Melowese Richardson
Melowese Richardson, Ohio poll worker, doesn’t understand why she’s being investigated for voter fraud. Oh, she voted at least twice, no doubt about that, and she doesn’t deny it: According to Hamilton County records, Richardson’s absentee ballot was filed on Nov. 1, 2012 along with her signature. Later, she told an official she also voted at a precinct polling place because she was afraid her absentee ballot would not be counted in time. Double voting is something of a family tradition, for Richardson’s granddaughter, India Richardson, also cast two ballots in November, her first time as a voter. Melowese sees nothing wrong with any of this, or this either: absentee ballots for Montez Richardson, Joseph Jones and Markus Barron all came from Richardson’s Whetsel Avenue address, were received by the board the same time as Richardson’s, and the handwriting on all four of them was similar.
“Markus Barron lives here. Joseph Jones is my brother. He’s here from time-to-time. I am Montez’s power-of-attorney. I voted for her in her absence,” said Richardson. “There’s absolutely no intent on my part to commit voter fraud.” Indeed, she feels persecuted by the voter fraud charges that she will likely face, and vows to fight them. “I’ll fight it for Mr. Obama and for Mr. Obama’s right to sit as president of the United States,” she says.
Certainly Ms. Richardson is unique, since, as we were lectured repeatedly by Democrats and the media before the election, there is no such thing as voter fraud and efforts to prevent the kind of practice Richardson’s entire family apparently engages in without hesitation or remorse are simply racist efforts to suppress voting by minorities. She and her grandaughter are rare and miraculous living manifestations of otherwise mythical entities, like unicorns. With that caveat, however, her rationalizations are instructive.
She views voting as a casual sort of game, like the lottery: the more you vote, the surer you are that you’ll have a vote counted! Who can argue with that? The fact that the naive among us believe that one vote per citizen is sufficient (as well as the legal limitation) is really our problem, and if Melowese Richardson’s careful judgments regarding candidates for office have two, or three, or five times as much influence in elections as her less dedicated neighbors, why, how is that her fault? Thanks to the lack of sufficient monitoring of absentee votes and the lack of voter ID requirements, the neighbors have as much opportunity to cast multiple votes as she does. Don’t tell Melowese it is isn’t “fair.”
She also nicely demonstrates the ethical jujitsu that “the ends justifies the means” philosophy achieves. Since her multiple votes are directed at asserting Barack Obama’s right to be president—not privilege, now, but right—well, her multiplicity of ballots is as noble as fighting at Bunker Hill and marching at Selma.
She probably thinks we’re the ethics dunces. In fact, I’m sure she does.
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Facts: WCPO
Graphic: Aznewage
Ethics Alarms 
As long as we believe that people ought not be tied to their vote for privacy reasons, we will never have “fully honest” elections. To protect our right to privacy we sacrifice the best safeguards and protections for adequate safeguards and protections.
Does this make it a conflict or a dilemma?
Conflict. Integrity vs Privacy.
Ablativ is absolutely right. Every ballot I have ever mailed, every ballot I have ever posted has my name and address on the envelope as well as my party affiliation.
Not just that, but any vote cast IN PERSON is, in fact, recorded.
Untrue – your local election authority (city, county, whatever) knows exactly how you vote, and has since you started voting.
They just don’t make those records PUBLIC.
Democrats and/or the media never stated that voter fraud does not exist. They hold that it does not occur in significant enough numbers to warrant the measures proposed by some state legislatures.
In the article you linked to, it states that out of 80 cases of voter fraud investigated, they were down to 19 because the rest turned out to be cases of misunderstanding (either on the part of the voter or the poll worker). It is most likely that when they complete their investigation of the remaining 19, the number of misunderstandings will be even larger, because that is usually the result of these incidents.
The voter i.d requirements proposed by Republican legislatures would not have prevented Melowese Richardson from committing voter fraud. There were already laws on the books requiring that the poll workers flag the names of absentee voters in the poll signature book. This is a case of the existing law not being followed (incompetence), and the fact that it has come to the attention of officials is also testament to the effectiveness of the laws already in effect, not the need for more.
