Posts Tagged ‘vote fraud’

Convicted ACORN Worker Sentenced to 10 Months in Jail for Vote Fraud in Wisconsin

MacIver News Service | November 18, 2010

[Milwaukee, Wisc..] Kevin Clancy, a former ACORN voter registration worker, has been sentenced to 10 months in a Wisconsin jail for vote fraud.

Clancy was convicted of election fraud arising out of the November 4, 2008, Presidential election. He was charged with one count of Falsely Procuring Voter Registration as Party to a Crime by the Election Fraud Task Force, a collaborative effort between the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office and the Milwaukee Police Department.

“Like all rights, the right to vote must be protected,” said Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen upon sentencing. “I remain commited to lawfully conducted elections and elections undiminished by illegally cast ballots. Our election integrity efforts are working.”

According to the criminal complaint, Clancy served as a Special Registration Deputy (“SRD”) for the City of Milwaukee in advance of the 2008 Presidential Election. He worked for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, a beleaguered association of communit activists known by the acronym ACORN.

Clancy plead guilty to the charge and admitted to submitting multiple voter registration applications for the same individuals, and also being part of a scheme in which he and other SRDs registered each other to vote multiple times in order to meet voter registration quotas imposed by ACORN.

“The integrity of elections is dependent upon citizens and officials insisting they be conducted lawfully,” Van Hollen told MacIver News on the day Clancy entered his plea. “Wisconsin’s citizens should not have to wonder whether their vote has been negated or diminished by illegally cast ballots.”

Judge Richard Sankovitz ordered Clancy’s sentence in this case to run consecutive to another sentence he is serving in prison for armed robbery, and said Clancy’s crime helped erode the confidence of voters in the electoral system. Clancy faced a maximum penalty of up to 3 ½ years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.

Clancy’s co-defendant and former coworker, Maria Miles, pleaded guilty to a similar charge and is scheduled for sentencing December 6, 2010, at 8:30 a.m.

In July, Van Hollen announced the launch of a joint Elections Integrity Task Force Efforts with District Attorneys in eleven of Wisconsin’s largest counties.

That multijurisdictional action team follows the partnership in Milwaukee County, which investigated and prosecuted Clancy. According to Van Hollen, the expanded, and bipartisan, Task Force will develop and share information, resources, tactics and strategy regarding matters involving election integrity and the enforcement of Wisconsin’s elections laws. It was the Milwaukee collaboration that led to today’s conviction.

Prior to the November 2008 election, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen and Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm announced the creation of the Election Fraud Task Force, a multi-jurisdictional action team that evaluates, investigates and prosecutes complaints of electoral fraud. The Department of Justice and the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office work cooperatively with local law enforcement and the Milwaukee Police Department as needed when investigation is required.

Status of Other Vote Fraud Cases

Source: Wisconsin Department of Justice

DOJ Cases:
Frank Walton
Charge: Falsely Procuring Voter Registration (Felony Class I)
Next date: December 6, 2010, for sentencing
Walton was a special registration deputy (“SRD”) who solicited voter registrations while working for the Community Voter Project (“CVP”).

Michael Henderson
Charges: Voting by a Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to an Election Official (Felony Class I)
Next date: November 19, 2010, for motion decision on defense constitutional challenge
This is a felon voter case. Milwaukee Public Defender is challenging the felon voter prohibition.

Maria MilesCharge: Falsely Procuring Voter Registration –as party to a crime (Felony Class I)

Next date: October 15, 2010, for sentencing
Former ACORN Special Registration Deputy.

Herbert Gunka
Suzanne Gunka
Charge: Double Voting (Felony Class I)
Next date: November 15, 2010, for final pretrial
January 24, 2011, for jury trial
Husband and wife voted by absentee ballot and at the polls.

David Lewis
Charge: Voting by a Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to an Election Official (Felony Class I)
Sentence: Count 1: 20 days incarceration, $250 fine; Count 2: Dismissed

Ramon Martinez–Closed
Charge: Voting by a Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Sentence: 30 days incarceration, $750 fine

Milwaukee County Cases:
Endalyn Adams– CLOSED
Charge: Falsely Procuring Voter Registration – as party to a crime (Felony Class I)
Sentence: 15 months IC, 15 months ES –imposed and stayed; 3 years probation; Community service

Adams worked for CVP as a SRD.

Adam Mucklin–CLOSED

Charges: Providing False Information to Election Official (Felony Class I)
Intentional Violation of Election Duty (Felony Class I)
Sentence: Both charges were amended to attempted offenses, making each misdemeanors (attempt to commit a Class I felony)
Count 1: 4 months incarceration
Count 2: 7 months incarceration imposed and stayed with 1 year probation
Mucklin was a convicted felon on active supervision while working for CVP. He registered himself to vote (while on active felony supervision) and also registered others as an SRD.

