Stories on Alabama Election System Misleading
July 30th, 2006by Glynn Wilson
July 30 - Secretary of State Nancy L. Worley sometimes gets frustrated as a lone Democrat with an office in the old historic Alabama Capitol. She is surrounded by Republicans who have no shame when it comes to partisan politics.
 |
| Photo by Glynn Wilson |
| Secretary of State Nancy Worley at work… |
So when she made the news again this week, smeared by the corporate press and media in a misleading story about what is going on with Alabama’s election system, she did what any honest professional would do. She continued working doing the job she was elected to do.
In case you missed it, Worley was threatened last week by Gov. Bob Riley and Attorney General Troy King and accused of not fully implementing the Help America Vote Act. The Alabama Democratic Party called the move an unconstitutional Republican power grab.
The state’s newspapers and TV stations ran with the story and ignored the press release issued by the very Secretary of State who was under attack. And they call themselves “fair and balanced?”
“This has been a two-year battle and the real politics and greed are beginning to surface,” Ms. Worley said when asked about the situation.
For the record, here are the facts:
U.S. District Judge W. Keith Watkins ruled on July 21 that Alabama achieved a “reasonable level” of compliance with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), and ordered Secretary Worley to continue with her plan to make the state’s current voter registration system as reliant and efficient as possible for the November 2006 election.
The decision ended the U.S. Department of Justice’s case against the state of Alabama and Secretary of State Nancy L. Worley in her official capacity for not fully complying with one aspect of HAVA: the requirement that the state implement a centralized, statewide voter registration database.
Judge Watkins also ruled that the court would adopt Secretary Worley’s proposed plan to implement a statewide voter registration database before the 2008 primary election, and would only modify the plan’s timeline and “non-substantive provisions.” The court will appoint a so-called “special master” to ensure that all relevant parties, including Alabama’s local election officials, work with Secretary Worley’s office to accomplish the goals set forth in the plan.
“Furthermore, because of the Secretary of State’s understandable reluctance to commit to the achievement of HAVA compliance within the court’s specified time frame, particularly where compliance is contingent on others not within the control of the Secretary of State, the Court hereby gives notice of the appointment of a “special master,” Judge Watkins wrote in his decision.
Secretary Worley said this weekend that she looks forward to the appointment of a special master by the court.
“The implementation of a statewide voter registration database that helps eliminate voter fraud is one of my top priorities as Alabama Secretary of State,” she said. “My staff and I will do everything in our power to see that Alabama implements such a system, and we look forward to receiving support from the special master in order to guarantee our success.”
Now, that should put the story to rest.
We urge Ms. Worley and everyone else involved in Alabama’s elections to ensure a transparent process. We also urge the use of a system that provides a clear paper trail. The last thing Alabama needs is a computerized voting fraud controversy or a hanging chad debacle like Florida had in November 2000.
Tags: Alabama Governor's Race
July 30th, 2006 at 9:17 pm
cops will still set up license check points in black voting areas on election day…….
July 31st, 2006 at 7:59 am
it seems that the Republicans have become used to taking elections “by hook or by crook”. After winning the Governors office last election under less than “above board” circumstances and the absolute stealing of the Presidential race from Al Gore, the GOP has decided as usual that the “PEOPLE” really don’t count.
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:17 pm
It seems that it all depends on who you believe and who is really telling the truth. But with the left slant of this newspaper I am so glad we didn’t build the house we had planned in the Locust Fork area. I couldn’t live with such a pronounced left lean. And to the person noting license checks in black voting areas on election day: If there is nothing to hide it should make no difference. I am used to police in the area on voting day. It doesn’t make me nervous.
May 22nd, 2007 at 11:28 pm
Funny, Mr. Finch.
This post is so old I guess it takes you “right-leaners” awhile to find things online. Since when have “right-leaners” not been concerned with the Constitution and Constitutional rights?
Oh, I forget so soon. It was the day the U.S. Supreme Court shredded the Constitution and handed Bush the election of 2000, then the day Bush said “It’s only a Goddamn piece of paper.”
Your president said that, not me…
But don’t worry. I suspect most people in Blount County are as conservative and ignorant as you are. You would be right at home, so go ahead and build that house.
Then look around for that “newspaper” box for the Locust Fork News and Journal. You will be looking for a long time, because this newspaper exists only online and is inspired by the river, not the town.
But hey … that’s OK. It’s fine to be conservative and dumb. It’s your Constitutional right.
Us “left leaners” tend to be a bit more educated and have an easier time knowing “truth” when we see the “evidence.”
Belief don’t mean shit around here. Happy hunting for that white Conservative stronghold of bliss you are looking for. You know what they say: “Ignorance is bliss.”