NHDP - ICYMI: Condemnation of O'Keefe Vote Fraud Team Continues

Concord, NH - The Concord Monitor editorial board joined the Nashua Telegraph editorial board, Keene Sentinel editorial board, and the Portsmouth Herald's executive editor in calling for James O'Keefe and his vote fraud team to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  In a sharp contrast, GOP House Leadership applauded the potential criminals who used the identities of recently deceased New Hampshire residents at primary day polling locations without their permission.  House Republican leader DJ Bettencourt went so far as to commend their "guts." 

Concord Monitor: Give O'Keefe, vote fraud team the max

Editorial

[Link: http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/306111/give-okeefe-vote-fraud-team-the-max]

The best way to prevent voter fraud would be to prosecute the conservative propagandists from Project Veritas to the fullest extent of the law - not to enact a photo identification law whose real purpose is to disenfranchise predominantly elderly and low-income citizens.

The group, led by right-wing activist James O'Keefe III, videotaped 10 instances of men posing as recently deceased voters as they requested a ballot from election officials. In nine of 10 cases, they succeeded; one ballot official personally knew the departed voter, whose name had not yet been removed from the rolls.

Federal law excludes isolated acts of fraud by individuals and applies only to organized efforts like that conducted by O'Keefe's group. It is a crime to obtain a ballot, even when the impersonator does not actually cast a vote, punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 under New Hampshire law and up to $10,000 plus five years in prison under federal law. Our recommendation? Ten counts of fraud, 10 maximum fines for the men who requested ballots and, in addition to a fine, a little time behind bars for O'Keefe, if it can be proved that he organized, funded or approved the plot.

House Speaker William O'Brien wasted no time in claiming that the orchestrated fraud by the out-of-state group demonstrated the need for a law requiring a photo ID to vote. O'Brien went on to express the Chicken Little fear that O'Keefe's prank could lead to challenges to New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation presidential primary position.

Though no one can say with certainty whether voter fraud has occurred and gone unnoticed, there has been just one documented instance in New Hampshire in recent decades. Similarly, a study of federal cases of voter fraud found that between 2002 and 2005 only 24 people were convicted or pleaded guilty to voting illegally. The low count was not due to inattention. During that period the Department of Justice made a concerted effort to determine whether voter fraud was a serious concern. It isn't.

O'Keefe's outfit has carried out a number of stings employing hidden cameras. In this case, the use of them was likely legal, since the people filmed were public officials captured in the act of performing their official duties. Securing ballots by posing as dead people is a different story - but it's also something that, in the real world of elections, happens rarely if at all. The call by Republican lawmakers for ever tougher voting requirements is nothing more than an attempt to deny the vote to people who might oppose their positions or candidates.

It is important that no one not entitled to cast a ballot do so. But it is equally important that no citizen legally entitled to vote be denied that right by the erection of unnecessary barriers. Requiring photo identification would disproportionately disenfranchise the young, the old, minorities and the poor. But since counterfeit identification is easily obtained, it would do little or nothing to safeguard elections.

The best way to ensure the sanctity of the vote is to make the penalty for daring to obstruct, defraud or otherwise game the system so onerous that only a fool would risk it.

NHDP - ICYMI: Video Stunt Wrong on So Many Levels

From the Nashua Telegraph:  

"Project Veritas is in deeper trouble here because its caper was likely illegal. The fact that the imposters did not actually cast the ballots they fraudulently received doesn't matter. New Hampshire and U.S. law states voter fraud occurs when the ballots are simply obtained. In addition, state law requires consent by both parties before recording devices can be used. The attorney general's office is investigating.

"Legal issues aside, Project Veritas must also answer to families and friends of the recently deceased whose identities they assumed. Its callous disregard for the feelings of people still living through the grieving process is indefensible.

"Morality aside, Project Vertias' latest escapade is merely another partisan attempt to manufacture a controversy that doesn't exist in an effort to promote needless legislation. Voter fraud is not an issue in New Hampshire No one believes it is - not the secretary of state, not the attorney general, not the League of Women Voters - but Republicans still see a bogeyman."

Nashua Telegraph Editorial: Video stunt wrong on so many levels

[Link: http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/opinioneditorials/946640-263/video-stunt-wrong-on-so-many-levels.html ]

The New Hampshire presidential primary made news in a way no one expected Tuesday when "investigators" from Project Veritas fraudulently obtained ballots in Manchester and Nashua using the names of dead people.

Surreptitious video of the group's exploits clearly shows poll workers happily assisting the impostors' unethical masquerade. The group says it tried to cast ballots in more than a dozen precincts and was stopped only once.

The obvious purpose of the stunt was to demonstrate how easy it is to corrupt election results when prospective voters aren't required to prove their identities. Last year, Gov. John Lynch vetoed legislation requiring voter identification passed by the overwhelmingly Republican Legislature.

