Two years ago when the votes were counted in the US Senate race in Minnesota, Republican Norm Coleman was ahead of Democratic Al Franken, which automatically triggered a recount. The Republicans screamed about that recount from day one, saying the worse they could say about Franken and Democrats in general, even though a) the recount was automatic and b) the applicable wisdom strongly suggested that an errors would favor Republicans, and a recount would likely swing the numbers in favor of a Democratic candidate by several hundred votes. That recount happened, again with the Republicans kicking and screaming and whinging and griping the entire time about how Al Franken and the Democrats were ruining democracy.

At the end, Franken won what the junior Senator from Minnesota now refers to as “The most efficient senatorial race ever carried out in the State of Minnesota. No votes were wasted.”

Now, the Democratic candidate for Governor in this year’s election has received about nine thousand votes more than the Republican candidate. Twenty times the difference in from the Franken-Coleman recount, but still, enough to trigger a recount.

Based on what the Republicans said two years ago, their candidate, Emmer, should simply step aside now, insist that no recount is necessary, and allow Mark Dayton the courtesy of moving forward with a transition.

But no. Not only is Emmer not going to withdraw, but the republicans are claiming that there is now way that Dayton could have gotten so many votes without something illegal happeing, with a leader in the state legislature claiming that “something does not smell right.”

Indeed. Something does not smell right.

What is going to happen, of course, is that the recount is going to move forward, and the number of votes by which Dayton beats Emmer is going to increase. Or at least, that is what the applicable wisdom would predict. In any event, the prospect of 9,000 or so votes going away (or 4,500 or so votes switching) is pretty slim. Mark Dayton will be the next governor of Minnesota. It will probably take a few months, though I have not looked at the process in any detail yet.

And, you can fully expect the Republicants to spend the entire time whinging and accusing and belly aching and sputtering and tossing whatever wrenches they have into the Democratic Process.

One big difference between the last recount and this one is this: Although the stakes are huge for us here in Minnesota … we’ve temporarily lost our DFL majority in the state house and a Republican governor in combination with a GOP majority there would be truly devastating (especially this governor), the national stakes at the time of the Franken-Colemen recount were huge. Huge enough for every recount-experienced operative and lawyer in the entire country to converge here and a zillion dollars to be raised to support the process on both sides. There will be a huge effort here, but it can’t possibly be as large an operation. Yet, every vote will need to be recounted.

So … let’s get to work. Unless, of course, Tom Emmer wants to do the right thing. Which is highly unlikely.

The Delaware Democratic Party claimed Tuesday that Republican Senate nominee Christine O’Donnell’s supporters were rallying outside polling places and creating a disturbance that amounted to illegal “voter intimidation”…

The state Democratic Party first leveled the charge in a brief written statement Tuesday afternoon.

“There have been some reports of voter intimidation from the O’Donnell campaign or her supporters throughout the state. This activity is illegal and contrary to our rule of civility in Delaware,” the party said.

… voters had called their hotline to complain that groups of 15-20 people were rallying and chanting outside polling places … Voters reported feeling uncomfortable and, in some cases, being unable to access the polling site, she said.

…

“They’re doing it right in the entranceway and they’re being extremely loud,” she said.

Ellis said some voters could hear the chanting inside, which she called an election law violation, and that the campaign has since been asked to stop.

…

“These groups were cheering … making noise that was carrying into the 50 (foot) area although the group was not inside the 50 (foot) area physically. Because the noise could be heard inside the area, I called the campaign and asked them to discontinue the practice,” Manlove said. “I have had no further complaints, so my assumption is that the campaign has ceased this practice.”

More details

The Kansas Democratic Party has leveled a charge of voter intimidation and has filed a complaint with the Kansas Attorney General’s office.

According to the Kansas Democratic Party, they received allegations from “individual” voters from around Kansas who claimed to have received a robo-call from who they called an “as yet named Republican organization” reminding them to bring their voter registration card and proof of home ownership with them to the polls on Nov. 3.

First, the election is slated for Nov. 2 and second, Kansas voters are not required to bring a voter registration card nor proof of home ownership to the polls when they vote.

“There is no place for voter intimidation in our electoral process,” said Kansas Democratic Party Chairman Larry Gates. “Every Kansas voter should feel comfortable with their right to cast a ballot and understand tactics like these are lies meant to scare them away from exercising that right.”

Gavin Young, spokesman for Kansas Attorney General Steve Six said that there has been an investigation opened into the allegations because voter intimidation is a felony under Kansas law.

read the rest here

Chalk one up to the Republicans: A liberal leaning African American acquaintance was talked out of voting today because “they changed the rules and you need two forms of ID and a Minnesota Drivers License this year” etc. etc. Yes, folks, he was lied to, he gave up, and that’s one point for the Teabaggers and one point against democracy.

Do not be a moron. You can vote if you live here. That’s true pretty much everywhere. Just do it. If you get to the polls and things don’t seem to be right for you to vote, talk to the people sitting at the folding table. It can always be done, even if it requires some forms being filled out.

We just got back from our polling place. There were a LOT of people there, but I didn’t spot any of the 10,000 teabaggers that promised to show up at Minnesota polls to harass people, defying a court order. I was deeply disappointed. I wanted to get me a teabagger. Wrestle his ass to the ground, step on his head, all that. Oh well. Maybe I’ll go back later.

