Treacy wants voters to know that "they will be asked for a voter ID number and that you have the right not to provide one. And most important, you must be allowed to vote, even if you don't provide a voter ID number."

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[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Treacy remains skeptical. "It's typical of the old history of the Republican Party," he said, "to intimidate Black voters."

Let's take it to court and see which party has the history of intimidating voters based on race, or anything else.

[Miss Marple]

My home town! Julia Carson is in a panic because they have already stopped vote fraud in the absentee ballots. Looks like they are going to try and pretend the voters were intimidated. LOL!

That message board is scarey, by the way. Some of those people live within 10 miles of me!

[demlosers]

Treacy remains skeptical. "It's typical of the old history of the Republican Party," he said, "to intimidate Black voters."

Actually, Black voter["old history"] intimidation was practiced by the DemLoserRats.

[sweetliberty]

"rogue Republican polling place workers to deny African Americans their legal and legitimate right to vote."

Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

Translation: watch out for republicans who have finally taken their LEGAL responsibiblity seriously and have decided they will no longer stand idly by while democrats steal elections by using evey sort of fraud and treachery they can think up.

If I was black, I would be outraged at the insults cast by these RAT brigades. If I was a black person I would be thinking, "what; do they think I am so stupid and lack initiative to the extent that I could be kept from voting?" Either that, OR I would be thinking "D*mn; now I'm going to have to come up with another way to vote more than once." Hhmmmmm.....

[I still care]

Most of all Treacy wants voters to know that "they will be asked for a voter ID number and that you have the right not to provide one. And most important, you must be allowed to vote, even if you don't provide a voter ID number."

Most people in this country have either

• a driver's license
• voter card
• last 4 digits of their social security number

If you don't have any of those, just maybe, perhaps, you ARE an illegal voter? Look for all the good little Republicans to be dutifully pulling out their cards, and all the Democrats to be raising their voices, "It's my right to vote without giving you my number!" Can't do without those duplicate names in the Demo party, can they?

[Aarchaeus]

Treacy (democrat) wants to make sure that the election laws are followed this Tuesday

At least this part was good for a belly-laugh!!

[Rodney King]

What the hell is the point of having a voter ID number if you don't need it to vote?

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

Democrats fear inconsistent new
law will discourage Black voters
By AMOS BROWN III
Recorder Correspondent

Inconsistent? Does Amos mean inconsistent as in white voters are not being warned they don't have to give their voter numbers as opposed to blacks who are being coached to act out.

I wonder if whites could load up the buses and make the circuit from poll to poll.

[Lurking2Long]

This number is designed to help state and county election officials clean up the thousands of duplicate names in the state's voter rolls.

Actually, it is designed to end the rampant voter fraud the Democrats have been engaging in for decades!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

That message board is scarey, by the way. Some of those people live within 10 miles of me!

I know how you feel, Miss Marple. We need a serious discussion about race, reality and American history in this country after the elections. Bill Clinton is still using inflammatory rhetoric on the campaign trail. Ten years of public Clinton and the nation's on the verge of a race war (coincidentally, he played Barak and Arafat off each other the same way and infuriated the people of both nations - against each other, not him, of course).

Many years ago I became convinced by a charismatic college instructor that men were pigs. Then class ended and I woke up.

Some are seeing through the lies and speaking out:

Broward Times Editorial:

I want you to think . . .

Given good health and faith, what has been the main ingredient missing from the plates of Black Floridians - the one ingredient required to put food on the table, educate our children, pay the rent, buy a new home, a car, save for retirement, afford good healthcare, enhance our communities, reduce crime, and enhance the stability of black families?

If you answered money - you'd be correct.

Under the late [Dem] governor Lawton Chiles, and former [Dem] governor Bob Graham, both Democrats, Black Floridians did not participate substantially in the economic pie generated through state government procurement, nor did Black Floridians play a substantive role in on powerful boards or within the executive ranks of state government. We simply were not at the table. Racism didn't start 4 years ago - Black Floridians have grown up on the outside of the political fringe - a fringe that kept us effectively out of the political mix and the money that flows from being empowered by the spoils of government. During the Graham years, the attention given to blacks in the area of education was dismal. Florida has an ugly history as a state that does not value the education of its residents. Under Chiles, and this is recent stuff folks, the rhetoric was there but the results remained the same, separate and unequal - and nowhere was it more obvious than in South Florida.

Despite the outcry against FCAT testing and the ranking of Public Schools, we now at least have begun to implement a standard for achievement. It is a standard that undoubtedly will be tweaked in the future - but folks, at least we have a standard. Under previous administration, quality education just wasn't an issue, especially for poor Black children.

How many of you are aware of the dirty little secret about predominantly minority high schools? The secret that many of our high school graduates aren't graduates - that they received a certificate of diploma that's not worth the paper it's written on and more startling - many of them can't read it! Yet we keep lauding the Democrats - and holding them up as our saviors.

