U.S. congressional elections in 2006/Election Irregularities

Numerous reports of election irregularities surrounded the 2006 congressional elections. These included voter fraud, efforts to suppress turnout, problems with electronic voting machines, and reports of illegal robo-calls around the country. This page chronicles the varying reports, organizing them by state.

Arizona
On Election Day, Nina Perales, a lawyer for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), claimed that three men were consistently approaching Latino voters and intimidating them on their way to vote at a polling place in Yuma, Arizona. Specifically, she claimed the following repeatedly occurred:
 * As Latino voters came out of their cars and walked towards the polls, one person videotaped them.
 * Another person, wearing an American flag bandana and a shirt with the image of a badge embroidered on it, approached the voters with a clipboard. While this person talked to the voters, the cameraperson moved towards the voters and began videotaping their face.
 * As this occurred, a third man, wearing a shirt with an American flag on it and possessing a gun visible in a side-holster, stood next to the voters.

Perales' group contacted the Department of Justice and the FBI, who asked her group to keep an eye on the situation. 

California
During the 2006 campaign, there were reports of malicious automated telephone calls (robo-calls) in California congressional districts. For a detailed account of these reports, see the Congresspedia article on robo-calls in the 2006 elections.

Connecticut
During the 2006 campaign, there were reports of malicious automated telephone calls (robo-calls) in Connecticut congressional districts. For a detailed account of these reports, see the Congresspedia article on robo-calls in the 2006 elections.

Colorado
On Election Day, Democratic Party officials reported that numerous Latino voters in Colorado claimed that in both automated and live calls, they were told that their ethnicity made them ineligible to vote in the elections. The calls also threatened that Latinos would be arrested at polling places if they did attempt to vote, according to Democratic Party sources. Democratic House candidate Angie Paccione, who challenged Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.), said that at least two complaints were filed in the district in which she was running. A source in Musgrave’s campaign categorically denied that the GOP was responsible for any such calls and said Musgrave had not received any complaints about voter intimidation. 

During the 2006 campaign, there were reports of malicious automated telephone calls (robo-calls) in Colorado congressional districts. For a detailed account of these reports, see the Congresspedia article on robo-calls in the 2006 elections.

Florida
In Florida’s Thirteenth Congressional District, electronic voting machines in Sarasota County reported 18,382 voters (about 13 percent of the voters in the county) did not cast a vote for either Republican Vern Buchanan or Democrat Christine Jennings. The rate was substantially higher than that of any other county in the district. A recount of the ballots began on November 13, and by state law, was required to be completed by November 18. State auditors also scrutinized the Sarasota count, although their investigation was not expected to be completed before state officials declared a winner in the race. 

During the 2006 campaign, there were reports of malicious automated telephone calls (robo-calls) in Florida congressional districts. For a detailed account of these reports, see the Congresspedia article on robo-calls in the 2006 elections.

Georgia
During the 2006 campaign, there were reports of malicious automated telephone calls (robo-calls) in Georgia congressional districts. For a detailed account of these reports, see the Congresspedia article on robo-calls in the 2006 elections.

Illinois
During the 2006 campaign, there were reports of malicious automated telephone calls (robo-calls) in Iowa congressional districts. For a detailed account of these reports, see the Congresspedia article on robo-calls in the 2006 elections.

Indiana
During the 2006 campaign, there were reports of malicious automated telephone calls (robo-calls) in Indiana congressional districts. For a detailed account of these reports, see the Congresspedia article on robo-calls in the 2006 elections.

Iowa
During the 2006 campaign, there were reports of malicious automated telephone calls (robo-calls) in Iowa congressional districts. For a detailed account of these reports, see the Congresspedia article on robo-calls in the 2006 elections.

Kansas
During the 2006 campaign, there were reports of malicious automated telephone calls (robo-calls) in Kansas congressional districts. For a detailed account of these reports, see the Congresspedia article on robo-calls in the 2006 elections.

