Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson called for a U.S. Department of Justice Investigation into possible voter suppression and violation of the civil rights of voters registered in Omaha over irregularities involving closed polling sites and intentional misinformation sent to voters.
“I’m disappointed that state officials have refused to investigate issues raised by the public and by state senators. State officials are either ignoring citizens’ concerns or are concluding there is no wrongdoing without having conducted an investigation,” Senator Nelson said in a statement accompanying the release of a letter he sent today to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
“It was my hope state officials would thoroughly investigate these concerns, but apparently that isn’t going to occur. As a result, I am compelled to request an investigation by the Justice Department,” Nelson said.
In his letter to Holder requesting a federal investigation, Nelson cited a lack of interest by state officials to probe “a series of disturbing actions” taken by the Douglas County Election Commissioner. This included closing more than 160 polling sites, knowingly sending incorrect polling location notices to several thousand Omaha voters and sending new notices that likely would confuse voters. The result could be many voters going to the wrong polling places or just staying home on Nebraska’s primary election day, May 15.
“The actions taken by the Douglas County Election Commissioner are of concern to me and my constituents because they are certain to adversely affect those residents living in predominantly minority and low-income communities who wish to vote in the upcoming elections,” Nelson wrote in his letter.
Nelson also expressed frustration that despite concerns raised by Nebraska’s Secretary of State, the state’s top election office has rejected requests by the public and state lawmakers to investigate, thus prompting Nelson’s call for a federal investigation.
The full text of the letter Senator Nelson sent today to Attorney General Holder follows:
Dear Attorney General Holder:
Recently, a series of disturbing actions were taken by the Election Commissioner for Douglas County, Nebraska, compelling me to request an investigation of that office for possible voter suppression and abridgement of residents registered to vote in the Omaha metropolitan area.
Through an article printed in the March 22, 2012, edition of the Omaha World-Herald newspaper, it was learned that the number of polling sites in Omaha had been significantly decreased without any input from the community, allegedly as part of an effort to cut costs and reduce the budget of the Election Commissioner's office. According to reports, 166 of the 352 polling locations will be closed. Numerous requests from community leaders to reconsider this decision were rejected. Additionally, concerns directed to both the Election Commissioner and Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman by Secretary of State John Gale regarding voter confusion caused by these changes during a presidential election year were either ignored or rejected outright.
Yet, just days later, the Election Commissioner mailed out more than 2,000 voter cards with incorrect polling site information, stating that he knew the information was incorrect, but mailing the misinformation to registered voters anyway. Upon this data being made public, the Election Commissioner stated that he would send additional notices containing correct polling sites, undoubtedly causing confusion for citizens receiving the mixed correspondence just weeks before the primary election to be held on May 15. While some voters will receive the corrected mailing and act accordingly, others may think it is a duplicate mailing and will, therefore, either not read it thoroughly or simply discard it, then go to the polling site on the original, incorrect card, only to learn they are at the wrong site. And still many more may just stay home due to these confusing double mailings.
After considerable media attention and pressure from the public, the Election Commissioner has now stated that he intends to send early voting forms to all registered voters in the county, at considerable expense. Some estimates of the cost to taxpayers to implement this plan exceed the costs saved by closing nearly half of the polling locations. This raises doubts regarding his stated rationale for closing polling places in the first place – an effort to save money.
The actions taken by the Douglas County Election Commissioner are of concern to me and my constituents because they are certain to adversely affect those residents living in predominantly minority and low-income communities who wish to vote in the upcoming elections.
Despite the concerns raised by the Nebraska Secretary of State, his office has rejected requests from public officials and others to investigate these actions. As a result, I am requesting a thorough investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice of the Douglas County Election Commissioner's Office in Nebraska on the grounds of possible efforts to suppress or deny citizens living in Omaha, Nebraska, their constitutional right to vote under the protections of the Civil Rights Act of 1965.
Thank you for your consideration of this request. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska
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