voting Archives - Tennessee Star

Commentary: How Mail-In Voting Affected the 2020 Election

February 17, 2021February 16, 2021 Admin

What factors propelled Joe Biden to victory in the November 2020 election? Did voters abandon Donald Trump in droves? Are liberals, socialists, and statists gaining ground in the United States of America?

I don’t think so, but I don’t have a definitive answer for you. Neither, so far as I know, does anyone else. After diligently examining the numbers and reviewing news reports from each state east of the Mississippi River, all I can say with confidence is that mail-in voting had something to do with why Biden prevailed. If some pundit or politician claims it was due to this or that cohort of “swing voter,” or to some malfeasance on the part of Donald Trump, or because voters wanted a return to “decency” under “nice guy” Joe, well … be skeptical.

Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Add Minnesota to Popular Vote Compact

January 14, 2021January 13, 2021 Admin

State Sen. Chuck Wiger, DFL-Maplewood, introduced a bill Monday that would add Minnesota to a popular vote compact, securing the state’s electoral votes for the winner of the national popular vote.

According to a press release from the Senate DFL, Wiger’s bill would add Minnesota to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. States that are a part of this agreement “pledge their states’ electoral votes to the presidential and vice presidential candidates who win the national popular vote as opposed to the popular vote in their particular state.”

In Letter to Dominion Investor, Klobuchar Said Issues with Voting Machines ‘Threaten Integrity of Elections’

November 18, 2020November 17, 2020 Admin

In a 2019 letter, Sen. Amy Klobuchar raised concerns about the “trouble-plagued companies” managing voting machines across the country, calling reports of faulty machines and software a threat to the “integrity of our elections.”

The letter, signed by Klobuchar, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Mark Pocan, was sent to the investors of Election Systems & Software, Dominion Voting System and Hart InterCivic — three election technology companies that “facilitate voting for over 90% of all eligible voters in the United States.”

Glitchy Dominion Voting Machines in Georgia Were Used in Response to Previous Voting Concerns

November 11, 2020November 10, 2020 Jason M. Reynolds

Dominion voting machines, which have drawn scrutiny over security concerns during the November 3 elections, ironically made their entrance into use in Georgia this year after concerns were raised about the sanctity of past elections.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said in an undated press release that he had selected Dominion Voting Systems’ new verified paper ballot system to be in operation for the March 24, 2020 presidential primary.

Commentary: The Secret Ballot Is Trump’s Secret Weapon

November 3, 2020November 3, 2020 Admin

Americans take for granted that, when we step into the voting booth and cast our ballots, the choices we make will remain secret unless we voluntarily reveal them. Moreover, regardless of ideological bent, very few voters would approve of any attempt to lift that veil of privacy from the process. Yet the secret ballot was essentially unheard of in the United States until the mid-19th century, and it wasn’t adopted throughout the country until the 1890s. Before then, elections were conducted by voice or by color-coded tickets. The “shy Trump voter” could never survive in such an electoral environment. Thus, it’s unlikely that Trump could have been elected in 2016.

Commentary: Now, It’s up to You

November 1, 2020October 31, 2020 Admin

Tuesday is Election Day and the choice has never been clearer in American electoral history.

Dr. Christine Hoffman of Job Creators Network Discusses Healthcareforyou.com, Voting Safety, and the Irrational Fear of COVID

October 20, 2020October 19, 2020 Julie Carr

Monday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host John Fredricks welcomed Dr. Christine Hoffman, M.D. to the show to discuss HealthCareForYou.com, voting safety, and to explain the irrational fear of contracting COVID.

Tennessee Crushes First-Day Early Voting Turnout Record

October 17, 2020October 16, 2020 The Center Square

A total of 273,325 in-person and absentee votes have been cast by Tennesseans – a 91% increase in voter turnout over the first day of early voting in the 2016 presidential election and a 120% increase in turnout over the first day of early voting in 2012.

More than 167,000 Tennesseans cast ballots in-person Wednesday on the first day of early voting this week, and more than 105,500 absentee ballots already have been cast, according to data released Thursday by Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett.

Ohio Voters Flock to the Polls Thus Far in Early Voting

October 15, 2020October 14, 2020 The Center Square

Ohio’s first week of early voting saw long lines at major cities and record numbers of Ohioans heading to the polls.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said in a news release Tuesday that triple the number of early voters have gone to the polls this year than at the same point in 2016.

Ohio Officials Say Some Ballots Reported Incorrect May be Right

October 12, 2020October 11, 2020 The Associated Press

Officials in Ohio say some of the nearly 50,000 absentee ballots reported last week to be incorrect may have been correct after all, but replacement ballots will be sent to all of the affected voters in the county that is home to the state’s capital and largest city.