The point, Jan, is that I doubt that Melowese’s attitude toward voting integrity or the acceptability of cheating to elect “the right” candidate is uncommon, and while such attitudes flourish, every possible safeguard on the voting process is desirable, whether it inconvenience some casual voters or not.
Especially dangerous when this attitude is held by a poll worker.
A POLL WORKER! The very person on the front line of stopping voter fraud. Remember, reported cases of voter fraud come from these workers…. Can’t investigate what doesn’t get reported.
I should add that I totally agree with the premise of your post as to Melowese’s ethics and attitude toward the voting process.
Dang, I didn’t get the part about my agreement with you posted in time. It was negligent of me not to include it in my original post. I have made my opinions about the voter i.d. laws clear many times, so don’t feel the need to go into it here.
I assumed you were focusing on the part you took issue with Jan. If you had agreed with her that she wasn’t doing anything wrong, I’d be worried about you.
“It is most likely that when they complete their investigation of the remaining 19, the number of misunderstandings will be even larger, because that is usually the result of these incidents.”
Unless the term ‘misunderstanding’ is being used very loosely here I don’t see how this example is a “misunderstanding”. As a former Hamilton County Poll Worker and Precinct Judge I know from experience these “misunderstandings” are covered not only in the mandatory, annual class but also the annually issued Poll Worker handbook. I think the term “misunderstanding” is being used to avoid calling it what it is . . . a felony. A “misunderstanding” is showing up at the wrong restaurant for a lunch date.
On a side note – thanks for finding my unicorn Jack, I’ve been looking high and low for him since I fell off at the playground.
Of course the example Jack gave is not a misunderstanding, and I never meant to imply that it was. Indeed she has violated the law, and should suffer the consequences. Sheesh.
I am truly sorry if I implied the wrong ‘tone’ with my comment. The response I gave was directed at the article you quoted (“. . . the number of misunderstandings will be even larger . . .”), not at you directly. I read all of your comments and understand your stance; I was taking a jab at the politically correct version of voter fraud. Please accept my apology for any ‘misunderstanding’ between us.
Are they more onerous than ID requirements for purchasing a firearm from a federally-licensed dealer?
Or getting on a bloody PLANE?
No, they’re not. And I think we should be consistent about questioning requirements for firearms, just as we are with voting. It should not be a burden to exercise a constitutional right, whether it’s voting or buying a firearm. That does not mean steps should not be taken to make sure people are exercising that right responsibly. Current voter identificaiton requirements seem to be taking care of a vast majority of the problems with voter fraud. If we can figure out a way to prevent the vast number of illegal firearms being used to commit crimes, without imposing a “poll tax” on gun users, we should do it.
“Current voter identificaiton requirements”
What, like needing to show a valid death certificate in Illinois? I mean, come on – having to show a photo ID to buy a gun isn’t a burden, but having to show one to vote is?
I think I’m agreeing with you, but if you want to argue . . . .
Voter fraud of this or really any nature should be a capital offense. In our society, stealing votes undermines the foundation of what a democracy is. She is attempting to enslave those who don’t agree with her politically. Not surprising at all which party she favors.
It’s amusing to me how this particular debate tends to flow. Evidently, Dems are the only ones perpetrating voter fraud, Dems insist it happens rarely, Reps are ferocious about instituting more rigid/rigorous rules to prevent fraud in ways that tend to disenfranchize minorities and the poor, and the so-called experts can’t identify more than a handful of actual fraud offenses. While I agree in principle that voter fraud and integrity of our great democratic system are both serious issues, until there are some indisputable and signficant facts to debate, which may point to a real need to alter the system, it’s difficult to muster up much concen. That this topic rarely hits the national stage until there’s a heated up election brewing or a disgruntled losing team, also undermines it’s legitimacy, in my opinion. If there are serious flaws and abuses as well as a genuine unbiased belief in the need to change something (as opposed to recommended changes for the mere purpose of getting a particular leader elected), wouldn’t there be momentum years-long until desired changes are implemented?
