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ensuring theintegrityof our electoral system

2 IntroductionbyAnitaMonCrief

3 VoterFraud101

4 ElectionProtection,LawsandUniversalVoterRegistration

5 VoterID

6 VoterRegistration

7 HowtoRunaVoterRegistrationDriveinyourState8 FrequentlyAskedQuestions

10 FromVoterRegistrationtoVoterTurnout

12 Citizen-LedInitiatives

12 ElectionAdministration

13 ElectionDayOperations

15 ACORNandProjectVote

16 VoterFraud

21 TheVoterFraudApp

22 AmericanMajorityOverviewandResources

22 ConnectingwithAmericanMajority

22 AdditionalElectionIntegrityResources

Table of Contents

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I joined the staff of ACORN affiliate Project Vote’s development department in 2005. Working with grassroots organizers across the country, we funded one of the largest voter registration drives in United States history. However, I began to notice ACORN’s practice of poorly training employees and sometimes covertly encouraging people to skirt the rules during voter registration programs. After working on voter fraud research for ACORN, I saw a pattern of employees being prosecuted for shenanigans during election years. I decided to take action and since 2008, I have been educating citizens on how to protect the integrity of our electoral system. American Majority’s Election Integrity course focuses on voter registration, voter fraud, Election Day operations and get-out-the-vote activities. Our goal is to prepare liberty-minded activists for the tactics of groups like ACORN. As citizens begin to peel back the layers on the groups working in their community, there is a need for educational materials that can be shared and utilized. Despite rumors of its demise, ACORN is still thriving and so are its over 300 affiliated organizations. Project Vote, ACORN’s voter registration arm will once again attempt to run the largest grassroots voter registration program during the 2012 elections. With organizations like Organizing for America, Emily’s List, SEIU and Planned Parenthood, partnering with Project Vote, the stakes couldn’t be higher. In 2008, Project Vote had a budget of over 28 million dollars (no where near the modest budgets of most liberty-minded organizations) and one can only imagine how much will be spent to keep President Obama in office. In this environment of lawlessness the people must stand up and protect the integrity of our electoral system. This guide can only begin to scratch the surface of everything involved in election integrity, but I hope it serves as an introduction to this critically important topic. We have seen what some are capable of doing in order to gain political power and now it is up to the citizens to educate them and demand that everyone uphold our electoral laws.

For liberty,

Anita MonCrief

My name is Anita MonCrief and I’ve been referred to as the “ACORN whistleblower.””

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Maybe you’ve read about Al Capone’s infamous “vote early and vote often” motto, back when he (not Obama or Rahm Emanuel) ran Chicago’s political machine. It wasn’t uncommon then for entire ethnic blocs (plus every name in a graveyard) to pull the lever the way the crime boss wanted.

And maybe you know how, when asked by reporters about the massive fraud in the 1960 Presidential election, Richard Nixon calmly replied “they stole it fair and square”. Nixon knew JFK and LBJ had teamed up to once again use that Chicago machine, this time not only rigging it, but also combining it with Texas.

Fast forward to campaigns of the last few years. Who can forget the counting and recounting that took place in Florida in 2000? Keeping the spotlight on ballot boxes, and making sure they never went to an off-camera, private room to be sorted was the name of the game (along with “hanging chads”) then.

Since then, it’s gotten even worse. “Motor-voter” laws, the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), and the manufactured-by-the-media controversy in having citizens (much less felons) show identification to cast a vote are now lightning rod issues every cycle. So is the novel idea of actually requiring college students (often out-of-state) to choose between campus and home (not both) to decide where they’ll vote. Now, every two years, both parties have to dispatch scores of specially trained attorneys and poll watchers to guard against these and many other forms of voter disenfranchisement (negating the votes of a community by committing fraud).

There are reports of judges keeping polling places open well into the night in one-party-controlled places. Voter rolls that include the entire Dallas Cowboys roster. And of course, taxpayer-paid ACORN employees engaging (and getting caught) in enormous registration illegalities, as well as armed Black Panthers at polling places, blocking entry and access via voter intimidation.

You see all this. And you want to know what you can do. Which is why we’ve put together this manual: so you can educate yourself about the laws and regulations regarding registering and turning out voters. And we’ve done it with the expert help of Anita Moncrief, an ex-ACORN employee and whistleblower who spends her time explaining how the Left undermines the democratic process.

So that you, like Katherine Engelbrecht, a mother, wife and small businesswoman, can be empowered enough to start your own group of citizens concerned with making sure elections are conducted properly and fairly. Katherine and her “True the Vote” group operating out of Houston, Texas have now spread their techniques and knowledge to hundreds of other groups nationwide in preparation for the next spate of elections, both local or state and federal.

Get ready to read some wild stuff. These real-life stories of “it couldn’t happen here” will astound and outrage you. But when you, the grassroots activist, have absorbed the truth and rules about voter fraud, you’ll be the best weapon for its prevention that there is.

Voter Fraud 101

VOTEEARLYVOTEOFTEN

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You’ve heard it all. But the bits and pieces never seem to paint the whole picture.

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Help America Vote Act of 2002

“The Help America Vote Act (Pub.L. 107-252), or HAVA, is a United States federal law which was signed into law by President

Bush in 2002. Drafted in reaction to the controversy surrounding the 2000 U.S. presidential election, HAVA mandates that all states and localities upgrade many aspects of their election procedures, including their voting machines, registration processes and poll worker training”[Source: http://www.fec.gov/hava/hava.htm, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help_America_Vote_Act]

HAVA and Provisional Voting

A provisional ballot is used to record a vote when there is some question in regards to a given voter’s eligibility. A provisional ballot would be cast when:

The voter refuses to show a photo ID (in regions that require one)

The voter’s name does not appear on the electoral roll for the given precinct.

The voter’s registration contains inaccurate or out-dated information such as the wrong address or a misspelled name.

