Arizona Secretary of State

Trump’s fraudulent ‘voter fraud’ commission is for GOP voter suppression

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Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that widespread voter fraud caused him to lose the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by almost 3 million votes, even while he won the presidency with an electoral college victory. Without evidence, Trump tells lawmakers 3 million to 5 million illegal ballots cost him the popular vote.

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In pursuit of the delusions of our always insecure egomaniacal Twitter-troll-in-chief, Donald Trump issued an “Executive Order Establishing of Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity.”

Yeah, that’s not at all what this executive order is about. It is about Trump trying to validate his delusions that he won the popular vote but for voter fraud by millions of Americans. Trump’s commission on voter fraud is, well, fraudulent.

There is no evidence to support Mr. Trump’s claims that millions of people voted illegally in 2016, which have been discredited repeatedly by fact-checkers.

Sherrilyn Ifill, the president of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, warned when Trump’s executive order was announced that the commission is “a thinly veiled voter suppression task force,” adding that it was “designed to impugn the integrity of African-American and Latino participation in the political process.” NAACP Legal Defense Fund Statement on Expected Voter Fraud Commission. She is absolutely right.

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A reform agenda for voting rights

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The Arizona Secretary of State emailed me a missive entitled “Preparing For The Future of Voter Registration” in which she says:

MicheleReaganArizona is using an aging, cumbersome voter registration system that could potentially expose the identities and voting behavior of millions of citizens. County election personnel are bogged down engaging in manual processes in order to perform the most fundamental requirements of their job. It’s time to be proactive and take steps to improve efficiency and better ensure our data is secure.

Over the past several months our office has undertaken a complete top-to-bottom review of the more-than decade old registration system. While election officials around the state are well aware of its technological limitations, we’ve come to better understand the unique challenges that will face future election officials as well. As the number of voters continues to grow, the time has come to prepare for the future.

Once we finalize our assessment, we’ll begin working with our county partners to develop a plan for the future. That future must include 21st century cybersecurity protections and a registration system that makes it easier for elections staff to process basic information efficiently.

Election officials around the state have begun the process to transform the way we do business internally, as well as how we will deliver services to voters in the future. I’m looking forward to help spearhead the process and partner with our local officials to usher in this new era.

You will note that the Secretary’s focus is entirely on “a registration system that makes it easier for elections staff to process basic information efficiently,” not on a registration system that makes it easier for citizens to register and to vote.

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So. Arizona General Election 2016 results – updated

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For full statewide results go to Arizona Secretary of State website, https://www.azsos.gov/.  Pima County additional results at www.pima.gov/elections.  Prop 205 (marijuana) is losing, Prop. 206 (minimum wage) is winning.

Listed below are unofficial results for Congressional Districts 1, 2, 3, Arizona Senate & House races in Southern Arizona, Pima County races, Pima Community College and  Tucson Unified School District Governing Board.

UPDATES:  Close races in LD 2 House, LD 10 House, TUSD Governing Board (for 3rd seat). See info below.  Looks like LD 2 House race is decided.

CD 1 House (open seat)

Paul Babeu (R)  90,101

Tom O’Halleran (D)  109,001

Parrish, Ray (G) 11,968

CD 2 House

Dr. Matt Heinz (D)  113,715

Martha McSally (R), incumbent  149,184

CD 3 House

Raul Grijalva (D), incumbent  106,466

 LD 2 Senate

Andrea Dalessandro (D) incumbent  29,783

Shelley Kais (R)  21,813

 LD 2 House (2 seats) – updated, gap is widening

Chris Ackerley (R), incumbent  25,689

Rosanna Gabaldon (D), incumbent  29,056

Daniel Hernandez Jr. (D)  28,635

 LD 3 Senate

Olivia Cajero Bedford (D) incumbent  37,792

 LD 3 House (2 seats)

Edward “Trey” Cizek III (G)  7,928

Sally Gonzales (D), incumbent  32,542

Macario Saldate (D), incumbent  25,118

 LD 9 Senate 

Steve Farley (D) incumbent  56,717

 LD 9 House (2 seats, one open)

Dr.Randy Friese (D), incumbent  43,287

Pam Powers Hannley (D)  38,295

Ana Henderson (R) 34,690

 LD 10 Senate

David Bradley (D) incumbent  41,572

Randall Phelps (R)  35,518

 LD 10 House (2 seats, one open)  TOO CLOSE TO CALL — MAY HAVE TO RECOUNT – updated

Todd Clodfelter (R)  40,011

Kirsten Engel (D)  40,350

Stefanie Mach (D), incumbent  39,831

 LD 11 Senate

Ralph Atchue (D)  30,973

Steve Smith (R), incumbent  44,444

 LD 11 House (2 seats)

Mark Finchem (R), incumbent  39,573

Corin Hammond (D)  32,494

Vince Leach (R), incumbent  36,972

 LD 14 Senate

Jaime Alvarez (D)  28, 310

Gail Griffin (R) incumbent  47,266

LD 14 House (2 seats – open)

Mike Holmes (D)  24,840

Drew John (R)   43,854

Jason Lindstrom (D)  24,225

Becky Nutt (R)  41,998

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Secretary of State warns against vigilante poll observers on election day

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Arizona Secretary of State Michele Reagan is warning not to engage in illegal conduct on election day.   Secretary of state issues warnings about behavior at polls on election day:

Seeking to avoid confrontation between voters and self-styled poll watchers, Secretary of State Michele Reagan warned Wednesday what will and will not be tolerated at polling places next week.

Some of what Reagan outlined is already law, like who can remain inside polling places and a ban on photos and videos there. And she reiterated that there is no electioneering within 75 feet.

But the key is her warnings of what is unacceptable to occur outside that 75-foot perimeter, an area where partisans can watch and even try to influence voters.

trumpintimidationHer list includes everything from demanding that prospective voters must provide credentials and erecting signs listing the penalty for voter fraud to the “aggressive or ostentatious display of weapons.”

The warning comes amid claims by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump that the election is “rigged” and that people who are not citizens will be casting ballots.

Trump has repeatedly suggested his supporters need to personally keep an eye on what is happening at polling places. That includes statements at one rally to “check out areas because a lot of bad things happen, and we don’t want to lose for that reason.”

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Political topography of Arizona

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Arizona Secretary of State voter registration  totals as of Aug. 30, 2016: 7 of 15 Arizona Counties have more Democrats registered than Republicans in:Apache, Coconino, Greenlee, Navajo, Pima, Santa Cruz, Yuma Counties. If you’re wondering where these counties are, here’s a map of the 15 counties. So most of the Democratic counties are in the Northeast and … Read more