Election Shenanigans Watch: VA and (Sadly) Florida
A few hours before the polls close, Virginia continues to be a disaster of disenfranchisement.
Voting machine breakdowns at dozens of sites, affecting voters in all parts of the state, suggest that Virginia election officials were woefully unprepared for the massive turnout that everybody predicted. Right now, Election Protection lawyers are concerned that multiple precincts in Virginia will run out of emergency back-up paper ballots.
Lawyers have asked the state to print more paper ballots because of the shortage. But according to Jon Greenbaum, director of the Voting Rights Project of the Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights, the State Board of Elections has effectively said “let’s wait until the [paper ballots] actually run out, and we’ll deal with it then.”
Way to stay ahead of the curve.
The new tactic for voter suppression is apparently to tell people still waiting in line that “due to the unprecedented turnout, voting has been extended to Wednesday.”
Rock the Vote is reporting that students in Virginia are being targeted with text messages saying “due to the long lines, Obama voters are asked to vote on Wednesday. Thank you for your cooperation.”
More line issues after the jump.
As always, the best way to avoid voter shenanigans is to actually know your rights. If you show up to vote before the polls close you have the right to vote with a regular ballot, not a provisional ballot which won’t be counted unless results are very close.
An interesting VA law will make it crucial that voters understand this “I was in line, on time” rule. VA law requires poll workers to go out at 6:45 and write down the names of everybody still standing on line. Only those names written down are allowed to vote. Election Protection lawyers wonder how workers are supposed to write down hundreds of names in fifteen minutes?
Good question. Governor Tim Kaine? The Washington Post reports:
Fresh off a stage appearance with Obama in Prince William County last night, Kaine urged people to vote before time runs out.“Virginians are turning out in record numbers to vote in today’s historic Presidential election, despite the weather,” Kaine said in a statement. “The State Board of Elections is working closely with local election officials to make sure that voting runs smoothly, and we are confident that the problems that some precincts have encountered are being addressed promptly and resolved quickly.
“Those still waiting to vote should be aware that turnout is very heavy, but precinct volunteers are working hard to make the lines move as quickly as possible,” Kaine continued. “Voters should remember that polls close at 7 p.m. and the hours will not be extended. However, all who arrive to vote by 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote notwithstanding the length of lines. We ask everyone to be patient and encourage voters to stay in line to participate in this historic event.”
In other states, the black panthers apparently still exist. Fox is reporting that they are intimidating white voters in Philadelphia with billy clubs. Of course, they could just be black men standing around outside the restricted area, but clearly the powerful glare of two black men must be taken seriously.
Otherwise, PA has apparently gotten a lot better as the day has gone on.
And then there’s Florida. The optical scan machines have broken down in at least 35 locations. At first, various election officials did the right thing: they put the ballots into a “lock-box” so they could be counted manually later.
But then the lock-boxes overflowed.
And then they started putting the ballots in duffel bags.
And then in a couple of precincts, they ran out of duffel bags.
So, in true Florida style, they just started putting the ballots on the floor.
Sigh.
That sound you hear is ancient Athens laughing at us, across space and time.
Earlier: Election Shenanigans Watch: Pennsylvania and … New Jersey?
Election Shenanigans Watch: All Hell is Breaking Loose in Virginia
(77) 
Comments
Firsty!
TTThirdsty
Florida still gets votes?
Never First here:-( ...but hey, I voted for Obama today!
Voting should be reserved for white landowning males.
Voting should be reserved for white landowning males.
So that picture - it is a vote for ostracism. So a little bit different than a vote for president.
The idea of a "Lawyer's Committee" makes me shudder.
"Election Protection lawyers wonder how workers are supposed to right down hundreds of names in fifteen minutes?"
You mean 'write'?
Good last line, Elie.
For the state of Alabama, I predict a narrow margin of victory for McCain over Saban.
NINTH!!!
(Could've been eightth, but I suck at spelling. Amazing that I have an Esq. behind my name...)
re: Black Panthers in Philly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd_5SlP8IpQ
judge for yourselves.
9/12 here. I also suck at counting too.
"Virginia continues to be a disaster of disenfranchisement."
Subtle Duke Law trolling.
"Virginia continues to be a disaster of disenfranchisement."
Subtle Duke Law trolling.
"Of course, they could just be black men standing around outside the restricted area, but clearly the powerful glare of two black men must be taken seriously."
I think the issue was not so much the visage of these men as the billy club that one of them was carrying. Care to offer a reasonable explanation for why anyone should be allowed to stand in front of the doors to a polling place while holding a weapon?
Wow, what a surprise. Ellie is quoting "Rock the Vote" and countering a conservative complaint with spin from "Talking Points Memo". The bias is really embarrassing.
I'm a liberal, but I come here for law firm news. If I want political gossip, there are plenty of better places to go. Ellie needs to go find a new job.
