The more Republicans come to realize that they can’t win elections fairly, the more they resort to one of their alternate election strategies. The first is lying, and that they do in virtually all elections. The second is cheating, like disenfranchising Black and Hispanic legal voters, guiding people to the wrong precincts, etc. And more and more often, they steal the election outright. The following is an extreme example.
Mississippi is the reddest state in the Union, but there are still some Democrats who serve in their state legislature. And until recently, there were enough of those Democrats to stop Republicans from having a supermajority in both branches of their state Legislature.
But not any more. Incumbent Democrat Blaine Eaton ran against Republican Mark Tullos. It was a close race. So close, in fact, that the certified results yielded a tie — each candidate had 4,589 votes.
Under Mississippi law, a tie is broken by drawing straws. Yes, I know. It’s a bizarre way to settle a tie, but there it is. Eaton drew the long straw, and that’s where the story should have ended.
But this is a Republican state, and it’s governed by greedy Republicans. (As an aside, it’s also one of the poorest states in the Union. Is there a correlation there?) They wanted their supermajority, and by God, they were going to get it.
On Tuesday, the Republican majority tossed out five provisional ballots in an election where the counts had already been certified in order to award the seat to Mark Tullos and complete their supermajority… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Crooks and Liars>
Usually Republicans aren’t so blatant about stealing election, but in districts where Republicans control the vote-counting, there is a consistent deviation of 4% to 7% between raw exit polling data and the election result, always in the Republicans’ favor. In districts where Democrats control the vote-counting the deviation is under 2%, in neither party’s favor. We need to demand that all electronic voting machines have a paper trail. Consider this:
Fair Voting Elects Fewer Republicans!
10 Responses to “Mississippi Election Theft”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Doesnt Jeb have some stake in the machines that we all put our votes in to be counted? One of the repukes has shares in the company that makes them. Seems I heard this about ten years ago. I may be wrong. Probably am. But that could be checked out. I will run that down and get back to you.
The election in MS sounds like the repukes work. They can get an election changed anytime they want it! Disgusting the way they manipulate the cards to favor them just when it serves them best!!!
Kind of like CA's GOP suing when the independent bipartisan group established by a proposition they supported heavily didn't results in them having a disproportionate share of districts with GOP majorities…they want to set the rules related to elections but do not want to accept the results of their own rules.
Vivian, I am sure you are right, except on the personnel. I thought it was one or more relatives of Romney (a son? a brother? both?)
Of all the election turnout reforms being discussed the one that would solve the most problems by itself is all mail balloting. Preferably franked. There's your access. There's your paper trail. Done.
Yes, I realize this does not solve registration and ID card Republican scams. But damn, it would be a start.
Fully agree. Oregon pioneered it and uses it for all elections.
My son lives in Mississippi and he would cut off his fingers before voting for a Republican. I have heard lots of stories from him, so am not surprised by this. If I were the Democrat I would be appealing to someone. The video is probably true. Same way Dubya beat Gore.
Dubya beat Gore a different way. Republicans supported Ralph Nader and provided both the money and the manpower for his campaign. He got enough voted to make it close emough for Bush to steal. Then the Bush Reich sent party thugs to Florida to physically beat up campaign workers and prevent them from recounting all the ballots until SCROTUS could appoint him President.
The election result is certified. End of story. To go back and alter that certification by removing 5 provisional ballots is outright theft. I hope there is a means of redress for Eaton.
This is blatant, "we-don't-even-bother-to-cover-it-up" election theft. And this isn't the first theft Republicans are responsible for that has been reported on in the past years. So do something about it, will ya! Reporting it doesn't help a bit.
Surprised? No!
I nfuriated? Yes!
PLEASE, Mr. Eaton, take this to an appeal!!
Video- Very sadly funny!
Amen on an Eaton Appeal!
Thanks all!! Hugs!!~ Rushing!!