The voter’s ballot has already been recorded

Whether a provisional ballot is counted is contingent upon the verification of that voter’s eligibility. Many voters do not realize that the provisional ballot is not counted until 7-10 days after election so their vote does not affect the calling of the states to different candidates.[Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provisional_ballot]

National Voter Registration Act Congress enacted the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (also known as the “NVRA” and the “Motor Voter Act”), to make it easier for all Americans to register to vote and to maintain their registration. Section 5 of the Act requires states to provide individuals with the opportunity to register to vote

at the same time that they apply for a driver’s license or seek to renew a driver’s license, and requires the State to forward the completed application to the appropriate state of local election official. Section 7 of the Act requires states to offer voter registration opportunities at all offices that provide public assistance and all offices that provide state-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to persons with disabilities. Each applicant for any of these services, renewal of services, or address changes must be provided with a voter registration form of a declination form as well as assistance in completing the form and forwarding the completed application to the appropriate state or local election official.[Source: NVRA: Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Home Page http://bit.ly/dlwYnZ]

Universal Voter RegistrationAccording to some voting rights advocates: “The government should not only facilitate registration; it should actively register adults who are eligible to vote as part of its responsibility to have accurate rolls. The most comprehensive way to move toward universal voter registration is to establish federal standards that states must follow to ensure all eligible voters are on their states’ voter roll.”[Source: http://www.fairvote.org/why-universal-registration, American Thinker: http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/01/what_the_dems_know_universal_v.html]

“John Fund described the Democrat plan, ‘The feds will tell the states: ‘take everyone on every list of welfare that you have, take everyone on every list of unemployed you have, take everyone on every list of property owners, take everyone on every list of driver’s license holders and register them to vote regardless of whether they want to be ..’

Election Protection, Laws and Universal Voter Registration

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Voter IDFirst-Time Voters

The federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) mandates that all states require identification from first-time voters who registered to vote by mail and did not provide verification of their identification with their mail-in voter registration.

Blanket Voter IDTwenty-seven states have broader voter identification requirements beyond HAVA. In these states, all voters are asked to show identification prior to voting. Eight of these states specify that voters must show a photo ID; the other nineteen states accept additional forms of identification that do not necessarily include a photo. However, a voter who cannot produce identification is not turned away from the polls. All states have some sort of recourse for voters without identification to cast a vote. In Georgia and Indiana, voters without ID vote

a provisional ballot, and must return to election officials within a few days and show a photo ID in order for their ballots to be counted.

State Requirements for Voter Identification

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Indiana

Louisiana

Michigan

SouthDakota

States that Request or Require Photo ID

States that Require ID (Photo not Required)

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Kentucky

Missouri

Montana

NorthDakota

Ohio

Oklahoma*

SouthCarolina

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Virginia

Washington

[Source: www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=16602]

Legislation Update

2009: New voter ID law passed in Utah

2010: New voter ID law passed in Idaho; Oklahoma voters approved a voter ID proposal placed on the ballot by the Legislature

2011: Texas State Legislature considers voter ID proposal

2011: Kansas House gives preliminary approval to voter ID bill

2011: Colorado Photo ID bill receives initial House approval

2011: Missouri Legislature Pushes Voter ID forward

2011: Minnesota and Wisconsin both push for Voter ID in the state house

Get more State-by-State Coverage at Election Law @ Moritz [Source: http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/electionlaw/states/index.php]

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Voter registration is one of the most important tasks of election administration.

It is a right of all eligible citizens to be able to register and vote. However, there are some who will abuse this process for personal or political gain. To protect the integrity of the electoral system, citizens must have a comprehensive and correct voters list. A voters list makes it possible to separate two of the most important functions of the election authority: verifying voter eligibility and controlling the legitimacy of the balloting process. The list may also be used in voter education, and may be provided to political parties and candidates to aid them in their campaigns. If citizens take control of the voter registration process from partisan political groups, they become active in the fight to ensure that only eligible citizens are registered to vote. How to Run a Voter Registration Drive in your StateThe objective of any successful voter registration program should focus on increasing civic participation among people at the local level and turn them out to vote. The major components of this initiative include: (1) Voter Registration, (2) Data List-Building, and (3) Getting Out the Vote. In anticipation of conducting a registration drive in your state, there are some basic things that all groups should know regarding laws, the registration application and how to gain approval for your drive. After consulting with the elections office and getting all the appropriate resources, it’s important to gather some data and targeting your voting population. Large national groups like ACORN combine census data to target certain segments of the population, but for small drives, a simple voter list may also be helpful. Questions to consider include:

How many persons in your target jurisdiction are 18 years old or older?

How man people voted in the last election?

Of the total voting age population, how many people are actually registered to vote?

How many are not registered? Why, in your best judgment, are those people not registered to vote?

Who and where are they? Who do you want to reach in your registration drive?

Voter Registration Field Plan

Talk to as many people as possible

Understand the numbers

Understand the dynamics of the area, its history and the current political climate

Determine tools at your disposal

Be creative – think outside of the box

Be flexible – a plan is a working document

Detail every activity – time, date, location

Keep everyone on the same page through training and measurable results

Your Field Plan Should Include:

Targeting, Vote Goals, Training

Organization, Outreach, Accountability, Training

Voter Contact, Program

Get Out the Vote (GOTV)

Data Management

Timeline, Calendar

Budget

Know Your Responsibilities

You MUST return all Voter Registration Forms to the Election Commission as soon as possible and before the deadline to register to vote.

Use the proper forms: Forms provided by the local board of elections or the Secretary of State’s office can only be used by residents of that state. These forms CANNOT be photocopied.

Quickly review the forms you collect before the person registering has walked away – make sure that all the boxes are checked and that the form is signed!

voter registrationvoter registrationvoter registration

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Know Your Facts

• Bring a local voter guide with you so that you can answer questions that potential voters might have about the election schedule, the requirements for voter registration, etc.

• If you don’t know an answer, refer the voter to the Secretary of State’s website or your local Board of Elections.

• Be aware of all deadlines – voters must register a certain number of days in advance of the election in order to vote in that election – and if you are collecting Mail-In Voter Registration Forms, you MUST send them in by that deadline!

