Hall adviser fired, linked to Ohio voting fraud probe
By Alexa James
Times Herald-Record
October 29, 2008
NEW PALTZ — Congressman John Hall (D-Dover Plains) fired one of his long-time campaign advisers Tuesday, after learning that she’s embroiled in voter fraud investigations in Ohio.
Amy Little, 49, has been a registered Democrat in New York since 1991, and Ulster County election officials said she voted in the party primary here in February.
But in October, Little registered to vote in Ohio. On her registration paperwork, she indicated she moved from her home at 142 Guilford Schoolhouse Road in New Paltz to a place at 1979 N. 4th St. in Columbus, near Ohio State University.
That Ohio address also doubles as headquarters for a grassroots get-out-the-vote group called Vote Today Ohio. The organization’s pro-Obama Web site says it targets “young people from campus/urban centers” and drives them to early voting sights in Ohio. The group also offers housing to out-of-town members.
Franklin County Board of Elections officials said four people, including Little, registered from Vote Today Ohio’s address in October, just before the state’s deadline. Little requested an absentee ballot, which election officials said she has submitted.
According to Ohio election laws, voters must reside in the state at least 30 days prior to the election and must intend to stay there after November.
“It can’t be a temporary location that you just moved to for work, such as people who would come to Ohio from out of state to work on a political campaign,” said Ben Piscitelli, spokesman for the county board of elections.
Little insists she’s playing by the rules. “I’ve been living in Ohio,” she said, when reached on her home phone in New Paltz Wednesday morning. “I have no intention of voting in New York,” she said, before cutting off the conversation, saying she had a flight to catch to Ohio.
Spokeswoman Pam Kapoor, with Vote Today Ohio, said Little moved into the group’s headquarters a couple months ago, along with several other "core members."
Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Ron O’Brien confirmed that Little’s name and address are under scrutiny.
Franklin County Board of Elections Director Michael Stinziano said his office has about 160 allegations pending, including “many” directed at Little and Vote Today Ohio. Election fraud in Ohio is a felony.
Rep. Hall’s campaign isn’t waiting for a verdict. The freshman congressman, who’s running for re-election in the 19th district, heard about Little’s problems Tuesday. “The moment we heard about it, her campaign consulting contract was terminated,” said Campaign Director, Susan Spear.
Hall's campaign paid Little $11,139 in consulting and travel fees over the last nine months. The payments were sent to her New Paltz address.
4 comments:
On a positive note, the Congressman did fire her. The real issue is that we don't take voting seriously. We set ourselves up for election fraud with the Motor-Voter law. Thank you Democrats. They knew in 1993 which party would benefit. Registering to vote should be a rigorous process during which residency is strictly confirmed. And a state's list of voters should be bounced against those of other states.
Lee, Kudos to Congressman Hall, no doubt about that, but I wonder if it wasn't more that he didn't want the stain on his hands than an ethical or moral decision, but that's just my natural inclination to suspicion.
I've always wondered if you could register to vote in numerous states and where are the checks and balances? Anybody out there know if there are any checks and balances at all?
Thank the dear Lord, here in Georgia, at least we passed the bill that you have to have identification to VOTE! VN8
Interesting... Judge rules Ohio homeless can use park benches as address to vote
Obama will be in Lake County, IN Friday and
Rokita wants charges filed against ACORN in Lake County
and we do have to have our ID to vote here.
Probably more damage control than anything else. The "nah, nah, nanny-goaters" can't cry much if the issue is already resolved.
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