Saviors from what I ask?

Miami, during the Graham years was best known for its riots - riots sparked by massive police misconduct, poverty, neglect and frustration. It was also known for its cocaine cowboys - who left in their wake no only a burnt out humanity but a burned down community that to this day has never fully recovered.

Today, the state of Florida has spent an unprecedented $682 million with minority-owned firms throughout the state. Under good ole boys Chiles and Graham, the Democrats spent less than one-half percent of that with minorities. Remember, empowerment flows from creating wealth - for the first time in history we have a governor who is attempting to create wealth in our Black communities like they create wealth in White communities - by doing business with us.

Today, Florida government, unlike ever before looks more like us - the people who make-up Florida.

A whooping 34 percent of governor Jeb Bush's senior management team is African Americans, Hispanic or Asian American. Three African-Americans head major state agencies: David Griffin, Secretary of the State Lottery is Black, Dr. Rhonda Meadows, Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration is Black, as well as Dr. John Agwunobi, Secretary of the Department of Health.

Closer to home, unlike ever before, two-major tax supported economic engines that for years were the personal piggy backs of the good ole boys, the North and South Broward Hospital District now have substantial minority board participation. Consequently, minority residents not only have a voice in health care, location of health care facilities, staffing - but now, unlike ever before, are a part of the economic mix that will bear fruit for black-owned and other minority firms doing business.

Bush has appointed almost 500 African-Americans to boards, commissions, and other offices. This is unmatched by any of his predecessors.

Little fanfare has been given to the billion-dollar Everglades Restoration Program under the auspices of the South Florida Water Management District. This is an entity where African-Americans now under Jeb Bush hold substantive executive management roles and direction over the course of restoration.

Do you see the differences between rhetoric and results?

Under the present governor, 22 African-Americans were appointed to judicial positions. One of our own, Elijah Williams was recently appointed to the Broward Circuit Court. Bush appointed the first African American woman, Judge Peggy Quince to the Florida Supreme Court and the first Haitian-American judge, Fred Seraphin to the Miami-Dade County Court. He appointed the first FAMU graduate of the Board of regents in 20 years when he appointed Dr. Jim Corbin to the Florida Board of Regents. I might add that under Jeb Bush, two Colleges of Law, the Florida A&M University Law School and Florida International University Law School were crated to increase the number of minority lawyers in the state of Florida.

Results don't come in party labels or innocuous words like Affirmative Action. It comes by producing a positive result that improvers our lifestyle and delivers the bacon - and I've come to learn that no ones mastered keeping the bacon away from Black folks more than the Dixiecrats under the guise of the Democrat party.

Under previous administrations and under so-called affirmative action I've never witnessed such a prolific outreach effort by our university system to attract African-Americans students to their campuses - not during the administration of Bob Graham or Lawton Chiles was such an aggressive effort made. My sons and their friends were bombarded with overtures, offers, paid visits, phone call s - you name it to attend the University of Florida and Florida State, the two flagship school in the state's university system. If a young African-American high school graduate with good grades wants to attend at state university today - they're reaching out with open arms.

I dare to be different, I always have - but as voters, especially loyal to the Democrat party we can no longer afford to vote blindly Democrat nor to ignore the rules of exchange - we vote because we want something a candidate has to offer. Bill McBride has offered us nothing - doesn't have an inkling of the issue that affect our community and hopes you will vote - not for him but against Jeb Bush. Isn't that a sorry way to seek your vote?

And no, I don't agree with everything Jeb Bush proposes or some of the Republican rhetoric - the same would apply to almost any politician - but we need to begin voting based on facts and not emotions.

And never in our history has a governor been as accessible as Jeb Bush. Got a question? Bush responds in almost lightning like speed via the Internet. Heck, I could never get a hold of the old he-coon, Lawton Chiles.

Lastly, tell me one, just one major economic initiative under a Florida Democrat governor that was implemented successfully on behalf of Black Floridian. If you like the pandering, the verbal posturing, and empty actions of what you use to get - McBride's probably your man - for me I'm going with Jeb Bush - I like results.

The Broward Time recommends you re-elect Jeb Bush for governor.

Link

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

If I was black, I would be outraged at the insults cast by these RAT brigades.

You might enjoy the editorial at #11.

[Miss Marple]

Thank you for posting that editorial. You are quite correct that the Clinton modus operandi is hatred and division. Race has become a hot button thanks to Clinton's alignment with the race-baiters. It is despicable.

He is the worst kind of person and I fervently pray that this is the end of his reign, and that he, his wife, and Terry McAuliffe are shown to be ineffective and are drummed out of their control of the party.

[sweetliberty]

Excellent rant! Thanks for the ping.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

You're very welcome. (^:

[D-fendr]

If it's the week before the election, it's "Scare out the black vote" time for Democrats.

And they're supposed to be the party who "cares."

Scum.