more on Polling Place Violation of Law

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Jim Griffin <griffin () onehouse com>
Date: October 26, 2004 12:37:16 PM EDT
To: Gene Gaines <gene.gaines () gainesgroup com>, David Farber 
<dave () farber net>
Subject: Re: [IP] Polling Place Violation of Law

Gene:

Thanks for making the call. I am considering revisiting the polling 
place
with a state trooper and citing the relevant law and the facts: 
Influencing
the vote in ANY manner is illegal, and this placement was deliberate.

What Mr. Ables did not tell you: The pictures of the other elected state
officials -- and he did not include them all, by the way -- are below 
the
tops of the voting booths and so are not visible. The color photographs 
of
the Republican candidates on the ballot are visible as they are on top,
centered directly above the voting booths.

Neither was his decision neutral: The pictures do not merely hang in the
office. He chose to center them above the voting booth.

I leave this to the Democratic Party for the time being, but this is the
registrar's office, not some gymnasium, and it is outrageous that he now
confesses he chose the placement deliberately.

Jim


On 10/26/04 11:16 AM, "Gene Gaines" <gene.gaines () gainesgroup com> wrote:

> David,
>
> I just spoke with Mr. Ables, Voting Registrar of Fauquier
> County, Virginia, telephone 540-347-6972.
>
> He confirmed to me that he chose the placements of the
> two voting booths in his office so that the color portraits
> of the president and vice president are prominently
> displayed over the booths.
>
> He informed me that he is justified in taking this action
> because he also has placed on the wall photographs of all
> elected state officials.  Mr. Ables then stated that he
> was outraged that I would question him, and hung up on me.
>
> LESSON FOR EVERYONE:  Any questionable election activity,
> phone the nonpartisan "Lawyers Committee for Election
> Protection" 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) or 202-347-1835.
>
> Gene Gaines
> gene.gaines () gainesgroup com
> Loudoun County, Virginia
>
>
> On Monday, October 25, 2004, 7:22:51 PM, David wrote:
>
>
>
> > Begin forwarded message:
>
> > From: "David A. Ulevitch" <davidu () everydns net>
> > Date: October 25, 2004 6:37:39 PM EDT
> > To: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
> > Subject: Fwd: [SL] FW: Polling Place Violation of Law
>
> >  From the Strangelove.cc list.
>
> > Thanks,
> > David A. Ulevitch
>
>
> > Begin forwarded message:
>
> > > From: Jim Griffin <griffin () 62chevy com>
> > > Date: October 25, 2004 3:25:16 PM PDT
> > > To: <talk () strangelove cc>
> > > Subject: [SL] FW: Polling Place Violation of Law
> > >
> > >
> > > ------ Forwarded Message
> > > From: Jim Griffin <griffin () onehouse com>
> > > Date: Mon, 25 Oct 2004 17:36:51 -0400
> > > To: <registrar () fauquiercounty gov>
> > > Subject: Polling Place Violation of Law
> > >
> > > Alex Ables
> > > 32 Waterloo Street #207
> > > Warrenton, Virginia 20186-3219
> > >
> > > Dear Mr. Ables:
> > >
> > > I voted today (I will be out of the country on business on election
> > > day) at
> > > 32 Waterloo Street in a voting booth with a few color pictures 
> > > directly
> > > above it, the top ree of them pictures of candidates on my ballot, 
> > > one
> > > of
> > > them bearing the words, "Thanks, Dick Cheney". The two voting booths
> > > in the
> > > room were located directly underneath these photographs, the
> > > photographs
> > > literally inches above the voting booths, centered between them.
> > >
> > > I note that under Virginia law "It is unlawful for any (person to) 
> > > ...
> > > In
> > > any manner attempt to influence any person in casting his vote."
> > >
> > > In my opinion, viewing a color photograph of a candidate on the 
> > > ballot
> > > is in
> > > a manner part of an attempt to influence a person casting his vote,
> > > and it
> > > is illegal to do so in ANY manner.
> > >
> > > If you doubt that my opinion is shared by your office or the judges 
> > > of
> > > this
> > > state, what might be your opinion should a voter wear a button with 
> > > the
> > > picture of the other candidates into the polls? May a poll worker 
> > > wear
> > > such
> > > a button with pictures including the words, "Thank you, John Kerry"?
> > > May
> > > there be handed out at the polls such photographs? If not, why permit
> > > this
> > > one directly above the voting booth?
> > >
> > > James H. Griffin
> > > 7493 Enon Church Road
> > > The Plains, Virginia 20198
> > >
> > > ------ End of Forwarded Message
> > >
> > >
> > >
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