Here we go again …
A year after blatantly robbing the taxpayers of Richland County, S.C. of $1.2 billion via a rigged election, the crooks that run the Midlands region of the Palmetto State are at it again. This time their goal is the passage of a $59 million tax hike to fund the county’s library system – which as we’ve previously pointed out isn’t even a core function of government.
Earlier today, FITS received reports from the Woodlands precinct – a reliably anti-tax area – regarding long lines (and voters leaving the polling place without voting as a result of these lines).
“I can’t believe this is happening again,” one frustrated voter texted us.
Sound familiar? It should …
Long lines due to bureaucratic “incompetence” allegedly caused the first “Richland County Robbery” – although as we’ve meticulously documented the illegal voting machine shortages associated with last year’s stolen election were meticulously planned.
Richland County officials were “incompetent” on purpose … which is why we call it what it really was, a “robbery.” One in which the thieves have been well-compensated with new jobs and lifetime pensions.
Anyway, according to emails obtained by FITS, the county election commission is up to its old tricks again in the 2013 race.
Specifically, city councilwoman Leona Plaugh reported that the agency assigned just one computer to check in voters at the Woodlands precinct – below the recommended allotment.
Plaugh immediately requested for another computer to be assigned to the precinct – citing the impact of this shortage.
“I saw people actually go out and say they didn’t have time to vote,” Plaugh told FITS.
“Either they are not very adept at using the equipment or the volume is a problem,” Plaugh said. “The end result is people are walking away.”
Which was the whole point of last year’s voting machine shortages …
Plaugh says there is supposed to be a ratio for the number of computers at each polling place – similar to the ratio of voting machines (which was ignored during the last race).
There is no state law governing the number of computers at each precinct, but S.C. Election Commission (SCEC) director Marci Andino told FITS her agency recommends “a minimum of two.”
“Laptops should be deployed based on the number of registered voters,” Andino told FITS.
In addition to the computer shortage, Plaugh says Richland County did not post signs at several polling places where anti-tax voters reside.
“I had to put a sign out myself,” she told us.
Local lawmakers were livid.
“We made a commitment to the voters that sufficient resources would be made available,” S.C. Rep. Kirkman Finlay wrote in an email to the county’s election commission. “Evidently, that is not the case, again.”
Indeed …
And Richland County taxpayers are about to be $59 million lighter in their wallets as a result.
UPDATE: The leader of the Richland County Republican Party has just sent out an email responding to these reports …
11 comments
I would have expected a hardcopy list of voters. No reason not to have a backup.
I’m against the library measure and have encouraged family members to vote against it.
That being said, turnout is low across the county according to all sources reporting. If voters can’t wait 15-30 minutes to register opposition to the measure as is reported by Plaugh and others at Woodland Park, then they deserve what they get.
Once again, The Founding Editor is more about histrionics and hype than facts. Why am I not surprised?
http://www.thestate.com/2013/11/05/3078943/xxxxxxxxxxxxx.html
Clarification:
“I’m against the library measure and have encouraged family members to vote against it, as I did myself.”
I voted yes!
Normally, I would have, too. But I’m through giving this Council approval on a damn thing until they prove they are anything other than a pack of spendthrifts.
The inept and untrustworthy financial stewards would starve to death if financial prudence was a key to modern survival.
I agree completely. This is an off election. Even if there is one damn machine, there can’t be that many voters.
I can see complaints about last year having validity, but if this is going to turn into a bitch fit every single goddamn time someone has to wait longer than they think they should have to, that’s ridiculous. You have all day to vote. If it is crowded in the morning, come back later.
I had to wait well over an hour last year and I don’t even live in Richland. I never complained. If voting is that much of a pain for you, just stay home.
Hint: If you go right before or right after work, shocker! There’s going to be long lines.
I went about 3:15, walked in, had my ID checked and voted. Five minutes counting parking.
T-Bone will be reelected and the library tax hike will fail.
Agree about Mr. Benjamin but disagree about the Library measure.
More pictures of guns! That analogy, no matter how it’s used, gives me shivers up my legs.
How much money did the robbers get? More black-on-black crime.This is awful.
Joke blogs are great.