Know the LawIt is critical that everyone working for you, or under your direction, understands the procedures and laws relating to voter registration. Be certain that each person knows the eligibility requirements for registration and how important it is for the voter to fill in correct and complete information on the card. How to Promote your Registration Drive

• Place an announcement in your local paper

• Drop off flyers at churches, gun stores and other high-traffic venues.

• Utilize social networking tools like Twitter, Facebook and Four Square.

• Partner with other citizen groups to spread the word

• Set up interviews with local radio stations or get them to run a PSA regarding your event. Necessary Materials

• A clipboard or legal pads so you can copy down the names and contact information of the people who register.

• Folding table

• Flyers about your group

• Information regarding issues How to Set Up Your Table

After obtaining permission from the site make sure to place it in an area with heavy traffic.

It’s best to hang posters behind your table so that people will know why

you are there.

Engage people in conversation as they pass and ask them if they are registered to vote.

Be pro-active

Points to Remember

To ensure that the person completes the form have them fill it out immediately at

your table.

Ensure the voter that you will make sure all completed forms are sent to the voter

Use the voter registration sign-up sheets to get their names, addresses and phone numbers so we can keep them informed on issues as well as upcoming elections.

Make sure to be polite to the Board of Elections staff and to always express your appreciation for their help and the importance of the duty of voting. This helps you to build a trusting relationship with the BOE for when you plan your next drive. Quality Control

In many cases, massive voter registration drives run by national groups have a serious problem with quality control. Local coordinators must regularly engage in trainings for quality control and aid local staff to remain vigilant in ensuring that only eligible voters are registered to vote. During the voter registration drives the participants are accountable to the community and must work collaboratively with the local board of elections to improve the integrity of the voter-registration process. Fraud Even the most well intentioned voter registration drives can be plagued with allegations of voter registration fraud. It is critically important that your organization develop a standardized method for checking the voter registration cards for fraud. Each card should be checked initially to ensure that they are filled out properly and completely. After this initial step, review that card for possible fraud and keep records of the workers and their cards.

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When can I change my voter information?

Voters may change their name, address, or political party at any time. Check with your local board of elections for the proper procedure.

Is ID required to register to vote?

Yes. However, since laws vary by state, it is best to check your local requirements for specific requirements.

What and where is my polling location?

Your ward and precinct determine which elective district you vote in, the officials you elect and your polling location. To find your polling location, contact your local board of elections.

When are you registered to vote?

If you register in person at an officially designated office, then your registration is active on that day. If you fill out a mail-in registration form, you are actively registered on the postmark date. To verify that you are registered, contact your local board of elections.

Can I register to vote if I am homeless?

Homeless persons may use a shelter address to register. Homeless persons may also register from a location, such as a park bench, by using the map on the Mail-In Registration Form.

Can I register for a friend, family member, or another individual?

No, this is prohibited under state law.

How do I stay on the Voting List?

Keep the board of election updated with all of your current information.

How can I get a letter verifying that I am a registered voter?

Voter registration letters or cards are not necessary for voting purposes.

Citizenship

A person who registers to vote signs a card affirming that they are indeed a citizen and eligible to vote. Once the voter certifies under penalty of perjury that the information on the form is accurate they can be charged with perjury for false statements.

College Students

A college student may register to vote either at his or her college address, or at his or her hometown or parent’s address, whichever is the address he or she considers primary, and to which he or she intends to return.

How many times does a person have to register?

If the voter remains an active voter and responds to any confirmation mailings from the elections official, the registration remains in effect. However, a voter must reregister if he or she moves. It is important to notify the county elections official in writing of any change of address or name change so that the voter will remain properly registered.

frequently asked Questions

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What happens if you move after registration has closed?

The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) permits a voter who moves within the same county and the same congressional district, and who does not re-register to vote prior to the close of registration, to cast a ballot in federal elections.

Age

Anyone 18 years of age or older at the time of an election may register and vote. Persons who are 17, but will become 18 on or before the next election date, are also eligible to register to vote while they are still 17 years old.

Felons, In Prison or on Parole

An individual who is convicted of a felony loses the right to register and vote during the term of the prison sentence and the parole period. In some states, once the parole period is completed, the person’s eligibility to register and vote is restored. For more information on the rights of people who have been incarcerated, please see your Secretary of State’s website.

Partisan Political Activities

Any person (not a tax exempt organization) may, while registering voters, conduct partisan political activity. The law does not restrict your free speech rights when conducting a voter registration drive. Common courtesy and common sense, however, should be practiced.

Tampering with Voter Registration Forms

The distributor or circulator may not fill in the blanks on the voter registration card unless the person registering asks for that help. The registrant or a person the registrant asks to assist him or her must complete the registration card in its entirety and exactly as the registrant requests; the person helping fill out the card must also fill in all required information in the space provided for the purpose. Cards with any pre-filled “blanks” may not be used.

Offering Incentives for Registering Voters

Federal Law: 42 U.S.C. §1973i(c) makes it unlawful in an election in which a federal candidate is on the ballot knowingly and willfully pays, offer to pay, or accept payment for registering to vote or for voting. Violations are punishable by imprisonment for up to five years. Any type of incentive is considered “payment,” even things as seemingly innocent as cookies or admission to an entertainment event.

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Voter registration done by local groups provides a unique opportunity to engage the voter on key issues affecting the campaign. Voter registration may be the initial contact but it does not have to be the last. Most groups request demographic info and phone numbers from new registrants and while this is critical to quality control methods, it can also become the corner stone of an effective get-out-the-vote program. Voters are looking for candidates focused on issues related to their interests and an effective get-out-the-vote and registration campaigns can aid in the increase turnout. Activities of political campaigns, partisan groups, and non-partisan organizations have effectively replaced the traditional efforts done by local political parties. Data-Driven Field CampaignConservatives are utilizing tools like blogs, online voter databases, and social networking sites to bridge the technology divide with the left. Data is essential to effective person-to-person contact.