Kentucky
On Election Day, a poll worker in Louisville, Ky. was arrested after he was accused of assaulting a voter. The worker, whose name was not immediately released, was charged with interfering with an election and fourth-degree assault after he choked and pushing the voter out of a door at the polling place. Election officials called the police and when an officer arrived, the voter expressed his wish to file charges. 

Maryland
In the days preceding the election, the reelection campaign of Republican Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich and the Senate campaign of Republican Lieutenant Governor Michael S. Steele posted signs in Philadelphia, Pa. offering $100 cash, breakfast, lunch, and dinner in exchange for distributing campaign literature at polling places. On Election Day, at least six busloads of poor and homeless Philadelphians were taken to Maryland, where after a two-hour bus ride, they were greeted early in the morning by Maryland First Lady Kendel Ehrlich, who thanked them as they were outfitted in T-shirts and hats with the logo for Ehrlich’s reelection campaign. The volunteers then handed out voter guides paid for by committees supporting Gov. Ehrlich and Steele. The guides, labeled “Ehrlich-Steele Democrats” and “Official Voter Guide,” did not mention that both candidates were Republicans. It also pictured three prominent black Democratic leaders above the words, “These are OUR Choices” - suggesting that Ehrlich and Steele had the trio’s endorsement. Many of the volunteers expressed outrage at the operation, later claiming they had been duped. 

During the 2006 campaign, there were reports of malicious automated telephone calls (robo-calls) in Maryland congressional districts. For a detailed account of these reports, see the Congresspedia article on robo-calls in the 2006 elections.

Missouri
On November 1, 2006, four employees of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), a group aimed at improving minority and low-income communities, were indicted on charges of voter fraud in Kansas City, MO. Investigators said questionable registration forms for new voters were collected and submitted by these individuals. For example, the Kansas City Election Board reported that they found seven applications from one person and an application for a dead man. Some application cards had false addresses, signatures and phone numbers. Ray James, a worker from the board, noted “There is some motive behind it -- this is not accidental.”

ACORN officials immediately announced that those indicted were fired. 

Montana
During the 2006 campaign, there were reports of malicious automated telephone calls (robo-calls) in Montana congressional districts. For a detailed account of these reports, see the Congresspedia article on robo-calls in the 2006 elections.

Nebraska
During the 2006 campaign, there were reports of malicious automated telephone calls (robo-calls) in Nebraska congressional districts. For a detailed account of these reports, see the Congresspedia article on robo-calls in the 2006 elections.

New Hampshire
During the 2006 campaign, there were reports of malicious automated telephone calls (robo-calls) in New Hampshire congressional districts. For a detailed account of these reports, see the Congresspedia article on robo-calls in the 2006 elections.

New Mexico
On November 5, 2006, the New Mexico Democratic Party accused the state Republican Party of calling Democratic voters and falsely telling them that their polling place had changed. While the GOP admitted this happened once, it claimed it was a mistake. New Mexico Democratic Party director Matt Farrauto, however, said the GOP had given incorrect information to several Democrats. He stated, “I am standing in front of four people who had it happen to them, and there’s a fifth woman who contacted me this morning.” The Democrats subsequently requested that a judge immediately bar the GOP from calling any registered Democratic voters in the state. The judge agreed to issue the injunction. 

During the 2006 campaign, there were reports of malicious automated telephone calls (robo-calls) in New Mexico congressional districts. For a detailed account of these reports, see the Congresspedia article on robo-calls in the 2006 elections.

New York
Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of former president Bill Clinton and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), was turned away at a polling station because her name did not appear in a book of registered voters. Investigators found that her name had been sent to the wrong polling station, and that she would not be allowed to vote. She was offered the alternative of an affidavit vote, similar to a provisional ballot. 

During the 2006 campaign, there were reports of malicious automated telephone calls (robo-calls) in New York congressional districts. For a detailed account of these reports, see the Congresspedia article on robo-calls in the 2006 elections.

North Carolina
During the 2006 campaign, there were reports of malicious automated telephone calls (robo-calls) in North Carolina congressional districts. For a detailed account of these reports, see the Congresspedia article on robo-calls in the 2006 elections.

