SPRINGFIELD
An obscure state law and an ambiguous federal ballot form are combining to invalidate some of the thousands of absentee votes being cast this fall by Virginians overseas, most of them in the military.
State officials confirmed Thursday that they've instructed local registrars to set aside any vote submitted on a federally furnished write-in ballot unless the ballot includes both the name and address of the person who witnessed the vote. An advisory to registrars was distributed earlier this week, said Susan Pollard, a spokeswoman for the State Board of Elections.
Every absentee ballot requires the signature of a witness, who vouches for the identity of the voter. The witness address requirement is specified by Virginia law but not spelled out on the federal form.
Adding to the confusion is the fact that the state does not require the witness address for absentee voters who opt for a different, state-furnished form.
"I want to count these votes, but under the law we cannot," said Rokey Suleman II, the voter registrar in Fairfax County, where the problem came to light.
"The law stinks.... That said, I cannot ignore the law," he added.
"We need a solution right away.... This is clear inequity," said Pat Herrity, a Fairfax County supervisor who called a news conference Thursday to spotlight the situation.
Republicans sought to capitalize on the situation. Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign branded the practice "unfair."
Herrity argued that the state law is in conflict with federal statutes designed to make it easier for deployed troops to vote.
"If anyone deserves to cast a ballot in the presidential election, it should be the men and women who protect our right to vote," he said.
Just how many votes are in jeopardy is not clear.
Suleman, whose office serves the state's most populous locality, said he's received 360 of the federal forms so far. Sixty of those came from voters who had not also applied for a state form and who did not provide the address of the witness; those votes are being set aside, he said.
In Hampton Roads, several registrars contacted Thursday said they either have not received any of the federal write-in forms or have not sorted their absentee ballots to identify the forms. Registrars typically do not review absentee votes until Election Day, when they're treated as a separate precinct and counted.
Service members deployed overseas are encouraged to apply for absentee ballots from their home states. The process typically must be initiated months before the election so that ballots can be mailed and received by Election Day.
The system "doesn't work very well," said Kevin Sidenstricker, a retired Navy commander who took part in Herrity's news conference. Because of that, many service members take advantage of a federal law that allows them to download and mail in a federal ballot form, commonly referred to as a "backup ballot."
The federal form has a blank for a witness signature and "address, if required," but it does not say which states, like Virginia, impose the address requirement.
Virginia's address requirement was adopted in 2002 as part of a sweeping revision of state election laws sponsored by Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, a Republican who was then a state senator from Hanover County. The legislation grew out of studies following the disputed 2000 presidential election.
Randy Marcus, a spokesman for Bolling, said his boss learned of the problem with witness addresses on Thursday and wants to review the law before commenting.
The bill was intended to lower barriers to voting by service members and to ensure their votes are counted, Marcus said.
Dale Eisman, (703) 913-9872, dale.eisman@pilotonline.com
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mmactor
By law, he is unable to hold dual citizenship -- not the U.S. law, but the country people are asserting Obama has dual citizenship with -- there is no issue here, unless you do not understand what you are talking about of course...
The Truth
Submitted by Gertz Point on Sat, 10/25/2008 at 2:40 pm.
"Is Barack Hussein Obama a qualified Us Citizen or and illegal alien?
This has gone on long enough and it is time for answers.
He is not refuting that he is not a natural born citizen in the United Sttes of America nor is he refuting that he possibly holds dual citizship. Virginia Pilot the citizens of Hampton Roads deserve to know the truth!"
Gertz, you can't handle the truth. Yes, it's all a conspiracy! And Elvis will return and we will find out that the moon landing was fake! Oh the horror if Obama wins! Run and hide, Gertz! The world is coming to an end! The sky is falling! How is that for answers! Here's another one: You are repeating a false rumor! You are repeating false speculations, false claims and just general insanity. You are spewing dis-information!
Re: Look it up
Submitted by CJackCity on Sat, 10/25/2008 at 10:39 pm:
"Need more proof?"
Yes, CJackCity, we do. Do you have any real proof other than some article? Do you have any real proof at all? I seriously doubt you do. You, yourself use the word "alledge" in your post. That's no real proof, and I have a feeling you have no real evidence to support your theory. Enough already!
Look it up
The republicans are to blame you say? How about a letter from Hillary Clinton's campaign counsel, Lyn Utrecht, alledging Caucus Irregularities. There is an article on the Huffington Post about it. I wouldn't call Hillary or the Huffinton Post republican. It was widely known and advertised by Obama that people were bussed in for the caucuses. Out of state college students were encouraged to vote in the caucuses. Would you like me to start on Acorn and the voter registration problems they have caused? Obama has given them at least $830,000 this year. Need more proof?
Mike C
Don't believe everything you hear on the radio. Sometimes when you repeat it, it makes you sound like a fool. Do you know where McCain was born sir?
mike c
"Is Barack Hussein Obama a qualified Us Citizen or and illegal alien?
This has gone on long enough and it is time for answers.
He is not refuting that he is not a natural born citizen in the United Sttes of America nor is he refuting that he possibly holds dual citizship. Virginia Pilot the citizens of Hampton Roads deserve to know the truth!"
Now that you have said it and added Senator Obama's middle name as though it's the plague why don't you try proving Obama is not a citizen?
The closer we get to election day the more desperate republicans become, and will say anything.
If you think about it's really sad!
cjackcity
"The Obama camp has figured out how to rig the election every way possible. That is how he got to this point, he rigged the caucuses and won almost all of those. He had trouble with the primaries and was split on those. They are truly going to steal the election, voter fraud will be rampant. He will win Ohio for it and probably Virginia because of the removal of the military vote. I guess instead of wars, we will now just sue the enemy. I'm sure that will work"
Now that you have said it, won't don't you try and prove it?