Who does your campaign or organization want to talk to?

Who have you already talked to?

What have you said to them? How did they respond?

Who are your volunteers and most loyal supporters?

Who said they would vote in the upcoming election, and who are the new voters you just registered and promised to send voter guides?

You don’t need to knock on every house on the block if you know where your target voters live. You don’t need to call through the phone book if you know which residents are registered voters.

Your field plan is your starting point

Sign Up Volunteers and/or Paid Canvassers. There are lots of ways to do this: tabling with sign-up sheets, social networking, sending your information to email lists, etc.

Get Out and Talk to People! You can do regular phone banks (typically in the evenings), virtual phone banks (any time) and door knocks (typically on the weekends)

Keep Track of Their Answers. This step is very important and too often overlooked.

Get Out The Vote!

Who can do GOTV? Practically any organization, including:

•Issue-based organizations

•Community-based organizations

•Churches, synagogues and mosques

•Neighborhood organizations

Key points to remember about GOTV

Ask for the vote! A registered young voter is very likely to vote if asked.

Quality counts. Actual votes per contact will be higher when the contact is more personalized and interactive.

Provide practical information about how to vote. And efforts that make voting more convenient are quite effective.

Keep track of your supporters

Centralized, web based computer system is best for massive campaigns.

Update data daily

from voter registration to voter turnout

“Face-to-face canvassing yields a 7% to 12% advantage and is considered the ‘gold standard’ of campaign strategies, while commercial phone banking, direct mail and anonymous leaflet distribution are far less effective.”

– Donald Green, Yale University researcher

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Sample Program for Base Voters Events in pre-primary, invite by phone, email, mail Internet organizing – pre-primary Door visit June – August Community based organizing June – August 2 pieces of direct mail – October Volunteer phone call – 2 weeks before election Mail six days before election Door visit Sat/Sun before election Phone call Monday before election Door hanger Monday night before election

Military and Overseas Citizens-Registering and Voting Absentee Members of the United States uniformed services on active duty and the Merchant Marine, their spouses and dependents, and United States citizens residing outside of the United States may apply for voter registration or request an absentee ballot with a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), which may be obtained from a Voting Assistance Officer or online at www.fvap.gov.

Maps

As you canvass your precinct, always ask voters whether they intend to vote. Record that information.

Do target:

Swing voters who always vote (for persuasion)

Voters in your party who only vote sometimes (for GOTV)

Swing voters who only vote sometimes (second persuasion)

Additional information for military and overseas voters is available from:

Director, Federal Voting Assistance ProgramOffice of the Secretary of Defense Washington Headquarters Services1155 Defense PentagonWashington, D.C. 20301-1155

Fax:703-588-0108

Email: vote@fvap.ncr.gov

Toll-free: 800-438-8683

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Statewide Investigations: Citizens can encourage their state Attorney General and Secretary of State to investigate cases of rampant voter fraud

Congressional Investigations: Congress has constitutional duty of “oversight.” Citizens can seek to get the committee to establish a commission to address voting irregularities and fraud.

Strengthen Current Vote Fraud Laws. Now is the time to strengthen the civil and penal penalties for vote fraud and to strongly enforce them.

Department of Justice: Citizens must demand that the Justice Department enforce all election laws and not just those that focus on voter intimidation and suppression.

Standardized Ballots. States should adopt English only, simple, easy-to-read ballots. All machine votes should be authenticated with a verifiable paper trail at each precinct.

Expand Military Voting Rights. Encourage legislation that would make it easier for military personnel to vote.

Private Right of Action: The National Voter Registration Act allows for a private right of action — that means private citizens can bring lawsuits against states and voter registrars who are allowing dead and ineligible voters to taint the voter rolls. After giving notice, citizens can use the legal system to urge states and individual counties to scrub their voter registration rolls of felons, convicts, illegal aliens and dead voters.

The benefits of Precinct Work for Preventing Voter Fraud:

citizen-led initiatives

National PartyCampaign Committees

Presidential CampaignsState Parties

Precinct worker can also prevent fraud by maintaining relationships with:

Voter Engagement

List-Building (Checking for new voter, moves and dead voters)

Getting Out the Vote

Leadership Development

election administrationElection administration involves the facilitation of voting and the management of elections at all levels, from local to federal. It includes the organization of election agencies, the behavior and characteristics of state and local election officials, the process of conducting elections, and the implementation of election policies. The Advancement Project, a left-of-center group, points out that it is important to immerse oneself in the total election process. “Learn the rules of voter registration and review election administration processes—including when purges are conducted, how poll workers are recruited, and how

election officials will prepare for increased voter turnout in the next election cycle—and then meet with election officials to raise your voting-related concerns. Remember, election officials are charged with serving the voting public, so don’t be shy. Ask questions, record the answers, and determine if the procedures work for the voters in your community. You may wish to identify specific individuals from your coalition who will serve as primary contacts with particular election officials to foster the development of good relationships and avoid duplication of effort. Developing strong relationships with election officials can go a long way in achieving the goals of the voter protection process.”

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There are a number of left-of-center groups working on election administration but few focus on the issue of election integrity or the concept of “one citizen, one vote.” Citizens can become involved in election administration through three main areas: field, litigation and research. FieldLocal groups can run voter registration and voter verification programs. Leaders can train members in quality control, verifying registrations by precinct walking and phone follow-ups Local lawyers can volunteer to answer legal and election procedure questions etc.

LitigationUtilizing the local and national resources groups can organize against litigation harmful to our electoral system and local leaders can also support litigation or legislative initiatives aimed establishing voter ID or other protections. ResearchThere is a need for well written and researched guides on poll watching (state specific), candidate and voter registration guides, policy briefs, legal opinions, briefing papers, and draft legislation. [Source: http://elections.gmu.edu/Election_Admin.html]

election day operationsThe general rule of thumb is that “The closer the margin, the more likely fraud and human error will effect the outcome.” Election Day Operations (EDO) focuses on protecting the integrity of the election.

