Sound Politics: Venezuela almost as bad as King County

July 18, 2005

Venezuela almost as bad as King County

The Financial Times reports that

Henri Charrière, the convict who vividly recalled his multiple escape bids from the disease-ridden penal colony of French Guiana in the novel Papillon, has been found “alive” in Venezuela, 32 years after his reported death. Or so Venezuela's electoral register would have you believe.

Politicians in Venezuela have complained that the official voter list contains thousands of deceased voters, an irregularity that, if abused by unscrupulous election officials, could distort the result of polls.

“Why is there such a big fear of undertaking an audit of the electoral register?” asks Alejandro Plaz, spokesman for Sumate, which lobbies for transparency and participation in elections.

Now, the discovery that Mr Charrière, who died in 1973, is eligible to cast a ballot in local elections in August looks certain to amplify such concerns about the inadequacy of Venezuela's electoral system.

Here in Washington State, the reigning Democrats are just as opposed to cleaning the voter rolls as they are in the Venezuela of Hugo Chavez.

hat tip: Instapundit

Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at July 18, 2005 10:20 AM | Email This

Comments

1. Just goes to show ya that politicians are the same everywhere.

I have just decided to join the TTBO campaign...its the only way things will change!!!

Posted by: Blueknight on July 18, 2005 11:14 AM

2. Now it looks like Venezuela's election system has an accuracy rate any bank would envy!

Posted by: JustSumGuy on July 18, 2005 12:45 PM

3. I guess that proves the KC election system is equavelant to a Bannana Republic. KC should be proud. I know Jimmy Carter is. He stands by and says every election he observes is above board and no monkey business. I wonder if he will be called in to observe our next election. Since KC is at the same level as Venezuela.

Posted by: David Anfinrud on July 18, 2005 01:06 PM

4. Has Papillon voted during the last 32 years? The Financial Times article appeared to say that he had remained registered in the same place, and did not say that he had voted.

Posted by: Richard Pope on July 18, 2005 01:33 PM

5. Now, when Sims says, "I have a 'PLAN' for reform" we really know what it is! He is hiding extra votes they way they hid money in the novel.

Posted by: Jimmie-howya-doin on July 18, 2005 02:00 PM

6. Why IS there such a fear? Because the Dems can't exercise fraud to the degree that they'd like to.
Well, that's just too bad. Audit and clean up. NOW! and Dean Logan, don't be 'divining' votes out of stray marks or assigning votes to people when they didn't vote in a particular race. Fer cyring out loud!

Posted by: Michele on July 18, 2005 03:42 PM

7. Heck, you think Venezuela has become a bad place?

Take a look at what the ANC is doing to White People in SA! There ain't no voting. They now have official genocide.

http://groups.msn.com/censorbugbear/_whatsnew.msnw

Posted by: Keb on July 18, 2005 04:58 PM

8. Sounds painfuly similiar!!

Posted by: Laurie on July 18, 2005 06:20 PM

9. Hugo Chavez has been trying to immerse Venezuela in his communist fantasy for years now!

Corrupt and fraudluent elections, land grabs, moving the homeless all around the land and putting them on other people's property in an effort to inspire payoffs to the government to get the homeless off of private property....Imposing oppressive Socialism on the people without their approval or voice...The usual commie-wannabe's style of dictatorship....And that's just in King County!

Venezuela's problems actually mirror what's happening here!
Our Democrats love Venezuela! Jimmy Carter went down to *oversee* (cough) the last election there....(Are you seeing a pattern here?)
After he assured Chavez a *win*..he suddenly became a Demo superstar here in the state's for several months! Go figure? Rarely was Carter's name uttered among the Democrats or Republicans since his term in office...then suddenly - he becomes Clinton and Kerry's buddy!

Posted by: Deborah on July 18, 2005 06:58 PM

10. Richard Pope

I think yer missing the point here. The fact that the guy is still legally registerd to vote IS the problem. Its issues like this that give dishonest people (from BOTH sides) an opportunity to disenfranchise (sp?) a legal voter

Posted by: Blueknight on July 18, 2005 08:52 PM

11. maybe KC makes Venez. its 'sister city' or role model. Venezuela and WA--what a pair of twins. What a goal to shoot for. Reverse evolutons is chic now--stoop to a 3rd world for validation.

Posted by: Jimmie-howya-doin on July 19, 2005 10:38 AM