The Maryland representative, who sits on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has evidently taken a page from Cher’s book of crazy and set his sights on the Texas-based True the Vote campaign. True the Vote’s platform revolves around mind-blowing concepts like election integrity and voter ID laws, and Cummings believes that’s just downright un-American. This past Friday, he sent a letter to True the Vote’s founder and president Catherine Engelbrecht informing her that he would be launching an investigation into her organization. Because nothing’s fishier than a group that combats voter fraud:
Cummings’ letter details how numerous groups affiliated with True the Vote are engaging in a coordinated campaign to challenge legitimate voters across the country, including in Ohio, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Maryland, although local and state election officials have repeatedly determined that these challenges are baseless.
As a result, legitimate voters—through no fault of their own—often receive letters from local election officials notifying them that their registrations have been challenged and requiring them to take steps to remedy false accusations against them.
…
In his letter, Cummings requests that Engelbrecht provide information about the data True the Vote uses to challenge voter registrations, the training provided to volunteers, and how True the Vote determines where to deploy resources in select jurisdictions.
These are the documents Cummings has requested:
(1) a list of all individual voter registration challenges by state, county, and precinct submitted to governmental election entities, including correspondence and determinations by election officials relating to each challenge;
(2) copies of all letters sent to states, counties, or other entities alleging non-compliance with the National Voter Registration Act for failing to conduct voter registration list maintenance prior to the November elections;
(3) a list of voter registration rolls by state, county, and precinct that True the Vote is currently reviewing for potential challenges;
(4) copies of all training materials used for volunteers, affiliates, or other entities;
(5) copies of computer programs, research software, and databases used by True the Vote to review voter registration;
(6) all contracts, agreements, and memoranda of understanding between True the Vote and affiliates or other entities relating to the terms of use of True the Vote research software and databases;
(7) a list all organizations and volunteer groups that currently have access to True the Vote computer programs, research software, and databases; and
(8) a list of vendors of voter information, voter registration lists, and other databases used by True the Vote, its volunteers, and its affiliates.
You can read the full text of the letter here. Rep. Darrell Issa, who’s busy investigating things that actually warrant investigation, was cc’d on the letter.
Liberals are cheering Cummings’ efforts, of course:
Thanks Rep. Elijah Cummings, a true champion for the people for fighting voting rights challenges in 2012! Keep up the good fight! #nerdland
— Carmen Barnes (@CarmenBarnes) October 6, 2012
Nice to see Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md) challenging the election day voter suppression plans of True the Vote. http://t.co/OMq6CJDK
— Winning Progressive (@WinProgressive) October 6, 2012
#nerdland Good for Elijah Cummings calling out the True the Vote idiots for what they are – a vote suppression effort http://t.co/tGsxaNhe
— Becky ????Vote blue, save the country ???? (@beckythecyclist) October 6, 2012
@jbrownedianis Elijah Cummings is finally doing what I've said all along: Forget lawsuits. Vote Suppression is CRIMINAL & shld b prosecuted.
— Jim Wright (@jimwright88) October 6, 2012
@MHarrisPerry Yo Yo Yo… Elijah in da House! GO Rep Cummings! Give 'em Hell!
— John P (@Pack_Cat) October 6, 2012
So am I RT @arieswym: I am here for Rep. Elijah Cummings warning letter to True the Vote #nerdland
— South Jersey Bro (@SouthJerseyBro) October 6, 2012
https://twitter.com/InequitySpeaks/status/254601377274273793
Rep. Elijah Cummings Launches True the Vote Investigation – COLORLINES http://t.co/UcHNQi2s || they need to be shut down fast
— Linda Dapper (@lmdapper) October 6, 2012
3 cheers for Elijah Cummings who is calling out the lies of True the Vote, the org that is leading many voter suppression efforts #globalpov
— Ananya Roy (@ananyaUCLA) October 6, 2012
Rep. Elijah Cummings Calls True the Vote a "Potential Criminal Conspiracy": And it's about Gorram Time somebody … http://t.co/UJFDWbVQ
— F. Vyan Walton (@Vyan1) October 7, 2012
Potential? RT @PatsyRoussel Daily Kos: Rep. Elijah Cummings Calls True the Vote a "Potential Criminal Conspiracy" d… http://t.co/L0aWXiB4
— Karen (@KarenRegis) October 8, 2012
By the Left’s logic, government resources are best allocated toward rooting out those who expose corruption.
Of course @thinkprogress LOVES Tea Party Voter Suppression Group Under Investigation For Possible ‘Criminal Conspiracy’ http://t.co/rzhY140B
— ??? ????????? ⏳ (@stranahan) October 7, 2012
@Stranahan Fortunately for the forces of democracy, the opinion of Elijah Cummings about anything can be accurately valued as being nil.
— Moe Lane (@Ogiel23) (@moelane) October 7, 2012
Sounds about right.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member