Tuesday, August 20, 2002

Today's the Big Day for Space Cadet Cynthia
WXIA in Atlanta hits some of the high points, including the bogus automated telephone endorsements from Andy Young, but I liked:
11Alive News received dozens of calls from Fourth District residents Monday night who got the following recorded election message:

"This is an official notice for Republican voters. It is a violation of state and federal law to attempt to vote in a Democratic primary without proper documentation. State and federal enforcement officials will be monitoring polling places closely tomorrow for violations of the law. Do not risk violating the law by trying to vote in a Democratic primary without the proper documents. Go to www.sos.state.ga.us for information about Georgia voting law."

The race is an open primary and Georgia does not have registration. Therefore, any voter can vote in either the Democratic or the Republican party as long proper identification is available.

11Alive News could not confirm who was responsible for the calls.
Since the McKinney campaign's sleazy arsenal includes a full range of phony telephone messages, you don't need Columbo on this case. But I'm sure the hanky panky will reach its peak today at the polls (and after).
Both campaigns have hired lawyers to protect their prospective constituents for Tuesday's vote. The increased vigilance comes as the result of a controversy two years ago.

In that controversy at DeKalb County's Stoneview Elementary School, the McKinney campaign charged voters were kept out, though they were on line at closing time.

Congresswoman McKinney and her father were accused of campaigning inside the polling place.

They eventually signed a consent order, denying any wrongdoing and no sanctions were imposed. Both sides insist they expect no problems this time but both say they'll protect the right to vote.

"That is something we will be monitoring at every precinct," said McKinney attorney Dwight Thomas.

"We don't want people exerting undue influence over voters or trying to threaten them or harass them," said Michaeleen Crowell, a Majette attorney.

DeKalb County Elections Director Linda Latimore has tried to head-off problems before they happen, "We have hired people to monitor the outside of the precincts for campaign signs and all different things that causes problems in itself right there," she said.

Election officials said they have learned the lessons of Stoneview. The Georgia Secretary of State's office said they will have extra monitors at DeKalb polling places.
Stand by for Cynthia and her dad to raise the dead. Speaking of Dad:
"You have to understand that Cynthia McKinney has done more for Black politics than any person in this country," said, McKinney's father, state Rep. Billy McKinney.
Oddly, Pops didn't explain exactly what that was.