Both sides engage in voter fraud. Only one side appear to care about controlling it. The fact that this is the side that has managed to pervert the argument into making the side seeking integrity appear to be the villains in the matter tells us much about political correctness, the persuasiveness of race-baiting, and a compliant, biased media.
What hard evidence is there to support “both sides engage in voter fraud”? Even if this is substantiated, is it frequent & egregious enough to warrrant all the talk and frenzy that fuels thes occasional bursts to make changes?? And if it’s true that “only one side appear (sic) to care about controlling it”, why do they only care when they are worried about losing an election or have just lost an election? I dare say your own political bias might be showing…..
1.You DON’T think both sides engage in voter fraud? Let’s see—the discussion was about Democratic voter fraud, I said both sides engaged in it, and you say my bias is showing. What bias do you think that is?
2. Voter/election fraud has been documented in the US from the first election, on both sides. If you think there is any reason to think it has stopped, the burden is on YOU, not me. In fact, with such obvious invitations to fraud like absentee ballots, it would be surprising if the problem isn’t worse. In each of the last three Presidential elections, there were multiple accounts of party workers taking mentally disabled or senile voters to polls and “helping” them vote. What do you call that?
3. The goal should be to eliminate fraud and make the system have as much integrity as possible.
4. I don’t appreciate the “sic.” I correct typos in commenters posts—I expect them to be understanding regarding mine, and not try to exploit them as some kind of evidence of my incompetence. Yes, I’m a lousy typist. Want to make something out of it?
5. “why do they only care when they are worried about losing an election or have just lost an election?” Now THAT’S something I’d like to see documentation for. The race-baiting excuse Democrats have been using to deflect voter ID is relatively new, since the demographics of fake citizens now favors them. But I’m old enough to recall GOP and Democrat concern about voter fraud going way, way back. You do realize that the GOP won the 2010 elections, right? And continued to press for reforms? And I assume that both parties worry about losing all elections.
Of course I think both sides do it. I only asked about hard facts because the media only reports on this subject when the right is accusing the left of fraud and when the left is accusing the right of proposing changes that unfairly target poor/minorities. I wondered if you knew something more substantial and believable than what I read/hear. Then, I asked my 2nd question about how frequent it is because of the fact that the media only reports incidents and concern now and then — usually around the time one side or the other is about to lose or just lost. Right? My larger point was that if all this is really a serious and consistent problem, why hasn’t the system been amended in a signficant way yet? I’m all for making changes to eliminate or reduce fraud and to increase the integrity of the system as long as those changes are fair and reasonable so as to avoid disenfranchising anyone.
I’m sorry about the “sic” insertion. My bad. No offense was intended.
“Certainly Ms. Richardson is unique, since, as we were lectured repeatedly by Democrats and the media before the election, there is no such thing as voter fraud.”
There is voter fraud, and then, there is VOTER FRAUD. Tom Delay gerrymandered districts in Texas during his tenure and this same strategy is being perpetrated by the GOP today in several states. This fact has been reported and documented; the trend of poll workers committing fraud has not, because it is either not there or infrequent. Welfare fraud is bad too, but when one compares the micron-thin monies stolen by individuals (even en toto), vs the billions stolen by corporations (yes, there is corporate welfare; and still more billions “hidden” in off-chore accounts), then this changes the context of the conversation and the issue. I really find it annoying when there is this frequent attempt to equalize the wrongness of vote fraud (a poll worker vs re-districting to increase party advantage). Yes, one can flippantly state that wrong is wrong regardless of scope, but we still are horrified by multi-murders more than a single homicide. It’s just off-the-chart missing the mark. I do not think it is an effective strategy or fair argument to assume if one poll worker does, then this is some tip of the iceberg of a bigger problem. Strawman, much? Yes, throughout the ages, there has been voter fraud, (eg., reports of dead people voting in Chicago in the 1960 election), but today, it is hard to see the GOP as not leading the pack in this regard. They are clearly a party in turmoil facing irrelevance (if not extinction), and are literally pulling out all stops to find whatever tenuous foothold they can place. They could easily do this if only they could return to the respective philosophies and policies of the true heroes of the GOP: Lincoln, TR and Eisenhower and not keep positing the Republican Rorschach of Ronald Reagan. But, with all of their discussion about “messaging vs message,” it sure seems like they will not.
