(CNSNews.com) - A report by a voting rights group regarding allegations of voter fraud, intimidation and suppression during the 2004 presidential election has found that "paid Democrat operatives were far more involved in voter intimidation and suppression activities than were their Republican counterparts during the 2004 presidential election." The report by the American Center for Voting Rights Legislative Fund found that thousands "were disenfranchised by illegal votes cast and a coordinated effort by members of certain 'nonpartisan' organizations to rig the election system through voter registration fraud in more than a dozen states."For example, the report noted, paid Democrat operatives were charged with slashing tires on Republican get-out-the-vote vans in Milwaukee, and an Ohio court order stopped Democrat operatives from calling voters and telling them the incorrect date for election and polling place information. The report also found that a law enforcement task force found "clear evidence of fraud in the Nov. 2 election in Milwaukee" that included hundreds of felons, voters that voted twice, and even thousands more ballots that were cast than actual voters recorded as having voted in the city. The task force also found multiple indictments and convictions of ACORN workers for voter registration fraud in several states.
Five cities - Philadelphia, Pa.; Milwaukee, Wisc.; Seattle, Wash.; St. Louis or East St. Louis, Mo.; and Cleveland, Ohio - were identified as "election fraud 'hot spots' which require additional immediate attention prior to the 2006 elections." These cities were identified based on the report's findings and the cities' documented history of fraud and intimidation. The group sent a letter to Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean and Republican Party Chairman Ken Mehlman urging them to formally adopt zero-tolerance policies against fraud and intimidation. The group also asked both leaders to identify issues of concern in each election fraud "hot spot" by October 1.
"Until political parties and candidates are willing to adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards election fraud, the American public will have little confidence in other reforms," Brian Lunde, ACVR Legislative Fund board member, said in a statement. "There is no room for politics when it comes to the right to vote." "It should be easy to vote but tough to cheat," said Mark F. "Thor" Hearne, ACVR Legislative Fund Counsel in a statement. ACV suggested states adopt their "common-sense recommendations," which include requiring photo IDs at the polls, accurate statewide voter registration databases and a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to vote fraud and intimidation.
