Texas to OSCE election observers: F**k off !

[Tender Branson]

Texas warns it could prosecute OSCE poll monitors

LOS ANGELES — The southern US state of Texas has warned it could prosecute election observers from the OSCE, a global body that regularly monitors voting around the world, if they try to visit polling stations next month.

In a letter to the election-monitoring head at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Texas attorney general Greg Abbott said the group's views on the November 6 US elections were "legally irrelevant."

And he warned that OSCE observers, deployed for White House and other election races in two weeks' time, will not be allowed to come wthin 100 feet of a polling station in the famously no-nonsense state.

Writing to ambassador Daan Everts, head of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), he said the European diplomat had "reportedly" met in April with groups challenging Texas electoral law.

One of those groups, Project Vote, "is closely affiliated with ACORN, which collapsed in disgrace after its role in a widespread voter-registration fraud scheme was uncovered," he said in the letter, posted on his office's website.

He cited a letter suggesting that the OSCE has "identified Voter ID laws as a barrier to the right to vote."

"The OSCE may be entitled to its opinions about Voter ID laws, but your opinion is legally irrelevant in the United States, where the Supreme Court has already determined that Voter ID laws are constitutional."

He added: "If OSCE members want to learn more about our election processes so they can improve their own democratic systems, we welcome the opportunity to discuss the measures Texas has implemented" to protect electoral integrity.

But he pointed out that "groups and individuals from outside the United States are not allowed to influence or interfere with the election process in Texas."

"The OSCE's representatives are not authorized by Texas law to enter a polling place. It may be a criminal offense for OSCE's representatives to maintain a presence within 100 feet of a polling place's entrance.

"Failure to comply with these requirements could subject the OSCE's representatives to criminal prosecution for violating state law," he said.

The Vienna-based OSCE regularly monitors elections in its member states, many in the former Soviet bloc, some of which have struggled to meet international standards as fledgling democracies over the last two decades.

It also sends observers to the United States, as a key member of the organization.

The OSCE notably raised questions about the 2000 presidential election won eventually by George W. Bush, but only after prolonged legal and administrative wrangling which ended in the Supreme Court.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ip_kmjaIJMQO3A04g65yWwbNFKrg?docId=CNG.b779e3045dc68c5441cae614fb8aa344.211

...

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I support giving Texas back to Mexico in exchange for Baja California.

[GMantis]

That's the benefit of being a federation - you can sign a treaty and your states can still refuse to obey the treaty, as they can claim that it's not binding for them.

[wildfood]

I see the conservatives have caught on to the UN plan to invade America...

Good jobs guys! Never forget, they hate us 'cause we're free!

[Speed of Sound]

"The no-nonsense state"? It is literally nothing but nonsense.

[Sbane]

Wow...to think we invade nations to spread democracy but we won't let people from other nations observe our elections. What does Texas have to worry about? The march to fascism continues.

[Franzl]

"The no-nonsense state"? It is literally nothing but nonsense.

[Wisconsin+17]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Wow, a resident of the the nation that actually has a failed democracy is criticising Texas? Really? At least our leaders are elected.

[Franzl]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Wow, a resident of the the nation that actually has a failed democracy is criticising Texas? Really? At least our leaders are elected.

Don't know what you're talking about, but Texas is certainly the worst America has to offer.

[Sbane]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Wow, a resident of the the nation that actually has a failed democracy is criticising Texas? Really? At least our leaders are elected.

What the hell are you talking about? In America, a person can get more votes for President and still not become President. How's that for democracy?

[angus]

Texas warns it could prosecute OSCE poll monitors

interesting dilemma.  On the one hand, the US is a member of the OSCE, and the organization commonly monitors elections of its member states.  (Maybe they have a by-law agreeing to this?)  On the other hand, many US states do have laws limiting the actions of groups and individuals within 100 feet of polling stations.  The Supreme Court may clear its docket and rule on this if state courts start to have conflicting opinions and either the OSCE or the jurisdictions in question want to appeal.  Not as exciting as Dr. Kevorkian, or cases involving professional athletes, but still it would make for an interesting set of arguments.

[ingemann]

"bok bok"

[rockhound]

Yes to the Texas authorities standing up to this Obama led attack on states rights!

Moveon and its subversive agents have no business being within 10,000 feet of a polling place, let alone 100.

To think that anything from the UN could add any value to an election in the US is ridiculous.  Opposition to voter ID laws is the bastion of the desparate, and the party of the criminals.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Yes to the Texas authorities standing up to this Obama led attack on states rights!

Moveon and its subversive agents have no business being within 10,000 feet of a polling place, let alone 100.

To think that anything from the UN could add any value to an election in the US is ridiculous.  Opposition to voter ID laws is the bastion of the desparate, and the party of the criminals.

You, sir, are a Class A moron.

[RI]

I support giving Texas back to Mexico in exchange for Baja California.

God that would be wonderful. I love Baja.

[rockhound]

Yes to the Texas authorities standing up to this Obama led attack on states rights!

Moveon and its subversive agents have no business being within 10,000 feet of a polling place, let alone 100.

To think that anything from the UN could add any value to an election in the US is ridiculous.  Opposition to voter ID laws is the bastion of the desparate, and the party of the criminals.

You, sir, are a Class A moron.

Nice come back.  Next time I'll type slower for you.

[ag]

To think that anything from the UN...

I am sure that neither Texas, nor any other part of the Crown of  New Zealand would allow this.

[GMantis]

Yes to the Texas authorities standing up to this Obama led attack on states rights!

Moveon and its subversive agents have no business being within 10,000 feet of a polling place, let alone 100.

To think that anything from the UN could add any value to an election in the US is ridiculous.  Opposition to voter ID laws is the bastion of the desparate, and the party of the criminals.

One would think that someone concerned with voting fraud would approve of election monitoring. Of course, the key point is this concern for avoiding fraud, which I doubt people like you actually are.

[BaldEagle1991]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Wow, a resident of the the nation that actually has a failed democracy is criticising Texas? Really? At least our leaders are elected.

Don't know what you're talking about, but Texas is certainly the worst America has to offer.

What about Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia?

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

Yes to the Texas authorities standing up to this Obama led attack on states rights!

Moveon and its subversive agents have no business being within 10,000 feet of a polling place, let alone 100.

To think that anything from the UN could add any value to an election in the US is ridiculous.  Opposition to voter ID laws is the bastion of the desparate, and the party of the criminals.

You, sir, are a Class A moron.

Nice come back.  Next time I'll type slower for you.

1) It should be obvious that typing speed is not in fact visible here.

2) Ben is right; your post is full of nonsense, such as:
--a) "Obama led attack on states rights." This has inks-all to do with Obama or states' rights.
--b) It has nothing to do with Moveon, either.
--c) In reality, the vast majority of electoral manipulation is performed by the right wing.

[Middle-aged Europe]

To think that anything from the UN could add any value to an election in the US is ridiculous. 

Then again, what has the the UN to do with anything?

[Zioneer]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Wow, a resident of the the nation that actually has a failed democracy is criticising Texas? Really? At least our leaders are elected.

Don't know what you're talking about, but Texas is certainly the worst America has to offer.

What about Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia?

Don't forget Arizona and (sometimes) Utah.

[Franzl]

Arizona is a good contender, but Texas is still more relevant, and therefore worse. The others you mentioned aren't nearly as bad, IMO.

[Joe Republic]

Nice come back.  Next time I'll type slower for you.

Yes please!  Ideally it should take at least a week or two for you to produce each of your posts.

[Knives]

Hopefully, state rights will have been eliminated in 10 years.