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FROM KSTP: VOTERS AT BRIAN COYLE CENTER “PRESSURED TO VOTE FOR FRANKEN”
By Michael B. Brodkorb | November 8, 2008
“Omar Jamal, with the Somali Justice Advocacy Center, claims anywhere from six to ten people acting as interpreters inside the polling place inside the Brian Coyle Center, swayed elderly voters, and those who don’t speak English.
Jamal said they all urged voters to mark their ballots for Franken, even if they wanted to cast a vote for Coleman.
In some cases, the interpreters not only pressured people to vote for Franken, but also filled out ballots for voters, according to Jamal.
He told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that he believes this may have happened over 500 times.
‘They were telling people if you vote for Obama and you don’t vote for Al Franken, your vote would not be counted. If you vote for Obama, you have to vote for Al Franken,’ Jamal explained.” Source: KSTP, November 7, 2008
Click here for the complete story.
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10 Responses to “FROM KSTP: VOTERS AT BRIAN COYLE CENTER “PRESSURED TO VOTE FOR FRANKEN””
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November 8th, 2008 at 9:33 AM
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November 8th, 2008 at 10:16 AM
A few Somali cheaters isn’t going to change the result for angry Al. What really matters are the clerks behind the scenes who keep the keys to the ballot boxes when they aren’t open.Hasn’t it occurred to Norm’s people that all these people are members of AFSME and that AFSME is Al’s biggest union supporter? These boxes should not only be locked they should be sealed and Norm’s “watchers” should sign the seal. I think the word went out that Al needed just a few more votes in a few precincts and the loyal members obliged. It’s not hard to change a few ballots.
November 8th, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Of Course KSTP tells only half of the story. WCCO has more”
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ― Allegations have surfaced of voter irregularities involving a paid staffer of Sen. Norm Coleman, and the ramifications could have a profound effect on the outcome of Coleman’s race against Al Franken.
A reporter for the Minnesota Independent, a progressive online publication, was working on a story about voter turnout when she overheard that Republican poll challengers monitoring voting at the precinct had brought in Mahamoud Wardere to help voters translate.
The Coleman campaign confirmed that Wardere is a paid member of their staff.
“I made some calls, found out his name and I confronted him and I said, ‘Are you Wardare?’ And he said, ‘Yes, I am,’” said Priesmeyer. “At that poin I said, ‘Are you working for Norm Coleman’s campaign?’ And he said, ‘No, I am on vacation today.’”
However, Priesmeyer said voters told her that translators were telling them to vote for Coleman.
“I had already spoken to at least three people who told me that translators were telling them to vote for Norm Coleman,” she said.
The issue could end up being the basis of a legal challenge. According to Prof. Joe Daly of Hamline University, state election law has a provision that if there is a deliberate, serious or material violation of state election law, a district court judge must gather the evidence and present it to the presiding officer of the U.S. Senate, who would then decide the merits of the allegations.
The Senate could even revoke the results of the election and decide who would be seated as senator.
The Somali Justice Advocacy Center says they have gotten complaints about Wardare urging voters to vote for Coleman. But Omar Jamal says he has also gotten complaints of voters being pressured to vote for Franken, admitting he had heard complaints centering on both candidates.
Cullen Sheehan, campaign manager for Coleman, said Wardare was working at the polls but he was taking a day off from the campaign, he did nothing inappropriate and he was merely working as an interpreter.
November 8th, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Link with video:
http://wcco.com/election/voter.irregularities.allegations.2.857437.html
November 8th, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Note to those who are doing this- you will be caught- you will go to jail- enjoy your short time of freedom.
November 8th, 2008 at 10:50 AM
I Agree with Wdry Con, if these allegations turn out to be true for either or both of these translators, the full force of the law should kick in!
November 8th, 2008 at 10:57 AM
Jason,
You wrote: “Hasn’t it occurred to Norm’s people that all these people are members of AFSME and that AFSME is Al’s biggest union supporter? These boxes should not only be locked they should be sealed and Norm’s “watchers†should sign the seal.”
My response:
Practice in Minnesota is that all precincts must be staffed by a team of election judges with no more than half the judges in the precinct from the same party.
Ballots are removed from the ballot counter on election day by two judges of different major parties, placed in numbered envelopes and sealed. The seal is then signed by all the judges in the precinct and the seal is only broken in the event of the recount.
This is all to say that there are NOT municipal or county employees with access to loose, voted ballots prior to the recount.
November 8th, 2008 at 2:36 PM
Senator Amy had a representative at the Coyle center too according to one report I read on Election day/night. The place must have been crawling with campaign workers and politicians who weren’t from the precinct. In violation of election law.
November 8th, 2008 at 4:27 PM
Klobuchar’s staffer was there after a VOTER called them for help. The staffer went in with three voters who specifically asked for help. That’s within the law.
Try again Marge.
November 8th, 2008 at 8:42 PM
DJZ: Who cares. The whole thing is a non-story. Why are so wrapped around the axle.