Latoya Lewis– CLOSED
Charge: Falsely Procuring Voter Registration (Felony Class I)
Sentence: 12 months incarceration –

imposed and stayed
3 years probation
3 months incarceration as condition of probation
Lewis and her mother were employed by ACORN as SRDs.

Lavelle Morris–CLOSED

Charges: Voting by Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to Election Official (Felony Class I)
Sentence: Count 1: 90 days incarceration
Count 2: Dismissed and read-in
This is a felon voter case.

L.B. Dean –CLOSED

Charges: Voting by Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to Election Official (Felony Class I)
Sentence: Count 1: 60 days incarceration
Count 2: Dismissed and read-in
This is a felon voter case.

Stephen Wroblewski – CLOSED
Charge: Providing False Information to Obtain Absentee Ballot (Misdemeanor)
Sentence: $500 fine
Wroblewski obtained an absentee ballot in his late-wife’s name in order to “fulfill her dying wish”to vote for Obama.

Edward Johnson –CLOSED

Charges: Voting by Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to Election Official (Felony Class I)
Sentence: Count 1: 90 days jail with huber release
Count 2: Dismiss and read-in
This is a felon voter case.

Orlando Maclin
Charges: Voting by Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to Election Official (Felony Class I)
Next date: November 19, 2010, for motion decision on defense constitutional challenge
This is a felon voter case. Tagging along with the Michael Henderson case.

Veronica Toney
Charges: Voting by Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to Election Official (Felony Class I)
Next date: January 31, 2011, for Jury Trial
This is a felon voter case.

Leon Pendleton
Charges: Voting by Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to Election Official (Felony Class I)
Next date:
This is a felon voter case.

Tyrone Stephens
Charges: Voting by Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to Election Official (Felony Class I)
Next date:
This is a felon voter case.

Keep informed about the events in Madison and Washington that impact you.

Click here to sign up for weekly updates.

Share
Tags: ,
Posted in News | November 18, 2010 | | 3 Comments

ACORN Worker Pleads Guilty to Felony Vote Fraud in Wisconsin

MacIver News Service | October 15, 2010

[Milwaukee, Wisc...]  A Milwaukee man charged with election fraud arising out of his work for the controversial ACORN group during the 2008 Presidential Election has plead guilty to the felony charges against him.

Kevin Clancy was charged with one count of Falsely Procuring Voter Registration as Party to a Crime by the Election Fraud Task Force, a collaborative effort between the Department of Justice, the Milwaukee District Attorney’s Office and the Milwaukee Police Department.

“The integrity of elections is dependent upon citizens and officials insisting they be conducted lawfully,” Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen told MacIver News. “Wisconsin’s citizens should not have to wonder whether their vote has been negated or diminished by illegally cast ballots.”

According to the criminal complaint, Clancy served as a Special Registration Deputy (“SRD”) for the City of Milwaukee in advance of the 2008 Presidential Election.  He worked for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (“ACORN”).

Clancy was accused of submitting multiple voter registration applications for the same individuals, and also was part of a scheme in which he and other SRDs registered each other to vote multiple times in order to meet voter registration quotas imposed by ACORN.

This charge carries a potential penalty of imprisonment up to 3 ½ years and a $10,000 fine.  Sentencing has been scheduled for November 18, 2010, at 8:30 a.m. before Judge Richard Sankovitz.  Clancy’s co-defendant and former coworker, Maria Miles, pleaded guilty to a similar charge.  She was scheduled for sentencing this morning, but her case was adjourned to complete a presentence evaluation.  Her new sentencing date is December 6, 2010, at 8:30 a.m.

In July, Van Hollen announced the launch of a joint Elections Integrity Task Force Efforts with District Attorneys in eleven of Wisconsin’s largest counties.

That multijurisdictional action team follows the partnership in Milwaukee County, which investigated and prosecuted Miles.  According to Van Hollen, the expanded, and bipartisan, Task Force will develop and share information, resources, tactics and strategy regarding matters involving election integrity and the enforcement of Wisconsin’s elections laws. It was the Milwaukee collaboration that led to today’s conviction.

Prior to the November 2008 election, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen and Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm announced the creation of the Election Fraud Task Force, a multi-jurisdictional action team that evaluates, investigates and prosecutes complaints of electoral fraud.  The Department of Justice and the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office work cooperatively with local law enforcement and the Milwaukee Police Department as needed when investigation is required.

Status of Other Vote Fraud Cases

Source: Wisconsin Department of Justice

DOJ Cases:
Frank Walton
 Charge:   Falsely Procuring Voter Registration (Felony Class I)
Next date:  December 6, 2010, for sentencing
Walton was a special registration deputy (“SRD”) who solicited voter registrations while working for the Community Voter Project (“CVP”).

