Exclusive Don Gordon Speech
Voting Rights Hijacked In Aldermanic Election: Votes Cast for the Elderly, Voters Registered At Abandoned Buildings, And Repeat Voters
CHICAGO, April 24, 2007 – “Vote fraud has taken away the voice of our community and it hurts us all,” a group of 49th Ward residents said today as they announced a lawsuit to contest the results of last week’s aldermanic election.
“As citizens we have a right to fair and clean elections. The violations that happened last week profoundly impact every one of us. We are outraged by the dirty tricks and illegal campaign tactics that occurred in many polling places in our ward,” said community activist Eva McCann. McCann is a plaintiff in the lawsuit along with community residents Blane Roberts, Eileen Foxman, and 49th Ward Aldermanic Candidate Don Gordon.
A lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court by the group on Monday cited numerous examples of vote fraud in the Tuesday, April 17, runoff election. They include elderly nursing home residents who were illegally assisted in voting, voters whose home addresses turned out to be vacant buildings, and voters who were issued two ballots instead of one. The group announced their lawsuit at 7724 N. Ashland Ave., an abandoned apartment building where a person identified as Delores Young claimed to be registered and was allowed to cast a ballot on April 17.
“We have confirmed multiple cases of votes cast by people whose addresses turned out to be vacant buildings and by people from outside the ward. We have an obligation to uphold the voting rights of the citizens of Chicago whose honest ballots were potentially negated by fraud,” said McCann. She noted that voters’ rights to a fair election were also “hijacked” when polling place election judges in numerous precincts denied requests to verify questionable voters and “systematically ignored” election laws.
Gordon, a 30-year community resident, said, “The mood in our ward has changed from concern over the outcome of the election to a more fundamental concern about getting a fair election in the first place. As a candidate, I didn’t sign up to lead a battle against violations of basic voting rights. But as a voter I will stand up for this.” He added: “Although an investigation will determine more facts about this election, we already know there is no doubt that its integrity is in question. I want to make sure that every voice is heard.”
According to the Chicago Board of Elections, Moore received 4,019 votes to Gordon’s 3,772, a 247-vote difference.
Co-plaintiff Roberts stated: “We have heard outrageous claims that our call to investigate vote fraud is racially motivated. That is simply not the case. Instead, the election has made us more aware than ever before of how race and class have been used to divide our community and keep us from focusing on real community issues.”
The plaintiffs called on Alderman Moore, government officials, and Chicago’s civil rights leaders to support the lawsuit and join in the call for an investigation.
“We expect people in public office to take a stand and help guarantee fair and clean elections. This is of far greater importance than a simple aldermanic election, and we call on everyone involved to join us in the investigation so that we can preserve basic voting rights for the future of all of Chicago,” Roberts said.
“We would not be here were this a simple matter of election error,” said McCann. “We have considerable evidence that points to a pattern of conspiracy, and more evidence will be presented as we move forward with this investigation.”
The residents, represented by Attorney Michael Lavelle, a former chairman of the Chicago Board of Elections Commissioners, are contesting the 49th Ward election results and seek an investigation into allegations of vote fraud violations and conspiracy to commit vote fraud.
SUMMARY OF 49th WARD ELECTION LAWSUIT CHARGES
1. Elderly nursing home residents who were “assisted” in voting without formally agreeing to be assisted as required by law (in Lake Shore and Sherwin Manor nursing homes)
2. Polling place judges who refused to obey Chicago Board of Elections guidelines requiring that questionable voters be given provisional ballots (in Precincts #11, 34, and more)
3. Votes cast by people registered to vote at vacant buildings and vacant lots
4. Polling place electioneering (at Arbour Health Care Center, 1512 W. Fargo Ave.)
5. Precincts where more votes were cast than there were voter applications (in Precinct #11 and others)
6. Precincts where voters were given two paper ballots instead of one (in Precinct #5)
7. Voters who cast ballots during the Early Voting period and again on the April 17 Election Day.
BLOGNOTES: Here it is. What's your take?
