"Democrats prepare to battle voter fraud"

The Equinox (NH):

With concerns over possible voter "irregularities" for the upcoming presidential election, work is underway by candidates and groups to ensure legitimacy at the ballots in 2008.

Voter fraud, electronic ballots, and discriminatory registration are issues the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has familiarized itself with over the past several years, said DNC Chairman Howard Dean following the democratic debates at Dartmouth College.

The DNC has armed itself with a "voter protection unit" of 7,000 volunteer lawyers trained in the field of local election law and are ready to be dispatched "at the drop of a hat," said Dean.

"There's been an enormous effort on our part to ensure that these elections are legitimate," said Dean. "If we think there's any funny business going on, we can get a lawyer there in 15 minutes."

Dean said the DNC has been working with election officials nationwide to address these issues and will continue to investigate problems with electronic voting machines.

With talks of moving the New Hampshire primary to December, a time when most college students are on winter break, absentee ballot education is an item on the agenda for state officials, said Ray Buckley, chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party.

"Students can vote absentee for any reason," said Buckley. "We'll make efforts to ensure people know how to vote absentee as soon as the secretary of state sets the date."

At a recent speech by Sen. John Kerry, Mass., at the University of Florida, a student journalist who asked Kerry why he conceded the 2004 elections despite allegations of voter irregularities was Tased and arrested by police.

Despite Wednesday's debates being held on a college campus, issues surrounding the student and the greater question of voter fraud were not part of the dialogue.

"I was the only candidate to speak out against the 2004 election in Ohio," said Rep. Dennis Kucinich after the debate. "People need to know that their vote will be counted. There is a great deal of skepticism in this country over the legitimacy of the Electoral College."

In addition to doing away with the Electoral College, Kucinich said he believes lowering the voting age to 16 would help engage young people.

"What better way to bring them into the system? We treat 18 year olds like babies. I might be 60, but I remember young people having the ability to make their own decisions," said Kucinich.

Presidential hopeful Mike Gravel said the need to investigate elections is critical.

"In a situation like that [voter fraud], I would demand a total recall of the votes," Gravel said after the debate. "I have no confidence in the U.S. election process. We need to go back to paper ballot with a pencil. Right now."