Michael Henderson
 Charges:  Voting by a Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to an Election Official (Felony Class I)
Next date:  November 19, 2010, for motion decision on defense constitutional challenge
This is a felon voter case.  Milwaukee Public Defender is challenging the felon voter prohibition.

Maria Miles
 Charge:  Falsely Procuring Voter Registration – as party to a crime (Felony Class I)
Next date:  October 15, 2010, for sentencing
Former ACORN Special Registration Deputy.

Herbert Gunka
Suzanne Gunka
Charge:  Double Voting (Felony Class I)
Next date:  November 15, 2010, for final pretrial
January 24, 2011, for jury trial
Husband and wife voted by absentee ballot and at the polls.

David Lewis
 Charge:  Voting by a Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to an Election Official (Felony Class I)
Next date:  November 9, 2010, for sentencing
This is a felon voter case.

Ramon Martinez
 Charge:  Voting by a Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Next date:  November 9, 2010, for sentencing
This is a felon voter case.

Milwaukee County Cases:
Endalyn Adams
 Charge:  Falsely Procuring Voter Registration – as party to a crime (Felony Class I)
Sentence:  15 months IC, 15 months ES – imposed and stayed
3 years probation
Community service
Adams worked for CVP as a SRD.

Adam Mucklin
 Charges:  Providing False Information to Election Official (Felony Class I)
Intentional Violation of Election Duty (Felony Class I)
Sentence:  Both charges were amended to attempted offenses, making each misdemeanors (attempt to commit a Class I felony)
Count 1: 4 months incarceration
Count 2: 7 months incarceration imposed and stayed with 1 year probation
Mucklin was a convicted felon on active supervision while working for CVP.  He registered himself to vote (while on active felony supervision) and also registered others as an SRD.

Latoya Lewis
 Charge:  Falsely Procuring Voter Registration (Felony Class I)
Sentence:  12 months incarceration – imposed and stayed
3 years probation
3 months incarceration as condition of probation
Lewis and her mother were employed by ACORN as SRDs.

Lavelle Morris– CLOSED
Charges:  Voting by Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to Election Official (Felony Class I)
Sentence:  Count 1: 90 days incarceration
Count 2: Dismissed and read-in
This is a felon voter case.

L.B. Dean – CLOSED
Charges:  Voting by Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to Election Official (Felony Class I)
Sentence:  Count 1: 60 days incarceration
Count 2: Dismissed and read-in
This is a felon voter case.

Stephen Wroblewski – CLOSED
Charge:  Providing False Information to Obtain Absentee Ballot (Misdemeanor)
Sentence:  $500 fine
Wroblewski obtained an absentee ballot in his late-wife’s name in order to “fulfill her dying wish” to vote for Obama.

Edward Johnson – CLOSED
Charges:  Voting by Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to Election Official (Felony Class I)
Sentence:  Count 1: 90 days jail with huber release
Count 2: Dismiss and read-in
This is a felon voter case.

Orlando Maclin
Charges:  Voting by Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to Election Official (Felony Class I)
Next date:  November 19, 2010, for motion decision on defense constitutional challenge
This is a felon voter case.  Tagging along with the Michael Henderson case.

Veronica Toney
Charges:  Voting by Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to Election Official (Felony Class I)
Next date:  October 25, 2010, for scheduling
This is a felon voter case.

Leon Pendleton
Charges:  Voting by Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to Election Official (Felony Class I)
This is a felon voter case.

Keep informed about the events in Madison and Washington that impact you.

Click here to sign up for weekly updates.

Share
Tags:
Posted in News | October 15, 2010 | | 5 Comments

Two More Felony Vote Fraud Convictions in Milwaukee

Convictions Piling up as Next Election Nears

MacIver News Service | October 5, 2010

[Milwaukee, Wisc...] Two felons in Milwaukee, who are prohibited by state law from voting, admitted that they committed election fraud in the last Presidential Election.

David Lewis and Ramon Martinez, who were charged with election fraud arising out of the November 4, 2008, Presidential Election, entered guilty pleas Tuesday wherein they admitted they voted illegally while on an active period of felony supervision. A felon on an active period of supervision for a felony offense is prohibited by state law from voting in any election.

“The right to vote is the most fundamental of all political freedoms. But it isn’t simply the right to vote that protects our democracy; it is the right to vote in fair elections, untainted by election fraud,” said Wisconsin Attorney General J. B. Van Hollen. “Make no mistake, the dilution of one’s lawful vote through the unlawful casting of ballots is a dilution of the most fundamental of our political freedoms.”

Both Lewis and Martinez were convicted of one count of Voting by a Disqualified Person.  At the time of the election, Lewis and Martinez were both on active periods of probation for felony convictions in Milwaukee County.