TPM reports that the Kansas Attorney General is looking into reports that some voters were called and told “the election has been moved to Wednesday, that they need to bring their voter registration cards to the polls and that they need proof of homeownership to vote.”

and

The Delaware Democratic Party tweeted this afternoon about unspecified “reports” of voter intimidation in Dover.

source

You can check out the Dover Dems tweets here.

Surely, South Carolina is the suckiest state in the union these days. So, it is not a surprise to discover that teabaggers are intimidating voters they think may be against them.

Early this morning, self-identified tea party activists showed up at a polling station near Benedict College in Columbia, “basically harassing students–telling people not to vote and generally making voters feel uncomfortable,” says Keiana Page, press secretary for the state Democratic Party, who said that the party’s legal team is currently investigating the reported incident at the historically black college.

Details

A group called Minnesota Majority is said to have deployed over 10,000 people to polling stations across Minnesota in what is being called “an aggressive campaign to fight what organizers claim is a widespread problem of voter fraud.”

And, in so doing, have launched a major episode of voter indimidation.

… Minnesota Majority is directing its members to wear “Please ID Me” buttons in violation of a federal judge’s orders,…

Judge Joan Ericksen ruled Monday that the buttons “are designed to affect the actual voting process at the polls by intimating that voters are required to show identification before voting,” …

In an e-mail sent to the conservative tea party-affiliated group’s members on Monday night, however, Minnesota Majority encouraged those heading to the polls to defy the judge’s order.

“You can simply remove or cover the challenged item and you’ll be allowed to vote, or you can refuse and demand your right to vote and the election judge will allow you to vote, while also recording your name and you could be charged with a petty misdemeanor,” the e-mail said, according to TPM.

source

So, if you are at the polls to day in MN, and you see one of those buttons, it may be your civic duty to ensure that the polling officers take down that person’s name. For later. What fun.

Minnesota media is reporting several instances of overzealous election challengers in polling places as the Republican Party of Minnesota ramps up its allegations of voter fraud. In several Minnesota precincts, reporters confirmed that GOP poll challengers have overstepped their bounds. …

…The Associated Press reports that in Hennepin County there have been some tense conversations between election judges and GOP challengers who don’t seem to understand the rules….

…the poll challengers were entering restricted areas and making challenges that are against the rules….

…The Minnesota Independent received a report this morning that a poll challenger at the Emerson school in the Loring Park area of Minneapolis was challenging Somali voters….

…The Star Tribune reports that in Shakopee a GOP challenger questioned the registration of a voter because he was “too young.”…

…In Bloomington, the Star Tribune reports, an African American woman was asked by an election judge if she was a felon after she had already affirmed her oath. “I am an African American woman and I do believe this old Caucasian biddy was targeting me,” she told the Minneapolis paper. “Things are getting out of hand!”…

…”Minnesota residents have reported sightings of a mobile billboard driving through Minneapolis affixed with Election Integrity Watch’s poster of an individual in handcuffs, which is designed to suppress and intimidate voters,”…

More here.

… mostly other people’s thoughts.
Continue reading Vote or Die: Piecing together a few thoughts about today’s election … →

And do NOT vote for Willie Dove. Willie, a Republican candidate for District 1 seat on the State Board of Education says, in relation to evolution and creationism in science classrooms, “One without the other, that’s when we have the problem.”

Kansas, you don’t need this. Check out the details here.

I already posted my Page One voting choices for this year’s election. Now it is time to turn the ballot over and talk about judges. In the mean time, if you are in or near Minneapolis, Hennepin County or the Fifth Congressional District, I invite you to have a look at this ballot, as it might be useful to you.
Continue reading My Ballot for Next Tuesday: Page Two →

US Representative to the House, District 3

Jim Meffert

I’m very familiar with Meffert’s stand on the issues, and agree with them fully.

State Senator District 47

Leo Foley

Leo Foley is a centrist Democrat who has done a great job to date.

State Representative District 47A

Denise Dittrich

Dittrich has been a great representative.

Governor/Lt Governor

Mark Dayton/Yvonne Prettner Solon

Dayton will implement progressive Minnesota-like policies, and push for (or allow the legislature to develop) sane tax policies (i.e., tax the rich more, then get stuff done). The election is quite close, so every vote for Dayton counts, depending on what numbers you accept.

Secretary of State

Mark Ritchie

Ritchie showed himself to be an excellent secretary of state during the … well, you remember, we need not speak of those days …

State Auditor

Rebecca Otto

Otto is a progressive, conservation oriented highly competent auditor. Anderson, seeking to get her job back, was a moron. See this.

State Attorney General

Lori Swanson

Lori Swanson kicks ass as Attorney General

County Sheriff

James Stuart

I picked Stuart based on his experience.

County Attorney

Brad Johnson

Close call. I’ve heard from people who know people who are people and Ive decided to support Johnson.

Soil and Water Conservation Districts 3 and 4

I am opposed to all of the candidates. I will write someone in. Any suggestions?

Mayor of Coon Rapids

Tim Howe

Tim seems to have done a fine job, and the opposing candidate, Dave Nelson, has not allowed interviews or otherwise distributed information about himself as far as I can tell.

… and I thought I’d share it with you …
Continue reading My close personal friend Al Franken just sent me this personal private letter →

This is an excellent overview of the upcoming election vis-a-vis the brown liquid.