NPR had a very revealing article about Orville “Bud” Fitch who will now become, at the insistence of Secretary of State Bill Gardner – our new election expert!
N.H. Secretary of State Taps Statehouse Veteran as Elections Attorney
Orville “Bud” Fitch may not be known to most New Hampshire voters, but The Coalition of New Hampshire Taxpayers has a long history with him, and he is not our “bud.” Its time to open the “Fitch File.”
Here is the guy who is going to do something with elections in New Hampshire, but it will probably NOT be anything to do with prosecuting voter fraud. Don’t think so? Go read the article and see if the word prosecution is in it.
Here we go.
In 2003 CNHT captured a photograph of voter fraud in action – at the Bedford Transfer Station. We sent that information to the NH AG’s Office.
This is what we caught.
1. The Assistant Bedford School District Clerk unfolded a card table at the transfer station with a copy of the Bedford Checklist on the table.
2. He had a large pile of absentee ballots next to the checklist.
3. He posted nearby a sign that said: VOTE HERE TODAY 9-3PM
4. He handed out absentee ballots to whoever asked for one.
5. His intent was to generate as many votes as possible so a Special Election to pass a bond would meet the 50% of registered voters requirement.
This is illegal in so many ways it is almost sad to list them – but here are some.
197:3 Raising Money at Special Meeting. – The clerk wanted to make sure Bedford met the 50% turnout for the bond vote which was being held without court approval as an “emergency.”
197:5 Warning. – School district meetings shall be warned by the school board, or, in cases authorized by law, by a justice of superior court, by a warrant addressed to the voters of the district, stating the time and place of the meeting and the subject matter of the business to be acted upon. In all districts which have not adopted the provisions of this title providing for medical inspection in schools the warrant shall contain an article relating thereto. (No homemade signs allowed)
197:7 Posting Warrant. – The school board or justice issuing a warrant shall cause an attested copy of it to be posted at the place of meeting, and a like copy at one other place in the district, 14 days before the day of meeting, not counting the day of posting nor the day of the meeting, but including any Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays within said period. (One votes at the meeting. Not the dump.)
33:8 Town or District Bonds or Notes. …”The warrant for a special meeting shall be published once in a newspaper having a general circulation in the municipality within one week after the posting of such special meeting. The warrant for any such annual or special meeting shall be served or posted at least 14 days before the date of such special meeting. Every warrant shall be deemed to have been duly served or posted, if the return on the warrant shall so state, and it shall be certified by the officer or officers required to serve or post the same.” (No ad in any paper for the dump vote.)
Here is the big one:
671:21 Absentee Voting. –
I. A school district shall provide for absentee voting in the same manner as towns as provided in RSA 669:26-669:29 except that all duties performed therein by the town clerk shall be performed by the school district clerk.
II. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph I, if any school district votes to elect its district officers by separate ballot at the town election as provided in RSA 671:22, II, then for either the town election or the school district election an application for an absentee ballot shall be sufficient in order to receive an absentee ballot for both the town election and the school district election. If a town adopts the provisions of RSA 671:22, II, all forms relative to applications for absentee ballots, all absentee ballots, and all returns of absentee ballots shall be made only available at and only returnable to, as applicable, the office of each town clerk of each town comprising the school district.
III. Each town clerk shall make facilities in the town clerk’s office available for the school district clerk to perform school district functions in connection with absentee voting. It shall be the duty of the school district clerk to post a notice at the school district clerk’s office informing voters that all absentee voting procedures for school district elections shall be handled only through the town clerk’s office.
(Not the dump.)
669:26 Absentee Voting. – Every town which has adopted an official ballot system for town elections as provided in RSA 669:12 or 669:13 shall provide for absentee voting. Any eligible voter who is absent from such a town on the day of a town election, or who cannot appear in public on election day because of his or her observance of a religious commitment, or who, by reason of physical disability, is unable to vote in person may vote at a town election in accordance with the provisions of this section and RSA 669:27-669:29. A person who is unable to appear at any time during polling hours at his or her polling place because of an employment obligation shall be considered absent for purposes of this section and RSA 669:27-669:29. For the purposes of this section, the term “employment” shall include the care of children and infirm adults, with or without compensation. (No vote here today exemption.)
Polling places are supposed to have a police officer, a rail, be advertised, have booths, pencils, lights, a moderator on site – you know, all that stuff.
What was Orville’s response to our complaint?
“What the Deputy School District Clerk did was highly unusual but not illegal.”
That stupid whitewash makes it – “legal” from then on.
Thanks Bud.
Here’s what “Bud” allowed:
