What’s a “messenger ballot?” Excuse me if my answer is a bit sketchy, but I’m just learning about it from a group of bad guys who appear to be illegally exploiting it.
I don’t know if other states are doing this, the history of it, the need for it, etc., but here in New Jersey we are learning the perils of not having people show up to vote in person and present identification.
Apparently a “messenger ballot” is allowed when one person acts as a “messenger” for a voter, picks up forms for the voter to be allowed to vote by messenger, then votes for the voter by absentee ballot.
Gee, what could possibly go wrong?
Does the phrase “penchant for fraud” even cross the minds of legislatures when passing such a statute? Or, in a Democrat-controlled legislature like New Jersey, is fraud the goal?
Goal or not, it certainly seems to be the result in Asbury Park, a city poorer than most and more liberal than San Francisco (with a fraction of the feigned sophistication).
Residents of Asbury Park vote for their entire governing body (5 people) all at once, in an off year and in May — when no one is paying attention.
There are 22 people running this year – four “tickets” of 5 people and 2 independents.
After noticing a unusual spike in the request for messenger ballots in the upcoming municipal election in Asbury Park, Monmouth County Clerk M. Claire French instituted a requirement that all messengers sign an affidavit certifying that they have met with voters they are assisting; they are related to the voters or are themselves registered voters in Monmouth County; they will not act as messenger for more than 10 voters; they will deliver the ballots directly to the voters and not to any other individuals; and they are not candidates in the election.
Messengers also certify that they are aware that violating the Voting by Mail statute, which governs messenger ballots, is a crime in the third degree, according to a story first reported by Asbury Park Sun.
Since French started requiring the affidavits on April 17, only 5 of 42 messengers have submitted the paperwork and “almost no new messengers” have requested ballots.
The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office will investigate messengers who do not return the required affidavits.
Asbury Park elects their entire governing body every four years in non-partisan elections. There are 22 candidates competing for 5 seats on the council in the election scheduled to take place on May 14.
Jamey and Norman Seldin tell MMM that they witnessed voter fraud in Freehold yesterday while voting early.
From Jamey via facebook:
Art, thought you would be interested in this. Norm & I went to Freehold to vote early today. Got there, filled out paperwork and were given a ballot. Never asked for an ID or anything! We were in the room voting and an “election aide” asked a woman if she needed help filling out the ballot and she said no, “I am voting for my daughter who is out of town.” AND THEY LET HER VOTE!!!!!
Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno reported this morning that over 4,000 Monmouth County voters made the trip to Freehold this weekend to vote early. I wonder how many of them were voting for friends or family.
Jamey Seldin in the owner of Seldin’s Trinket’s, the best jewelery store in Red Bank. Norm is The Original Stormin Norman, the legendary pianist, singer, songwriter and composer.
The group that exposed corruption at ACORN, NPR, NJEA and SEIU has recorded employees of the Democratic National Committee and Organizing for America, the community organizing arm of the Obama campaign encouraging people to vote twice and helping them to do so in the upcoming presidential election.
Think voter fraud is not a problem in New Jersey? Watch the video until the end. A New Jersey Democrat in front of a Bob Menendez sign recognizes O’Keefe from the ACORN video sting. Its pretty funny.
By Tommy DeSeno