42 comments:
How many of the parties involved in these reported acts of fraud will be willing to keep quiet or perjure themselves under oath? I think it may be just a matter of time before someone tells all to save their own skin.
Does this mean Gordon is asking for a recount to challenge the outcome of the election or is this a lawsuit that has nothing to do with the outcome?
Chicago Tribune.
My take is, JO MO IS TOAST.
The only way that things change is to bring in the Feds. If people can't win any other way than being a snake in the grass, then they will reap what they sow.
It's about time! Go Don Go!
Anyone know anything about all the cops on Pratt last night? still curious..
Don Gordon violated election laws. Joe Moore did not. Now Gordon is filing a frivolous law suit.
Systematic voter intimidation and civil rights violations were exercised by the Don Gordon campaign on Election Day. Gordon, however, blames the Joe Moore campaign for an unclean election. While the Moore campaign (as all campaigns) may in the eyes of some, have engaged in objectionable electioneering practices, they were all well within the legal limits of the law. Don Gordon has accused Moore of violations that really only amount to a disagreement with Moore’s electioneering practices. Gordon has taken hypocrisy to new heights by going so far as to file for an election contest. He claims that the violations were so egregious that had it not been for them he would have won. (That’s just comical). I am all for defending voter’s rights, but I am not convinced of the allegations in this case. It is a completely unjustified and frivolous lawsuit that will only serve to show exactly why Don Gordon deserved to loose. That is, Gordon is actually the one who violated the law by intimidating minority voters on Election Day. That is not the kind of Alderman the 49th Ward wants and that is why we voted for Moore.
According to the story, he both "wants every voice to be heard" and wants 22 precincts of vote totals to be thrown out.
Which is it?
Man, I love 49th ward drama. And to think I was contemplating moving to lakeview! Anyway, I'll be interested to see what comes of this--probably nothing. Although, I know for a fact Ald Moore's campaign did a lot of not so good things on election day alone. One staffer when in a Loyola dorm and walked up and down all the halls, knocking all the doors. She was soon escorted out by Loyola officials. Additionally some on Moore's campaign were bragging about removing Gordon signs from yards and public way...is that the way an incumbent should act?
I<3rp...I worked on election day and witnessed many of the actions Gordon is alleging in his suit. I was one of those people "violating civil rights" and "intimidating voters" on April 17th by asking judges to have people with two state IDs with two different addresses to vote provisionally, only to be denied (not on an individual basis, but across teh board...no provisional ballots would be issued, no matter the circumstances).
BTW...a provisional ballot is counted EXACTLY the same as a regular ballot...it's just that it's easier to separate from the ballots and to determine, at a later date, if, in fact, the vote is valid. If someone asked me to vote provisionally, I'd be happy to do it in every election. The only people who should fear provisional ballots are people who are cheating!
Moore's possible new COS Westgard says:
In order to "ensure that every vote is counted," Don Gordon has filed a lawsuit today, requesting that a court invalidate all of the votes in 22 of 42 precincts in the 49th Ward. Apparently, their grip on irony still isn't real strong over there at Campo Gordonii. If his PR flacks wrote that up for him, it's time to fire them already. The better spin, obviously, would have been to blame Joe's supposed ill deeds for invalidating the results, and claim that this was the only reasonable next step. The substance would still be bullshit, but at least they could prove they can produce spin effectively. But it's just been one amateurish blunder after another over there at Morse & Ashland.
1<3, you are such a liar it would make me laugh if I hadn't seen Joe's people in action in previous elections as well as this one.
Your union stooges were standing 20 people strong on the corner by Gale School. The Gordon people were kept strictly to one poll watcher per precinct, while Moore had a number at most precincts.
The Gordon people were so unaggressive, they seemed downright timid compared. Our volunteers mosty had no experience while Moore had legions of paid goons.
Well, dbt, if some of those votes are those of people voting twice- well, you have the right to have your voice counted only once.
The dead giveaway is the fact that some precincts had many more votes than registered voters.
They had more votes that slips on the pedestal. In other words votes were cast for which there was no corresponding voter. That sure seems suspicious to me.
