Voter Fraud Rampant in Wisconsin? Colorado Republicans make that claim.

Same day registration is not only the target of Colorado Republicans, in their efforts to suppress the vote, they’re now using Wisconsin to make their case. Did you know Wisconsin was the poster child for same day registration voter fraud?

This amazingly partisan article got a few good chuckles out of me. Notice how Democrats are “ramming” legislation through, unlike the Scott Walker Republican legislature with voter ID. The Democratic push back in Colorado is refreshing and encouraged:

Free Beacon: Colorado’s Democratic-controlled state legislature is ramming through an election bill that critics say will open the door to voter fraud and intimidation.

The “Voter Access and Modernized Elections Act” is under consideration amid accusations that Republicans in other states have tried to suppress the vote by passing laws that require some form of identification in order to vote. The Colorado law would make mail-in ballots mandatory while eliminating local polling places and allowing people to vote on the same day they register.

Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler, a Republican who has been an outspoken opponent of the bill said the two main provisions of the bill are “a recipe for fraud” … Wisconsin and Minnesota both have same day registration, and they have both seen large problems with fraud, Gessler said.

Really? Gessler does know that people in Wisconsin can read his ridiculous comments through one of the many internet tubes we can access? Another blog post will deal with outright Republican hypocrisy on recall elections based on one issue. Namely, guns.

The End to Polling Place Neutrality is here. Is NRA Armed Security Next?

Is there some problem at our polling places that needs urgent reform? Did you miss it too?

It’s a proposal that should leave even conservative voters breathless. WKOW:

Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) is seeking co-sponsors for a bill that would ensure that an equal number Republicans and Democrats have representation for each specific job at a polling location.

What the...? Think about that a second. That’s from a supposed “small government” Republican, who wants to turning polling places into D vs R battlegrounds, not to mention a whole new layer of time consuming regulation. How much longer will it be before we see fights break out over challenges to the simple act of a citizen casting their vote?

It's a measure Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell calls concerning, saying the polls should be a place where partisanship is not the goal.

And nothing can stop Republicans from reshaping and redefining entirely, a system of government we thought was settle law in our founding document, the Constitution.

Absolute power apparently does corrupt, and produces the following bizarre additional steps to voter suppression:

The proposed legislation is one of eight election-related bills Sen. Lazich is currently circulating … 

One would allow concerned parties in a recount to object to election day registrations they believe are invalid, leaving it to the local canvassing board to decide whether or not to count those specific votes.

Another would require both poll workers and the Government Accountability Board to note what each voter used as proof of residence.

And all this is supposed to solve…?

One comment to this story said it well:

Republicans ARE NOT going to support or push for legislation that restricts their cheating--Republicans KNOW they can't win elections by pushing their platform. So, they cheat through redistricting and voter suppression tactics like limiting hours, requiring specific IDs, taking away same day voter registration, limiting locations, requiring students to vote at home, etc. You won't see Republicans protecting voter rights. You will only see Republicans limiting voter rights. 

Taxpayers may shell out $14.5 million to kill Same Day Registration. Are they that desperate for power?

Have you noticed how everything Scott Walker wants to do will cost the state taxpayers more money, by turning away taxes Wisconsinites send to the federal government?

Instead, state taxpayers have to pick up the dime locally.

Ending same day registration is the latest attempt at voter suppression, and another costly trick on the taxpayer.

WSJ: Ending Wisconsin’s practice of allowing people to register to vote on Election Day would cost up to $14.5 million when the expenses of several state agencies are taken into account, a spokesman for the state Government Accountability Board said today … the staff has reduced that estimate to $3.9 million, but found additional costs of between $9.9 million and $10.5 million would be incurred by four other state departments; transportation, workforce development, health services and children and families. 

Why?

The additional costs would come from responsibilities mandated by the National Voter Registration Act. The state is exempt from the act’s provisions because it allows Election Day registration. 

Who knows, maybe win-at-all-cost conservative voters might think that’s a small price to pay for a permanent Republican majority.

Walker runs from repealing Same Day Registration, sights cost.

Has hell frozen over?

jsonline: Gov. Scott Walker said Wednesday that a Government Accountability Board report that says it would cost the state $5.2 million to end the state's same-day registration law convinced him that he would not sign such a bill.

"There is no way I'm signing a bill that costs that kind of money," Walker told reporters.

Will High Cost of ending Same Day Registration Trumps Walker's attempt to Suppress Vote?

I normally don't believe a thing I hear from the Walker Authority, but this time...maybe.

On the news that the state could end up spending lots of extra hard earned taxpayer money ending same day registration, it appears at least one tea party Republican to notice. That's at least something, but not even close to the idea that he might actually get it:

WSJ: Republican Rep. Joel Kleefisch, working on legislation to end same-day voter registration in Wisconsin said Tuesday that a new cost estimate of at least $5.2 million gave him "pause" about pursuing the bill.

