I noticed that one of the most critical counties in President [sic] Bush's re-[s]election efforts in Ohio, Hamilton County (Cincinnati), had a dramatic decrease in the voter rolls. It went from over 585,000 in 2000 to 519,048 today. I sent an email to the elections board in Hamilton County and received the following explanation for the decrease.
Note that over 105,000 voters were purged because they had not voted in 4 years, including 2 federal election cycles.
In 2000, 11,651 registrations were canceled because of move out of the county, death or felony conviction.
In 2001, 22,157 registrations were canceled because of move out of the county, death or felony conviction. 70,804 registrations were canceled because of inactivity (not voting in four years including two federal elections).
In 2002, 19,126 registrations were canceled because of move out of the county, death or felony conviction. 949 registrations were canceled because of inactivity.
In 2003, 12,525 registrations were canceled because of move out of the county, death or felony conviction. 35,824 registrations were canceled because of inactivity.
In 2004, 4,560 registrations were canceled because of move out of the county, death or felony conviction (as of June 30).
Something our otherwise astute friend seems to have missed, from the Department of Justice website:
The NVRA places limitations on removal of voters from registration lists, specifically prohibiting purges for not voting, and allows voters to be removed from the registration rolls only at their request, because of criminal convictions, death or mental incapacity, or due to a change of address (provided that particular safeguards are followed). The NVRA also provides additional safeguards under which registered voters would be able to vote notwithstanding minor technical problems (voters who move within a district or a precinct will retain the right to vote even if they have not re-registered at their new address).
Not only is this voter purge questionable, it seems to be pretty damned illegal, too.
Post a Comment