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Voter Fraud -- Or Just A Case Of Mistaken Identity?

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Some conservatives are proudly showing off what they claim is a real live case of voter fraud today. Election Journal and Red State are both trumpeting this 30-second video of a young voter in New Jersey telling the tale of his stolen vote.

Election Journal, which last year released a widely-played video of the New Black Panthers supposedly scaring voters from the polls, posted the video this afternoon under the title "Concerns over absentee ballots realized."

In it, the voter says he gave his name to election officials, only to find that he had already voted.

"I walk in there, tell them my name and it says that I have a mail thing, someone sent it in the mail. But I never sent mine in the mail, so I had to file a provisional in order to be able vote," says the voter, who identifies himself as Mark Allen of Galloway, N.J.

The video has also been touted by Red State as, if not proof, then vindication of their claims that the Democrats rigged the New Jersey race via lax absentee-voting laws.

There are a few possible explanations for Allen's trouble, assuming he was telling the truth. One, he was a victim of fraud.

Two, there was a simple clerical error. The second explanation is more plausible when you consider that Mark Allen is a rather common name. It's easy to imagine an official receiving the absentee ballot of another Mark Allen and checking off the wrong one.

Late update: TPMDC's intrepid Eric Kleefeld called the Atlantic County clerk's office and found out that yes, there are two Mark Allens in Galloway. They are a Mark Allen Sr. and a Mark Allen Jr., who are registered at the same address.

"We have the younger one as having sent in an absentee ballot, not the older one, so it's possible that's a clerical error," said John Piatt, a management specialist for the office. "And that's why there are provisional ballots, just in case something like this happens."

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5 comments

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November 3, 2009 6:47 PM   

Or, as commonly happens here in Ohio, he requested an absentee ballot but then showed up at the polling place. Once you've requested an absentee ballot in Ohio, you can't cast a regular vote at the poll. You can cast a provisional ballot. I've worked the polls many times, and it's amazing how many people think we're telling them they've already voted, when in fact we're telling them they requested an absentee ballot, which means they can only vote provisionally.

It seems as thought that's exactly what this guy is relating -- ie., he's the guy who has no idea what the poll workers were trying to explain to him. And note, he voted provisionally, which is exactly what would happen in Ohio.

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November 3, 2009 6:50 PM   

Bite Me!!!!

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November 4, 2009 3:57 AM   


I have found a website with some election cover-ups..
check it out:

http://www.wanttoknow.info/electionscoverups

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November 4, 2009 3:47 PM   

It's not really a story about a clerical error. It's a story about how the voter fraud witchhunters will never check out a story past the point where it seems to work for them. They seem to have no end of these superficially plausible stories.

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November 4, 2009 4:33 PM   

I am really upset with some of these responses! You are not getting the point. Mark Sr. and Mark Jr. went to vote together. Neither of them asked for an absentee ballot. I know this because they are my son and my husband. Yes we all live in the same house and we all went to vote TOGETHER. My husband was allowed to vote however my son was not. My question is WHO STOLE HIS VOTE. I am really upset with many of you. He is the VICTIM here. We are not getting any answers, only stupid ones...like it was a clerical error because they have the same address. Usually a family does have the same address. Surprise, surprise, we all live in a house together! We also went to vote TOGETHER. The point is WHO STOLE HIS VOTE! We did not and have never asked for any absentee ballots! How did we become the accused!
Joan Allen mother of the VICTIM.

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