And votes from empty buildings. It is my understanding that a voter has a 30 day grace period to vote after they have moved. Some of the buildings in question have been vacant for more than 6 months.
I am not at all suprised this election was run dirty.
I am so glad you are on the job!
Keep up the good work!
I have a split personality. Does this mean I can't vote twice?
"I want to make sure every voice is heard" by denying that voice to more than half the voters.
That's absurd. This makes no sense. Don wants only half the votes to count? He wants to throw out the votes in 22 precincts? Only those who voted along the lakefront and in St Margaret Mary's area?
Um, yeah, right. Disenfranchise half the voters and call that fair.
Too bad Don, you're gonna lose twice.
Channel 2 video.
Dr. o wrote: "a provisional ballot is counted EXACTLY the same as a regular ballot...it's just that it's easier to separate from the ballots and to determine, at a later date, if, in fact, the vote is valid."
That is not true. They are not counted exactly the same as a regular ballot. In fact they are not counted at all for two weeks.
The judges' manual states:
"Provisional Ballot - A ballot that is cast by certain categories of voters, but is not counted on election day. Voters who vote a provisional ballot will vote on the touchscreen voting unit. The Board of Elections has 14 days after the election to process provisional ballots. A provisional voter can contact the Board to find out if the provisional
ballot was accepted or rejected."
So that's a great tactic for Gordon to demand certain people take provisional ballots, because they still wouldn't be counted even now.
Just think -- if only Don could have gotten 250 people to take provisional ballots, he might be the winner today.
RP...you're great at splitting hairs to attempt to validate your argument.
My point was simple...IF a provisional ballot is valid, it WILL be counted the same as a regular. Even if Gordon had managed to get 250 provisional votes, the final tally would simply take a few more days leaving the winner unknown until the BOE validated and counted them. IF the 250 ballots WERE valid, Moore would still win.
Sorry, your argument is not valid RP!
I live in a data driven world, so I want to see all the facts and data. That may take a while to show up, but I think Don is standing up for what he believes is right, and the investigation will tell the tale.
While the Moore campaign (as all campaigns) may in the eyes of some, have engaged in objectionable electioneering practices, they were all well within the legal limits of the law.
There was a time when slavery was within the legal limits of the law, but it wasn't right. Neither is Moore's electioneering behavior at the nursing homes. His lack of ethics is part of what keeps me from voting for him.
Westgard has a habit of taking back what he says, so it's easier to keep track if I put it where he can't remove it. Here's is Westgard's pig slop.
I was surprised to discover that Don Gordon has sworn, under penalty of perjury, that he personally knows of facts that prove voter fraud in 49th Ward Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19, 20, 22, 23, 26, 27, 31, 33, 34, 38, & 42. Does anyone believe that Don Gordon could personally have seen things happen in all those precincts? Hmm. Maybe I phrased that in an ambiguous way. But I think maybe his lawyer should have had Don allege "on information and belief" that there were problems in all those precincts. It'll be fun to watch them try to weasel out of Don's affidavit. Starting a lawsuit with a screwy verified complaint ain't real good, y'know?
I kept laughing as I was making the map. Basically, Gordon wants to hold an election in West Ridge, Eastlake Terrace, and Loyola, the whitest parts of the ward. What a surprise! Before someone else says it, I'll agree that there are some exceptions, but the majority of the picture (literally) is completely consistent with a desire to invalidate black votes. At this point, Don has asked a court to do exactly that. All we can argue about now is why. Certain people will argue that it's just coincidence that Don's efforts would happen to support many more white votes than black. Others will feel that it's at least one coincidence too many.
The Tribune didn't report on Counts II and III of the complaint, but they're throwaways. Gordon claims that Illinois election law is unconstitutional, and that his civil rights are being violated. I can explore that more some other time, but bottom line is that neither will fly. Buh-bye.
Don, this is getting sad. If you think you feel embarrassed now, just wait until this lawsuit grinds on for a while. And brush up on your personal recollections of everything that happened in Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19, 20, 22, 23, 26, 27, 31, 33, 34, 38, & 42. You'd better have some testimony about personal experiences in every single one.