Repealing the state law that allows voter registration on Election Day would cost the state elections agency about $5.2 million immediately, and another roughly $1.9 million every two years after that, while preserving some Election Day registration, a preliminary report from the Government Accountability Board found.

Kleefisch said last week that he and Sen. Alberta Darling are drafting a repeal of same-day registration. But on Tuesday, Kleefisch said the repeal was not a priority for Republicans … And he said the cost estimate of millions of dollars in taxpayer money to repeal same-day registration "gives you pause."

"We are stewards of the taxpayers' money," Kleefisch said. He added that he plans to meet with GAB director Kevin Kennedy to discuss the issue.

Sure Ending Same Day Registration will cost Taxpayer $5 million, and then $2 million every two years after. It’s all about Political Power, not saving money.

The numbers are in, and Scott Walker is about to add another expense to future budgets with his call for ending same day registration. How else can you retain political power if you don’t spend a lot of taxpayer money conservative voters don’t mind spending.

WSJ: Repealing the Wisconsin law that allows voter registration on Election Day would cost the state election agency about $5.2 million right away, and another roughly $1.9 million every two years after that, while also preserving some Election Day registration, according to a preliminary report from a state committee.

That's because two federal voting laws would kick in requiring implementation of a long list of federal registration procedures … Because the state enacted a same-day registration law in 1975, it is now exempt from the federal mandates.

Gov. Scott Walker … said Election Day registration causes problems for municipal clerks. But a spokesman for the Wisconsin Municipal Clerks' Association has said the group opposes any change.

Federal voter registration laws … would require millions of dollars in expenditures, much of it for required mailings to voters, said Reid Magney, spokesman for the Government Accountability Board. "In the context of our (roughly $7 million annual) budget, that's huge," Magney said. "We would need additional funding."

Federal laws would continue to allow Wisconsin residents to register changes of address or name on Election Day if they haven't moved to a new municipality, the report states. Up to 15 percent of Wisconsin voters register just before voting, and it's not clear how many of those are address changes. In a few weeks, the committee plans to issue a final report with more detail, including estimated costs for other state agencies.

Scott Walker, victim of his own party's repeal of Same Day Registration. Don't Blame Him.

Well at least Scott Walker’s kid doesn't have to worry about registering to vote again.

The press continues to act disconnected from reality when covering Scott Walker. Are they as dumb boards?

Let me get this right; Scott Walker doesn't really think the issue of same day registration is important, but would sign in a heartbeat the repeal of the age old law. Even after taking advantage of the law with his own kid?

So the press is stumbling all over themselves portraying Walker as some kind of thoughtful, fair minded politician?

The poor guy would have to sign into law a bill if forced by the legislature?

My god have we lost our minds?

WSJ: Despite Gov. Scott Walker’s opposition to same-day voter registration, he accompanied his college-age son to a Wauwatosa polling place to register and vote the same day as the GOP Senate primary in August, records show and the governor’s office confirmed. Walker said Wisconsin would be “much better” without same-day voter registration. Walker has also said he would sign a bill ending same-day voter registration, but that ending it wouldn't be a priority for him in the next legislative session. Walker called the controversy over same-day voter registration in Wisconsin a “ridiculous issue,” although state Rep. Joel Kleefisch, R-Oconomowoc, said in an email that he and Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, are seeking co-sponsors on a bill to eliminate the practice. 

Poor Scott Walker, looks like he’ll have to end same day registration. Damn those legislators who took his cue from the speech he made in California.

Selling Voter Suppression; Walker Authority Fitting legislation around Ideology despite Tax increases, Higher Future Infrastructure costs and ending same day registration.

Selling bad ideas with catch phrases like “making tough decisions,” “courage” and “we need real leaders” has worked well so far, but there’s got to be a point when people start to catch on.

Republicans are devising every excuse in the book to expand government by increasing regulation around same day registration.

The 36 year old same day voter registration law will probably fall under Walker for no other reason than to suppress the vote. Even though it runs counter to the GOP’s most popular talking points; reckless spending and increased government regulation, the Walker Authority is determined to maintain its political majority.

In one of the more surreal, phony and least thought out excuses yet by Walker:

Walker said asking poll workers to also register voters made for too much work, and "it'd be much better if registration was done in advance of Election Day."

Just watch as Walker, Sen. Scott Fitzgerald and Rep. Robin Vos pass repeal in the face of overwhelming opposition:

WSJ: The state's municipal clerks — the ones who run elections — are not looking to be relieved of the extra work, said Diane Hermann-Brown, election communications chairwoman for the Wisconsin Municipal Clerks' Association. In fact, eliminating the practice would create a "heavy burden" on municipalities and the state, said Hermann-Brown, who is the city clerk in Sun Prairie. "There's no way we'd be in favor of that," she said.