EDO Goals

Ensure that all election laws, regulations and rules are applied

Ensure that no eligible voter is disenfranchised

Ensure that all legally cast votes are accurately tabulated

Ensure that the campaign is prepared for a recount or election contest

EDO Plan

• Train poll watchers in at-risk precincts

• Establish a central call center to process calls from the poll watchers

• Outreach to attorneys and place them in the field

to immediately respond to a situation

• Provide unit attorneys to address issues at the local registrar’s office

• Establish a Circuit and Federal Court litigation team

EDO Needs

Poll Watchers - Authorization Forms from Unit Chair

EDO Unit Attorneys - On call throughout Election Day

Representative at local Registrar - Ensure that voting materials are secure and obtain provisional ballot count

Canvass Leader and Observers

Provisional Ballot Attorney/Representative

EDO Procedures (may vary by state)

Election Night

A designated EDO representative is needed at each unit registrar’s office

Ensure that all numbers and election materials have been returned and secured

Determine if any ballots have yet to be counted

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Determine accurate number of Provisional Ballots cast

Canvass

The length of the canvass will vary according to population

Canvass Leaders are needed to organize party observers

A Unit Attorney is needed to observe the provisional ballot count

Many Units will not count provisional ballots until Thursday or Friday

If you plan to record telephone calls or in-person conversations (including by recording video that captures sound), you should be aware that there are federal and state wiretapping laws that may limit your ability to do so. These laws not only expose you to the risk of criminal prosecution, but also potentially give an injured party a civil claim for money damages against you.

From a legal standpoint, the most important question in the recording context is whether you must get consent from one or all of the parties to a phone call or conversation before recording it. Federal law and many state wiretapping statutes permit recording if one party (including you) to the phone call or conversation consents. Other states require that all parties to the communication consent. It is best to check your state law before proceeding.[Source: http://www.citmedialaw.org/legal-guide/recording-phone-calls-and-conversations]

What to bring with you to the polling place

Know the laws, but if possible, bring a small video or digital camera.

• Bring a notebook and a writing implement.

• Bring a small audio recorder.

What to document outside the polling place

Access to the polls

Polling place switching or closure

People who the right location, but no signs or indicators for where to vote

Any instances of intimidation

Any instances of illegal electioneering

Long lines

Polling place but it isn’t open for business on time

Be persistent. Ask questions with your audio recorder running

Police checkpoints or surveillance of polling places - use your voter fraud app or video recorder

After the Election An effective program must be continuous and year-round. True civic engagement requires leadership, and integrating civic engagement into the core work of the Tea Party movement. After the election, local groups can maintain, and inspect voter rolls, lobby for Voter ID and push legislation for tougher penalties for voter fraud.

What to document inside the polling place

Names of poll workers, election judges, and other poll watchers.

Voting machine problems

Lack of equipment or supplies to vote

Inappropriate challenges of voters

Other suspicious events or activities

Your vote shows up as the wrong choice

The screen automatically fills in votes the voter doesn’t want

The screen fails to report that vote has been accepted.

Voting machines aren’t running

Voting machine crashes or freezes

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ACORN and Project Vote claim to have:

• Registered over 4.6 million voters since its inception in 1982.

• Registered an unmatched 1.67 million voters since 2003: 1.13 million in 2003-04 and 547,539 in 2005-06.

• Registered more voters in 2006 than any other single organization in any mid-term election in United States history.

The single largest program registering young people aged 18-29 with exactly 50% of our registrants falling into that demographic.

In 2008, they collected over 151,000 registrations in Florida, 153,000 in Pennsylvania, 215,000 in Michigan, and nearly 250,000 in Ohio.

According to the New York Times: “On Oct. 6, 2008, the community organizing group Acorn and an affiliated charity called Project Vote announced with jubilation that they had registered 1.3 million new voters. But it turns out the claim was a wild exaggeration, and the real number of newly registered voters nationwide is closer to 450,000.” [Source: Project Vote www.projectvote.org]

acorn

However, this massive voter registration drive was not without consequences. There have been several accusations of fraud against ACORN.

Authorities raided the headquarters of ACORN on Tuesday October 7, 2008, after a month-long investigation. The fraudulent voter registrations included the Dallas Cowboys starting line-up.[Source: http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/7139]

State Board of Elections officials have found at least 100 voter registration forms with the same names over and over again. The forms were turned in by ACORN. Officials sent about 30 applications to the state Board of Elections for possible fraud investigation.[Source: http://www.stoptheaclu.com/archives/2008/10/10/acorn-fraud-in-north-carolina/]

In 2007, in Kansas City, four ACORN employees were indicted for fraud. In April, eight ACORN employees in St. Louis city and county pleaded guilty to federal election fraud for submitting bogus voter registrations.[Source: http://www.investors.com/editorial/editorialcontent.asp?secid=1501&status=article&id=308358130652174]

[Source: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hNf_-bBZls_mvLIRCFJtlkMM3mhAD93MLMTO0]

More than 2,000 voter registration forms filed in northern Lake County filled out by ACORN employees turned out to be bogus. Officials also stopped processing a stack of about 5,000 applications delivered just before the October 6 registration deadline after the first 2,100 turned out to be phony.[Source: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/09/acorn.fraud.claims/?iref=hpmostpop]

The list goes on, and on. See the Complete Guide to ACORN Voter Fraud[Source: The Complete Guide to ACORN Voter Fraud http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-complete-guide-to-acorn-voter-fraud/]

Nevada

N.C.

Missouri Indiana

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In 2011 the focus for new Conservative activists should shift back to the local level. All politics is local and to achieve more permanent solutions, citizens must oversee all elections. Ironically, ACORN’s Project Vote sums up the much-needed reforms to the electoral system in its study “The Politics of Voter Fraud”:

“Better data collection and election administration will improve the public discussion of voter fraud and lead to more appropriate policies. We need better data, better election administration, transparency and more responsible journalism to improve public understanding of the legitimate ways in which electoral outcomes can be distorted and manipulated. This will help ensure that new laws and rules to prevent fraud are narrowly targeted to solve legitimate problems rather than used as a strategy to shape the electorate for partisan advantage.”

