Another Election Director with the temerity to speak out with concerns about E-voting has been done away with. This time in Texas.
As Early Voting starts today in the crucial Texas Primaries, it looks like we’ve got yet another new martyr — from the rare ranks of Election Officials — who has reportedly been taken out by “the powers that be” during a fight for the ideas of Election Integrity, which he even went so far as to mention on a Houston television news report, if you can imagine such a thing.
The following details come from today’s FortBendNow…
The board accepted his resignation during a closed meeting that the commission had called in which, one participant said, it’s possible Perez would have been asked to resign had he not done so on his own.
…
At issue had been his dislike of the county’s Hart Intercivic eSlate [DRE] voting machines, and appeared to anger some commissioners a week ago, when he told the court he favored scrapping the county’s $4 million eSlate voting system in favor of a system that would make use of paper ballots.
…
Perez told FortBendNow he doesn’t believe the county will be able to handle anticipated high voter turnout during the March 4 primary. He made similar statements in KTRK-TV reports, which appeared to fuel some commissioners’ angst.
Now, Perez will not be in charge of the county’s elections during the primary.
…
A reporter was barred from attending the Election Commission’s meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday, and was presented with a Texas Attorney General’s opinion ““ dating from a 2005 Titus County case ““ stating that “because a county election commission is not a county commissioners court, a committee thereof, or a deliberative body with rulemaking or quasi-judicial power,” it need not comply with the Texas Open Meetings Act.
Fort Bend County is part of metropolitan Houston and includes Sugarland. It has become reliably Republican over the years, at least until Tom Delay was forced to resign and a Democrat took the local Congressional seat. The county has also previously elected both Ron Paul and Phil Gramm to Congress.
The video report referenced above, from KTRK-TV, Houston’s ABC affiliate, where Perez warned there may be lines from to two and a half to three hours at the polling places during Texas’ big upcoming Primary, can be seen right here.
(Hat-tip to VotersUnite.org’s John Gideon)
Great. Now, when things hit the fan during the Primary, the County already has someone set up to take all the blame.
I hope the poll watchers are on the precints there with magnifying glasses.
I’ve often wondered about that specific region – it’s sort of the Bermuda Triangle of whack job Congressmen.
Fort bend-it-over-in-bush’s-sugarland…Texass.
But, good for you not bending over Perez!
Boy I can see why those commissioners would be angry, wanted fair and accurate elections, what was he thinking?
Viva another hero of true democracy!
Hey, Obama just kicked ass speech wise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don’t know what your politics are …but he did just win BIG tonite!
NOW… can we get some deliverance on these voting systems????????
Texas is such a corrupt mess, and I would bet the Bushes set up shop there specifically to take advantage of that.
Brad, is there more detailed info out there about the local politics and/or the potential machinations that led to the guy “resigning”??
Every state that Hillary wins has huge voting irregularities. Looks like Texas is going for Hillary.
This kind of news is so disturbing. Of course, the corporate media tend to ignore any news that undercuts the legitimacy of corporate power. Thanks for blogging this.
Texas waves Amurkan flag, American flag waived …
Ancient #5
Yep, and he is a good cop too:
(Huffpo). I liked Obama’s comment recently that “every vote must count“, and he would be distressed at the wrongful treatment of Mr. Perez.
If preznit blush is criticizing you, chances are you are doing something properly with competence.
Here’s how voters in Texas are responding to shameless republican election tactics:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2...miles-to-vote/
– Tom
TomR #12
Agreed. That is America overcoming Amurka.
It is so sad that Obama has practically 100% of African Americans, and African American superdelegates are running to Obama, making the excuse that he won their districts.
The truth is that Jesse Jackson called some on it, and told them that their careers could be over if they were the reason a black man did not win the Presidency. What did they do, change pledge! This is a race about race, and Obama even mentioned civil rights as a platform last night.
Didn’t that come and go in the sixties? Come on! I find it sad that white men are supporting Obama because they feel a woman would not be a great commander in chief. Truth is, Obama wants all troops withdrawn by the end of 2009. What does that leave us? With an empty Iraq where the Jihad movement will simmer until it explodes back at us?
Also, Imagine Barrack Obama on the steps of the Capital, being sworn in with his “un-proud” wife by his side, “I Barrack HUSSEIN Obama do solemnly swear…” We ousted one Hussein, why put one in our White House?
Men who vote for Obama because they don’t want a female President are liars to the one’s who nurture them the most. Those of you who say to your daughters that they can be anything they put their minds to are liars because you are voting on the basis of gender, and preventing a woman from proving she can make a true change. Black or white, give a woman a chance.
Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania: VOTE SMART, don’t follow a movement, we all know movements disband. Follow experience. Not even Obama’s own supporter (another Senator to say the least) could tell the media about one of his legislative accomplishments, that’s sad. Obama even piggy-backed in his victory speech off of Hillary Clinton when he said he would provide the same health care that the Senators have (02/19/2008). Obviously this man has no original ideas.
Texas, Pennsylvania and Ohio, it’s your turn to tell America enough is enough with this movement of false hope. I am a man and I support Hillary Clinton, the real candidate.
(((((((CLICK BELOW ON VOTE HILLARY TOO SEE IMAGE)))))))))
link
Who exactly is promoting this particular sh*tstorm of an argument? And what do they hope to achieve?
Would that I had the luxury at this dangerous and pivotal moment in history to care whether the next president is a particular color or gender.
As they say, people jumping out windows in burning buildings don’t check the weather first.
