Early vote remains on hold in Gary, Hammond and E.C.

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BY BILL DOLAN
bdolan@nwitimes.com
219.662.5328 | Tuesday, October 07, 2008 | (19 comment(s))

CROWN POINT | The Lake County election office here jumped Tuesday morning with early voters and requests for absentee ballots, but early voting in Gary, Hammond and East Chicago remained on hold amidst a legal fight.

Elections board Director Sally LaSota said board attorneys have ordered a delay of opening satellite early vote centers in those cities until some legal order is established among conflicting orders and agreements in three separate courts.

Michelle Fajman, county elections supervisor, said 250 people Monday used early in-person voting facilities in the Crown Point office. Requests to mail thousands of absentee ballots were being processed Tuesday as were 18,000 voter registration applications.

Democratic officials want the satellite offices in Gary, Hammond and East Chicago immediately opened on grounds they expect a record voter turnout and want to avoid long lines and other impediments to voting by Nov. 4.

Republicans oppose opening the early voting satellite locations, arguing the locations would strain the county election staff's efforts to stop vote fraud. The two parties have filed lawsuits in two Lake County courtrooms and in Hammond federal court to resolve the matter.

Lake Superior Court Judge Calvin Hawkins issued an injunction Friday delaying the satellites' opening without a unanimous vote by the bipartisan county elections board. Two Republican board members voted against the satellites last month.

But Lake Circuit Court Judge Lorenzo Arredondo issued an order Monday for officials to open the satellite locations on grounds that restricting early voting was an unconstitutional infringement of voters' rights.

Meanwhile, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen ordered attorneys for all parties to participate in a noon teleconference Tuesday regarding the matter. He wasn't expected to rule on the matter until Thursday.

The Indiana State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and Service Employees International Union have intervened in the federal suit on behalf of the Democrats and four county residents.

Deborah Stringer, a Hammond nurse; Linda Peterson, a Gary postal worker; Roosevelt Phillips, a Gary nurse; and Mary Aaron, a Gary teacher all state in court documents that they need early voting centers in their home cities because illness, work or family obligations.

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gaetano wrote on Oct 30, 2008 8:51 AM:

" early voting at one time use only for the sick,or people going out of town. The democrats have taken advantage of it. Obamma has use more skeems with all his campain money,comming in from iran china and saudia arabia.over 14 million dollars. why don`t he spread his wealth now? If all this campain money was from all you middle class hard working people I guess the economy was darn good for you during the Bush administration. "

Mary wrote on Oct 10, 2008 1:57 PM:

" To everyone who says that a voter must vote at the polls or else, try telling that to our women and men in uniform serving our country throughout the world. "

Tori L wrote on Oct 8, 2008 1:47 PM:

" same old Rovian voter suppression. notice it is happening in predominately minority areas??? if this were happening in Crown Point to the white folks, it'd be a different story wouldn't it? Why should they have to drive 45 minutes to Crown Point for early voting when those of us in the southern part of the county can drive 5 minutes?? voter suppression plain & simple in true republican style, trying to steal the vote away from the black community!!! "

kh7463 wrote on Oct 7, 2008 8:28 PM:

" Apparently none of those who have commented so far have ever worked as a poll worker, for either side. I have. The early voting is to ease the lines that are going to be insane on election day. All of you who are saying everyone MUST vote at the polls, better not even complain when you have to wait in line for hours just to cast your vote. And think of the people who are working the polls. It's a 14 hour day for them, minimum. And that's if the counting centers go smoothly, which I doubt they will this election. This election, I believe, will have the biggest voter turnout we've ever seen in NWI. I bowed out of working this election, because I personally don't think I could handle all the backlash that is going to be thrown at those poll workers. "

7duke4 wrote on Oct 7, 2008 7:28 PM:

" I am in Loudoun County, Virginia and tried to vote walk in absentee on September 24, several days after this was supposed to be available. They didn't have ballots! When I complained to the state board of elections, they said the ballots would be available after October 1. The law says 40 days before the election. Friends in Fairfax County were able to vote. Now I plan to vote in person on November 4, since they know my name now and could easily trash my absentee ballot. Watch Virginia on Election Day... "

AnotherEconomist wrote on Oct 7, 2008 7:09 PM:

" Early voting actually *deters* fraud. With early voting, there is more time to check records to see if people are voting twice.

