Voters surprised by closures (Aiken SC)

[struggle4progress]

Source: Augusta Chronicle

By Michelle Guffey| South Carolina Bureau
Tuesday, October 14, 2008

AIKEN --- The Aiken County Registration and Elections Commission voted Monday night to suspend absentee voting in three satellite locations across the county pending further review.

About 30 residents attended the special meeting to voice their anger about a last-minute change of location for absentee voters and to find out why it occurred.

Absentee voting was scheduled to begin Monday morning at Kalmia Mall on Richland Avenue, but Stuart Bedenbaugh, the executive director of the county Voter Registration and Elections office, said that the elections commission decided about 9 p.m. Sunday to move voting to the elections office on Vaucluse Road, with no warning to voters ...

According to the elections office, a line of about 200 voters, eager to cast their absentee ballots, snaked outside the elections office ...




Read more: http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/101408/met_479378.shtml

[Wapsie B]

1. Good god are the repugs scared of losing South Carolina too?

Wonders whats happening in Nebraska? :eyes:

[tpsbmam]

7. Yep, they are.....

I was just in SC visiting friends. The headline in the Saturday paper was that voter registrations were up 10%. God forbid they should actually give facts and figures about who was newly registering -- they only said that the new registrations "favored Democrats." B-)

[Wapsie B]

8. That is so good to hear!

That would be so nice to bring a once deep-red state into the blue column. If these new registrations turn out to vote it does not bode well for the repugs.

[AllyCat]

21. Nah, they aren't scared. This is just their version of Dean's 50 state challenge

If they only steal in swing states, they might lose again

[RT Atlanta]

24. Contact Kincannon's employer...

Here you go:

http://www.basjlaw.com/

[chalky]

2. A challenge, huh? Here we go, y'all.

"'We had a challenge from someone who said we would be outside the law if the county allowed absentee voting outside the elections office', said Kevin Bumpus, the chairman of the county elections commission."

And who did the challenging?

"The 11th-hour challenge came late Friday night from Columbia attorney Todd Kincannon, who attended Monday's meeting."

Who is....?

"J. Todd Kincannon, Esq. (b. June 12 ,1981) is Parliamentarian of the South Carolina Republican Party and Chairman of the Election Commission of Simpsonville, South Carolina. He currently resides in Simpsonville." (I had a heck of a time getting this wiki profile to show up in a readable format. Something funky's going on over there.) http://tinyurl.com/4yf4yc

[4lbs]

3. This Wikipedia link comes up fine for me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todd_Kincannon


From that link:


Kincannon has been involved in a variety of high-profile election protests<1><2> in South Carolina, several of which have been appealed to the South Carolina Supreme Court. The most notable of these is Gecy v. Bagwell, 642 S.E.2d 569 (S.C. 2007),<3><4> a protest trial Kincannon presided over. This case was argued before the South Carolina Supreme Court, which unanimously affirmed Kincannon's opinion and order.<5> Another notable election protest involving Kincannon was Horton v. Elliott,<6><7> where Kincannon was qualified as an expert witness with respect to election practices and procedures. In Horton v. Elliott, Kincannon offered extensive expert testimony as to the requirements of the Voting Rights Act and the standards for overturning elections in South Carolina.<8>

[chalky]

4. Yeah. Weird...that link doesn't mention him being connected to the Republican party.

n/t

[KeepItReal]

6. This link about the situation does...

The Simpsonville attorney, Todd Kincannon, 27, practices in Columbia and is a major player in the S.C. Republican Party, serving as counsel and parliamentarian. Kincannon attended the meeting and stated his case repeatedly that his interpretation of the applicable statutes meant only voting at a specific location.

Kincannon, who has been practicing law for less than a year, has already received awards from the State GOP and has written amicus briefs for them to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The 11th-hour challenge came late Friday night from Columbia attorney Todd Kincannon, who attended Monday's meeting.

