Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati

Photo courtesy of here.

The other day, for no reason in particular, I remembered all those allegations of Republicans voting in the Democratic primary to stack the deck, so to speak, for John McCain.  I also remembered those stories about how people wanted Rush Limbaugh to face charges for encouraging people to vote in the opposite party’s primary.  And while it turns out that Limbaugh’s ”Operation Chaos” did not land him in court, what about those Republicans who maliciously changed party?  Did anyone in Hamilton County write something like “For one day only” on their statement of party affiliation?  It turns out those forms are a matter of public record.

I cannot guarantee that I have a comprehensive collection from Hamilton County’s party affiliation forms.  There are thousands of these things downtown at the Board of Elections.  But I did get my hand on a few that raise questions about individuals’ motives.

For example, someone named Tonietta Smith, from Oakley, added some things to her form that raise questions.  At the top of the form, she wrote “Democrat Primaries ONLY.” And she apparently crossed out some words on the statement, making the form read as follows:  “...that I desire to be affiliated with and that I support the principles of the ____ Party...” In the blank, she wrote the word “Democrat,” and right under the space she wrote ”TODAY ONLY.”

Donna Plummer filled out her form, stating that she supported the principles of the “Independent Party.” An asterisk next to the line refers to another line where the Precinct Officials either accept or reject the vote.  The form indicates the vote was “accepted,” and the note indicates that Plummer “Voted Democrat Ballot.”

Carol Hesser made her own notes on her form.  She started to write the “D” for “Democrat,” then stopped and wrote “Independent.” This was marked with an asterisk, which referred to the following note, also apparently written by Hesser:  “Voting today on the Democratic Ballot.  I hereby request a change to the Independent Party.  CSH 3/4/08”

Christopher Bartlett’s form has two kinds of handwriting on it.  Apparently, he left the date blank, as well as the line where he was to indicate party affiliation.  Under that line, an arrow points to the following statement:  “I am voting for whom I wish regardless of party affiliation.” The same hand which wrote the word “accept” at the bottom of the form apparently also filled in the date, and the word “Democratic” on the blank line.

Patricia Hinkley tried to have it both ways, stating that she was a member of the “Independent/Democratic” party.  The line on the bottom indicating whether her vote got accepted or rejected is blank.

Don Hinkey apparently did not understand that primary elections are for the respective parties.  He left the line of party affiliation blank, and wrote the following:  “Since when did someone else decide how an American citizen can vote?” At the bottom, lone Precinct Official Kitt Lowe signed off that his vote was accepted.

So what does this mean?  Are these some examples of voters implementing something akin to Limbaugh’s “Operation Chaos”? 

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