Sound Politics: Election integrity has gone to the dogs

June 29, 2007

Election integrity has gone to the dogs

Australian shepherd Duncan MacDonald is still registered to vote, and owner Jane Balogh, who registered Duncan as a protest against lax voter registration standards, will take her protest to court:

Balogh last week said she planned to plead guilty. She changed her mind because election officials were using Duncan's canine outing as proof the system worked.

Embattled Elections Director-nominee Sherril Huff's response:

"What she proved is that if you falsify information, then yes, you may be able to get a ballot sent to you."

That's exactly Balogh's point.

Along these lines, I recently stumbled across these documents in Elections files:

* Unlike today, back in 2000 the Elections office proactively dealt with voters who falsely registered claiming residence at mailboxes.

* Some heretofore unreported allegations of registration fraud in early 2004: "man says he has no son w/his name + DOB 1/17/67. Possible ACORN voter fraud?". Non-existent son is still registered.

Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at June 29, 2007 11:08 AM | Email This

Comments

1. Who actually made the first complaint about the dog's registration?

Didn't we hear from the last chucklehead that he wasn't able to challenge a voter - it had to be a citizen that came forward?

Posted by: Al on June 29, 2007 11:20 AM

2. How about KCE actually prosecutes those who fraudulently registered AND voted?? Or those who knowingly registered as non-citizen and voted? Or those who voted twice??That would be nice for a change. This woman made KCE look very foolish and they are making her pay for it. That's all. Just stop it, KCE. She just proved that my Alaskan Malamute could register to vote.

If the media were paying attention, they'd publish that Stefan discovered a woman on Capitol Hill who voted two ballots two years in a row! They'd show that KCE has allowed far too much slop and intentional fraud already.

Posted by: Michele on June 29, 2007 12:28 PM

3. I just hope Ms. Balogh brings up Joel Connelly's illegal registrations and claim that she is just following the example of an investigative journalist in exposing the ease of fraud...

Posted by: Edmonds Dan on June 29, 2007 12:30 PM

4. Sic 'em Duncan.

I was sick when I saw that mailboxes were tossed out in 2000 but allowed today.

Democrats don't care. Dead voters were proven to vote Democrat; save with unborn relatives.

Posted by: swatter on June 29, 2007 12:59 PM

5. Living in Snohomich County and feeling like I got ripped off by....no knowing that I got ripped off by KCE folks. I'd be willing to donate to Duncan MacDonald ...errrrr I mean.... Jane Balogh's legal fund just for a little taste of revenge

Posted by: Milkman on June 29, 2007 01:12 PM

6. Living in Snohomich County and feeling like I got ripped off by....no knowing that I got ripped off by KCE folks. I'd be willing to donate to Duncan MacDonald ...errrrr I mean.... Jane Balogh's legal fund just for a little taste of revenge

Posted by: DerMilkman on June 29, 2007 01:12 PM

7. Al @1 - Jane "blew the whistle" on herself after KCRE finally noticed the signature was a paw print and called her.

Posted by: SouthernRoots on June 29, 2007 01:22 PM

8. Further reason to support I-25 and vote for it on the November ballot.

Posted by: Adam Smith on June 29, 2007 03:32 PM

9. "What she proved is that if you falsify information, then yes, you may be able to get a ballot sent to you."

Oh, well, no big deal then.

They just don't get it. From Sam Reed on down, they don't even understand that there is a problem.

Posted by: ScottM on June 29, 2007 04:44 PM

10. My late dog, Mr. Buddy was an Australian Shepherd. He was incredibily smart. I say, keep Duncan on the rolls. He is probably smarter than many voters.

Posted by: WVH on June 29, 2007 08:20 PM

11. what does that woman protege of Dean Logan now running elections have to say about this?

how come they follow rules only when it helps them?

Posted by: righton on June 29, 2007 09:56 PM

12. It won't get to the point yet to say the only good Democrat is a dead one as long as the dead ones register live votes. I'll gladly vote for I-25 and show solidarity against Ron "Illegal alien amnesty at any cost" Sims. Mr. Sims and his elitist Democrat thugs can stick their artistocracy where the sun don't shine.

As for the A-holes from ACORN, prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. Criminals like that are a big reason why this country is heading in the wrong direction. They are a cancer to the freedom of Democracy that we are guaranteed by our constitution. They need to suffer jail terms similar to Mike Nifong.

Posted by: KS on June 29, 2007 10:07 PM

13. Believe it or not this story actually made it into the Stars and Stripes over here in Iraq. Once again Washington state makes itself look foolish to the world.

Posted by: TrueSoldier on June 30, 2007 01:09 AM

14. Dino won.

He'll win by a landslide in 2008.

Posted by: Independent Voter on June 30, 2007 06:41 AM