Hey Abbott! (TX Atty. Gen.) - got yer *real* voter fraud right here! (Polk County)

[tbyg52]

Background on millions spent on "voter fraud" that wasn't:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=502829&mesg_id=502829
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=487359&mesg_id=487359

From the Texas Observer, 10/3/2008:

The Winnebago Vote
How 12,000 RVers tilt East Texas elections.
Forrest Wilder | October 03, 2008 | Features

In a place called Rainbow’s End, amid towering East Texas pines and hulking Winnebagos, sits an unremarkable, gray-brick building that is home to the biggest and most influential voting bloc in Polk County. No one actually lives at 100 Rainbow Drive, but the building hosts 12,000 registered voters.

The 10,000-square-foot building houses a massive mail-forwarding service, the largest in the nation. The service is geared toward recreational vehicle enthusiasts and allows them to receive mail—and vote by mail in Polk County elections—from wherever they happen to be. Known as the Escapees, the mostly white-haired RV owners have—in theory at least—exchanged fixed abodes for a life zipping across America in mobile mansions. These 12,000 overwhelmingly Republican voters—some of whom have never even set foot in the area—have helped erode what was once a stronghold of yellow dog Democrats deep in the Piney Woods of Texas. To some, the operation allows the Escapees to enjoy life on the open road. To critics, it is voter fraud on a grand scale.

The state of Texas, with its notorious residency requirements, recognizes the Escapees as Polk County residents even though many have never been here. In fact, they need only enter Texas once—to get driver’s licenses—to become residents.

Some Escapees aren’t even full-time RVers. They own homes elsewhere, spend seasons in other states (Arizona and California are popular), and though technically Texas residents, probably couldn’t tell a bluebonnet from a bluebird. What Escapees have escaped from is a state income tax, which is levied in 43 states, but not in Texas.

Since 2005, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has spent millions criminally prosecuting Democratic Party activists, almost all minorities, for infractions such as not including their signatures and addresses on the backs of ballots they mailed for senior citizens (see “Vote by Mail, Go to Jail,” April 18, 2008).

The Escapees’ mail-forwarding service involves the possession of thousands of ballots. The envelopes aren’t signed.

“It just struck me as odd that you would have the AG taking a somewhat inconsistent approaches to two different groups of people,” Hebert says. The case was settled before Hebert could raise the issue in a trial. But he contends that Republican attorneys general have a track record of protecting the Escapees.

More (and please consider subscribing to the dead tree edition of the Texas Observer!):
http://www.texasobserver.org/article.php?aid=2860

[Kurovski]

1. Thanks, tbyg52. I'm glad to see you here...K&R

"Hey Abbot!! :rofl:

I'm on the run, so i've bookmarked you.

[sonias]

2. Hey maybe we should Abbott a copy tbyg52

What do you think? I bet he'll just pass it by once again like he did the other voter fraud case in Plano. Because you know when the Rs commit it then it's not fraud. It's only certain people they don't like voting - people who vote Democratic.

Great article! I am a subscriber to the Texas Observer but I've been too busy to read this article. I do have the paper version too.

Sonia

[tbyg52]

3. Yep. You're a Republican if

you believe there's one set of rules for "us" and another set for "them." Works just fine as long as you never become "them."

[tbyg52]

4. One more rec for a good 'ol ER thread....? ;->

[OnTheOtherHand]

5. yabetcha

Fascinating story.

[bertman]

6. So you're telling me I could get a Texas driver's license, become an Escapee, then vote TWICE?

Once in my real home state (where I'm not really a resident because I claim Texas residency and not paying state income tax) and again in Texas.

Or are you saying that these folks are just throwing the Republican vote to their candidates in Polk County AND in Texas at large?

Or, are you just saying that the AG is letting the Escapees slide when they don't sign the envelopes? And not letting Dems slide when they forget to sign and date?

Just trying to get this straight. Thanks for posting the info.

[sonias]

7. Heck we have a live voter fraud republican running for Congress

Pete Olsen who is running against Congressman Nick Lampson U.S. Texas Dist 22 Yes that's Tom DeLay's old district. That's why they found another crook to run in the race.

Burnt Orange Report 10/1/08
Pete Olson Could Face Voter Fraud Charges

Law only allows you to vote where you live. Pete Olson either doesn't know the law or he thinks he is above it.

Documents obtained by the Lone Star Project show that Republican congressional challenger Pete Olson (Texas CD22 - Houston) voted in both the State of Virginia and the State of Connecticut during a five month period in 2003. By remaining on the voter rolls and casting ballots in both states, Olson may have committed voter fraud. Under Virginia law, a person who intentionally registers to vote in Virginia and any other state or territory is guilty of a felony violation.

The time line is pretty specific.

Connecticut: 9/6/1996 - Olson registers to vote in Newtown, CT. ( Federal Post Card Registration and Absentee Ballot Request , Newtown Town Clerk, Received September 4, 1996)

Connecticut: 11/5/1996- 11/4/1997 - lson votes in 2 general elections in Newtown, CT. ( Voter Election History , Peter G. Olson, Newtown Town Clerk, Search conducted April 30, 2008)

Virginia: 2/27/1998 - On Olson's Confirmation of Voting Residence Return Form signed 2/27/2005, Olson indicated that he moved out of Newtown, CT to Annandale, VA on this date. (Confirmation of Voting Residence Return Form , Newtown Town Clerk, Received March 3, 2005)

Much more about the fraudster at the link above. And Greg Abbott our Texas AG isn't that interested in this case either - becuase wait for it....
he's a republican. :grr:

Sonia

[tbyg52]

8. That's the way I read it. (There's a lot more at the link.) nt

[TexasLawyer]

9. Probably also a big state income tax dodge

Texas has no state income tax. Round-about tax time, Texas is a great place to claim as your permanent residence.