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Republican elections commissioner is sure there is no local voter fraud

By Howard B. Owens

Repeated accusations of voter fraud by President Donald J. Trump haven't sat well with Richard Siebert, the Republican election commissioner for Genesee County.

"I take exception to the accusation," Siebert said. "It's an insult to elections commissioners."

Siebert said he and his staff, on both the GOP and Democratic side, work hard to ensure there are free and fair elections locally.

Trump has repeated claims, first made after he won the presidency through a larger margin of electoral college votes, that the only reason he lost the national popular vote by 2.9 million votes to Hillary Clinton is because millions of illegal ballots were cast.

He repeated the claim to members of Congress two days ago and his spokesman Scott Spicer seemed to back up the claim during a press briefing yesterday. This morning on Twitter, Trump said he was going to call for a federal investigation.

Siebert said he isn't aware of evidence to back up the claim and said as far as Genesee County goes it would be very difficult to cast a fraudulent ballot.

The Democrat commissioner, Lorie Longhany, has said that she is also upset by Trump's accusations.

The local voters roles are regularly purged of deceased people, he said, and the state's voter registration requires voters to provide the last four digits of the person's Social Security number, which are checked against records to ensure citizenship.

If a person shows up on Election Day at a polling location and their name isn't in the registration book, but the voter is sure he or she is registered and eligible to vote, the voter can complete an affidavit ballot. That ballot isn't scanned into the voting computer. It is hand checked at the commission office later and both Republic and Democrat staff must agree the ballot was legally cast before it is counted.

"In Genesee County it (voter fraud), I'll tell you, isn't an issue," Siebert said.

Dave Olsen

I agree with the local election commissioners that there isn't a problem here in Genesee County. There's a chance that there are a few issues in heavier populated areas around the country, but I bet it is pretty small. Probably a margin of error that most people would accept. Nothing is perfect. Where the problem lies in New York State anyways is in the registrations, the NY State chairman of the Libertarian Party has been visiting county election offices all across NY and many do not register folks in the party which they have requested to be registered, again Genesee County has honored every request to be counted as a Libertarian that I know of, other counties are not so careful. I'm sure other parties who are not "officially recognized" by New York experience similar things. The real problems are registration, ballot access and making voting more accessible for all US citizens. That's what needs to be addressed. Not to be too redundant, but its not a problem here in Gen. County. Elsewhere big problems. The President calling into question the integrity of vote counts is in my opinion just attempting to fast track a national ID card, which needs to be opposed in any form as it is a direct intrusion into personal privacy. Same old trick, invent a boogie man and then toss out a solution which would have been unthinkable a generation ago. Those of you who voted for Mr.Trump expecting change will be just as disappointed as those who voted for Mr. Obama for the same reason.

Jan 25, 2017, 7:00pm Permalink
Brian Graz

I also feel that "voter fraud" is not likely happening on any scale in this locality. However I am convinced that voter fraud has been a reality for many years and is probably increasing since the national population of illegal immigrants is so large [approx 11M]. There are documented incidences of non-citizens who have a drivers license with photo ID, who have also registered to vote. I have always voted since I became of age in 1969. Since then I have legally lived at 4 different addresses [3 in Genesee County] and have never been asked to show proof of who I was when I have showed up to voted. I didn't realize that I was that well recognized around this area.

It should be no surprise to anyone that there are large numbers of unethical players in the political world that would defraud the process if they could. Also the experts have cited that there is "notable" "inefficient and inaccurate voter registration processes", so a rational person should be able to connect the dots. It's happening... Is it as much as 3+ million(?), it could be. Agreeably there needs to be supporting documentation. Perhaps there is. http://thefederalist.com/2016/10/13/voter-fraud-real-heres-proof/

The logical remedy is to simply require proof [ID] from ALL voters, every time, at the ballot place. The fear that a National ID is a draconian move toward tyranny is rather ludicrous. There are many "national" data-bases [birth certs, social security #, drivers license, visas, mental health medical records], that all [most] Americans are recorded in. We are required to have a photo ID [license] to drive, to get on an airplane, to use our health insurance, to go to Canada, to buy beer, BUT NOT TO VOTE! What's wrong with this picture?

So for Genesee County Election Commissioners Siebert and Longhany to be upset with President Trump's allegations, is blatantly irresponsible, and smells of partisan pandering. Let's face it Trump was neither Democrat or Republican. If Mr. Siebert strongly feels that "I take exception to the accusation... It's an insult to elections commissioners", perhaps he should get out and protest with the vaginas and penises who are seeking to derail our new President. As for me, I'll put my money on The Donald.

Jan 26, 2017, 2:28pm Permalink
david spaulding

well if mr trump says it's so, you better believe him.... he is always right and he never lies.
this man is so close to perfect you had better bow your head when his name is spoken.
praise be to mr trump.

Jan 26, 2017, 6:26pm Permalink
david spaulding

mr trump, take down that wall ........ oh wait a minute, that was a wall on the other side of the world....... sorry..... build that wall ... build that wall .... build that wall

Jan 28, 2017, 1:26pm Permalink
Brian Graz

Yea Dave, you sure got it all figured out... ????? Why don't you tell us when voting became a right in the US, because it wasn't declared as such in the Constitution.

Jan 31, 2017, 1:05am Permalink

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