Christ this blog has really become a cesspool of ignorant tabloid shit. You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Quit getting your info from DailyKos.
Seriously Elie, 3+ posts on the election problems, and not a word about the Black Panthers holding weapons outside polling centers in Philly? Enough is enough--if this doesn't stop, a campaign targeting your advertisers is next. This isn't supposed to be a liberal blog, and if it is now that you're EIC, announce that change so we can go straight to your advertisers and let them know how we feel about it.
Christ this blog has really become a cesspool of ignorant tabloid shit. You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Quit getting your info from DailyKos.
Elie, you ass, look at the youtube video of the Black Panthers. Standing outside the doors, in fact blocking the doors so you have to walk around them, while holding dangerous weapons and questioning people about what they are doing there. What exactly is your definition of voter intimidation. Nice that you buried this after the jump, when so far it's the only actual voter intimidation we've seen today.
13: clearly, they're just standing around, as Elie suggested. It's just that whites are so racist and terrified of blacks that everyone jumped to the conclusion that the nightstick was some sort of a weapon and not for uh... unjamming the voting machines or something.
In Massachusetts, I was not asked for any ID. I just told them my name and they checked it off on their list. I imagine there has to be something wrong with that...
Elie you racist piece of shit. Watch the videos then off yourself.
Ladies and Gentleman: The doctor is in!
http://pbcelections.org/content.aspx?id=13
seriously, stop already.
Elie gets her news from Dunkin Donuts
Thankfully, cops have driven off the black panthers.
No, that sound I hear is your tummy rumbling.
Nice touch with the ostrakon. I saw that earlier in the post, and was wondering when that would come in... nice.
- T10 erstwhile classics major 1L
Nice touch with the ostrakon. I saw that early in the post, and was wondering when that would come in... nice.
- T10 erstwhile classics major 1L
Elie this is pathetic. If your going to highlight Electoral Shenanigans, at least do it fairly. First, you don't have an individual post for Black Panthers with weapons outside of a polling place in Philly, which is CRAZY. Then, you write it off as a random pair of black men with a nightstick hanging out in matching militant gear. Wow.
It's a TTTurdakon.
24, There's nothing wrong with not requiring any ID. Many places (on a county-by-county basis, I think) deliberately do not require ID. I voted in MA (as I have in past elections) and no ID has ever been required.
Philly black panther story:
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/cityhall/33835069.html
There is also a youtube video of the police asking teh black panthers to move. Note that they are out of their car. The Obama worker who is quoted in the Talking Points memo is simply not telling the truth.
http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Black_Panther_with_Billy_Club_at_Polls_Confronted_by_Police?OTC-widget
Do some research please. Some of us who are commenting and asking you to research the issues before posting are just trying to maintain this blog's reliability. If I remember correctly, when you were reporting on Dechert, I think that was your reasoning for not posting unverified information. Something about integrity.
37, this blog has lost all of its integrity.....it's got no credibility w/ big firms these days. It's heyday has come and gone, thanks largely in part to garbage like this from Elie. This blog lost its focus, and it will now wither and die.
Elie,
I once considered defending you against the almost unanimous attacks in the comments. But you have persuaded me that you are indeed stupid, biased and worthless, just as they say. Please go away. Someone please start a new site for posting bonus/layoff news. Perhaps we should all just go back to greedyassociates.com.
ATTTL
Garbage, eeely.
The only useful info on firms/layoffs comes from the comments anyway. If the commenter's leave this site will become the private blog of a nutcase, bigoted liberal ranting to himself.
MysTTTal
Quiz question: Which noble Athenian wrote his own name on the ostrakon of a fellow citizen?
Extra credit: Was he happy, and why?
Excellent. I returned to ATL for this first time in over a month just to watch Elie embarrass himself with baseless, non-researched, and idiotic claims. The commentariat have not let me down in eviscerating that tubby moron.
CongraTTTs Mystal for achieving a new level of suck!
Welcome back 45 only to be MysTTTaled.
ATTTL
12: Welcome to the comments Elie.
I am seriously thinking of getting out of here for good.
I watched the video. The Black Panther seemed friendly enough. If I was confronted by some nerdy white dude holding a cell phone camera I'd probalby threaten to shove it up his ass on GP.
What's the problem here?
"Sorry I ruined your black panther party."
[please correct at your leisure]
Seriously. Blank Panthers used to stand outside my highschool with billy clubs in their hands every morning. It was no big deal. Silly white people.
Former Thelen partner Tom Glascock (aka Glass Cock) here, commenting on Elie's statement "Way to stay ahead of the curve."
For a fat tub of shit donut and turkey drumstick devouring race baiting disaster of an editor who totally sits his lardass on breaking stories until everyone else in the universe has covered the stories for weeks, it's a laugh riot to see that pot calling the kettle black.