Redistricting isn’t voter fraud, and it certainly isn’t restricted to either party, or engaged in by one party more than the other. Your comparison is specious. Read the Ethics Scoreboard—Tom DeLay got no passes from me, and I’m glad he’s in jail.
The kind of voter fraud covered in this post isn’t reported because it is hard to catch, except in egregious circumstances—and this woman admitted it. Which is more likely, that this woman is a complete outlier, or that she is typical of a much larger group? I’d submit that anyone believing the former is kidding themselves. Elections matter, and if you allow people to cheat, they will. Tom DeLay’s impulse was also typical, just an extreme version of it.
It is also difficult to prosecute, since most laws covering it require you to prove the offending person knew what they were doing was wrong.
Yes, that’s her ace in the hole. Although “ignorance of the law is no excuse.”
In many cases regarding this, it IS. Some laws, ignorance IS an excuse, depending on the wording of the law – I’m sure you know, but some statutes specifically require intent.
Also, as a poll worker, she’s going to have a HELL of a time proving she didn’t know better…
This may come as a shock to you, but states run by Republicans gerrymander to favor Republicans, and states run by Democrats gerrymander to favor Democrats.
I encourage you to take a glance at Illinois or New York some time and see how those districts work out (a personal favorite is the horse-shoe shaped districts of a prominent hispanic Rep from Chicago).
I am not suggesting this makes it right, mind you. I merely point out reality, and hint at why it will never change – people in power rarely act in a way that causes them to lose control of that power.
See – Why is it so hard for Third Party Candidates to get on the ballot?
This person should be fined 10,000,
jailed for 5 years, and lose the right
to vote (for life) for each charge of voter fraud
As a pollster she knew better and well had the
opportunity to affect other voters to vote twice or more
The American people were grievously
wronged by this person on so nany levels
It is sickening
And she still feels she was right!!!
We need photo voter ID and thumb
prints on the ballot as well
If that is required for driver’s licence –
It should be used to vote
She CHEATED us all
Voting is a wonderful privilege
and must be done for “love of country”
not for “revenge”
C Wyrick
It’s time for the “misunderstandings” to have their day in court . . . I’m giving fair warning that following the two links at the bottom will get your blood pressure elevated. The WCPO link reviews the Melowese Richardson story in greater detail and the second link is a PDF file where each possible fraud case is listed with recorded responses, or lack thereof.
Chairman Triantafilou to appear LIVE on Fox News to discuss the Voter Fraud Investigation
Hamilton County GOP Chairman Alex Triantafilou is scheduled to appear LIVE on a national Fox News broadcast on Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. to discuss the ongoing voter fraud investigation being conducted by the Hamilton County Board of Elections.
On Friday, February 15, the Board of Elections conducted a hearing at which the Board heard testimony from a small number of witnesses who attempted to explain their decision to vote twice in the fall 2012 election. A majority of those persons subpoenaed to the Board hearing failed to appear. The investigation continues into this week with the next public hearing set for Friday, February 22 at 2:00 p.m. All hearings occur at the Hamilton County Board of Elections located at 824 Broadway, 3rd floor, in downtown Cincinnati.
Many local media outlets have reported on the serious fraud allegations being investigated and now, the national media is starting to take notice of what occurred in Hamilton County, Ohio last November.
WCPO news story: http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/news/region_central_cincinnati/downtown/Poll-worker-accused-of-voter-fraud-in-Hamilton-County-speaks-out
View the possible fraud cases and actions being taken: http://media2.wcpo.com/pdfs/Fraud.pdf