According to the Pa. Department of State, Democrats have outpaced Republicans in seeking mail-in ballots for Tuesday's primary. Main-in ballots have been sought by 1,286,955 Democrats, while 528,624 Republicans have chosen to vote by mail.
In Northampton County, officials have received 44,008 applications for a mail-in ballot. In Lehigh County, there are 47,596 requests.
Voters have been strongly urged to vote by mail, but precints will be open as usual on Tuesday for registered voters who wish to exercise their rights in person.
Tuesday's election is a closed primary. Unaffiliated voters can still vote an ballot questions like a referendum in Upper Nazareth to fund the Nazareth Memorial Library.
Voters who have applied for a mail-in ballot are unable to vote on the machine at the precinct, but will be permitted to cast a provisional ballot if desired.
Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
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Saturday, May 30, 2020
33 comments:
You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.
I am expecting problems with the newly promoted mail-in voting system all across Pennsylvania. Many voting districts will not be prepared to handle validating so many votes cast in this manner. Some districts, particularly regions near Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are relying on ‘dirty’ voter roll books that have not been kept up-to-date for accuracy.
ReplyDeleteWe should expect challenges to results and along delay in certifying final results. We’ve already seen how incompetent this state’s governmental mechanisms are with the Lockdown and Unemployment Compensation fiascos.
Now, we will rely on small groups of neighborhood poll workers to keep everything accurate and true. Not all will be capable of handling this. Some, not even willing, I fear. Pressure under stress might cause votes to be passed through without eligibility.
Until EVERY voter roll book across the state has been certified accurate, there will be surprises.
In my opinion, Pennsylvania is not ready for this. Hopefully, we’ll be more prepared, statewide, for November.
Typical ignorant response! GFYS!
ReplyDeleteBetter to have teething problems now then in the November elections.
ReplyDeleteOverall more folks voting is better for Democracy.
Several states have run mail in voting for years without a problem
Cheaters themselves are the ones afraid of fraud!
ReplyDeletetry
ReplyDeletehttps://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/pa-mail-ballots-trump-republicans-20200529.html
"“I must tell you that locally, in my county, we’re not advocating and we’re not pushing the mail-in voting,” said Lee Snover, chairwoman of the Northampton County GOP
"Northampton County, about 80 miles northwest of Philadelphia, was one of three in the state that voted twice for Barack Obama before backing Trump.
“Our county kind of is a Trump county. We’re kind of listening to Trump on this,” Snover said. “He’s spoken about it. He’s tweeted about it. He doesn’t want us to do it.”
Snover said “more than one person” has told her that “Trump doesn’t want us mailing in, [so] I’m not mailing it in.”
Even though he himself votes by mail. Alrighty then.
ReplyDeleteSnover is suppressing her own party's turnout. I am sure she could get a better GOP turnout had she pushed this, if only among citizens who are at-risk from Covid-19. GThis seems like an incredibly foolish decision.
Also, her county is hardly a "Trump county." Voters here are very divided when it comes to him. Maybe less so, now that the country has gone to hell in a handbag.
Agree, 10:37. More folks voting is a noble cause. But, with adequate controls in place to ensure eligibility. The voting public you mention should only include American citizens who are still alive, and who are only able to submit one vote per person.
ReplyDeleteTrump has never said all mail-in voting is wrong. He even mentions several examples why we need to vote by mail. One example is himself. His permanent residence is now Florida. He’s also President of the United States and shouldn’t have to fly back to Florida just to vote. Same for military people and others overseas.
ReplyDeletefake blog
ReplyDeleteI was also going to address this topic this week... Instead, I will submit this comment here on Ramblings.
ReplyDeleteIn Lehigh County this is the biggest primary count in their history, and that is even without the walk-in votes still to come. The mail-in ratio is Democratic, by a 3 to 1 margin. These mail-in votes will be read by a scanning machine.
What drove this huge mail-in response in Lehigh County, with the top of the Democratic primary uncontested? (7th District-Susan Wild)
It's my contention that it previews the wrath coming at Trump in November
How does this country authentic them? I for one will vote on Election Day . They should all be spot checked with phone calls randomly.,I my humble opinion. If they see infraction then deeply investigate.