Ohio
In Ohio’s First Congressional District, Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) tried to use his Ohio driver’s license as his identification at a polling place. He was told, however, that his license was issued to his business office and not his home, which was his voting address. Chabot returned about 10 minutes later with a bank statement and a Social Security Administration statement in hand, which was accepted.  In Ohio’s Second Congressional District, Rep. Jean Schmidt’s (R-Ohio) optical scan ballot did not work properly. (here)

Pennsylvania
During the 2006 campaign, there were reports of malicious automated telephone calls (robo-calls) in Pennsylvania congressional districts. For a detailed account of these reports, see the Congresspedia article on robo-calls in the 2006 elections.

Oklahoma
In Oklahoma, a squirrel chewed through an electric cable, cutting off power to voting machines in several polling stations. 

South Carolina
In South Carolina, Republican Gov. Mark Sanford was turned away from a polling location because he did not have the proper ID. He presented a driver's license, but because he had the address of the Governor’s Mansion on it rather than that of his Sullivan’s Island, S.C. home, there was no match on the poll list and he was refused. Sanford returned ninety-minutes later with another acceptable form of identification. 

Tennessee
During the 2006 campaign, there were reports of malicious automated telephone calls (robo-calls) in Tennessee congressional districts. For a detailed account of these reports, see the Congresspedia article on robo-calls in the 2006 elections.

Texas
During the 2006 campaign, there were reports of malicious automated telephone calls (robo-calls) in Texas congressional districts. For a detailed account of these reports, see the Congresspedia article on robo-calls in the 2006 elections.

Virginia
In the days preceding the election, the FBI began investigating possible voter intimidation in Virginia. The probe began after state officials alerted the U.S. Justice Department to several complaints of suspicious phone calls to voters about where they cast ballots and their preferences for the Senate race between Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) and Democratic challenger (and eventual winner) James Webb.  Specifically, state officials documented “dozens of phone calls that were made to heavily Democratic precincts in which the people who were receiving the calls were either given incorrect information about polling sites [or] misdirected about election laws.”

Shawn M. Smith, executive director of the Virginia Republican Party, said the state GOP and the Allen campaign were solely focused on mobilizing votes for Allen. In regards to the allegations, he stated, “We are not aware of any such activities taking place and are skeptical of the claims being made. Nonetheless, we condemn such activities if they are being conducted by outside organizations.”  (MSNBC report on robo-calls)

One Clarendon, Virginia resident, Tim Daly, found a message on his voice mail threatening him with arrest if he showed up to vote. It stated, “This is the Virginia Elections Commission…We've determined you are registered in New York to vote. Therefore, you will not be allowed to cast your vote... If you do show up, you will be charged criminally.”

Also in Virginia, Democratic supporters reported that they received phone calls claiming their polling stations changed, as well as fliers, paid for by the Republican National Committee, saying: “Skip this election.” Also in Virginia, the Webb campaign was hurt by glitches in electronic voting machines. In some voting stations, only Webb’s first name appeared on the initial screen that guided voters through the ballot process. In addition, on some machines, Sen. Allen’s party affiliation was deleted. 

Wisconsin
During the 2006 campaign, there were reports of malicious automated telephone calls (robo-calls) in Wisconsin congressional districts. For a detailed account of these reports, see the Congresspedia article on robo-calls in the 2006 elections.

Related SourceWatch/Congresspedia articles

 * 110th United States Congress
 * American Center for Voting Rights
 * Bev Harris
 * BlackBoxVoting.com
 * BlackBoxVoting.org
 * Diebold Election Systems
 * E-voting
 * Election Systems & Software, Inc. (ES&S)
 * Electoral fraud
 * Political microtargeting
 * Progressive Policy Council
 * Voting machine

August 2006

 * Editorial: "Voter Suppression in Missouri," New York Times, August 10, 2006.

