Former Wisconsin AG Lautenschlauger Accuses Van Hollen of Voter Suppression
From Ballotpedia
November 1, 2008
The Capital Times-MADISON, WI-Former Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager accused current Attorney General JB Van Hollen of voter suppression after Van Hollen used the same protocol the former Attorney General used in the 2004 election[1].
Contents |
Lautenschlager Called Van Hollen's Efforts Opposite to Her Efforts in 2004
Lautenschlager, who is now an attorney for Lawton & Cates, told the Capital Times that her previous administration also used Wisconsin DOJ personnel to monitor polling places on Election Day, but according to Lautenschlauger, her efforts were focused on making sure voters got their chance to vote.
"It is clear that under the guise of stopping alleged voter fraud he is concerned about obtaining voter suppression," Lautenschlauger said. She also stated that her efforts in 2004 were "diametrically opposite to what Van Hollen is proposing to do on Tuesday."[1]
Lautenschlager latest of High Ranking Wisconsin Democrats to Criticize Van Hollen
Lautenschlager, along with Democratic Governor Jim Doyle, US Senator Russ Feingold, and Madison Area Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, have been very critical over Van Hollen using Department of Justice Officials to do their jobs.
She said the leafleting and disturbances which threatened to slow down voting lines happened mostly in Milwaukee. But other voter suppression incidents, such as unfounded challenges to same-day registrations, happened in Racine, Kenosha, Beloit, Janesville, and University of Wisconsin campuses.
"We were concerned about affording people to their opportunity to exercise their franchise, not suppressing their actions on Election Day," she said. "We were concerned that we provide voter protection, not voter suppression."[1].
Lautenschlager said the Government Accountability Board (formed earlier this year to take over the responsibilities of the former Elections Board), along with local district attorneys, is invested with elections law enforcement.
Some Democrats Back Van Hollen
"It's a bit odd, because they really don't have any jurisdiction, but I don't foresee any problems," said Matt O'Neill, state counsel for the Obama for America voter protection efforts. O'Neill said DOJ agents have already agreed to work with Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm[1].
"We think it's very supportive," he said of Chisholm's efforts, "and it's going to help people exercise their right to vote."
References
 |
|
|