Lewis was also charged with one count of Providing False Information to Election Officials; however, that count was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

By pleading guilty, Lewis admitted that he registered to vote at the polls in November of 2008 and then cast a ballot.  Martinez admitted to also casting a ballot at the polls on November 4, 2008.

Each individual charge carries a potential penalty of imprisonment up to 3 ½ years and a $10,000 fine.  Sentencing for both is scheduled for November 9, 2010, at 1:30 p.m.

In July, Van Hollen announced the launch of a joint Elections Integrity Task Force Efforts with District Attorneys in eleven of Wisconsin’s largest counties.

That multijurisdictional action team follows the partnership in Milwaukee County, which investigated and prosecuted Miles.  According to Van Hollen, the expanded, and bipartisan, Task Force will develop and share information, resources, tactics and strategy regarding matters involving election integrity and the enforcement of Wisconsin’s elections laws. It was the Milwaukee collaboration that led to today’s conviction.

Prior to the November 2008 election, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen and Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm announced the creation of the Election Fraud Task Force, a multi-jurisdictional action team that evaluates, investigates and prosecutes complaints of electoral fraud.  The Department of Justice and the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office work cooperatively with local law enforcement and the Milwaukee Police Department as needed when investigation is required.

Click here for previous MacIver News stories and MacIver opinion pieces on vote fraud.

The following is an updated list of the cases that have been charged by the Election Fraud Task Force relating to the 2008 General Presidential Election. Source: Wisconsin Department of Justice.

DOJ Cases:
Frank Walton
 Charge:   Falsely Procuring Voter Registration (Felony Class I)
Next date:  December 6, 2010, for sentencing
Walton was a special registration deputy (“SRD”) who solicited voter registrations while working for the Community Voter Project (“CVP”).

Michael Henderson
 Charges:  Voting by a Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to an Election Official (Felony Class I)
Next date:  November 19, 2010, for motion decision on defense constitutional challenge
This is a felon voter case.  Milwaukee Public Defender is challenging the felon voter prohibition.

Maria Miles
 Charge:  Falsely Procuring Voter Registration – as party to a crime (Felony Class I)
Next date:  October 15, 2010, for sentencing
Former ACORN Special Registration Deputy.

Kevin Clancy
 Charge:  Falsely Procuring Voter Registration – as party to a crime (Felony Class I)
Next date:  October 15, 2010, for projected guilty plea
Clancy was an ACORN SRD with Miles.

Herbert Gunka
Suzanne Gunka
Charge:  Double Voting (Felony Class I)
Next date:  November 15, 2010, for final pretrial
January 24, 2011, for jury trial
Husband and wife voted by absentee ballot and at the polls.

David Lewis
 Charge:  Voting by a Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to an Election Official (Felony Class I)
Next date:  November 9, 2010, for sentencing
This is a felon voter case.

Ramon Martinez
 Charge:  Voting by a Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Next date:  November 9, 2010, for sentencing
This is a felon voter case.

Milwaukee County Cases:
Endalyn Adams
 Charge:  Falsely Procuring Voter Registration – as party to a crime (Felony Class I)
Sentence:  15 months IC, 15 months ES – imposed and stayed
3 years probation
Community service
Adams worked for CVP as a SRD.

Adam Mucklin
 Charges:  Providing False Information to Election Official (Felony Class I)
Intentional Violation of Election Duty (Felony Class I)
Sentence:  Both charges were amended to attempted offenses, making each misdemeanors (attempt to commit a Class I felony)
Count 1: 4 months incarceration
Count 2: 7 months incarceration imposed and stayed with 1 year probation
Mucklin was a convicted felon on active supervision while working for CVP.  He registered himself to vote (while on active felony supervision) and also registered others as an SRD.

Latoya Lewis
 Charge:  Falsely Procuring Voter Registration (Felony Class I)
Sentence:  12 months incarceration – imposed and stayed
3 years probation
3 months incarceration as condition of probation
Lewis and her mother were employed by ACORN as SRDs.

Lavelle Morris– CLOSED
Charges:  Voting by Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to Election Official (Felony Class I)
Sentence:  Count 1: 90 days incarceration
Count 2: Dismissed and read-in
This is a felon voter case.

L.B. Dean – CLOSED
Charges:  Voting by Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to Election Official (Felony Class I)
Sentence:  Count 1: 60 days incarceration
Count 2: Dismissed and read-in
This is a felon voter case.

Stephen Wroblewski – CLOSED
Charge:  Providing False Information to Obtain Absentee Ballot (Misdemeanor)
Sentence:  $500 fine
Wroblewski obtained an absentee ballot in his late-wife’s name in order to “fulfill her dying wish” to vote for Obama.