ReplyDeleteFolks, If you submit a comment and state you expect it to be rejected, chances are it will be. Also, I expect them to be readable. Put down the vodka
ReplyDeleteMM, My guess is that several factors are at play. First, I agree the anti-Trump sentiment is quite strong, although his supporters are vocal. Second, in the primary, Covid-19 should deter people from wanting to vote in person. According to polling data, Democrats tend to take this pandemic more seriously than Rs for some reason. Third, though mail-in voting comes to us courtesy of a Republican legislature, many Rs believe it will result in voter fraud. I agree it is possible but no more so than in any other form of voting.
ReplyDeleteIn Lehigh County, in addition to the actual read by an electronic scanner, there is a three step, three person verification.
ReplyDeleteI tend not to overestimate people. In considering why the mail option is so very large in Lehigh, perhaps some mistakenly thought that were voting against Trump now in May.
Regardless of whatever success or failure we experience with mail-in voting, voting by mail is a concern nationally. The practice is fertile ground for abuse. Why? Because we have no national standard of accountability. Not even a statewide standard. Every jurisdiction operates on its own rules and procedures.
ReplyDeleteSome regions flood the population with unsolicited blank applications/ballots in numbers greater than total number of voting age residents. Depending on geography, ballots are accepted up until a variety of different deadlines. Voter roll books may/may not be maintained carefully over time meaning any cross-reference step is faulty from the start. Handling of the process in each smaller unit is not done with an equal level of care by polling officials, etc. Some states, like California, believe everyone present within the state, regardless of citizenship, deserves the right to be counted. And the list goes on.
I sincerely hope Northampton County is flawless in its execution. However, that’s of little relevance to the general condition of voting security everywhere.
Ya Mike , that type of ignorance should not be allowed to vote . If it were up to me , voters would have to pay taxes , people in college have to vote in they’re home state absentee only and no tax payer no vote. But that’s my opinion.which means nothing.
ReplyDeleteO’Hare @ 7:29 – “…many Rs believe it will result in voter fraud. I agree it is possible but no more so than in any other form of voting.”
ReplyDeleteAddressing only your assertion about possibilities of fraud: Is it easier for someone with multiple registrations to vote those registrations by mail or in person? Is it easier for dead people to vote by mail or in person? Is it easier to harvest and vote for multiple people by mail or in person?
While we may never know the extent of fraud in our upcoming elections since adequate investigation is not being allowed, the possibilities of fraud are much, much greater with mail ballots than with in-person voting.
Earlier, Mr. Molovinsky referred to using scanners 9n his district. If they are anything like those ‘fill in the bubble with dark pencil’ sheets from school days, the machine readers can actually be set up internally to cheat. Over the years, videos explained how to do it. In any case, it all comes down to the integrity of the humans involved in the process.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a little like the scale of looting we saw last night. It was made clear on tv coverage from Philadelphia police were instructed to let the looting happen. Several blocks were shown where looters casually walked in and out with merchandise. Not a policeman to be seen anywhere. So. . . . people joined in.
All crimes involve means, motive, and opportunity. Our election process is not immune to crimes. All 3 components mentioned come into play. Our too-loose voting procedures almost invite cheating to happen, and it will happen. Some districts will not be prepared or willing to deal with it.
1.02
ReplyDeletetry
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/498916-romney-counters-trump-90-percent-of-very-republican-utah-votes-by-mail
""In my state, I'll bet 90 percent of us vote by mail. It works very, very well and it's a very Republican state," Romney told reporters on Capitol Hill Wednesday, according to ABC News.
Much of the Western U.S. has voted by mail for years, and a poll released Wednesday found residents of those states are among the demographics most likely to say they would prefer to vote by mail rather than in person. Nevada’s state Republican Party is currently running Facebook ads encouraging voters to mail ballots in ahead of the deadline."
In California registered voters are sent ballots
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/26/politics/fact-check-trump-vote-by-mail-fraud-gavin-newsom-california/index.html
If you believe we should have mail-in voting, then you probably are one of the people that pays their utilities bills by sending cash through the mail? Your vote is more precious than cash. Would you send cash in the mail???
