COLUMBUS, Ohio — Two volunteer poll workers at an Ohio
voting station told Human Events that they observed van loads of Ohio
residents born in Somalia — the state is home to the second-largest
Somali population in the United States — being driven to the voting
station and guided by Democratic interpreters on the voting process. No
Republican interpreters were present, according to these volunteers.
A source, who wishes to remain anonymous, is a volunteer
outside the Morse Road polling center. She has witnessed Somalis who
cannot speak English come to the polling center. They are brought in
groups, by van or bus. The Democrats hand them a slate card and say,
“vote Brown all the way down.” Given that Sherrod Brown is the incumbent
Democrat Senator in Ohio, one can assume that this is the reference.
Non-English speaking voters may use an interpreter. The
interpreters are permitted by law to interpret for the individual
voting; however, they are forbidden from influencing their vote in any
way. Another source who also wishes to remain anonymous has seen
Democrat interpreters show the non-English speaking Somalis how to vote
the Democrat slate that they were handed outside. According to this
second source, there are not any Republican Somali interpreters
available.
The logical follow-up question is whether a non-English
speaking person is an American citizen. Although Republican leadership
in Ohio passed a voting reform law, it was repealed by the legislature
itself after the Democrats threatened a referendum. According to the
Ohio Secretary of State’s web site, someone wanting to vote early in
Ohio must supply one of the following in writing on the absentee ballot
form, whether voting early by mail or in person: an Ohio driver’s
license number; the last four digits of the social security number; or a
copy of a current and valid photo identification, military
identification, or a current — within the last 12 months — utility bill,
including cell phone bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck,
or other government document that shows the person’s name and address in
addition to the voter registration acknowledgement.
The voter is not required to show the driver’s license or
social security card, but must merely write it on the absentee ballot
request form. While the individual would be required to show a utility
bill, bank statement or other printed document if he or she chooses that
option, this is in lieu of writing the driver’s license or social
security number. Therefore, the information cannot be checked against
the Bureau of Motor Vehicles or other state databases. Essentially, a
person is asked to check a box stating that they are a citizen, and the
poll worker is to trust that they are the person who is listed on the
item being shown or the information being written. In other words,
someone can be an illegal resident of the state of Ohio and the United
States, get an apartment, turn on the heat, bring in the Columbia Gas
bill, register to vote by the deadline, and vote by showing that same
bill. There is then no verification that this individual is a citizen of
the United States.
Matt McClellan, the press secretary for Ohio Secretary of
State Jon Husted, explained, “There is a process to challenge a voter’s
eligibility. The point in time for a challenge to be brought ended mid
October. A poll worker could challenge a voter if they had questions as
to whether or not a voter was registered or eligible to vote.” However,
if the poll worker does not raise the issue at the time the voting
occurs, that person’s vote will otherwise be counted on election day
along with everyone else’s vote. McClellan was not aware of any reports
of irregularities at the Morse Road voting place in Franklin County.
Two phone calls and a text message to the Public Information Office at the Franklin County Board of Elections were not returned.
According to the Somali Community Association of Ohio’s web
site, over 45,000 Somalis live in Ohio. Only 40 percent have become
citizens of the United States, and only 25 percent speak English well
enough to get a job.
The second source mentioned has seen voter intimidation at
this same voting place. A Mitt Romney bus stopped near the voting
center, approximately 30 Democrats who were outside handing out the
slate cards rushed over to the bus. They yelled at the bus, and swarmed
around its door when anyone attempted to exit the bus. This, from the
“tolerant left.”
All elements of this story are still developing and will be updated as new information is uncovered. Stay tuned.