Edward Johnson – CLOSED
Charges:  Voting by Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to Election Official (Felony Class I)
Sentence:  Count 1: 90 days jail with huber release
Count 2: Dismiss and read-in
This is a felon voter case.

Orlando Maclin
Charges:  Voting by Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to Election Official (Felony Class I)
Next date:  November 19, 2010, for motion decision on defense constitutional challenge
This is a felon voter case.  Tagging along with the Michael Henderson case.

Veronica Toney
Charges:  Voting by Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to Election Official (Felony Class I)
Next date:  October 25, 2010, for scheduling
This is a felon voter case.

Leon Pendleton
Charges:  Voting by Disqualified Person (Felon) (Felony Class I)
Providing False Information to Election Official (Felony Class I)
Next date:  October 14, 2010, for scheduling
This is a felon voter case.

Keep informed about the events in Madison and Washington that impact you.

Click here to sign up for weekly updates.


Share
Tags: ,
Posted in News | October 5, 2010 | | 2 Comments

Former ACORN Worker Pleads Guilty to Vote Fraud in Milwaukee

MacIver News Service | August 24, 2010

[Milwaukee, Wisc...] Former ACORN employee Maria Miles has plead guilty to, and was convicted of, one count of election fraud arising out of the November 4, 2008, Presidential Election.  

The felony charge of falsely procuring voter registration carries a potential penalty of imprisonment up to 3 ½ years and a $10,000 fine.

“False registration schemes undermine the integrity of voter lists and heighten the risk of vote dilution,” Wisconsin Attorney General J. B. Van Hollen told MacIver News. “Together with district attorneys, my office will continue to investigate and prosecute election fraud.”

According to the criminal complaint, Miles served as a Special Registration Deputy for the City of Milwaukee in advance of the 2008 Presidential Election and worked for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (“ACORN”). 

By entering a plea of guilty today, Miles admitted to submitting multiple voter registration applications for the same individuals, and also being part of a scheme in which she and other registration deputies registered each other to vote multiple times in order to meet voter registration quotas imposed by ACORN.

Miles was charged by the Election Fraud Task Force, a collaborative effort between the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the Milwaukee District Attorney’s Office and the Milwaukee Police Department.  She is charged in the same complaint as Kevin Clancy, also a former ACORN worker.  Clancy’s case is scheduled for a guilty plea hearing on September 22nd.

Miles is scheduled to be sentenced on October 15th.

Last month Van Hollen announced the launch of a joint Elections Integrity Task Force Efforts with District Attorneys in eleven of Wisconsin’s largest counties.

That multijurisdictional action team follows the partnership in Milwaukee County, which investigated and prosecuted Miles.  According to Van Hollen, the expanded, and bipartisan, Task Force will develop and share information, resources, tactics and strategy regarding matters involving election integrity and the enforcement of Wisconsin’s elections laws.

“Our expanded efforts will better ensure voter confidence and will address issues related to election integrity,” said Van Hollen when he unveiled the expanded effort in July. “This builds on our successful efforts in Milwaukee while reinforcing our roles and partnerships. Elections are undermined when people engage in unlawful voting or otherwise commit fraud on the elections process. We have an obligation to make certain our election system is fair and legal.”

Van Hollen spoke with MacIver News Service earlier this year about his ongoing efforts to fight voter fraud in Wisconsin, in the interview he acknowledges that efforts to fight vote fraud in Wisconsin are substantial and ongoing.

 

Share
Tags: ,
Posted in News | August 24, 2010 | | 4 Comments

More Election Fraud Charges Emerge in Milwaukee
AG Van Hollen Vows Continued Crackdown

MacIver News Service  [Milwaukee, Wisc...] Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that the Election Fraud Task Force  has brought two additional election fraud cases in Milwaukee.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice, acting as Special Prosecutor for Milwaukee County, has filed felony charges against David E. Lewis and Ramon Martinez, alleging that each defendant voted in the November 4, 2008, Presidential Election while on an active period of supervision as a convicted felon.

Each individual charge carries a potential penalty of imprisonment up to three and a half years and a $10,000 fine.

Both Lewis and Martinez are charged with one count of Voting by a Disqualified Person. Lewis is also charged with one count of Providing False Information to Election Officials. Both crimes are felonies. According to Wisconsin law, all felons on an active period of supervision for a felony offense are prohibited  from voting in any election.

The complaint against Lewis alleges that he registered to vote at the polls on November 4, 2008, thereby certifying that he was a qualified elector. It also alleges that he then cast a ballot. At that time, Lewis was on an active period of probation for felony convictions in Milwaukee County. A separate complaint alleges that Martinez cast a ballot at the polls on November 4, 2008. At that time, Martinez was also on an active period of probation for felony convictions in Milwaukee County.

Lewis and Martinez are scheduled for an initial appearance on July 26, 2010, at 1 p.m.