September 2006

 * Ovetta Wiggins, Eric Rich and Hamil R. Harris, "2 Candidates Question Vote In Pr. George's," Washington Post, September 16, 2006. re Prince George's County, Maryland, election
 * Ed Felten, "'Hotel Minibar' Keys Open Diebold Voting Machines," Freedom to Tinker Blog, September 18, 2006.
 * Phil Tajitsu Nash, "Another Stolen Election?" Asian Week, September 29, 2006.

October 2006

 * News Release: "Media Briefing on New Voter Suppression Strategies; Report Suggests Disenfranchisement in Battleground States and House Districts," U.S. Newswire, October 4, 2006.
 * Richard Wolf, "New voter registration laws leave thousands off the rolls," USA TODAY, October 10, 2006. See articles for American Center for Voting Rights Legislative Fund.
 * Richard Wolf, "Report refutes fraud at poll sites," USA TODAY, October 11, 2006.
 * Brad Friedman, "U.S. Elections Assistance Commission Withheld Report Showing 'Voter Fraud' (as Opposed to ELECTION Fraud) Not a Problem! Democracy Hater, GOP Operative, Thor Hearne of the Phony Anti-American Front Group 'American Center for Voting Rights' is Back Spreading Propoganda for the Republicans! And the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is Set to Help Them in a Hearing this Friday…," The Brad Blog, October 11, 2006.
 * Andi Novick, "Plan for independent exit polls valuable tool for compromised elections to come," OpEdNews, October 12, 2006.
 * Brad Friedman, "The EAC's Buried Report on 'Voter Fraud' — or Actually Lack Thereof — and 'Thor' Hearne's Continuing Loathesome Attempts to Destroy American Democracy. No Wonder Hearne's Phony GOP Front-Group, ACVR, Didn't Want to See the Report Released. They're Named Three Times as the Only Group Forwarding the 'Voter Fraud' Bullshit!" The Brad Blog, October 13, 2006.
 * Brad Friedman, "California Sec. of State Declares All State Voters May Opt to Vote on a Paper Ballot in Mid-Term Election!" The Brad Blog, October 16, 2006.
 * Brad Friedman, "Exclusive: First Bush-Appointed Chair of U.S. Election Assistance Commission Says 'NO STANDARDS' for E-voting Devices, System 'Ripe for Stealing Elections'!" The Brad Blog, October 17, 2006.
 * Michael Peltier, "Florida court bars signs for Foley replacement," Reuters, October 18, 2006.
 * Rob Kall, "Ohio Lawsuit to Reinstate hundreds of thousands of Purged Democratic Voters to be Filed Fri or Monday," OpEdNews, October 18, 2006.
 * News Release: "Pelosi: 'Voter Suppression of Minorities Cannot Be Tolerated'," U.S. Newswire, October 19, 2006.
 * Stephen Crockett, "A Philosophy of Voter Suppression," American Chronicle, October 19, 2006.
 * "Reports: CA Congressional candidate allegedly behind voter suppression attempt," The Raw Story, October 19, 2006. See Loretta Sanchez for more info.
 * Amanda Terkel, "Congressional Campaign Behind Letter Telling Immigrants They Will Be Deported If They Vote," Think Progress, October 19, 2006.
 * Cameron W. Barr, "Officials Probing Possible Theft of Voting Software in Md. Ex-Delegate Says FBI Contacted Her About Disks She Received," Washington Post, October 20, 2006.
 * "People For the American Way Foundation Investigates Voter Purge Concerns in Ohio," People For the American Way, October 20, 2006.
 * Greg Palast, "Recipe for a Cooked Election," Yes! Magazine (Common Dreams), October 21, 2006.
 * "Election security concerns dismissed," Associated Press (Washington Times), October 21, 2006.
 * Lee Russ, "Finally, the MSM discovers the potential for electoral fraud," Watching the Watchers, October 23, 2006.
 * Ben Whitford, "Midterms: Vote or Diebold. An amnesiac president, a new contender for 2008, and fresh questions over e-voting security," comment is free.../Guardian Unlimited (UK), October 23, 2006.
 * Dick Polman, "Losing Elections' Paper Trail: Crisis Waiting To Happen," The Philadephia Inquirer (VoteTrustUSA.org), October 23, 2006.