Holy s**t that is the worst last line of an entry EVER. It's bad enough when he can't spell, but it's even worse when he attempts to wax philosophical. I feel so embarrassed about continuing to read this site.
Elie, you may be hearing voices, but the sound I hear is MysTTTal smacking down a box of donuts and then struggling to type with his sausage fingers as he copies and pastes stories from other websites.
mccain got palinpwn3d - that loon cost him the election
nice job rovian asslickers - WELL DONE INDEED SONNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just turn a shopping cart sideways and place it at the end of your line at 6:45.
And don't forget to turn your light off while you're counting down your drawer, lest some voter will show up and silently mouth "are you open?" with raised eyebrows, then try to squeeze in a vote for Bob Barr at the last second . . .
Aristides
Happy? He did it 'cause some illiterate dude asked him to do so. In doing so, he stayed true to his values, but simultaneously caused his own banishment for no good reason. I'd be pissed, personally, but this dude is supposed to be all good and righteous and shit, so yeah, maybe he was happy? Or maybe he just didn't like his wife and wanted to be exiled to get away from her?
The black folk can't wait for Obama Barama to win so that they can celebrate by looting and therefore getting their holiday shopping done early.
You think there will be reparations for slavery?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVgAi4-LgCY
58: That's why I'm voting for everyone's favorite KKKracker.
Black people like to loot?
Lat, just wanted to let you know I removed ATL from my bookmarks and the sole reason is Elie. This site is done once Elie screws up bonus season.
The actions of the Black Panther were in the wrong, but this is much different than the voter intimidation suffered by blacks in the south (even to this day, to a lesser extent). I assure you that some "interloper" with a camera would not be tolerated, and the police would be assisting the blockade, not arresting the intimidators.
So, 63, what should we take away from your comment....that voter intimidation isn't really a big deal unless it rises to the level that blacks experienced in the south? What happened today shouldn't happen. What happened then shouldn't happen. Both are a big deal.
This post (and the similar ones that preceded it) are a real disappointment. Its partisanship is readily apparent. By writing this in real time on election day, you can't possibly have had an opportunity to verify its accuracy. I come to this site for fun, gossipy stories that provide lawyers an opportunity to see the humorous and lighter sides of their profession, not to read one-side rants about "voter suppression." Please take a moment to reconsider the direction in which you appear to be taking this blog.
The irony is that Elie wouldn't even be an Obama supporter if the first letter of the candidate's last name didn't remind him of a sweet, sweet donut... argharghargh...
'BLACK PANTHERS' TOP ELECTION DAY SEARCH TERMS
Google (NSDQ: GOOG) reported Tuesday that election-related queries quickly rose to the top of its lists of most-popular search terms. The search engine's Hot Trends showed that 87 of the 100 fastest-growing search terms related to the election.
Black Panthers rose to the No. 2 spot, after news outlets reported that people dressed in the group's uniforms stood outside of polling stations in Philadelphia (one with a nightstick) and intimidated voters.
http://www.informationweek.com/news/internet/search/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212000495
C'mon, that guy's not intimidating. He's cuddly. Look at his dreads! He's like the Bob Marley of voting! Coochie coo!
Abovethelaw.com now brought to you by the Daily Kos.
palinpwn3d bitches
face it, the REAL America hates nutbags who think Jesus was ridin' a dinosaur.....
keep up the good work Elie - dont mind the haters, they are in the minority of readers and need to vent at being PalinPwn3D!!!!!
Seriously, what are the odds of Chicago being burned to the ground if McCain miraculously won?
100%?
Even with Obama winning, there's still an over 50% chance that all the minorities and poor at the rally will be rioting and looting.
Cops attempted to intimidate voters in Alexandria, VA. We had criusers and motorcycles pass our precint 4 times an hour all day.
But we win anyway.
Obama!
You might want to get your Virginia election law correct before criticizing it. The law states that a poll worker heads outside at 645 to start taking names, and then at 7pm another poll worker physically gets in line to mark the end of the line. The poll worker taking the names continues doing so until that worker reaches the end of the line (as marked by the physical presence of the other worker). Everyone in line in front of the end-of-line poll worker gets to vote. It's simple and fair.
Rock the vote, on the other hand, sent messages to college students telling them that they only had to be driving to the poll station by 7 in order to vote - that's obviously wrong, but no one reports it when left-wing organizations get their information wrong.
ATTENTION READERS: There will be a BOYCOTT of ATL on Friday, November 7th, to protest the declining standards of this blog, particularly in terms of substantive relevance and proofing errors.
Let your voice be heard! Stay away from ATL this Friday!
Who finds a cop cruiser driving by to be intimidating?
A criminal.
76: So? (some) Criminals can vote too!
Not to mention the shirts I saw frequently last weekend: "A Black man running and the cops ain't chasing?? CHANGE you can believe in."