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STATE-FEDERAL OPERATION: Election fraud task force formed

Investigators already looking into voter registration issues

Nevada state and federal authorities on Thursday announced the formation of a task force that will aggressively pursue allegations of election fraud.

The secretary of state, attorney general, U.S. attorney's office and Federal Bureau of Investigation plan to work together as the election approaches and on Election Day to ensure a free and fair election in Nevada, where record turnout is anticipated.


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  • "This is part of an effort to work proactively," Secretary of State Ross Miller, the state's chief elections official, said of the combined effort, which he said would "ensure there is integrity in the system."

    Miller said investigators are already looking into allegations of fraud in voter registration, though he declined to go into specifics of an investigation he suggested was being handled by the FBI.

    Clark County officials have said they suspect fraud is occurring in the thousands of voter registrations being submitted by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN, which works to get low-income people to vote. ACORN, whose officials have faced fraud charges in other states, says the group's workers are trained to follow the law.

    Types of activity investigators would look into include voter registration workers being paid per registration, which is illegal; registrations coming in with duplicates or false names; or registrations being discarded when they belong to a particular political party, Miller said.

    During the election, authorities will be on the lookout for bribery, intimidation, interfering with the election process and people voting more than once, Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto added.

    Election irregularities are a topic commonly raised by constituents she talks to around the state, she said.

    In addition to creating connections between agencies to enable them to work together more readily, the Election Integrity Task Force will include a toll-free phone number for reporting potential election violations, specially trained personnel and three command posts located around the state, said Steven Martinez of the FBI in Las Vegas.

    Asked whether past elections in Nevada have been tainted by fraud, Miller mentioned allegations in the runup to the 2004 election that a Republican voter-registration drive threw out or tore up Democratic registrations. Those allegations were investigated but didn't lead to criminal prosecutions.

    To make sure their registration is in order, Miller said voters should consult the Web site www.silverstate08.com, where his office maintains a searchable voter registration database.

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    Nevada Voter wrote on August 01, 2008 04:29 PM: I'm a Democrat and I don't think ACORN is being singled out just because they're on the Left. There are legitimate reasons to be concerned about their tactics and to investigate them. I, as a progressive voter, don't want other progressive organizations smeared because of what one organization may or may not be doing. Instead of being "knee-jerk" liberals, we need to look at our own objectively, and if they're doing wrong, promptly admit it. If you're looking for a conspiracy on either side, it's not here. I hope the investigation turns up nothing amiss, but I do see the need for it and support it. And no, I'm not a Blue Dog, just someone who believes voting is a cherished American liberty and should be kept sacrosanct.


    nvkorruption wrote on August 01, 2008 10:34 AM: Immediately, blame goes to one side or the other rather than reality.

    This is occurring because of the known public corruption in Nevada. Corrupt officials working for the same 'special interests' are known to be both Democrat and Republican.

    Investigations into the justice system and other elected officials like the Gibbons', DA and Public Defender; Osha/ building contractor and medical scandal ties all track back as bipartisan.

    Some of this comes out of the Mary Kincaid-Chauncey and Dario Herrera deals as well as ongoing investigations into public corruption.

    Nevada is more like a corrupt third world nation. The feds know that Nevada citizens and voters are looking for a break from the status quo with corrupt officials clinging to control.

    Questionable judges like Hardcastle and others running unopposed as did Cherry and financed by special interests,for his seat in the Supreme Court and other revelations concerning the judicial in Nevada which is well known nationally as the 'judicial hell hole' has also been a matter of concern to citizens and investigators alike.

    Anyone simply has to have some common sense and connect the dots, do a sampling of reader comments over many many months concerning Nevada's corruption, read articles and comments from FBI and other federal officials; and this shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.

    Look at whats happening in Cleveland with the public corruption related FBI raids of government offices.

    'Investigators already looking into voter registration issues'

    DUH!!!


    Jack wrote on August 01, 2008 07:58 AM: hahahah, Nancy somehow I knew when I saw the headlines that the Democratic Liberals who pay homeless people and illegals to vote would be good and mad about it....hhahahahahha.
    I hope this exposes you people and all your fraudulent efforts to get your candidates elected despite the wishes of the people.
    hahahahhahaha...your response is predictable!


    FF wrote on August 01, 2008 07:57 AM: If you are smart, you won't sign up with some dope on the street. Go to an official registration station such as DMV, welfare office, etc. and make sure your registration gets recorded. Then educate yourself on the issues and candidates running for office BEFORE you cast your ballot. Remember, you cannot take your vote back once it is cast.


    Nancy wrote on August 01, 2008 06:51 AM: When they can't steal the election with fear mongering then they resort to tearing up and discarding Democratic registrations. Not this time folks. This time we are on to the dispicable behavior. Everybody please please check the website - make sure you are registered - and GO VOTE -