T. Mannis at the Rogers Park Benchdrills Westgard a new one.
dr. o: so you didn't like what I had to write about provisional balloting.
OK then, what do you think about my suggestion that disenfranchising half the voters in a ward is not exactly a fair way to have an election?
RP...I don't agree with that at all either. It is my understanding that it should be possible to match signature cards with the paper ballots, identify invalid ballots and remove ONLY those ballots, thereby determining the winner via valid votes only. If it is not possible I would agree that Moore should be certified the winner. Then, an AGRESSIVE investigation should be begun to determine if there was widespread, coordinated voter fraud. If it is determined that Moore had knowledge of illegal activities performed on his behalf, Moore should be prosecuted by the feds for violating the civil rights of the citizens of the 49th and, if convicted, Moore should go to prison for a LONG time.
BTW...if THAT happens (Moore going to prison), you know what THAT means...Daley gets to appoint an alderman for us! Of course I'm sure a close ally of Daley would also be a progressive democrat like Moore and Gordon. NOT!
can i have some of what dr o is smoking? there is no such "matching" avaible.
As there is no way to match votes to individual voters (who may be proven to have cast invalid votes) what good can any of this do in regards to THIS election?
Hi Craig, it’s Joseph Hart – Rogers Park resident, proud SEIU man, and Joe Moore’s precinct captain in the 26th. (Also a minor YouTube celebrity, but let that bide.) You, of course, were Gordon’s point man in 26. I remember that election day, at the close of polls you shook my hand and congratulated me on a race well run. You never said a word to me about possible fraud. Neither you nor that nice poll-watcher your campaign sent over ever accused me or any other members of the Moore campaign in that precinct of any impropriety, and indeed I was very scrupulous out there, taking all my campaign volunteers (the SEIU “Mob” as you called them – I must be the nerdiest mob boss –ever-) outside the 100 ft. radius before directing them to turf. Indeed, your campaign had a full-time poll-watcher while I didn’t (I had to keep jumping between the polling room and the volunteers outside), so the advantage there was yours.
You also told my area manager, Lynn Kelly, on this very blog, that you hadn’t observed any impropriety on our part in the 26th precinct, that you had been fairly beaten, or words to that effect, and even wondered aloud if you’d personally lost the election for Mr. Gordon. Indeed, so far the only report of any illegal activity in the 26th precinct that I have seen was that reported on this blog, by the anonymous Gordon supporter tearing down our signs.
So I’m a little surprised, and more than a little piqued, that 26 is one of the precincts Mr. Gordon is seeking to have disenfranchised by his lawsuit. What the frack happened, Craig? Did our would-be beat alderman spy some massive ring of fraud that both you and I (and your full-time poll-watcher) managed to miss, though it was under our very noses?
Or is Gordon simply assuming that any precinct results where he did worse than expected are “fraudulent”?
Hi Joseph,
I did not file, nor am I a plaintiff in the lawsuit you mentioned. I can't comment on the content at this time.
Well, unless the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners lied to me, I was told there was a way to match.
I called thier office on Thursday to report the incident I experienced and to get a better understanding of the processes in place to prevent fraud. The man I spoke with led me to believe that the ballot number is written on the card that you sign when you pick up a ballot...therefore, your vote could be matched to your card (this is assuming you have the actual ballat...the machine does not track).
I also learned that the number of votes cast is counted against the number of little signiture cards collected, to prevent anyone from casting more than one vote.
I think Don has a very strong case, and that the CBOE has measures in place that will be able to determine that fraudulent votes were indeed cast.
Tom Mannis covers the case against Joe.
clb-
what you are talking about is a provisional ballot. unless the voter goes down to the boe office, within 48 hours, and shows proper documents, or turns out to be properly registered in the first place, their votes will be tossed out. which is the point of trying to force people to vote provisional- so they will not be counted.
but regular ballots? no. just plain not.
also, it is possible to have a discrepency between applications and ballots- a person without an application for ballot in the book can be given a provisional ballot, and vice versa. so, the numbers do not necessarily match perfectly.
i want to add to this thread that i was a judge in one of these precincts, and my husband was a judge in another, and our experiences mirror joe hart's. i had a die hard gordon guy next to me, and we did the same at the end of the night.
this whole thing smells just like kkkarl rove to me.
beenthere- I believe you are mistaken about the provisional ballots. Can someone who knows the rules about this please clarify.
