Question, questions

Updated Not all Democrats have been sluggards about pushing the issues of voting irregularities, suppression, and possible fraud. John Conyers (D-MI), in fact, has been quite aggressive about it. His first effort moved the GAO to promise an investigation of some aspects of the charges. Now, an e-mailing from the Progressive Democrats of America tells of a new letter he and nine colleagues have sent to Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell citing specific problems in the Ohio voting in November and calling for a thorough investigation.

Collectively, we are concerned that these complaints constitute a troubled portrait of a one-two punch that may well have altered and suppressed votes, particularly minority and Democratic votes. First, it appears there were substantial irregularities in vote tallies. It is unclear whether these apparent errors were the result of machine malfunctions or fraud.

Second, it appears that a series of actions of government and non-government officials may have worked to frustrate minority voters. Consistent and widespread reports indicate a lack of voting machines in urban, minority and Democratic areas, and a surplus of such machines in Republican, white and rural areas. As a result, minority voters were discouraged from voting by lines that were in excess of eight hours long. Many of these voters were also apparently victims of a campaign of deception, where flyers and calls would direct them to the wrong polling place. Once at that polling place, after waiting for hours in line, many of these voters were provided provisional ballots after learning they were at the wrong location. These ballots were not counted in many jurisdictions because of a directive issued by some election officials, such as yourself.

The other signers were Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Melvin Watt (D-NC), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Maxine Waters (D-CA), William Delahunt (D-MA), Robert Wexler (D-FL), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Anthony Weiner (D-NY), and Linda Sanchez (D-CA), all fellow members of the House Judiciary Committee, of which Conyers is ranking minority member.

The entire text of the letter, which details the complaints, can be downloaded from here in .pdf format.

Updated to include the names of the other signers.