Behind Project Vote’s rhetoric is an organization intent on chipping away at our election laws through litigation, ballot initiatives and other forms of so-called “election protection.” In partnership with the Brennan Center and the Advancement Project, Project Vote will be screening legislation for potential legal challenges.

Often voter fraud is confused with voter registration fraud and allegations tend to swell as tensions increase. Understanding voter fraud and the ways some progressive organization perceive it is key to combating real fraud.

Definition of Voter Fraud Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an election. Acts of fraud affect vote counts to bring about an election result, whether by increasing the

vote share of the favored candidate,

depressing the vote share of the rival candidates or both. Also

called voter fraud, the mechanisms

involved include illegal voter registration, intimidation at polls and improper vote counting.

Voter Fraud vs. Voter Registration Fraud The Voter Registration table is the first line of defense in our own communities. It is a powerful, portable tool of effective, grassroots activism. Well-informed citizens have the potential to cultivate commitment to society and American values by bringing together individuals together who care, who act, who have a voice. Therefore, it is important to not only register voters, but to make sure that the process is not corrupted.

Ballotpedia defines voter registration fraud as: “the act of registering to vote, or registering someone else to vote,

when fraud is involved. Voter registration fraud is considered to be a type of vote fraud.

Different ways to commit fraud in the voter registration process include:

• Filling out and submitting a voter registration card for a fictional (made-up) person. The made-up name on the card can be recognizable “Mickey Mouse” or just a random made-up name, like “Jessica Random”.

• Filling out a voter registration card with the name of a real person, but without that person’s consent, and forging his or her signature on the card.

The Partisan Debate Over Voter fraud Presently there is a sharp divide between those who claim that vote fraud does not exist and those who point to a number of incidents around the country.

The left-of-center Brennan Center for Justice has filed several suits and released scores of press releases insisting that vote fraud does not exist:

“...Allegations of widespread voter fraud, however, often prove greatly exaggerated. It is easy to grab headlines

voter fraudFACT: If an election is worth stealing, someone is willing to steal it.

Commonly acknowledged types of vote fraud are: Voter registration fraud Dead people voting Felon vote fraud Voter caging and purgingAbsentee ballot vote fraud Voter suppression Electronic voting fraud Voter impersonation

[Source: Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_fraud]

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with a lurid claim (“Tens of thousands may be voting illegally!”); the follow-up - when any exists - is not usually deemed newsworthy. Yet on closer examination, many of the claims of voter fraud amount to a great deal of smoke without much fire. The allegations simply do not pan out.”

[Source: Brennan Center for Justice http://counterintelligence/content/resource/counterrevolutionary/]

On the other hand, Republican John McCain also raised legitimate questions in 2008 regarding voter fraud:

“You’ve seen the allegations, the multiple registrations under the same name, the more registered voters than the population. These are serious allegations, my friends, and they must be investigated, and they must be investigated immediately and they must be stopped before November the fourth, so Americans will not -- will not -- be deprived of a fair process in this election.”

[Source: Republicans raise red flag over voter fraud - Boston.com http://bit.ly/96d16r]

As the debate rages on, its important to remember that the best way to combat fraud and allegations of fraud is to ensure that groups registering voters in your community are following guidelines and turning in cards on time.

Types of Voter Fraud

Voting or attempting to vote in an election after being disqualified or when the person knows that he or she is not eligible to vote.

Voting or attempting to vote more than once during the same election as someone may vote absentee in the one municipality as an absentee voter and votes again in person in the same or different municipality on Election Day.

Knowingly causing to be mailed or distributed, or knowingly mailing or distributing, literature that includes false information about absentee ballot information, voter’s precinct or polling place, the date and time of the election or a candidate.

Intentionally changing, attempting to change, or causing to be changed an official election document including ballots, tallies, and returns.

Intentionally delaying, attempting to delay, or causing to be delayed the sending of certificate, register,

ballots (in-person or absentee) or other materials whether original or duplicate required to be sent by jurisdictional law.

Intentionally making a false affidavit, swearing falsely, or falsely affirming under an oath required by a statute regarding their voting status, including when registering to vote, requesting an absentee ballot or presenting to vote in person.

Campaigning Near Poll Though it varies from state to state, the law prohibits, among other things, electioneering, distributing election literature, and posting signs with respect to any candidate or question to be voted on inside the building in which a polling place is located or within at least 25 feet of the building’s outer door.

“First Lady Michelle Obama appears to have violated Illinois law

-- when she engaged in political discussion at a polling place! The drama began after Mrs. Obama stopped off at the Martin Luther King Center on the south side of Chicago to cast an early vote. After finishing at the machine, Obama went back to the desk and handed in her voting key. She let voters including electrician Dennis Campbell, 56, take some photos. ‘She was telling me how important it was to vote to keep her husband’s agenda going,’ Campbell said.”

[Source: http://drudgereport.com/flash2.htm]

Tampering with Voting MachineLike most technology, voting machines can become vulnerable to attack. From a switched memory card to any official who for nefarious reasons, during an election or before an election or after, tampers with a machine in order to change the outcome has committed voter fraud. This includes damaging, defacing, or impairing in any form.

In Florida, a computer programmer testified that Congressional candidate

Tom Feeney attempted to pay him to rig election vote counts.

It’s Happened:

It’s Happened:

[Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEzY2tnwExs]

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Voter IntimidationVoter intimidation involves putting undue pressure

on a voter or group of voters so that they will vote a particular way,

or not at all. Absentee and other remote voting can be more open to some forms of intimidation as the voter does not have

the protection and privacy of the polling location.

Intimidation can take a range of forms.

