*** ALL Texans Take Note *** GOP Dirty Tricks

[mrJJ]

The Dallas Morning News is reporting on Republican scare tactics targeting the e-mail inbox of Barack Obama supporters in Texas.
The e-mail makes false claims that could have horrid ripple effects.

"For those who normally vote 'Straight Democratic', please pay close attention!!!!!" states the e-mail, obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press.
"I was informed this weekend by a group of Obama volunteers that when voting for the presidential candidate this November, you have to make sure you punch Barack's name first, then proceed to punch 'Straight Democratic' or else the vote for the president won't count," the e-mail says.

The Texas Democratic Party responded quickly with this e-mail yesterday:

Attention All Democrats:
With early voting about to begin and the November 4th Election Day approaching, misleading voter information is being circulated to confuse Democratic voters and cancel out straight Democratic Party votes.

This is a crucial time for you to make your voices heard by voting the straight Democratic ticket. I urge you to carefully review the information below which outlines the correct procedure for voting a straight Democratic ticket:
When you mark "Straight Democratic" then cast your ballot, your vote will count for Barack Obama and all the Democratic candidates, including all congressional, state and local Democrats on the general election ballot.

NOTE: A separate vote for an individual candidate is required only in a special election (e.g., Senate District 17)??

OR

If you do not wish to vote a straight party vote, you must mark each individual candidate for whom you wish to vote, and then cast your ballot.

BUT

Do not select "straight Democratic" and then select individual Democratic candidates. This could cancel out your vote for those individual candidates!

Additionally, carefully read the review screen after marking your selection and before casting your ballot. If you have any questions at the polls, ask an election judge for assistance. Visit our Voter Information page for more information about deceptive voting information and review your rights as a Texas voter.

I am confident that together we can overcome deceptive GOP messaging and vote our Democratic candidates into office from the court house to the White House!

As Communication Director Hector Neito pointed out in the DMN article, "with eSlate, punching the button for presidential candidate Obama after punching the straight-ticket button will actually cancel the straight-ticket vote."

With Early Vote starting on Monday expect more dirty tricks from the Texas Republican Party and Republican campaigns.

http://www.burntorangereport.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=7125

[gkhouston]

1. If you want to vote for Dems all the way down the ticket, take two minutes

and do just that -- vote 'em in race by race. There were problems in 2004 with vote flipping for voters who used the "straight ticket" feature when e-voting.

[BattyDem]

2. "Do not select 'straight Democratic' and then select individual Democratic candidates"

That's just ridiculous! Who the hell designs these things? Why is it set up in a way that could allow an innocent mistake to cancel a vote? Why doesn't the machine prevent you from casting your vote until you correct your mistake? Is that too much to ask? DU gives me an error message and will not allow me to post if I forget to add a subject line, but a VOTING MACHINE can't prevent someone from making a stupid mistake? :eyes:

If you vote a straight ticket, selecting a candidate from that party should not cancel out your vote. That doesn't make any sense because your intent is obvious. If you vote a straight ticket and then select a candidate from the other party, then of course, that should cancel out your vote because you contradicted yourself. You voted for two people.

I'm so sick of the rigged and/or faulty machines and the crap that goes on in order to prevent people from voting. Enough is enough! :grr:

[louis-t]

3. I believe the machines were designed by repugs.

Probably done on purpose.

[brooklynite]

4. I got that email in NY...I thinks its considered "general purpose"