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Aug. 24th, 2004 02:10 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
theweaselkingSome 46,000 New Yorkers are registered to vote in both the city and Florida, a shocking finding that exposes both states to potential abuses that could alter the outcome of elections, a Daily News investigation shows.
Registering in two places is illegal in both states, but the massive snowbird scandal goes undetected because election officials don't check rolls across state lines.
The finding is even more stunning given the pivotal role Florida played in the 2000 presidential election, when a margin there of 537 votes tipped a victory to George W. Bush.
Computer records analyzed by The News don't allow for an exact count of how many people vote in both places, because millions of names are regularly purged between elections.
But The News found that between 400 and 1,000 registered voters have voted twice in at least one election, a federal offense punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
One was Norman Siegel, 84, who is registered as a Republican in both Pinellas Park, Fla., and Briarwood, Queens. Siegel has voted twice in seven elections, including the last four presidential races, records show.
Officials in both states acknowledge that voting in multiple states is something of a perfect crime, one officials don't have the means to catch.
Norman Seigel puts a new twist on the political adage "vote early, and often."
In Siegel's case, you could add "over and over again."
Siegel (no relation to the civil rights lawyer of the same name) has voted twice in seven elections since 1988, including four presidential races, records show.
Registered as a Republican at his home in Briarwood, Queens, and in Pinellas Park, Fla., Siegel has usually filed an absentee ballot in one or both places.
Reached at his Florida home, Siegel interrupted a News reporter who was telling him that thousands of people are registered to vote in both states.
"That's illegal," Siegel interjected. "You have to pick one place as your residence and vote there."
Told that the records show he maintains registrations in both places, Siegel said he had not voted in Florida, then said he had not voted in New York.
When he was told that records show he has voted in both places, Siegel cut off the conversation. "I have to go," he said.
Irving and Magdolna Hertz of Borough Park, Brooklyn, also made a habit of being counted - twice. Magdolna, 85, voted in both New York and Florida during the November general elections in 1996, 1997 and 1998. Irving, 91, did the same in 1996 and 1998. Each time, they both mailed absentee ballots to Miami and voted at the polls in Brooklyn.
Reached on the phone in Brooklyn, Irving Hertz interupted a reporter before a question could be asked.
"I'm not here today," Hertz said and hung up. He did not return later calls.
Several New Yorkers who have voted twice in elections said it happened by accident.
Joseph Moschella, 59, a retired Transit Authority supervisor, said his dual vote in the 2000 presidential election was a mistake caused by his annual snowbird migration.
The registered Republican in Melbourne Beach, Fla., and on Staten Island said he thought his absentee ballot to Florida hit the mail too late, so he voted in New York as well.
"What happened was, I mailed it, but wanted to make sure I got my vote," Moschella said. "I'm pretty sure if you don't mail it by a certain date it's void."
Edwin Peterson, 66, a registered Democrat in Palm Coast, Fla., and St. Albans, Queens, attributed his dual vote in the 2000 election to his distrust of the party running the Sunshine State.
"That was a situation where Florida is so messed up with the Republicans, you don't know if your vote is even going to be counted," Peterson said. "It's been like that forever."
Registering in two places is illegal in both states, but the massive snowbird scandal goes undetected because election officials don't check rolls across state lines.
The finding is even more stunning given the pivotal role Florida played in the 2000 presidential election, when a margin there of 537 votes tipped a victory to George W. Bush.
Computer records analyzed by The News don't allow for an exact count of how many people vote in both places, because millions of names are regularly purged between elections.
But The News found that between 400 and 1,000 registered voters have voted twice in at least one election, a federal offense punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
One was Norman Siegel, 84, who is registered as a Republican in both Pinellas Park, Fla., and Briarwood, Queens. Siegel has voted twice in seven elections, including the last four presidential races, records show.
Officials in both states acknowledge that voting in multiple states is something of a perfect crime, one officials don't have the means to catch.
Norman Seigel puts a new twist on the political adage "vote early, and often."
In Siegel's case, you could add "over and over again."
Siegel (no relation to the civil rights lawyer of the same name) has voted twice in seven elections since 1988, including four presidential races, records show.
Registered as a Republican at his home in Briarwood, Queens, and in Pinellas Park, Fla., Siegel has usually filed an absentee ballot in one or both places.
Reached at his Florida home, Siegel interrupted a News reporter who was telling him that thousands of people are registered to vote in both states.
"That's illegal," Siegel interjected. "You have to pick one place as your residence and vote there."
Told that the records show he maintains registrations in both places, Siegel said he had not voted in Florida, then said he had not voted in New York.
When he was told that records show he has voted in both places, Siegel cut off the conversation. "I have to go," he said.
Irving and Magdolna Hertz of Borough Park, Brooklyn, also made a habit of being counted - twice. Magdolna, 85, voted in both New York and Florida during the November general elections in 1996, 1997 and 1998. Irving, 91, did the same in 1996 and 1998. Each time, they both mailed absentee ballots to Miami and voted at the polls in Brooklyn.
Reached on the phone in Brooklyn, Irving Hertz interupted a reporter before a question could be asked.
"I'm not here today," Hertz said and hung up. He did not return later calls.
Several New Yorkers who have voted twice in elections said it happened by accident.
Joseph Moschella, 59, a retired Transit Authority supervisor, said his dual vote in the 2000 presidential election was a mistake caused by his annual snowbird migration.
The registered Republican in Melbourne Beach, Fla., and on Staten Island said he thought his absentee ballot to Florida hit the mail too late, so he voted in New York as well.
"What happened was, I mailed it, but wanted to make sure I got my vote," Moschella said. "I'm pretty sure if you don't mail it by a certain date it's void."
Edwin Peterson, 66, a registered Democrat in Palm Coast, Fla., and St. Albans, Queens, attributed his dual vote in the 2000 election to his distrust of the party running the Sunshine State.
"That was a situation where Florida is so messed up with the Republicans, you don't know if your vote is even going to be counted," Peterson said. "It's been like that forever."
(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-24 10:14 am (UTC)There should at least be federal laws that mandate things like voter roll sharing.