 * Genevieve Smith, Opinion: "E-Voting Bites. American Prospect: Shock Looms On Nov. 7 From Unproven Voting Systems," October 23, 2006.
 * Brent Budowsky, "Election Warning From Winston Churchill: Do Not Let Them Steal Your Freedom Any More," The Huffington Post, October 24, 2006.
 * Amy Goldstein, "Report Warns of Potential Voting Problems in 10 States," Washington Post, October 25, 2006.
 * James Lileks, "After Regime Change, the Party of the National Mom," Newhouse News Service, October 25, 2006.
 * John F. Sugg, "Blocking ballots. Forget Republicans' spin — they don't want you to vote," creative loafing (Atlanta, GA), October 25, 2006.
 * Andy Ostroy, "Another Stolen Election Headed Our Way? We Talked with Mark Crispin Miller About What Voters Can Do to Prevent It," The Ostroy Report, October 26, 2006.
 * Ernest Partridge, "Reflections on the Eve of Another Rigged Election," Axis of Logic, October 26, 2006.
 * June Kronholz, "New Voting Systems Face Midterm Exam. High-Tech Machines Eliminate Some Problems But Also Introduce Risks," Wall Street Journal Online, October 26, 2006.
 * Mike Himowitz, "Diebold's secret code keeps voters in the dark," Baltimore Sun, October 26, 2006.
 * Frank J. Ranelli, "Electronic voting machines 'hack' off Democrat Jim Webb's name from November ballot," Online Journal, October 26, 2006.
 * John Gideon, "CNN's Lou Dobbs: 'It's a Case of Special Interest Over The National Interest'," The Brad Blog, October 26, 2006.
 * Billmon, "Road Kill," Whiskey Bar, October 26, 2006.
 * Larry Welborn and Tony Saavedra, "12 charged in voter scandal," Orange County Register (CA), October 27, 2006.
 * A. Alexander, Opinion: "Is Karl Rove Planning to Steal Election 2006?" Progressive Daily Beacon, October 27, 2006.
 * Brad Friedman, "Touch-Screen Votes Reportedly Hopping to Republicans in Texas, Missouri and Arkansas…," The Brad Blog, October 27, 2006. "[NOTE: Please Bring a Video Camera to the Polls To Document These Things This Year!!!]"
 * Christian Berthelsen and Christine Hanley, "11 in O.C. charged with voter registration fraud. Dozens of people who thought they were signing up to be Democrats ended up Republican. Those accused in the case are low-level, per-signature workers," Los Angeles Times, October 27, 2006.
 * Robert Kuttner, Editorial: "Hampering the vote," The Boston Globe, October 28, 2006.
 * Stephen Ohlemacher, "Gerrymandering Makes Takeover Tough," Associated Press (New York Daily News), October 28, 2006.
 * Charles Rabin and Darran Simon, "Glitches cited in early voting. Early voters are urged to cast their ballots with care following scattered reports of problems with heavily used machines," Miami Herald (truthout repost), October 28, 2006.
 * Patricia Axelrod, "Renoite sue Sequoia Voting Systems," The Free Press, October 28, 2006.
 * "Wanna Bet Our Votes Count This Year?" Simply Left Behind Blogspot, October 29, 2006.
 * Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman, "Will a shocking new GOP court victory and Karl Rove's attack on Ohio 2006 doom the Democrats nationwide?" The Free Press, October 30, 2006.
 * Brad Friedman, "San Diego County Registrar Sends Pre-Programmed, Election-Ready, Hackable Diebold Touch-Screen Voting Machines Home With Pollworkers on 'Sleepovers' More Than Three Weeks Prior to Election!" The Brad Blog, October 30, 2006.
 * "Voters challenged in NY state race," Associated Press (Boston Herald), October 31, 2006.
 * Steve Vogel and Rosalind S. Helderman, "Requests Hit Record For Absentee Ballots. Continued Delivery Delays Are Feared," Washington Post, October 31, 2006.
 * Andrew Chlders, "Doubts persist on voting machines. Absentee ballot requests more than double," The Capitol (Maryland), October 31, 2006.
 * Guillermo X. Garcia, "S.A. incident spotlights electronic voting debate ," Express-News (MySanAntonio.com), October 31, 2006.
 * Ellen Nakashima, "E-Mail Voting Comes With Risks. Pentagon Warned on Security Issues for Overseas Ballots," Washington Post, October 31, 2006.

