October 21, 2004

Prisoner Tries to Vote

Republican fears of illegal prisoner voting were realized when Clough Thompson checked off John Kerry on an absentee ballot. Thompson is in the Dane County jail for battery to a police officer, a felony. Thompson's excuse was ignorance. "They told me I could vote." "They" being the NAACP. We know that organization doesn't care about the status of those they're registering. Beverly Hicks, president of the Racine chapter of the NAACP said, "They are being taken off the street for the crime they committed. However, their right to vote, I don't see that having anything to do with the crime they committed." In Ms. Hicks world, felons should be allowed to vote. However that's not up to her now. If she wants that law changed, then she should lobby Madison. Right now, she should obey the law as it is.

Fortunately a jail guard investigated Thompson's background and informed superiors. That person is about the only government offical doing anything to prevent further voter fraud. One Dane County official pretty much said there wasn't anything she could do to stop felons from voting.

"Jailed Felon's Effort to Vote Stokes GOP Fraud Fears"