Facing an unfriendly crowd who voiced their feelings about someone from outside the county being behind the morning voting confusion, Mr. Kincannon tried to explain why he brought up the issue.

"I do not want to run the risk of disenfranchising anybody's vote," he said.

http://www.aikenstandard.com/local/1014Absentee

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. 27 year old punk

[yardwork]

31. Rove's Army is being mobilized.

[elleng]

54. HAS BEEN MOBILIZED,

imo.

THOUSANDS will be disenfranchised this time around; maybe millions.

[KeepItReal]

5. One GOP attorney has turned absentee voting there into chaos

Much shouting, arguing and two executive sessions led to a fairly ambiguous end to an emergency meeting Monday but resulted in the closing of satellite voting offices for absentee ballots.

Those wishing to cast an absentee ballot in Aiken will have to do so at the Aiken County Election Commission Office on Vaucluse Road and not at any previously designated areas.

The Simpsonville attorney, Todd Kincannon, 27, practices in Columbia and is a major player in the S.C. Republican Party, serving as counsel and parliamentarian. Kincannon attended the meeting and stated his case repeatedly that his interpretation of the applicable statutes meant only voting at a specific location.

Kincannon, who has been practicing law for less than a year, has already received awards from the State GOP and has written amicus briefs for them to the U.S. Supreme Court.

http://www.aikenstandard.com/local/1014Absentee

FYI: This GOP attorney is not even a resident of that county and has managed to close 3 absentee voting locations.

[Sherman A1]

16. Question

If he is not a resident of the county, does he have standing to raise the issue? That I believe would be the first test.

I personally believe twits like this need to be run out of town on a rail just after the tar and feathers, but often the very rules they try to "interpret" in their favor somehow bite them in the backside.

[Eric J in MN]

23. Standing is based on the attorney's client, not the attorney. NT

NT

[HillbillyBob]

27. I think it is time to bring back the time honored tradition of

Tar and Feathers, well molasses just as good and they would live through it to enjoy years of humiliation. Hot tar killed them more often than not from past reading.

[Turn CO Blue]

22. A commenter at the link writes this about Kincannon:

"So who is this Todd Kincannon who does not want to disenfranchise anybody's vote? Do a search on Google and you will find he is a lawyer who received the 2008 Palmetto Elephant Award, given “for overwhelming generosity and hours of tireless service to the South Carolina Republican Party” in connection with his work as parliamentarian and attorney for the party. Mr. Kincannon was also appointed by South Carolina House Speaker Bobby Harrell to serve a third term as Parliamentarian of the South Carolina Republican Convention. Mr. Kincannon's concern sounds like it's part of a coordinated Republican effort to suppress voter turnout in Aiken County. Let's blow the whistle on these clowns real fast."


bolding mine

[Botany]

9. Time to organize a drive the voters to the BOE camapign

local newspapers, churchs, and radio should do it ...
also a 27 yr republican lawyer is behind this?

the man needs horse whipped.

[FunkyLeprechaun]

10. I was thinking that

I'm only a month older than him and man, he needs to grow up.

[Botany]

11. He will never grow up ....

... he sees his meal ticket as being a republican thug.

BTW is he young enough to go to Iraq?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

19. Young enough? Indeed. Chimp raised the age to 40.

[Are_grits_groceries]

12. This is stupid and weird.

Aiken does not have the most registered voters by far. Why is he making mischief there?

[crickets]

20. "Why is he making mischief there?"

Just because he thinks he can get away with it there, the little bully.

[peace frog]

36. Because he can

and there's no one person or agency to stop him.

[april]

44. Oh Yes We Can! Start contacting every person ,paper and news...

I have made several calls and emails already this AM ! the bastards are not going to stop us this time!!

Just do something more than read about it take action..

[peace frog]

55. Best of luck in your endeavors

meanwhile, this GOPer weasel gets away with it.

[krkaufman]

14. We truly are a banana republic ...

... though maybe I should apologize to banana republics for making the association.

