GOP: Dems urge voter fraud - 10/22/04

GOP: Dems urge voter fraud - 10/22/04

By Doug Guthrie / The Detroit News

SOUTHFIELD - Republican officials complained Thursday that Michigan Democrats are encouraging voter fraud and working to delay the count of statewide ballots Nov.2.

Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer called the allegations 'nonsense.'

The state on Wednesday appealed a federal court order forcing Michigan officials to follow federal law enacted following claims of voter disenfranchisement during the 2000 national election. Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, a Republican, was ordered Tuesday to count so-called provisional ballots cast for federal offices - president or Congress - by voters who show up at the wrong precinct. The voter only has to be in the right city, township or village.

Republicans complained Thursday that counting provisional ballots could put the state's election tabulations in doubt for days or weeks. Ballots cast outside of the voter's proper polling place also will result in having nothing counted except the vote for president.

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