Saturday, June 23, 2007
Dogs Registered to Vote...Shows Flawed Voter Registration System
A woman in Seattle, Washington has made a very eloquent point to prove that relaxation of voter registration laws can lead to potential abuse and fraud.
Jane Balogh, who owns an Australian shepard-terrier mix she has named "Duncan M. McDonald"..decided that she was going to make a statement about how easy it was for non-citizens to vote in Washington due to the relaxation of voter registration laws.
In Washington, a person's telephone bill may be used as "identification" to register to vote...so, Ms. Balogh put the telephone bill in her dog's name..used the bill to register the dog to vote, and in 3 elections submitted voided ballots in his name.
The tipoff for authorities--one of the ballot envelopes was signed with a picture of a paw print!
Elections authorities were none too happy with Ms. Balogh..and prosecuted her.... Ms. Balgoh agreed to plea to a misdemeanor offense of making a false statement to a public official..
Ms. Balogh admits to breaking the law..but she states that she did it to prove a larger point--that the system is far too easy for someone to commit fraud.
Iowa's voter registration laws are now very similar to what Washington's are....could the same thing happen here?
Vote protest puts woman in doghouse.
Jane Balogh, who owns an Australian shepard-terrier mix she has named "Duncan M. McDonald"..decided that she was going to make a statement about how easy it was for non-citizens to vote in Washington due to the relaxation of voter registration laws.
In Washington, a person's telephone bill may be used as "identification" to register to vote...so, Ms. Balogh put the telephone bill in her dog's name..used the bill to register the dog to vote, and in 3 elections submitted voided ballots in his name.
The tipoff for authorities--one of the ballot envelopes was signed with a picture of a paw print!
Elections authorities were none too happy with Ms. Balogh..and prosecuted her.... Ms. Balgoh agreed to plea to a misdemeanor offense of making a false statement to a public official..
Ms. Balogh admits to breaking the law..but she states that she did it to prove a larger point--that the system is far too easy for someone to commit fraud.
Iowa's voter registration laws are now very similar to what Washington's are....could the same thing happen here?
Vote protest puts woman in doghouse.