Violence or the threat of violence: In its simplest form, voters from a particular

demographic or known to support a particular party or candidate are directly threatened by supporters of another party or candidate or those hired by them. In other cases supporters of a particular party make it

known that if a particular village or neighborhood is found to have voted the ‘wrong’ way, reprisals will be made against that community. Another method is to make a general threat of violence, for example a bomb threat that has the effect of closing a particular polling place, thus making it difficult for people in that area to vote.

Attacks on polling places: Polling places in an area known to support a particular party or candidate may be targeted for vandalism, destruction or threats, thus making it difficult or impossible for people in that area to vote.

Legal threats: In this case voters will be made to believe, accurately or otherwise, that they are not legally entitled to vote, or that they are legally obliged to vote a particular way. Voters who are not confident about their entitlement to vote may also be intimidated by real or implied authority figures who suggest that those who vote when they are not entitled to will be imprisoned, deported or otherwise punished.

Economic threats: In company towns in which one company employs most of the working population, the company may threaten workers with disciplinary action if they do not vote the way their employer dictates.[Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_fraud#Intimidation]

NewBlackPantherParty - “The discussion centers on whether

the Justice Department’s civil rights division mishandled a lawsuit against members of the New Black Panther Party, which was filed weeks before the Obama administration took office. The suit was focused on the party and two of its members, who stood out front of a polling place in Philadelphia on Election Day 2008 wearing military gear. They were captured on video and were accused of trying to discourage some people from voting. One carried a nightstick.”

[Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/14/AR2010071405880.html]

Vote BuyingVoters may be given money or other rewards for voting in a particular way, or not voting. In some jurisdictions, the offer or giving of other rewards is referred to as “electoral treating”. Vote buying may also be done indirectly, for example by paying clergymen to tell their parishioners to vote for a particular party or candidate. Vote buying is generally avoided by not providing a “receipt” for the counted vote, even if it’s technically possible to do so.[Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_fraud#Vote_buying]

“The New York Post reported that a Cleveland man said he was given

cash and cigarettes by aggressive ACORN activists in exchange for registering an astonishing 72 times.”

[Source: http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-complete-guide-to-acorn-voter-fraud/2/]

Illegal ElectioneeringIllegal electioneering includes distributing or posting campaign materials within the building where the election is being held as well as the areas leading to the polling place... It is also illegal for an election officer or public employee to electioneer while in the performance of his or her official duties.[Source: http://www.nhlgc.org/publications/item_detail.asp?TCArticleID=288]

It’s Happened:

It’s Happened:

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Provisional Voting ProblemsTo cast a provisional ballot, a person must execute a provisional ballot affirmation before a precinct officer at the polling place declaring that he/she is a registered voter in the city or town and resides within the geographical boundaries of said precinct. All provisional voters must show suitable identification showing their name and current address.

After voting on a provisional ballot, the person places it in a specially marked envelope, seals that envelope and returns it to the precinct election official. The ballot will then be set aside until a determination of the person’s eligibility can be made.[Source: www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/eledaylglsum.doc]

Different states have different procedures for counting or not counting

provisional ballots that are cast in the wrong precinct. Some states will not count these ballots, so it is important to go to the correct polling place on Election Day. In a study of Ohio and Florida a majority of provisional ballots thrown out were because voters showed up at the wrong precinct, and cast provisional ballots -- and often are not told the ballots would not count unless cast in the correct precinct.

[Source:www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Provisional_voting#Problems_with_provisional_voting]

Campaign Poll Workers

Poll workers must be outside 40 feet of any entrance to the building in which the polling place is located.

There is no limit to the number or poll workers allowed outside the polling place.

Poll workers cannot hinder or delay a person from entering or leaving a polling place.

Political campaign supplies, including Sample Ballots, may be distributed outside the 40 feet but must contain the statement -- “Paid for and Authorized by (name of candidate or name of candidate’s campaign committee or name of political party committee or name and address of person responsible)”. [Sources: http://www.jhdesigninc.com/Campaign-Items/Election-Day-Polls.asp]

Authorized Representative

Each political party, independent or primary candidate is allowed a representative for each registration book who may remain in the room during the election process. No more

than three representatives for each party, independent or primary

candidate are allowed in any one polling place.

An authorized list of representatives should be given to the local electoral board or chief officer of election; or a written statement should be given to each Representative to show at the polling place. Representatives can be set up on a shift basis by the party or independent candidate.

Representative At Close of Polls

Each political party may have two representatives and an independent or primary candidate may have one representative at the polling place to witness the counting of ballots and ascertainment of results.

Shortage of Poll Watchers

Laws vary by state but in general:

To open, a site should have at least one poll worker from each of the two major political parties. If one is missing:

Alert your Coordinator or call your county election office to inform them of the vacancies.

If available, the Board will send standby poll workers to your site to make up for the shortage. These poll workers will bring a “Certificate to Work” with them;

“Poll worker shortage causes worry: A shortage of at least 500,000 poll workers nationwide for today’s voting could contribute to long lines, cranky volunteers, late opening and closing of polling places and the chance that results won’t be known until long after the polls close. About 1.4 million people have been trained to serve as poll workers, about the same as four years ago, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

However, nearly 2 million poll workers are needed to deal with a possible heavy turnout, many first-time voters and unfamiliar touch-screen machines in hundreds of counties, according to the commission. The Associated Press reported that the shortage is acute in urban areas where workers should be able to speak multiple languages.”[Source: http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/electionline.htm]

It’s Happened:

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Police Interference

Police and law enforcement should not interfere with the commission of an election to prevent any voter from casting a ballot.

Some groups think these activities are targeted at minorities: “The placement

of armed officers at the polls will lead to widespread intimidation of voters, with a particularly negative impact on minority voters. This issue was highlighted during the 2000 election in Florida, when police checkpoints near African-American polling places scared some voters away from the polls. While we all are concerned about security on Election Day, the use of armed officers must be avoided in all but the most extreme cases. Therefore, we urge you to issue a statement to election officials across the country making clear that the use of armed personnel at the polls is to be avoided, barring direct information about a credible security threat at a particular location.”

