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DepartmentofJusticetoFloridaStoptheVoterPurgeShenanigansByLaurenVictoriaBurkePolitic365ChiefCongressionalCorrespondentThestateofFloridahasahistoryofimproprietyattheballotbox.Themostmemorableexamplewasduringthe2000presidentialelectionswhensomesayVicePresidentAlGoreaDemocratwouldhavewonthepresidencywereitnotforGOPofficialsinFloridariggingthevotecountforthen-TexasGov.GeorgeBushaRepublican.x1cItwaslongoverdue.IwasgladtonightthattheAttorneyGeneralandtheDepartmentputanendtoit.ItisclearlyaviolationofthespiritandtheletteroftheVotingRightsActx1dsaidRep.JohnLewisD-GAashespoketoPolitic365onDOJx19sactionlateThursday.Floridaisalsoakeyswingstateinthe2012racefortheWhiteHouse.Rep.CorrineBrownD-FLwhorepresentsJacksonvillestillverystronglymaintainsthatvoteswerestolenin2000andisworriedhistorycouldrepeatitself.x1cKeepinmindtheysayBushwonby508votesin2000x13buttheystole27000votesfrommydistrict.Ix19mnottalkingaboutthisthatortheotherx14Ix19mtalkingaboutwhatIknowx1dBrownsaid.TheCongresswomanisencouragingconstituentstobeatthepollsinpersonandwatchthewaytheirvoteisrecordedcarefullyratherthanmailinballotstoprotecttheirvote.InalettersentearlierthisweektoFloridaGov.RickScottFloridaReps.BrownAlceeHastingsFredericaWilsonTedDeutchandDebbieWassermanSchultzdemandedthegovernorceaseunregisteringvoters.x1cIfthegoalistrulytoremoveineligibleindividualswhowereintentionallyorsomehowmistakenlyregisteredtovotethatprocessmustmoveforwardinanonpartisanmannerwithtransparencyx1dtheletterread.InterestinglyenoughtheCongressionalBlackCaucusx19loneRepublicanmemberRep.AllenWestofFloridahasbeenquietonthesubjectofthevoterpurge.YetWestrecentlytoldThinkProgress.orgduringaninterviewthathewasadamantlyopposedtoearlyvotingandabsenteeballotscallingthepracticeunconstitutional.x1dIthinkthatthisearlyvotingthingwassomethingweprovidedandnowsomepeopleseeitasanentitlementwhichisreallynotconsistentwithconstitutionalvotingpracticesandproceduresx1dsaidWest.AdisproportionatenumberofthosebeingunregisteredintheFloridavotepurgewereminorities.MSNBCreportedmorethanhalfofthosebeingunregisteredwereHispanic.OneparticularstoryofanAmericancitizenwhowasunregisteredinthepurgewasreportedbytheMiamiHerald.WorldWarIIvetBillInternicola91whowasawardedaBronzeStarduringthewarwascontactedbytheBrowardSupervisorofElectionsbymailsayinghewasnotaUnitedStatescitizen.Internicolacontactedtheofficeaskingthemiftheywerecrazyandthencontactedthepress.ThelettertoInternicolaremovinghimfromthevotingrollswasinerror.InternicolaisanAmericancitizen.AdaybeforetheDepartmentofJusticex19sVotingSectionChiefcontactedFloridabylettertohaltthevotepurgeAttorneyGeneralEricHolderappearedatasummitinWashingtonD.C.hostedbytheCongressionalBlackCaucusandtheConferenceofNationalBlackChurchesandspokeontheimportanceprotectingvotingrights.ManyhavefelttheDepartmentofJusticehasbeentooslowtoactontheissue.FormerSanFranciscoMayorWillieBrownsaidthisweekthatuntilrecentlyJusticehadnotbeenpayingattentiontotheissue.x1cTheJusticeDepartmenthasfranklybeenasleepx1dBrownsaidduringaTVinterview.x1cImaintainthatweoughttouseeveryelementofthelawthatwecaninordertomakesurethatnoonebecomescomfortabletryingtodiscouragepeoplefromvoting.x1dThoughthereiscriticismmanyarestartingtofeeltheDepartmentisawakeandarepleasedwiththeirinvolvement.LAURENVICTORIABURKEPolitic365ChiefCongressionalCorrespondentpublishestheblogCrewof42ontheCongressionalBlackCaucus.SheisheardeveryTuesdayat4p.m.ETonWMCS1290inMilwaukeeonEarlIngramx19sshowTheEveningRushaswellasonWPFWeveryFridayat630p.m.inWashingtonDC.Youcane-mailheratLBurke007gmail.comfollowherontwitteratcrewof42.PROGRAMSUCCESSx13JUNE2012PAGE11