The Task Force is an ongoing collaborative effort  between the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the Milwaukee District Attorney’s Office and the Milwaukee Police Department.

Also today, Van Hollen announced that two other individuals previously charged with election fraud arising out of the November 4, 2008, Presidential Election were bound over for trial following their preliminary appearances in court this afternoon. Herbert and Suzanne Gunka were are each charged with the felony offense of Double Voting and had not guilty pleas entered as they appeared before Milwaukee County Circuit Court Commissioner David Sweet.

In this recent interview with MacIver News, Van Hollen vowed to make sure more resources were devoted to maintaining election integrity across the state during the upcoming 2010 election cycle:

 

Share
Tags: ,
Posted in News | June 22, 2010 | | 2 Comments

The Bad Ideas Are Hard to Kill

When playing football against Zombies, don’t reach for the celebratory Gatorade bucket until all the time has run off the clock.

Blame it on a combination of the lack of sleep as a result of monitoring late-night legislative sessions and a healthy cynicism from two decades of working around the Capitol in Madison, but that sentence made complete sense to me as I wrote it this morning.

What’s of primary concern to our readers/viewers/followers/friends/fans today?

  1. The Global Warming Bill
  2. The Elections Fraud Facilitation Act
  3. The Madison Educational Bureaucracy Empowerment Plan
  4. The establishment of non-elected Regional Taxing Authorities for transit

As of this writing, all four of these proposals are on life support. But they are not dead yet.

As my colleague Brett Healy pointed out in his instant classic on the Silly Season, anything can happen in the waning days (and especially hours) of a legislative session.  Most of the action takes place behind the scenes and it will be weeks, if ever, before the citizenry of Wisconsin know exactly what deals were cut and why they were made.

The horse trading, deal making, ego stroking and amendment drafting could be fierce today.

Supporters of each of those aforementioned bills will be pursuing every plausible and many improbable avenues to get their ideas passed by both houses today. While it is possible that all four proposals could stall and die today, it’s also possible that all four could be in the mix with other pieces of legislation (like the wage lien bill) and that Democratic leaders could strike a massive deal behind the scenes at any point in the next few hours.

So, it’s a scary thought but entirely possible that all four proposals could pass in both houses, in rapid succession, over the course of less than an hour. The majority party has extraordinary parliamentary powers to limit debate, and we’ve seen these powers abused on more than one occasion.

At the same time, the Senate could whip through just their publicized calendar and adjourn by 1pm, before the Assembly ever gets to the floor today. The only certainty in Silly Season is uncertainty.

Today, the last day of the regular legislative session, has dawned. We’ll continue to track the zombies here and on our Twitter feed and Facebook page. If something happens today, we’

ll let you know.

The center-right coalition, the fiscal sanity caucus and others who are hoping to limit the damage coming out of Madison must forget about the victory celebration until the final gun sounds. The defensive coordinator must remain vigilant and shouldn’t get the Gatorade shower when the undead are on the field and there is time left on the clock.

Oh, and did I mention that even then, it may not be over? There is a limited floor period scheduled for May wherein bills that have passed one house may still be considered, with a little maneuvering*.

Taxpayers need a break, and I clearly need some sleep. Hopefully we can catch a little of both today.

Until it’s over, though, we’ll stay awake. You stay tuned.

By Brian Fraley
A MacIver Institute Perspective

 

*Clarification about May:

Under Senate Joint Resolution 1, the session schedule for the 2009-10 biennial session period, there are two floor periods in May. The first floor period, from May 4 to May 6, is a limited-business floor period.  Under SJR 1 and the joint rules, only the following items are eligible for action: revisor’s correction or revisor’

 s revision bills, reconciliation bills to correct mutually inconsistent acts of the session, proposals recalled because they cannot be properly enrolled, state employee contracts, and legislative citations. 

The second floor period, from May 25 to May 26, is a veto review floor period.  Under SJR 1 and the joint rules, only the following items are eligible for action: gubernatorial vetoes or partial vetoes, pending nominations requiring Senate confirmation, revisor’s correction or revisor’

s revision bills, reconciliation bills to correct mutually inconsistent acts of the session, proposals recalled because they cannot be properly enrolled, state employee contracts, and resolutions and joint resolutions introduced by either committee on organization.

But, and this is a big caveat, the Legislature always has the authority to extend a floor period, call itself into extraordinary session, or otherwise amend SJR 1 such as expanding the jurisdiction of a particular floor period (e.g., creating a list of bills which may be considered or allowing bills which have passed one house to be considered).  Moreover, the Governor could always call a special session. If we’ve learned anything it’s that in Madison, anyting (bad) is possible.

