January 18, 2005

Lisa Artison Speaks

With today being the first working day of the week (yesterday was Martin Luther King Day) I knew the Milwaukee Voter Fraud story would develop. Milwaukee Election Commission Executive Director Lisa Artison responded to the story that at least 10,000 same-day voter registration cards were unable to be processed. Artison told the Journal Sentinel the number of registration confirmation cards that couldn't be sent out for the 2004 election was similar to the number in 2000. In 2000, 81,000 people registered and voted on Election Day. the election commission could only process 73,847 registration cards. Based on this, Artison called the charges of voter fraud overblown.

Lisa Artison may consider a large number of unprocessible registration cards to be par for the course in Milwaukee, but it's a pattern the could be used to commit voter fraud if it didn't already happen. For all we know about 10% of same-day registration cards are always illegible in Milwaukee. In 2000, AlGore won Wisconsin by only 5000 votes. Could Bush have actually carried Wisconsin then?

Artison told the Journal Sentinel voters had to show poll workers some form of valid identification before they got a ballot. However, I've pointed out that someone can register to vote WITHOUT showing a photo id. In fact, if a potential voter didn't have any proof-of-residence someone living in that municipality can vouch for him. Unintentionally, Artison points out a deep crack in the Badger State's election integrity.

"City Elections Official Responds to Fraud Questions"

UPDATE: Stranded on Blue Islands posts an example of how someone can register to vote without having any proof-of-residence. [via Brainpost]

Owen talked with Ms. Artison and has filed an open records request to examine the unprocessible registration cards. He also responds to the JS story I commented on above.

UPDATE II: Kevin, who's a little slow ;-), gets his shot in at Artison:

Does Artison really think that we're going to go away on this? The question isn't whether the Milwaukee Election Commission is perpetuating fraud or its gross negligence in doing its job. The question is whether the current system, with its loopholes the size of Mac trucks, is designed to help expedite fraud. In all likelihood, that answer is a resounding - Yes.

What we want is a system that puts fairness and honesty first. Isn't that 'progressive?'