As our Democratic friends keep complaining about the voting process, oh-so-very concerned that somehow the voting machines aren’t going to capture every vote, the city of Philadelphia (yes, thoroughly controlled by the Democratic political machine) doesn’t seem to want the federal government to see how it runs the polling places in Hispanic precincts.
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Philadelphia opposes U.S. observers at polls
In a suit, the government alleges violation of the rights of Hispanic voters. Local officials warn of too much intrusion.
By Marcia Gelbart, Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Writer
Two weeks before Election Day, the city is fighting an attempt by the U.S. Justice Department to appoint federal observers for Philadelphia elections beginning Nov. 7 and lasting past next year’s presidential race, until the end of 2009.
The effort to appoint the observers stems from a lawsuit filed by the federal government 14 days ago alleging that the city has violated the rights of its Hispanic voters.
Specifically, it charges that the city hasn’t adequately recruited and trained bilingual poll workers, failed to provide sufficient election-related materials in Spanish, and prohibited Hispanic voters with limited English from choosing someone to help them inside the voting booth, which law permits.
“The record in this case clearly demonstrates that the city does not exercise sufficient control over its voting places to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act,” the lawsuit states.
Now why would city officials oppose the placement of federal monitors at some polling places? What are they afraid that the monitors will see?
- In the case of the federal lawsuit, U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, the Democratic Party chairman, and other local Democrats see partisan politics at work.
He said the suit was filed so close to Nov. 7 “probably to suppress the [Democratic] vote” and help GOP candidates such as U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum.
How would federal monitors suppress the Democratic vote — unless part of the Democratic vote is illegal? Why would a registered voter be discouraged from going to the polls just because the polls were being monitored for compliance with measures to ensure that Hispanic voters have their rights respected — unless the voter is a wanted criminal or isn’t legitimately registered or is an illegal immigrant, in which case such voter shouldn’t be allowed to vote in the first place.
To be fair, the local Republican leadership thinks that the Federal government was excessive in its response, but isn’t actively opposed.
The federal monitors are supposed to be looking to see if Philadelphia is adequately protecting the interests of Hispanic voters. Given that Hispanics generally vote Democratic anyway, the City of Brotherly Love ought to want to see that Hispanic voters have full access; why would they wish to lose a voter who will probably vote their way because of a lack of translation or access issues?
It couldn’t be that the Democratic machine is less concerned with losing a few legitimate Democratic voters than they are with having wholesale party machine voting fraud exposed, could it?
Nawww, I’m sure it must be something else!
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Cross posted on Red State.
[...] I noted in a previous article that the Democrats who run the City of Brotherly Love were very much opposed to having federal poll observers in precincts with heavy Hispanic populations, observers who were checking to see if Philadelphia was providing adequate assistance for legitimate voters with limited English skills. the federal government had to file a lawsuit to try to get its way — and lost. U.S. will not watch city polls A Department of Justice suit requested observers, claiming Phila. violated the rights of its Spanish-speaking voters. By Marcia Gelbart, Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Writer [...]
[...] I noted in a previous article that the Democrats who run the City of Brotherly Love were very much opposed to having federal poll observers in precincts with heavy Hispanic populations, observers who were checking to see if Philadelphia was providing adequate assistance for legitimate voters with limited English skills. the federal government had to file a lawsuit to try to get its way — and lost. U.S. will not watch city polls A Department of Justice suit requested observers, claiming Phila. violated the rights of its Spanish-speaking voters. By Marcia Gelbart, Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Writer [...]