Legal Commentary

MS GOP Ballot Shenanigans

By Big Tent Democrat

New election year - same old GOP ballot shenanigans. Kos has the details (and an added thought from me - does this ballot require a Section 5 Justice Department preclearance?)

They're scared and corrupt, and that is a volatile mix. The full email press release from the Musgrove (D) campaign:

Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann today presented an unlawful sample ballot which buries the special US Senate race between Governor Ronnie Musgrove and interim US Senator Roger Wicker. The ballot was approved by Governor Haley Barbour. Hosemann buried the Musgrove-Wicker race below all local races near the bottom of the ballot.

Hosemann could cite no statu[t]e supporting his decision to move the race from the top of the ballot. However, Attorney General Jim Hood did cite election law requiring federal races be placed at the top of the ballot. [ . . .]

Why? To depress voting in the Senate race. Kos again:

For obvious reasons, the lower on the ballot you go, the lower the response rate.

Political scientist Marty Wiseman says such a decision could hurt Musgrove, who’s hoping for a boost from Democratic turnout for presidential candidate Barack Obama. Historically, there’s a drop-off in votes from the top of the ballot to the bottom.

The GOP has always been scared of voter participation. This year will be no different. Shameless and outrageous.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on September 09, 2008 (boomark / email).

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