Here's a copy of the absentee ballot envelope that Ron Sims' nephew Donald voted in last September's primary election. Although registered at Uncle Ron's Seattle home, Donald was working in Staten Island, NY at the time. The handwritten Staten Island return address is directly above the warning that "Federal and State law require you to be registered to vote only at the address at which you currently reside" [emphasis in the original].
The only statutory grounds that I'm aware of that would permit Donald to vote legally from his uncle's house while living in New York would be that "Absence from the state on business shall not affect the question of residence of any person unless the right to vote has been claimed or exercised elsewhere". Others report to me that they found no indication he was registered in New York. According to Donald's online biography, he worked in New York for two years after finishing school there, upon which he "returned" to Spokane. If he did indeed claim that he was away from his Seattle home on business, that's one heck of a business trip!
A challenge to Donald's voter registration was filed on August 20. Dean Logan has not yet responded to schedule a hearing.
UPDATE: It turns out that Logan's letter acknowledging the challenge had been sent and was in the mail when I posted the above. More to come.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at September 02, 2005 06:25 PM | Email ThisWhat else can I say?
Posted by: BrianD on September 2, 2005 10:22 PMBTW, it must me nice to get your ballot in early September. I know I didn't get mine in September. More like mid to late October.
To Chick Green, he wasn't living in Spokane at the time, or even WA. He was living in NY and voting in WA. He lived in Cheney (Spokane) from about 1997 to 2001 and since early 2005. see http://www.soundpolitics.com/archives/004962.html
Vote for David Irons.
Posted by: rightwingkook.blog-city.com on September 2, 2005 10:51 PMI don't believe it would be beneath him to forge his nephews signature for that one more vote......sigh...
Posted by: Deborah on September 2, 2005 11:03 PMWe lived in Singapore for two and one half years when my wife was on assignment. During that time, we continued to vote in Washington (although our voting was done at the Delifrance coffee shop). The difference between my situation and that of Donald Sims was that we continued to own a home in Washington, and continued to pay Washington property tax. When we came home for our home leave, we stayed in our own place.
Don Sims lived for two years in New York, he was not a Washington resident. He had no home in Washington. He was not entitled to vote in Washington.
The point is, it is not how long you are out of the state, it is the circumstances of your absence.
Posted by: MIMike on September 2, 2005 11:54 PMI think someone raised the question of a possible state tuition scam being used by the Sim's....
Donald and uncle Ron may be falsly using Ron Sims residence address for a resident tuition break!
So not only is Ron Sims allowing his nephew (from California) to use his residence address to vote for him..but he may have also used it to get a reduction in state tuition costs.....while never actually living there!
These would be blatant and impeachable offenses.
Posted by: Deborah on September 3, 2005 12:37 AMPaula,
You are missing the point....
To claim residency at your uncle Ron's home..(even though you've never lived there..).would satisfy the University residency requirement.
Posted by: Deborah on September 3, 2005 12:00 PM