The veto was upheld in large part because it included cumbersome procedures for distributing "provisional" ballots to people without proper identification. Those ballots were to be counted three days after an election, provided the voters later returned with a valid ID.

This is not the first time Project Veritas has been the center of controversy as a consequence of its gonzo conservative sorties. It has secretly recorded employees of Planned Parenthood, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) and National Public Radio in an effort to expose liberal bias.

It also has been accused of manipulating videos to achieve its desired affect. Time magazine described one as "a partisan hit-job."

Project Veritas is in deeper trouble here because its caper was likely illegal. The fact that the imposters did not actually cast the ballots they fraudulently received doesn't matter.

New Hampshire and U.S. law states voter fraud occurs when the ballots are simply obtained. In addition, state law requires consent by both parties before recording devices can be used. The attorney general's office is investigating.

NH GOP - Gov. Lynch's "Effective" Election Laws

Good Morning,

As you cover the reports of voter fraud in New Hampshire, an issue which has triggered “a comprehensive review of state voting procedures after people obtained ballots of dead voters,” keep in mind this statement from Governor John Lynch last year when he vetoed a bill that would have toughened NH’s laws:

“There is no voter fraud problem in New Hampshire.  We already have strong elections laws that are effective in regulating our election.” (Dan Touhy, Merrimack Patch, 1/12/2012)

This is another glaring example of the lack of leadership by Governor Lynch.  As Governor, he should be more outraged than anyone that voter fraud is definitely possible in New Hampshire, as shown by these recent attempts.  Republicans have consistently fought for laws protecting the voting process here in New Hampshire and continue to do so this session.  As more information becomes available, New Hampshire citizens will see where Governor Lynch and his loyal Democrat allies in the legislature set their priorities: Will they finally admit this is a problem and our current laws are not “effective”?  Instead of deflecting the attention, Governor Lynch should finally show some leadership.

Questions for the Governor and his Democrat colleagues who continue to oppose laws that would strengthen New Hampshire’s laws

1. Does the Governor still believe there is no voter fraud problem in New Hampshire?
2. Does the Governor still believe that current laws are effective?
3. Do Democrats in the state legislature agree with the Governor that the status quo is sufficient?

In case you missed it: To read New Hampshire Republican State Committee Chairman Wayne MacDonald’s statement on this issue and how it underscores the need for voter ID laws, click here.

NHDP - NH Republican Leadership Applauds Out of Staters Appearing to Violating New Hampshire Law

Concord, NH - After watching out of state Republican operatives appear to violate New Hampshire election law, New Hampshire Republican Leadership has applauded their reckless efforts instead of calling for them to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The individuals in the video may have violated New Hampshire state law (RSA 659:34) by making "a false material statement regarding his or her qualifications as a voter to an election officer," applying "for a ballot in a name other than his or her own," and giving "a false name or answer if under examination as to his or her qualifications as a voter before the supervisors of the checklist or moderator." [video]

House Majority Leader DJ Bettencourt took to twitter to defend the alleged out of state criminals last night. "Fascinating some want to prosecute individuals who had guts to prove our election system had huge hole in it. Didn't actually illegally vote," he wrote. Among those who believe these irresponsible individuals must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law include, the League of Women Voters, the New Hampshire Republican Party Chair, national election law experts, and officials from the cities of Manchester and Nashua.

"No member of the state House of Representatives should applaud individuals who have violated New Hampshire laws, let alone the Republican Majority Leader of the State House," said Harrell Kirstein, press secretary for the New Hampshire Democratic Party. "These individuals interfered in New Hampshire citizens' fundamental right to vote, but instead of condemning their inappropriate behavior Republican Leadership has applauded the potentially criminal activity."

The unnamed individuals in the video used the identities of recently deceased New Hampshire citizens to commit their shameful scam. Relatives of those whose identities were exploited in the video called the scheme "horrendous," "awful," and adding that those involved "should be prosecuted."

"Republicans should be joining Democrats and members public in calling for these individuals to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The only way to preserve the sanctity of our elections it to enforce the laws prohibiting voter fraud," continued Kirstein.

NH GOP - Voter Fraud Reports Underscore Need for Voter ID Law

CHAIRMAN MACDONALD: VOTER FRAUD REPORTS UNDERSCORE NEED FOR VOTER ID LAW

Concord, NH -- New Hampshire Republican State Committee Chairman Wayne MacDonald released the following statement on reports of voter fraud during the presidential primary on Tuesday:

“Anyone involved in voter fraud should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.  This underscores the serious need for a voter identification law in New Hampshire that protects the sanctity and ensures the integrity of our elections.  We must do all that we can to stamp out voter fraud while ensuring that voters get to fairly exercise one of their most fundamental rights.”

After the primary on Tuesday, videos surfaced showing people using the names of deceased New Hampshire residents to obtain ballots for Tuesday’s primary.