Republican objections have nothing to do with "fraud", the just don't want Americans to vote. "

M-F wrote on Oct 7, 2008 6:59 PM:

" Shame on all of you with your "I can make it to the polls, so why can't everyone else?" excuses. Just in case you forgot, the right to vote is the most important right a US citizen has because it guarantees all other rights.

Too many have fought and died for that right for it to be cynically denied for voter supression. Many counties do a terrible job administering the vote. Long lines are just not an option for people with kids and no baby sitters, or nurses working a 12 hour shift on election day. In Oregon the vote is 100% by mail and it works just fine.

It is disgraceful that Republicans are supressing votes. An absolute disgrace. It is not rocket science to administer a list to make sure someone does not vote twice. Have you no shame, is there nothing beneath you? "

Early Voting Promotes Vote Fraud wrote on Oct 7, 2008 6:18 PM:

" If early voting is allowed, it would only promote more vote fraud than there already is in Northwest Indiana. The polls are open all day, if someone really wants to vote, they will find the time. "

Mark wrote on Oct 7, 2008 4:51 PM:

" Every legal US citizen has the right to one vote. The election committees have a solemn duty to verify each and every voter as valid. It's been that way for a long time. Everybody has an excuse for an absentee ballot, get yourself to the polls. "

Kevin wrote on Oct 7, 2008 4:07 PM:

" I'm a Republican and I say bring it on. Whether by hook or crook, or by popular demand,I hope Obama gets in as president. But he better be the best "black" president this country has ever seen or he certainly will be the last. Cause I don't think the country will go through all this again. Lets get it over with and elect our first black president so in 4 years we can move on with our country. This country has survived far worse in its past and will survive four years of Communist rule. Lets just not make the same mistake twice. "

rich b wrote on Oct 7, 2008 4:04 PM:

" Look for massive Democratic voter fraud for Obama in this election. Not just here in Northwest Indiana but nationwide. ACORN needs to be investigated and prosecuted with the RICO act immediately before they wreck havoc on this election. How dare they think they know better then real voters on who will be the next president! "

How To Steal An Election wrote on Oct 7, 2008 3:22 PM:

" Use tactics developed and perfected in Chicago. Get ACORN to supply vehicles to allow people to "vote early and vote often". The new Democratic Party way. "

jan wrote on Oct 7, 2008 3:09 PM:

" when you vote they should make you give your thumprint, put it into a data base
to see if it comes up that you have already voted ! "

Wet Hen wrote on Oct 7, 2008 2:33 PM:

" When i w3orked I was allowed to have 2 hours to vote - mandatory for fed elections always and some employers gave it with pay. "

what a crock wrote on Oct 7, 2008 2:06 PM:

" do you think the Gov gives the postal worker time to go vote? They do not work 12 hours a day. Same with the nurse and if she is on a 12 hour shift she knew before and should have voted absentee.
Early voting is a scam to allow Dems to steal the election. Look at Ohio where Volunteers supporting Barack Obama picked up hundreds of people at homeless shelters, soup kitchens and drug-rehab centers and drove them to a polling place. "

the have a month wrote on Oct 7, 2008 2:00 PM:

" So they have 1 month to get to Crow Point and vote early but can not do it?
Sorry they then need to wait until Nov. 4 for the local polls to open. The added expese and strain it puts on the Gov. to open the offices does not justify the lazyness of the people to get to a place that is open. "

Funny.... wrote on Oct 7, 2008 1:52 PM:

" The Indiana State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and Service Employees International Union have intervened in the federal suit on behalf of the Democrats and 4 county residents.

Deborah Stringer, a Hammond nurse; Linda Peterson, a Gary postal worker; Roosevelt Phillips, a Gary nurse; and Mary Aaron, a Gary teacher all state in court documents that they need early voting centers in their home cities because illness, work or family obligations.

How do these people all of a sudden, in 2008 forsee something may come up, other than a planned vacation to go vote early or submitt absentee ballots?
Employers let you out to vote. You arrange for family members to take over. I say, "Hogwash!" "

East Chicago Voter for 33 years wrote on Oct 7, 2008 1:34 PM:

" I can understand the absentee votes,but anyone else who is capable of going to the polls on Nov. 4th should get up and go on that day. Voting early will not affect who our next President will be,and early voting should not be allowed any where. I wish for once,that NW Indiana would stick to the rules,and stop embarressing everyone with voting scandals. "

Nonni Walters wrote on Oct 7, 2008 1:09 PM:

" This has implications far beyond Hoosiers. It speaks to democratic ideals and could well affect the outcome of the presidential election now that Indiana is in play as a ''swing state.'' "

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