If same-day registration were eliminated, the state would no longer be exempt from a whole raft of federal provisions, including requiring state social-service agencies and driver's license bureaus to register voters. Clerks also would be required to issue provisional ballots to voters whose registrations could not immediately be verified … Such ballots require extra effort by both clerks and voters before they can be counted. And large numbers of uncounted provisional ballots means election results could be delayed by days.

Madison City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl said "It takes about a minute to process such a registration, then it's in the system for the next election." Between 100,000 and 450,000 Wisconsinites register at the polls each general election, or between 7 percent and 20 percent of all voters.

The GAB is expected to discuss the issue Dec. 18.

I thought this comment presented the best argument against the whole idea:

Hermann-Brown said "The vote is the single most critical act in our democratic system of government ... (and) voter registration was not intended to and should not prevent voting."

Scott Walker's Same Day Registration Overreach: No one is buying the poll "volunteers...retirees..." are overworked.

The Walker Authority overreach continues, this time with his proposal to do away with same day registration because he's suddenly concerned with public employees working too hard, an ironic laughable choice to make his argument. Again, listen for Scott Walker's zany speech impediment in this short clip:

Even the right wingers on the Journal Sentinel's editorial board were outraged, as demonstrated by today's comment from David Haynes, featured below. 

But more importantly, the audio (edited for time) featured here, of Charlie Sykes fill-in Nick Reed, probably made things even worse for Walker and Robin Vos. Reed couldn't have been more stereotypically Republican on voter ID, same day registration and the horrors of large voter turnout. He even pointed out how the simple act of buying "malt liquor" requires an ID. Subtle.   

David Haynes, Journal Sentinel editorial board: Gov. Scott Walker sure put a lot on the table during that sold-out speech at the Ronald Reagan Library and Museum in California … changing Wisconsin law that allows voters to register at their polling place on the day of an election.

It’s a bad idea, and it will almost surely reduce the number of people voting – many of whom are inclined to vote for Democrats, which likely is the real reason the ever-political Walker wants to make the change.

Walker:“States across the country that have same-day registration have real problems because the vast majority of their states have poll workers who are wonderful volunteers, who work 13 hour days and who in most cases are retirees. It’s difficult for them to handle the volume of people who come at the last minute. It'd be much better if registration was done in advance of election day. It'd be easier for our clerks to handle that. All that needs to be done."

More voters equals more democracy. The state has encouraged voter participation without major problems. That “widespread voter fraud” that Republicans complain about? Doesn’t exist. Like voter ID, which targeted “widespread voter fraud,” Walker’s idea is a sham. This is nothing but politics.

It’s not about making it easier on senior citizen volunteers. It’s about making it harder on Democrats.

Walker says same day registration "difficult" for retirees "to handle." Must make it "Easier for our clerks to handle."

Both Scott Walker and Robin Vos twisted voting rights into an electoral pretzel recently in separate public statements. And never have these guys sounded more desperate and pathetic.

For Scott Walker, he’s concerned about senior poll volunteers, and isn't it about "toym"?

jsonline-Jason Stein: "States across the country that have same-day registration have real problems because the vast majority of their states have poll workers who are wonderful volunteers, who work 13-hour days and who in most cases are retirees," Walker said at the library, responding to a question from an audience member about election safeguards. "It's difficult for them to handle the volume of people who come at the last minute. It'd be much better if registration was done in advance of election day. It'd be easier for our clerks to handle that. All that needs to be done."

How touching. Is there one Republican voter who doesn't find that comment insulting? For a party that thinks seniors should be shopping for, and comparing health care options in the marketplace well into their 80's, is this a consistent message?

Republican assembly speaker Robin Vos is on board of course:

Since last week's election, both Walker and incoming Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) have said they're considering ending the practice, which goes back to 1976 in the state. "I want to explore that. I want to see if there are upsides to motor-voter as opposed to same-day registration," Vos said.

But Republicans oppose motor-voter registration as much as they support voter ID. 

Milwaukee Election Commission executive director Neil Albrecht said changes to the registration law would most impact young people and renters. Last year, Kevin Kennedy, the director of the state Government Accountability Board, said eliminating election-day registration would be a mistake. Because Wisconsin allows such registration, the state is exempt from a federal law requiring states to allow people to register to vote at motor vehicle centers and welfare offices. That federal law would kick into effect if election-day registration is repealed, driving up costs for taxpayers, Kennedy said.

This is undoubtedly payback for the overwhelming Obama win in Wisconsin. 

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said "Clearly the governor is upset with the election results and believes the outcome here in Wisconsin would have been different if there was no same-day registration. Their goal is to suppress votes of people who don't vote for Republicans."

Like a dog marking their territory, Republicans want to leave their irreversible marked in our state constitution.

Vos said that he was "committed" to restoring photo ID before the 2014 elections and was willing to consider a constitutional amendment to do that. 

Since the courts have deemed Walker's voter ID law unconstitutional, Vos' suggestion make perfect sense to our Republican Authority.