Judge Again Blocks Restrictions on Ballot Drop Boxes in Ohio

October 9, 2020October 8, 2020 The Associated Press

A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked an order by Ohio’s elections chief that limits the number of ballot drop boxes available in next month’s election, calling the move “essential to vindicate a vital constitutional right.”

Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose moved immediately to appeal.

Republicans Sue Minnesota Over Eight-Day Extension to Count ‘Late’ Ballots

September 25, 2020September 24, 2020 Admin

Republicans in the state of Minnesota filed a lawsuit after the state government announced that late mail-in ballots could be counted up to 8 days after Election Day, as reported by the Washington Free Beacon.

The plaintiffs in the suit are state representative Eric Lucero (R-Minn.) and elector James Carson (R-Minn.), who sued Secretary of State Steve Simon, the man who ultimately made the decision to extend the ballot-counting deadline by just over a week. The lawsuit points out that such a decision being made by one statewide official violates the U.S. Constitution because it failed to consult the state legislature, and also allows for the counting of ballots that have “no post mark and no evidence of having been cast on November 3rd.”

Republicans Argue Against Electronic Ohio Ballot Application

September 25, 2020September 24, 2020 The Associated Press

Ohio’s top election official acted reasonably when he barred counties from accepting absentee ballot applications electronically in the face of potential cyberthreats and a loosely worded law, lawyers for the state and Republicans argued in a court filing Wednesday.

Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s directive was also “consistent with more than a decade of bipartisan precedent,” according to groups including the Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee and the state GOP.

VOTER FRAUD: We Are Now at a Point Where Both Sides Must Play Exactly By the Same Rules, says Crom Carmichael

September 15, 2020September 15, 2020 Julie Carr

Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio to discuss Joe Biden’s potential drug use and voter fraud.

Poll: 80 Percent of Democrats Think Making Voting Easier Is More Important Than Ensuring Voter Eligibility

September 14, 2020September 13, 2020 Admin

Roughly 80% of Democratic think that getting as many people as possible into the voting booth is more important than making sure each voter is eligible to cast a ballot, a new Just the News Daily Poll with Scott Rasmussen shows.

About 70% of Republican voters, meanwhile, think the opposite, believing that election authorities should work harder to verify each voter’s eligibility.

Judge Orders Tennessee to Mention Virus on Mail Voting Form

August 27, 2020August 26, 2020 The Associated Press

A judge has ordered Tennessee election officials to clearly communicate on absentee ballot applications that people can vote by mail if they believe they or someone in their care face a higher risk of COVID-19.

State officials promised the Tennessee Supreme Court this month that they would inform voters about that eligibility, asserting for the first time that underlying health conditions could qualify someone to vote absentee under their plan. Days later, the justices overturned a vote-by-mail option for all eligible voters that Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle ordered in June.

Crom Carmichael Discusses Logic, Common Sense, and Why Mail-Out Voting is Susceptible to Fraud

August 11, 2020August 10, 2020 Julie Carr

Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio to distinguish the difference between define ‘mail-out’ and absentee voting.

Tennessee Supreme Court Hears Case Concerning Availability of Absentee Ballots for All Tennesseans

August 2, 2020August 1, 2020 Sam Medley

The Tennessee Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday concerning the citizens’ right to vote via absentee ballot.

The cases presented (Earle J. Fisher et al. v. Tre Hargett et al. and Benjamin Lay et al. v. Mark Goins et al.) have become the focal point of the ongoing debate surrounding the efficacy of absentee and mail-in ballots and voters’ rights to absentee and mail-in ballots during the COVID-19 pandemic.

All-Mail Voting Threatens Election Security, Study Finds

July 9, 2020July 8, 2020 Admin

Mandatory voting by mail would undermine election security and endanger Americans’ right to have their votes counted, according to a report released Tuesday by the Honest Elections Project, a voter integrity group.

The report comes on the heels of a vote-by-mail scandal in Paterson, New Jersey, where 1 in 5 votes were disqualified.

Lawsuit Filed Against Michigan for Inaccurate Voter Rolls

June 10, 2020June 10, 2020 Jordyn Pair

A voter filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the Bureau of Elections Director Jonathan Brater and other officials, claiming that voter rolls in at least 16 counties have not been properly maintained.

According to a report by Fox News, Republican Tony Daunt said that the Michigan voter registration rates are “suspiciously high” as old voter records have not been cleared of ineligible voters.

Fifteen Election Results That Were Thrown Out Because of Fraudulent Mail-In Ballots

April 23, 2020April 22, 2020 Admin

Voter fraud is too nominal to make a difference in any given election, goes one popular line of argument. But tell that to voters in parts of Florida, Missouri, New York, and North Carolina in recent years.