[Source: http://www.civilrights.org/advocacy/letters/2004/protect-minority-voting-rights-in-nov-2-election.html]

Abnormally long linesIn every election, some voters encounter practical impediments to voting, such as long lines at the polling place. In 2004, however, the issue received increased attention.[Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_United_States_election_voting_controversies]

Long lines are an issue for a number of reasons but some political parties will try to use the situation to keep polls

open later for political gain. “Judge Ordered St. Louis Precincts Kept Open After Voting Deadline Passed - Many people in the city of St. Louis, Mo., voted after the legal 7:00 p.m. voting deadline had passed last Tuesday because Missouri Circuit Court Judge Evelyn Baker about an hour earlier ordered that polling places be kept open. That ruling was reversed at 7:45 p.m. by a three-judge panel of state appeals court judges. But there are allegations from many critics, including a U.S. senator, that polling places remained open even after that. Two days after the polls had finally closed, it was still undetermined how many late votes had actually been cast.”

[Source: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3827/is_200011/ai_n8915052/]

Obstructing a Poll workerDisorderly election conduct is willfully: (a) Disturbing the peace in or about any voting place on election day; (b) leaving or attempting to leave a voting place in possession of any ballot, except as is specifically permitted by law; (c) approaching or remaining closer than three feet to any voting booth, voting machine or table being used by an election board except as admitted for the purpose of voting or by authority of the supervising judge; (d) interrupting, hindering or obstructing any person approaching any voting place for the purpose of voting (e) engaging in any of the following activities within 250 feet from the entrance of a polling place during the hours the polls are open on election day: (1) solicitation of contributions; or (2) conduct of advisory elections other than those specifically authorized by law, including the exercise of home rule power, to be conducted by a county election officer.[Source: http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Voting_laws_in_Kansas]

A would-be voter in Pennsylvania was arrested at a polling place

in Allentown after smashing an electronic voting machine with a paperweight, according to poll workers.

[Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15611962/]

Unlawfully Assisting a VoterA voter who informs the warden that from blindness or other physical disability or inability to read or to read in the English language that they are unable to prepare their ballot or register their vote is entitled to receive assistance to do so... The voter may designate a person of their choice to assist them. In the alternative, the voter can request that two election officers, one from each major party, accompany them into the voting booth to assist them in completing their ballot. ...Where a voter requests instruction or assistance after entering the voting machine booth two election officers of different political parties may instruct or assist the voter in the voting booth).[Source: www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/eledaylglsum.doc]

It’s Happened:

It’s Happened:

It’s Happened:

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“In 2008, a judge dismissed another case in the McAllen voter fraud indictments from 2006.

Two years after the son of a former McAllen mayor and nine other individuals were indicted in Hidalgo County, the case fell apart. One indicted individual pled guilty, but these charges against the others were dropped. The nine were indicted with various levels of vote fraud after it was reported that they had helped elderly people with their ballots and possibly influenced their decisions. Others were accused of receiving money for votes. The cases have been delayed several times already and most have been dismissed.

The district attorney who was prosecuting the case dropped the final case in April 2010. District Attorney René Guerra said that voter fraud cases were difficult to prosecute and that some activity, such as possessing two ballots, should not be illegal.”

[Source: http://www.ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Vote_fraud_in_Texas#cite_note-Article-17]

Providing False Information on a Ballot Application

The voter application contains an affidavit and if you provide false information on this application you can be convicted of a felony and/or misdemeanor.

In an April 20 letter, the secretary of state office’s elections director, Ann

McGeehan, asked the attorney general for help, citing evidence of nine possible crimes. They included illegal voting, obstructing a poll watcher, unlawfully assisting a voter and providing false information on a ballot application.

[Source: www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/042810dnmetagprobe.415b8db.html

It’s Happened:

It’s Happened:

Prior to the 2010 elections, American Majority Action (AMA) created the nation’s first mobile application to help identify, report and track suspected incidents of voter fraud and intimidation. This free, cutting edge system will enable voters for the first time to take action to help defend their right to vote.

When a voter experiences a potential incident of voter fraud or intimidation, they can simply open the Voter Fraud application and submit a report using the “Report an Issue” button on the home screen. The

application automatically opens the phone’s camera, providing the user with a quick and easy way to document the incident. Once the user is satisfied with any photographic evidence, they are prompted to fill out a brief report, providing important details and location of the possible incident.

the voter fraud app

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Electionline: http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/electionline.aspxBallot Access News: http://www.ballot-access.org/Election Law Blog: http://electionlawblog.org/Election Law @ Moritz: http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/electionlaw/The Campaign Legal Center: http://www.clcblog.org/How To Vote & Register Anywhere In The U.S.: http://www.thekitchencabinet.us/866-OUR-VOTE:http://www.866ourvote.org/Investigator’s Guide to Voter Fraud: http://www.brennancenter.org/content/resource/investigators_guide_to_voter_fraud/Election Assistance Commission: http://www.eac.gov/index_html1Poll Workers for Democracy: http://act.credoaction.com/pollworkers/index.htmlThe Politics of Voter Fraud: http://projectvote.org/fileadmin/ProjectVote/Publications/Politics_of_Voter_Fraud_Final.pdf Project Vote Smart: http://www.votesmart.org/Vote Poke - Allows people to instantly find out whether or not they’re registered to vote: https://www.votepoke.org/index.html

American Majority is the nation’s premier political training non-profit developing the next generation of conservative, free market political leaders. Its non-partisan role is to identify qualified individuals who should run for public office, and to educate and equip them with the philosophical foundation necessary to guide effective decisions once elected. Through its different tracks of training American Majority is creating a new nationwide network of leaders and grassroots supporters who will integrate the ideals of individual freedom and free markets at all levels of state and local government.

Connecting with American Majority

• Website: www.AmericanMajority.org

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• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AM_National

additional election integrity resources

American Majority overview and resources

P.O. Box 87 • Purcellville, VA 20134 • 540-338-1251 info@AmericanMajority.org • www.AmericanMajority.org