My understanding was that only in a case where someone has no ID or page in the book would this occur- a case where there is no proof of their identity and they are not registered but they insist on voting. The way it was explained to me was that the provisional ballots would count but be marked so they would be easy to examine should there be any question about these votes.
Do you STILL think this is about fair elections?
Okay kids, let Daddy explain this to you all with this simple exercise:
1)Go to the Chgo Bd of Elections website and look up the 49th Ward results for April 17th.
2)Cut and paste the precinct results into an excel spreadsheet. (For you old farts and Don: have your kids do this for you)
3)Sort the results by Moore's percentage in descending order.
What you have now is a ranking of the precincts from Moore's best to worst. Now check off the challenged precincts.
Guess what? You've just checked off ALL of Joe Moore's top precincts--every SINGLE one where he got more than 50%!
Still not convinced that this is a case of a VERY sore loser?
Go to Don's website and watch him drag his dog-and-pony show before Channel 2 News. They cite the case of Delores Young who voted in in the 30th precinct from an address that is a vacant building. But guess what? THEY'RE NOT CHALLENGING THAT PRECINCT because Don WON there!
Don is right on one thing though: this IS bigger than the 49th Ward. It's as big as Don Gordon's massive ego and Michael Harrington's swelled head. You boys should be ashamed of yourselves!
Bloggerdaddy49, have you considered that Moore won in the contested precincts BECAUSE of the alleged fraud enacted there?
Also, if the theories of Gordon's supporters are true -- that Moore targeted disenfranchised areas (poorer, more minority, more transient, nursing homes, etc.) and coerced their votes -- then it makes sense that the areas in question skew toward certain demographics.
Bloggerdada- We know not who you are or what your agenda is so why on earth would anyone listen to you? Most of us don't bite, so you don't have to be scared, it's okay really.
Here's the most telling comment in this thread:
>>Craig Gernhardt said...
Hi Joseph,
I did not file, nor am I a plaintiff in the lawsuit you mentioned. I can't comment on the content at this time. <<
Craig lives in a precinct that Don is challenging. He admitted in another post that the election at the 26th precinct was clean.
So ironically, Joe could subpoena Craig and sandbag Don's goofy arguments about fraud in more than half the precincts.
Another telling fact from Bloggerdaddy:
"Go to Don's website and watch him drag his dog-and-pony show before Channel 2 News. They cite the case of Delores Young who voted in in the 30th precinct from an address that is a vacant building. But guess what? THEY'RE NOT CHALLENGING THAT PRECINCT because Don WON there!"
Nuff said.
This suit will be thrown out.
sorry, i am not sure how to post links here, but the first is the illinois procedures for provisional ballots, the next 2 are links to more info on provisional balloting.
www.elections.il.gov/Downloads/ElectionInformation/PDF/ProvVotingIL.pdf
http://www.votersunite.org/article.asp?id=2432
http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/article.php?id=2053
Oh pleeze, Bloggerdaddy is one of Joe's inner circle and knows how to cut/paste real goooood. Next time you got to court, BD, please stand up.
Jocelyn:
My agenda? To cut thru the crap and get to the truth which some can't stand to hear. Hence the need for some anonymity.
And while I would count on YOU not biting, I'm afraid Toni may be rabid. After all, just say "Joe Moore won" and she starts to salivate uncontrollably.
Hey bloggerdaddy, I manage to ruffle a lot of feathers in here telling the truth as I see it, yet I'n not hiding.
You can go to my blog and see my real name, and easily find out where I live. I'm sure you already do know my name and where I live. I carry no weapon and couldn't fight off a young teen.
What are YOU so afraid of, you coward?
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