Klobuchar Calls for National Vote by Mail in New York Times Op-Ed

April 19, 2020April 18, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) called for nationwide mail-in voting in a recent op-ed published in The New York Times.

ACLU, Other Activist Groups Demand Voter Registration Deadline in Ohio Be Moved with New Primary Election Date

March 21, 2020March 20, 2020 Jordyn Pair

A collective of activist groups submitted a letter to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose demanding that the changes to the primary election also follow the National Voter Registration Act and the Ohio Constitution.

The letter from League of Women Voters of Ohio, A. Philip Randolph Institute Ohio, ACLU of Ohio, Lawyers Committee on Civil Rights, and Demos reminded La Rose that the deadline for voter registration must be no more than 30 days before a federal election.

DFL Proposes Constitutional Amendment on Voting in Response to GOP Push for Voter ID

March 8, 2020March 7, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Minnesota Democrats have proposed an amendment to the state constitution guaranteeing the right to “free, fair, and equal” elections in response to Republican efforts to pass a voter ID law.

Accusations Fly in Fight Over Voter Data from Minnesota Primary

January 26, 2020January 25, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

State party leaders exchanged a number of accusations throughout the week regarding the release of voter data under Minnesota’s presidential primary law.

DFL State Rep Supports Allowing Minnesota Prisoners to Vote

May 3, 2019May 2, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

A DFL state representative revealed during a recent debate on the Minnesota House floor that he supports allowing incarcerated individuals to vote from prison. “I actually am looking forward to a bill or amendment … that would put Minnesota in line with states like Vermont and Maine that actually…

275,000 Inactive Voters in Ohio Sent ‘Last Chance’ Notice to Confirm Eligibility Before Being Purged

January 13, 2019January 12, 2019 Andrew Shirley

This week, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted has triggered one of the most consequential and controversial “voter integrity” measures in the country. 275,000 inactive voters, registered in Ohio, have been sent “last chance” letters, informing them that if they do not confirm their current address and voting status, they will…

In Final Days as Attorney General, DeWine Files Motion to Dismiss Ohio Redistricting Lawsuit

January 12, 2019January 11, 2019 Andrew Shirley

Gov.-elect Mike DeWine (R-OH) appears to be making every last day of his tenure as Attorney General count. This week, DeWine filed a motion to have an upcoming gerrymandering lawsuit tossed out. The suit would mandate the redrawing of all of Ohio’s 16 congressional districts before the 2020 election. In May of…

Battleground State Report: Judge Says Maine’s ‘Rank Voting’ System Constitutional, But Originalists Disagree

December 15, 2018December 14, 2018 Admin

On Friday’s Battleground State Report with Steve Gill and Michael Patrick Leahy – a one hour radio show from Star News Digital Media in the early stages of a national weekend syndication rollout – the two hosts discussed the concept in Maine’s new “rank voting” system, who’s behind it, why it’s being…

Georgia Lawsuit Latest Blow in US Fight Over Voting Rights

October 13, 2018October 13, 2018 Admin

U.S. voting rights advocacy groups Thursday sued Georgia’s top election official, Secretary of State Brian Kemp, accusing him of putting more than 50,000 voter registration applications on hold to boost his gubernatorial campaign. Kemp is the Republican nominee for governor in one of this year’s highest-profile state races, in which…

Missouri Appeals Ruling That Blocked Part of Voter Photo ID

October 12, 2018October 12, 2018 Admin

Missouri’s top election official on Thursday said the state was appealing a judge’s ruling that blocked enforcement of parts of a voter photo identification law, adding that the ruling was causing “mass confusion” ahead of a key election for a U.S. Senate seat. Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (pictured)…

Sen. Lamar Alexander Tells Tennessee Star Report Vote on Kavanaugh Will Be Held This Week

October 3, 2018October 2, 2018 Julie Carr

On Tuesday’s Tennessee Star Report with Steve Gill and Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 am to 8:00 am – the men talked with Senator Lamar Alexander about getting the vote finalized after a seventh FBI investigation into Judge Kavanaugh is completed so…

Commentary: If Congress Is Really Concerned About ‘Foreign Meddling,’ Get Illegal Immigrants Off the Voter Rolls

March 6, 2018March 6, 2018 Admin

By Printus LeBlanc Multiple congressional committees and a Special Counsel have spent millions of taxpayer dollars to investigate foreign interference in the 2016 election and have come up with some memes from Russia. Meanwhile, recent reports from several states indicate there is real foreign influence in U.S. elections being…