SOS downplays reports of voter fraud, tries to head off GOP mischief

He might not say so, but Secretary of State Ross Miller's news conference today was designed to head off rumblings, started by the GOP and fueled by tendentious "newspaper," that voter fraud may be occurring in Nevada.

The Republican operatives, having been crushed by the Democrats in voter registration -- 124,000 edge in Clark County and counting -- have intimated that the new voter registrations are somehow phony or, in their more sane moments, not "quality" voters who will really show up.

This is an all-too-familiar pattern for those of us who have been around a cycle or 10: The Republicans fear Democrats will bring illegal immigrants or, worse, legitimate voters in droves to the polls and swamp them in races they should have won. Where have you gone, Senator Angle, a lonely GOP nation turns its lonely eyes to you?

Republicans already are intimating that Miller went beyond the call in sending out hundreds of thousands of voter forms, some of which ended up in the hands of ex-felons, caused the "newspaper" to take up the cause of the GOP (that was hard) and provoked idiotic headlines such as this one.

I know what the Republicans are doing: They want to lay down the predicate for a challenge if races are close, especially the presidential and U.S. Senate. Fine. Been here, seen that.

But Miller's job is not only to root out voter fraud, but to ensure voter suppression tactics don't work. And, by the way, we will find out how real those voters really are on Nov. 6.

Anyone who doesn't know what is going on here is simply new to the game.

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Here's the SOS release:

Nevadans Advised to Report Potential Voter Registration Fraud or Voting Irregularities Directly to Secretary Of State

Secretary Ross Miller Tells Registered Voters to Double Check Their Registration Status at nvsos.gov/votersearch
Posted Date: 10/11/2012 12:00 PM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Catherine Lu 
             (702) 486-6982 / 334-7953 
             clu@sos.nv.gov  

(October 11, 2012; Las Vegas, NV) - With just days before the October 20th start of early voting in Nevada, Secretary of State Ross Miller tells voters now is the time to verify their status as registered voters, and reminds them that any potential incidents of voter registration fraud or irregularities at the polls should be reported directly to his office. 

"My office and our Elections Integrity Task Force respond to every complaint, and aggressively investigate allegations of voter fraud and irregularities at the polls," said Miller. "We demonstrated our commitment to maintaining the integrity of our registration and polling systems when we investigated ACORN. Our commitment to integrity remains. 

"As a former prosecutor I think it's important to remind Nevadans that when they witness what they think is registration or voter fraud, they should report it to us immediately. I know that the immediate reaction of many people is to report it to the media, or to try to investigate it themselves, but keep in mind that we're talking about criminal activity and the appropriate way to address alleged criminal activity is to report it to the authorities with enforcement jurisdiction. In the case of elections issues, that's my office. The successful investigation and prosecution of any crime is the job of the law enforcement professionals." 

The procedure for reporting potential election law violations is to download and complete an Election Integrity Violation Report form (available in the Election Center of the Secretary of State's website, www.nvsos.gov, or by clicking here) and then mailing or emailing it to the Elections Division. 

Miller also warned that because of allegations of voter registration fraud, some Nevadans may have concerns about their status as registered voters. Registered voters can verify their status and find their general election day polling location in the Secretary of State's online voter registration system, My Voter File, at nvsos.gov/votersearch. To access My Voter File, registered voters must enter their first and last names, date of birth, and a driver's license number or social security number. The system will securely provide information on the individual's voting history, a list of elected officials, election precinct, party affiliation, and address. 

If you find yourself not registered, you will need to visit your county clerk's office or registrar of voters' office in person by Tuesday, Oct. 16, or you will not be eligible to vote in the general election. Voters who need to change party affiliation or update their address in time for the general election must also do so at their respective county clerk's or registrar of voters' office by Tuesday, Oct. 16. A complete list of registrars and clerks can be found at the "Election Center" on the Secretary of State's website at www.nvsos.gov or by clicking h

 

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