Share
Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in mi perspectives | April 22, 2010 | | 2 Comments

Vote Fraud Cases Progress in Milwaukee

MNS – The prosecution of five cases of alleged vote fraud in Wisconsin brought forth by a joint state, city and county task force, will continue.  

Herbert Gunka, Suzanne Gunka, Maria Miles, Kevin Clancy, and Michael Henderson are each charged with election fraud arising out of the November 4, 2008 Presidential Election. They made their initial appearances before Milwaukee County Court Commissioner Grace Flynn Tuesday.

The charges were brought forth by the Election Fraud Task Force, a collaborative effort between the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the Milwaukee District Attorney’s Office and the Milwaukee Police Department.

“Elections fraud is unfortunate and very real,” said Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen. “Through our partnerships and the task force we seek to hold those accountable who degrade and diminish the lawful votes of others. Elections fraud undermines our democracy.”

According to a release issued by the Wisconsin Department of Justice:

Miles and Clancy served as Special Registration Deputies (“SRD”) for the City of Milwaukee in advance of the 2008 Presidential Election.  Each worked for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (“ACORN”).  Miles and Clancy are each charged with the felony offense of Falsely Procuring Voter Registration as Party to a Crime.  The complaint alleges that Miles and Clancy submitted multiple voter registration applications for the same individuals, and also were part of a scheme in which they and other SRDs registered each other to vote multiple times in order to meet voter registration quotas imposed by ACORN.Henderson is charged with one count of Voting by a Disqualified Person and one count of Providing False Information to Election Officials, both felonies.  His complaint alleges that Henderson registered to vote at the polls on November 4, 2008, thereby certifying that he was a qualified elector.  It also alleges that he then cast a ballot.  At that time, Henderson was on an active period of probation for felony convictions from Rock County.  A felon on an active period of supervision for a felony offense is prohibited by state law from voting in any election.

Herbert and Suzanne Gunka are each charged with the felony offense of Double Voting.  Their complaint alleges that they each voted in the November 2008 election by casting absentee ballots before the election.  The complaint also alleges that after casting absentee ballots, they each voted in person at their polling place on election day. 

Commissioner Flynn found that each of the complaints supported probable cause and the defendants were ordered to appear for preliminary hearings on May 6, 2010, at 8:30 a.m. 

Each individual charge against the defendants carries a potential penalty of  up to 3 1/2 years imprisonment and as much as $10,000 in fines.

Share
Tags: ,
Posted in News | April 20, 2010 | | 1 Comment

Vote Fraud Bill on Fast Track

Imagine showing up to the polls to vote in an election and hearing the poll worker somebody already voted in your name. Two voters in Green Bay are alleging that’s exactly what happened in last Tuesday’s election. Because there is no way to determine which ballots were the ones allegedly fraudulently cast, those two ballots were counted along with the votes legitimately cast by the two people whose identities were possibly stolen. If those fraudulent votes canceled out the intent of the votes cast by the two legitimate voters, the two voters were effectively disenfranchised by vote fraud.

Making matters worse for residents of Green Bay, one of those possibly fraudulent ballots was cast in a very close election for Alderman in Green Bay’s sixth district. Only six votes separated incumbent Alderman Dan Piton and challenger Shae Sortwell. Sortwell was declared the victor, 337 to 331. Piton is alleging election fraud as part of his request for a recount.

These kinds of cases will only increase if election legislation currently under consideration by the legislature continues its speedy course towards passage. AB 895 / SB 640 would inflate voter registrations, make it easier to cast absentee ballots falsely, make challenging fraudulent voters more difficult, and even allow the Government Accountability Board (GAB) to share personal information of voters with outside organizations. It is near impossible to exaggerate how often we could have cases like those in Green Bay.

The bills specifically require the GAB to make an agreement with the state Department of Transportation and, using the driver license file, create voting registrations using the drivers license registry for those who are not registered. No notice will be given to anyone who was registered by this process. The registrations could be confirmed online, allowing someone else to confirm the voter registration.

Then the proposed law would allow someone to request an absentee ballot via e-mail. The law will not even require the signature of a witness if the absentee ballot was cast at an “alternate location” designated by a municipality.

Catching fraud at the polls will be even more difficult. Municipalities will be able to designate multiple “alternate” locations for casting absentee ballots as long as they notify the GAB. So not only will there be more places for fraud, but we will be extending the time frame for it, too.

As for trying to catch vote fraud on election day, Democrats are trying to make that more difficult, too. In order to confront a voter to see if the are voting legitimately, the person watching the polls would have to live in the same county for first class cities, even though fraud in one county affects voters in other counties.

In our Green Bay example, had someone been in the polling place when the fraudulent ballot had been cast that knew the person was not who they claimed to be, before the vote could be challenged the challenger would have to prove that they were qualified to challenge he vote. The great irony is that the challenger would have to provide photo id even as the fraudulent voter would not.