Oh, crap, Jesse. Just crap. Has it occurred to you that it might just be that woman voters are running from? Has it occurred to you that we should not be picking a president based on what we can say to our daughters about it? How in the hell do you know blacks, or whites, are switching to Obama for racism or sexism? Balderdash! Mobs are out cheering for Obama because they do not under any circumstances want more of the same, and he is their best chance of not getting it. Maybe not the greatest of best chances, but you just can’t take that away from him… even though you sure seem to be trying to.
First of all, before all of you Obama fanatics start attacking me, we have to realize that none of what I wrote above was made up or “balderdash.”
I watch the news and the interviews alone explain where a large majority of voters who are typically within the range of demographics that Clinton has a tight hold on are siding with Obama. Many men do feel that a woman in the time of war is not equipped to handle the military of the most powerful nation in the world.
In respect to my respondents, I do understand that yes, many people want a clean slate, but a fresh face doesnt make one void of scandal or better qualified to lead the nation.
And so you can have an image of who I am, I am a quarter Spaniard, a quarter filipino, quarter black and a quarter Puerto Rican by ethnicity. I am an even blend of the demographics of the United States, and a male.
Truth be told, Hillary won the IMPORTANT states of the general election (Texas is one of them yet to vote.) The states she won are extremely diverse in race, religion and creed. The states Obama is winning generally consists of states with relatively low non black minority populations.
Explain why Clinton has the Latino Vote, the Asian vote, (originally the black vote), the Native American vote, the Catholic vote? etc. Its is because she appeals more to the true defnition of the United States. She appeals to the melting pot that makes our nation unique.
Obama is gaining momentum because he sounds like a preacher, and when a preacher can give a good talk, we listen, and believe what they say even though they are having affairs with other women in the congregation. No one is without fault, but if you are sold on Obama cause you
lust” his words, ask him about his ACCOMPLISHMENTS. As senator he certaintly should be able to provide an outline of his changes for the betterment of his constituents.
Ask Sentor Clinton, the list will be so long it will outrun in airtime the 44 minutes of Obama;s 02/19/08 victory speech.
Sadly enough however, Clinton fought for the rights of all, and her entire life practically was dedicated to those who are now turning their backs on her. You say no more Clinton Dynasty, you were quick to throw your Governor (the Bush Dynasty) back into the fold.
Clinton isn’t being given a chance to prove that she is NOT Bill, and her administration through hell or high water will drown Bill out of the equation because she believes in HER Presidency and believes in accountability.
If you like beautiful words with no dept to them and no history of change that Obama is rallying for, you go and vote for him, and hope he does what he says he does.
For your information I’m not an Obama fanatic. I am disgusted with the Democratic Party. I will not be happy no matter who is elected, only marginally less disheartened if the Republicans lose the White House. I can, however, see that many, many of my fellow Americans are excited about Obama, and the kids are crazy for him. That does make me hope for them.
Whining about Clinton not being given a chance is just pathetic. There are very few on the face of the earth who have had, and will continue to have, more chances than Hillary Clinton. And she’s had a full year in the spotlight to prove she isn’t Bill. What she’s proven is that she’s every bit as willing to play dirty as Bill or any of the Republicans.
And, face it, a vote for ANY of them is but the hope, assuming you can find any trace of consistency in their promises, that they will do what they say they will do… a hope, I might add, that is almost always proven futile.
People aren’t not voting for HRC because she’s a woman- they aren’t voting because they don’t like her stances on issues and past record.
I can’t think of any intelligent woman who would vote for another woman simply because they were of the same sex. We’ve had enough of that kind of discrimination and it doesn’t make it any more palatable just because it’s coming from a different direction.
A lot of us are not elated about the choices this time around.
Hillary’s big problems, these are just some of them, are her ties to Walmart in the past, some questionable characters funneling money her way in the past, voting for the Iraq war, and showing a top-down style of management that is getting whipped by grass roots organization, a grass roots involving people at the basic level of democracy.
HRC is showcasing her experience in this campaign and that experience isn’t working.
I don’t know who I’m going to vote for but it won’t be for cluster-bomb mama Hillary.
I can’t think of anything more anti-feminist and anti-humanitarian than supporting the use of cluster bombs.
Those are just some of the reasons that she’s losing, it’s not because of a gender issue- well, maybe it is, since Hillary seemed to be trying to stay in step with the big boy warmongers.
Jesse M … 99 has the spirit
In a REJECTION election you find what is least like what it is you are rejecting. Those who think you are for … miss the boat …
Hillary has too much of the image of what we are rejecting.
Obama has far less of what we are rejecting.
And so it is not that we are wildly embracing him, it is that we are wildly rejecting fascism.
We will take a closer look at him in 4 years, if necessary.
Same thing with congress … vote out republicans and democrats who look like bushies … especially republicans.
I appreciate all of your comments and don’t ever wish to offend. I love Hillary, and support her, and I understand your arguments. Sometimes with the excitement of the Obama movement and the nostalgia I have for a good economy as the one we saw during the Clinton years, makes us all excited.
At the end of the day fellow Democrats, lets band together. I dont know about you, but to have a united party, I really feel that we need both of our Candidates on the same ticket. We need unity, and I appreciate that all of you who responded are just as enthusiastic as I am.
God Bless America, God Bless Hillary, and may the best PERSON for America win!
Thank you Jesse.
The best person(s) for America is the one the American voters vote in- in fair, honest, audited elections, primaries and otherwise.
That’s what this board is about. It is not a partisan issue, it’s an American issue.