As the election draws near, the desperate republicans will say anything just like the quote above.
Stop already! Re: CJackCity's post
Re:The fix is in
Submitted by CJackCity on Sat, 10/25/2008 at 10:13 am.
"The Obama camp has figured out how to rig the election every way possible. That is how he got to this point, he rigged the caucuses and won almost all of those. He had trouble with the primaries and was split on those. They are truly going to steal the election, voter fraud will be rampant."
How much more do we have to put up with regarding these sort of posts? Granted, it's someone's opinion, but there is absolutely no proof to CJackcity's claim. I seriously doubt CJack has any real proof or evidence to try, in vain, to support his bogus speculation.
The fix is in
The Obama camp has figured out how to rig the election every way possible. That is how he got to this point, he rigged the caucuses and won almost all of those. He had trouble with the primaries and was split on those. They are truly going to steal the election, voter fraud will be rampant. He will win Ohio for it and probably Virginia because of the removal of the military vote. I guess instead of wars, we will now just sue the enemy. I'm sure that will work.
Fairfax County!
Yes, this rule came out in 2002 under a Republican. However, that means this is only the second presidential election in which we had the rule, so we are probably still reaping the "law of unintended consequences."
And . . . the person currently setting the votes aside, yawning, and saying "Oh well" is in Fairfax County, which to me does say a lot about attitude. FC is the most liberal part of our state. Military voters tend to be Republican. If they tended towards the Democratic party, you can bet the Fairfax County administrator would be overnight mailing them their ballots for correction. Cheers, MGM
RE: Obscure law could endanger military ballots statewide -
George-just checked again. I have the online version.
Cut/paste from page 392 para 2.F
The witness must provide his or her printed name and
address in Block 6.
Virginia Pilot
Is Barack Hussein Obama a qualified Us Citizen or and illegal alien?
This has gone on long enough and it is time for answers.
He is not refuting that he is not a natural born citizen in the United Sttes of America nor is he refuting that he possibly holds dual citizship.
Virginia Pilot the citizens of Hampton Roads deserve to know the truth!
A compromise
A compromise would be to allow these people to **come in a few days before the election with all the necessary information and redo their ballots** if they have ballots turned in that are not fully completed according to this law.
Hopefully someone reads this.
Also, look at the form
it has punishable by law and perjury. If these ballots meet that constraint, then disqualify the ballot, but go after the person for perjury under the law for failing to put their mailing address down. If they did not break the law, or if the COMMONWEALTH of Virgina cannot, or will not take the witness up for perjury for failing to provide their address than accept the ballot as genuine and count the thing.
With an election as so many are saying is soooo important and historical, disqualifying a vote because the person who witnessed the process did not put their address down is just plain dumb. Is that what VA wishes to known for? Florida is known for their hanging chads. Guess VA wishes their own special stupid title. The process was not done in an attempt to defraud or cheat the importance of "the Voting process". It was a simple mistake that is quickly identifiable and holds no bearing on the vote in question.
DID the people casting these ballots have any other
problem on their form? These ballots where cast with as much integrity for the process as well as the "right to vote" as could be accomplished. As such, these ballots, are probably of a higher degree of credibility than most other ballots. I doubt seriously that a guy on the ship that will be gone on Nov 4 will be casting a second ballot in their home town from the Atlantic. These ballots are just as genuine as any other ballot and should be counted if the persons name is a registered voter.
As far as credentials are concerned, think about the people who are doing this process at a ship or forward deployed area. You live with that guy every day, you sleep next to him. Your willing to die for him. The person who is on the ballot, and who cast that vote is the genuine individual. I thought votes where "secret". here you have a document cosigned by someone willing to die for you VA, and you say that is not good enough? Come one VA, get real.
"If Required"
Nothing wrong with the law. Not much space for an address, though. Form should list states that require it. This article informed me. Then I never do absentee voting. Interesting this is 1st time it will be enforced. Officials should count them this time, REVAMP form, & send notices to people who left the address off. Also, tell the Military to instruct troops on this law so it doesn't happen again. List the states requiring witness' addresses on every site that offers electronic absentee voting ballots. No question then. Either way, form should specify which states require witness addresses or advise absentee voter where to go to find out which states do require it. I’ve witnessed forms for people that never required my address. Redo Form.
Time out
Everyone sit back. Now, take a breath and think.
This is neither a Democrat nor a Republican issue.
It's an American issue.
There are three or more causes foir why these ballots being set aside because of the topic of the article.
What is important is how does the Commonwealth's State Board of Elections correct this?
Please, stop the blame game.
Oh Brother...
Here we go again with yet another claim(un-proven and un-substatiated):
Submitted by calpurnia on Thu: "If, God Forbid, Barack Hussein Obama comes in you can look forward to the draft he is proposing, as well as the destruction of our military that he has promised. Maybe you think Chavez, Putin and the jihadis that all support BHO will give you a pass."
Cal, do you have any real proof or evidence that the jihadis, Chavez and Putin support Obama? Oh, let me guess, you saw it somewhere on the internet or heard a rumore...that's not proof! Do you have anything else other than false claims, speculation, and rumors in order to back up your statement? I seriously doubt it.
Calpurnia - you're way out past the deepend... come back....
Using "Hussein" is no longer clever. Never has been. No one is proposing a draft, let alone the "destruction of our military". And if you were up on current events, AlQueda just posted a diatribe hoping that McCain will win. The last 6 years in Iraq has done considerable damage to our military. Really, where do these beliefs of yours come from? If i didnt know better, i would have guessed your post was satire. But i am afraid that is not the case.
VAbeach757 -- apparently you do not understand the issue
This fiasco is caused by a republican. So, this is what happens when a republican is in power. And thank you for confirming that you know jack about the voter registration issue, save what you are spoon fed.