The icing on the cake is that the law would allow outside groups, like the organizations-formally-known-as-Acorn, to enter into agreements with the GAB to share information to “help” them confirm voter registration information. Nothing like allowing the fox to guard the hen house.

So we’ll have the GAB getting driver information from the DOT to create voter registrations for people who have no intention to vote.  Then we’ll allow people go online and confirm those voter registrations rather than do it in person, or we’ll allow outside groups “confirm” those registrations. Then we’ll allow all those new registrations request absentee ballots via e-mail, and they won’t even need a witness to verify the ballot is being properly cast. Then we’ll have the polls where, instead of fraudulent voters being challenged, any poll watchers themselves will be challenged to prevent them from deterring vote fraud. That’s if the poll watchers will be able to keep up with all the new designated polling stations for absentee voting.

If this election law is crammed through next Tuesday (that’s the timeline I’ve heard) two cases of voter fraud in Green Bay will seem a quaint but happy memory compared to the nightmare we’ll be creating.

This law comes at a time when the legislature is controlled by a Democratic Party that is beginning to see their fortunes wane. The perception that the Democrats would gain partisan advantage in changing the election laws to allow more fraud should give all of us pause as it erodes the confidence of the public in our elections. That it proceeds with such speed without giving the public time to understand the full ramifications of the bills will only add to the perception.

That one faction of our political system should play such a dangerous game with the fundamental underpinnings of the public support for our democratic system does not speak well for them, and will only encourage greater cynicism, distrust and ultimately a complete lack of confidence in our electoral system.

By James Wigderson
 Special Guest Perspective for the MacIver Institute

Share
Tags: ,
Posted in mi perspectives | April 13, 2010 | | 1 Comment

Massive Push to Facilitate Vote Fraud in Wisconsin Underway

WARNING: Unless the public acts soon, it will become a lot easier to commit vote fraud in Wisconsin.

Under a ‘reform’ plan that is racing through the legislature, the manner by which Wisconsinites may register to vote will be drasticaly changed in such a way that Wisconsin’s voter protections will be among the weakest in the United States.

Under the recently-unveiled proposal:

  • People who challenge the validity of potentially fraudulent voters will have to show proof of where they live (and will no longer merely be required to be a legal voter in the state), but those who vote will continue to be free from such obligation when they cast their ballots
  • Individuals in Wisconsin could be registered to vote, and have their sensitive personal information shared with election officials, without their consent
  • National nonprofit groups would be tasked with validating new voter registrations, meaning your local clerk who is sworn to uphold the state and national Constitutions would not have to
  • Registration could take place over the Internet, managed by the same government agency that has spent more than a decade and untold reams of tax dollars tyring (unsuccessfully) to figure out how to facilitate the electronic filing of campaign finance reports
  • Controls on absentee ballot requests and submissions would be significantly weakened

If you hadn’t heard about this, you’re not alone. In fact, the sudden and accelerated effort here was as well-planned and coordinated as any liberal-sponsored vote fraud activity we’ve seen in this state in the last decade.

Assembly Bill 895 and Senate Bill 640, were first made public on March 24th.  By April 1st both bills had public hearings and were passed out of committee on Democrat party line votes.  This week the plan was approved in a similar partisan fashion by the Joint Finance Committee. Floor votes in the Assembly and Senate could happen as early as this week.

The website WisOpinion.com asks me and  Scot Ross of the leftist One Wisconsin Now to engage in weekly exchanges on a topical issue of our choosing. This week we both wanted to discuss this sleazy attempt to weaken Wisconsin’s already wobbly voting laws.

From my entry this week:

Here’s a more accurate description of what’s going on: “Troubling news out of the Wisconsin Legislature this week as a secretly crafted bill that makes it easier to commit vote fraud is racing toward passage by the Democrat-controlled state government as the majority party is worried about maintaining their power this fall through legal means.” One horrible piece of this plan, which came out of the blue and is moving faster than Gwen Moore’s son ran away from the slashed tires on Republican get-out-the-vote vans, is that it takes registration validation out of the hands of county clerks and allows community organizing groups (Read: ACORN) to assure that all new registrations are on the up and up. 

You can read the entire exchange here.

This liberty-denying monster of a bill is greased for fast passage unless the public becomes informed and outraged quickly.

Stay tuned.

By Brian Fraley
 A MacIver Perspective

Keep informed about the events in Madison and Washington that impact you.

Click here to sign up for weekly updates.

 


Share
Tags: , ,
Posted in mi perspectives | April 9, 2010 | | 31 Comments
  • Print
  • Email This Post Email This Post
  • Share

Recent Posts


MacIver on facebook @MacIverWisc on twitter MacIver Youtube channel subscribe