November 2006

 * Michael Janofsky, "Diebold demands that HBO cancel documentary on voting machines. Film saying they can be manipulated 'inaccurate'," Bloomberg News (Seattle Post-Intelligencer), November 1, 2006.
 * Ian Urbina, "As Vote Nears, Parties Prepare for Legal Fights," New York Times, November 4, 2006.
 * Prof. Michael Keefer, "The 2006 U.S. Midterms: Another Stolen Election?", GlobalResearch.ca, November 4, 2006.
 * Rachel Konrad, "Voting equipment could get sharper federal scrutiny next year," Associated Press (Mercury News), November 5, 2006.
 * Anthony Wade, "The Consent of the Governed," OpEdNews, November 6, 2006.
 * David A. Lieb, "Mo. Elections Chief in Election Dispute," Associated Press (1010 WINS), November 6, 2006.
 * Dan Wilchins, "Diebold voting machine business should go-analysts," Reuters, November 6, 2006.
 * "Voting problems crop up early on Election Day. Complaints in Ind., Ohio, as poll workers tangle with new machines, rules," MSNBC, November 7, 2006.
 * Douglas Stanglin, "Voting machine problems bedevil multiple states," USA TODAY, November 7, 2006.
 * "Voting Glitches Surface in Ohio, Indiana; Florida Relies on Paper Ballots," Associated Press, Fox News, November 7, 2006.
 * Anick Jesdanun, "Poll Workers Struggle With Vote Machines," Associated Press (San Francisco Chronicle), November 7, 2006.
 * Todd Weiss, "Election 2006: Watchdog groups urge voters to report e-vote problems. Balloting in Ohio, Florida, Tennessee and Pennsylvania is being watched closely," Computerworld.com, November 7, 2006.
 * Nidhi Sharma, "New Equipment Delays Voting In Indiana, Ohio And Florida," All Headline News, November 7, 2006.
 * Holly Yeager, "Concern grows over ballot fraud," Financial Times (MSNBC), November 7, 2006.
 * "Election fixing charges fly in Utah county," Associated Press (CNN), November 7, 2006.
 * Christy Hardin Smith, "Repeat Robocalls Suck? Blame the GOP," firedoglake, November 7, 2006; and "AUDIO: Laura Ingraham Tells Listeners To Jam Voter Protection Hotline," Think Progress, November 7, 2006.
 * Ernesto Londo?o, "Sample Ballots in Pr. George's Misidentify Candidates," Washington Post, November 7, 2006.
 * Justin Rood, "Poll Watcher: Latino Voters Harrassed in AZ," TPM Muckraker, November 7, 2006.
 * LieparDestin, "Men With Guns Harass Latino Voters," Daily Kos, November 7, 2006.
 * Justin Rood, "MD GOP Candidate Recruits Homeless to Pass Out Deceptive Flyers," TPM Muckraker, November 7, 2006. See YouTube video here.
 * Ian Welsh, "Cuyahoga Ohio - No, no, every vote doesn't count, and isn't...," The Agonist, November 7, 2006.
 * Wendy Norris, "CDP Injunction DENIED," Colorado Confidential, November 7, 2006.
 * luaptifer, "Ken Blackwell Outsources Ohio Election Results to GOP Internet Operatives, Again," ePluribus Media, November 7, 2006.
 * Mike McPhee, "Ritter, Perlmutter, Lamborn in; #43 passes, #40 fails," Denver Post, November 8, 2006.
 * Mark K. Matthews, "As 5 counties recount votes, candidate files legal petition," Orlando Sentinel, November 14, 2006.