ReplyDelete1.27
ReplyDeleteWell every time my Nana sent me a birthday card the money in it arrived safely.
Besides you do not trust Mittens Romney?
Or all those Western states that have had no problems with mail in voting?
Also why is the RNC pushing mail in voting if the leader of the party is against it?
If it is good enough for trump and his press secretary why is it bad for everyone else?
Vote early! Vote often!
ReplyDeleteThank you for protecting the public from the disgruntled voters who have not received their requested ballots. Your hard work protecting King McClure and his cronies is appreciated.
ReplyDeleteThis is flat-out disinformation. There are zero news accounts confirming this locally, and I have called this commenter out once before. She stated that Marcia Hahn had complained to WFMZ, but there is no record of such a complaint. This person is lying, and in an attempt to undermine voter confidence.
ReplyDeleteThis pandemic protesting will cost the Democratic Party in large cities.
ReplyDeleteLets see if the Post Office sits on any mail in ballots so they are not delivered in time
ReplyDeleteA CNN fact check LOL. A 2005 bipartisan commission led by Jimmy Carter concluded that mail in voting could be susceptible to fraud. They just arrested a guy in Philly for stuffing the ballot box. Please wake up!
ReplyDeleteFraud is possible in ALL form of voting. If you don't like mail, vote in person.
ReplyDeleteMail in ballots will get to the courthouse if the incompetent USPS gets it's act together. If not, well then lost votes.
ReplyDeleteI love people pressing panic buttons on mail in vote fraud like its the easiest thing in the world to do.
ReplyDeleteCan it happen? Sure... Maybe... Probably not. Tell me exactly how and where it could be done in a coordinated manner AND in volumes that could actually sway an election AND not be completely obvious and/or kept secret? It would be borderline impossible, without a network of hundreds if not thousands in on the conspiracy who wouldn't tell a soul and without triggering multiple alarm bells.
First off, someone would need a list of each county's voter rolls and and mailing addresses (not impossible) and then know what to do with it.
Next they have to correctly identify on those lists who won't be voting in the next election - accurately predicting the future is easy right? For example, Northampton County has approx 225,000 registered voters, but in 2016 only 145,000 voted. That's 80,000 juicy potential votes there for the taking, some have moved out, some have died, others just don't give a rats ass about politics anymore. How do you accurately account for who won't actually show up in the next election without risk of duplication? Does 100% voter participation for the first time in county history generate some level of skepticism on the validity and not trigger any sort of audit?
For arguments sake, sure the evil political syndicate of your choosing has threaded the needle and identified lets say 25,000 names on the county list that they absolutely KNOW won't actually vote in the next election and not arouse too much suspicion with regards to turnout. Now they must make the time to request mail in ballots for these people in a way that doesn't overwhelm the registrars office in a short period of time, plus not do it in a way that could easily be traced to a single source generating the requests.
Again for arguments sake, they've managed to do just that. It will be tricky, but now they have to be in position to somehow intercept these 25,000 ballots from 25,000 addresses around the county and not get caught doing it. Best option obviously is to have an inside person working for you at the country registrar or at all of the post offices. Risky, but sure, why not?
OK, now they have in their possession 25,000 mail in ballots to fill out. That's approximately 400 man hours worth of work to fill each one out, (do they get greedy and go 25,000 all for one candidate?) and stuff envelopes plus lets not forget $12,500 worth of postage to send them back.
Congratulations, you've officially committed voter fraud and swung the election for your candidate in Northampton County! Now you have to do all of the above 66 more times, the same way, to swing the entire state!
After election would like to know how many ballots mailed out and how many returned.
ReplyDeleteAh, 11:45 AM - when local voting district offices become overwhelmed with an unexpected, big increase in ballots the chance of getting sloppy and uncaring in accountability increases as “closing time” beckons. The old ‘let’s get outta here.”
ReplyDeleteNext day, some election official simply states “Everything was perfect, nothing to worry about” line. Then, everyone just accepts what that person says.
12:58, I had a report last week that the county was waiting on 19,099 ballots
ReplyDelete