[Gman]

15. South Carolina just wants to make sure the Negroes don't get too uppity

I swear, South Carolina never came back after the Civil War was over.

[ptolle]

41. W.T. Sherman

An army buddy of mine, who had the misfortune to be stationed for a while in the heart of the old confederacy refers to the Mason-Dixon line as the moron-dixon line. I've tried to talk him out of that referencing the number of morons we both know who reside above that surveyors mark.He's also of the opinion that one of the biggest mistakes Abe Lincoln made was to restrain General Sherman too soon.I've tried to talk him out of that one as well.IMO we're seeing a lot of people who Unka Karl promised a permanent republican majority which they took to mean the ascendancy of their culture without threat.Now they see that promise and their ascendancy in tatters they're frightened and angry, a bad combination in the best of times.Coupled with the mcinane campaigns relentless appeal to the worst of their natures tactics such as these should surprise nobody.

[sasquatch]

47. I think I agree with your friend

:rofl:

[JDwho]

49. My husband and I are South Carolina Democrats..

and trust me, we are not very popular among SC. whites for that. The senior citizens here (whom I've spoken with) are definitely voting McCain. However, our daughter and her friends are all very enthused about Obama. When I run across someone her age who is voting for McCain, I ask 'why?'. Their response is always 'because my parents/grandparents are republicans". They are programmed very early here and not encouraged to independently research the issues and the candidate's stance on them.
I believe a few of these young women have changed their minds after being given all the facts, but who knows what they'll do at the polls. It is easy for my husband and I to stand our ground because we are older and do not feel the need to go along with the ignorance of "Southern Tradition".
It is exhausting to be in constant debate with friends and family, but we continue to try to encourage change. You have no idea what type of mind-set we deal with here. We are often treated as if we are stupid, or without (their) faith in God. Christian Democrat doesn't make sense to them.
My husband stated last night, that he could not wait until Obama was elected so we could relax. I think he looks forward to peace in our state, town, and home, again.
I pray for the safety of Obama and our troops.

[holly111]

51. responce to JDwho

Amen to that. I was raised Christian and still very much am. My parents are both republicans, my mom more radical and claims she is "disappointed" in my decision to vote for Obama. I am 21 years old and have way more facts to back up my voting chioce. She listens to morons such as Sean Hannity who do nothing but bring shame to Americans. Although I do not agree with ALL of Obama's stances, such as abortion, I am not ignorant to the fact that God created people with an ability to choose. Obama is the better candidate by a lonnnnng shot and people need to open their eyes to what the Republicans have done to this country.

[MadMaddie]

52. Welcome holly111 to DU!

:hi:

I am proud of you for your independent thinking! With you and the rest of us we will turn the country around and move in a good direction for all Americans.

[holly111]

53. Honored

Thank You!! I am excited to get this chance to enlighten my friends about politics and to not just vote without thinking. If we all stick unite together and work toward a common cause we can return to living in the greatest country on earth! I'm glad to be here

[progressoid]

17. Jeez - that's not too obvious.

Fuckers will get away with it too. At least long enough to shoo some voters away. :grr:

[varelse]

18. Is this how the Democrats lost the last two Presidential elections?

I wonder how many times this has been done and no one outside of that local area has known about it :(

[yardwork]

32. Yes.

[alteredstate]

35. Yes.

eom

[april]

25. How can we help them?? We have to do something to stop this across the US !

[alteredstate]

29. Send the link to the piece to everyone you know,

and every media source you can find.

[CitizenPatriot]

26. here is the contact us page- you know what to do!

http://chronicle.augusta.com/feedback/webmaster_form.shtml

here is what I wrote:

What a disgusting attempt to STEAL the right to vote from hard working American citizens. How DARE they GOP do this again, in a heavily Democratic and African American district, no doubt?

more voter disenfranchisement from the GOP- Head's up, Augusta GOP: the nation, nay - the world - is watching.

Sincerely,

xxxx

[april]

34. Thanks so Much! I did contact the Obama office

We can all bitch about this (which we should)

BUT WE ALL NEED TO TAKE ACTION WHEN WE CAN !! Lets go get them !\

[april]

38. Done! : )

[xxqqqzme]

28. ok, someone help me out here

Why is an absentee voter required to stand in line to cast an absentee ballot? Isn't that the point of requesting an absentee ballot - so IF you are absent, you can vote?

[alteredstate]

30. South Carolina allows "in-person absentee voting".

Registered voters can vote by written absentee ballot, or cast their vote at the county registration offices when the ballots are ready, usually 30 days before an election.


Any registered voter, who meets any of the following criteria, is eligible to vote an absentee ballot:


Students, their spouses and dependents residing with them


Members of the Armed Forces, Merchant Marines, Red Cross, USO, government employees, their spouses and dependents residing with them
Overseas citizens


For reasons of employment will not be able to vote on election day


Physically disabled persons


Persons on vacation


Persons age 65 or older


Persons admitted to the hospital as emergency patients on day of election or at least four days prior to the election


Electors with a death or funeral in the family within 3 days before the election


Persons confined to a jail or pre-trial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial


Persons attending sick or physically disabled persons


Persons serving as jurors in a state or federal court on election day


Certified poll watchers and poll managers

[xxqqqzme]

33. Absentee ballots can be delivered, in person,

to any polling place in California. California has dropped the absentee designation and uses VBM (vote by mail) now. As a result there are now no eligibility requirements. The publican registrar of voters, here behind the Orange curtain, said he would welcome all vote by mail elections it would be less expensive, less worrisome - don't have to train workers or secure polling places; don't need those expensive e-voting machines.

[bagrman]

37. Another good reason for VOTE BY MAIL.

[eagertolearn]

42. We used to vote by mail absentee when we first moved to Oregon

15 years ago and then soon after they switched all voting to Vote by Mail. This is truely the only way to go. I don't understand why every state is not doing it this way!

[BrklynLiberal]

39. There are entirely too many stories like this..

The ways the repukes are trying to supress the vote is horrifying.

[CottonBear]

40. Aiken has lots of rich horse people & college students but they may be registered to vote elsewhere.

Many in the wealthy horsey set (fox hunters, hunter-jumpers and polo) reside there only in the fall and winter months and return home to the Northeast for the rest of the year. The college students may be registered at their home addresses.

That would leave the ruling resident white elites, middle class and poor whites and a large black population who would comprise the local voting population.

I would suspect that the poor and minorities are being targeted.

I live in NE Georgia and I was in Aiken, SC recently.

[kayell]

43. The plot thickens

From Monday's Augusta Chronicle (just over the line in GA)

"Stuart Bedenbaugh, the director of the county voter registration and election office, said his office has mailed out 3,000 absentee ballots.

"It's been quite heavy," he said.

VOTING FAUX PAS

A few voters tried to cast their absentee ballot this past Friday, but were told they would have to wait until 9 a.m. today. Voters in Aiken County received a brochure from the state Republican Party telling them the wrong start date and location for absentee voting.

The state Republican Party "did not consult with us on these mailings," Mr. Bedenbaugh said."

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/101308/met_479292.shtml

Sounds like the pukes REALLY want to cut down on the Aiken voting.

[no1dolo]

45. I don't usually use this language but this situation calls for it. "WTF!"

:mad: I guess this campaign has changed many of us!

[holly111]

46. Republicans

Does anyone listen is Sean Hannity? How is allowed to continue his craziness. Can we get him kicked off the air?

[KamaAina]

48. Quick! Somebody call Sheriff Mike Hunt!

I'm SERIES!!!111!!!11!!

http://www.aikencountysheriff.org

although he has apparently caught on, and is now going by "Michael" :-)

[AnneD]

50. OMG, voters actually voting....

:wtf: it will be the end of Democracy as the GOP know it. And some of our DEM leaders better wake up too! Throw this damn election and you'll just WISH the Supreme Court could decide it. They lost all their credibility in 2000.