Ballot Box (Not) Stolen (Yes They Were!)

And so it begins: apparently someone using forged credentials made off with election materials from the election operations center:

In an astounding development, the Flyer has learned, ballot materials, including a ballot box to be used for "off-machine" purposes (certain write-in ballots and provisional ballots) and other election-day supplies, were checked out of the Shelby County Election Commission's operations center office at Shelby Farms Wednesday by an unauthorized individual. ...

The ballot box and other electon-day supplies, including the preinct roster, belonged to Precinct 49-1, a South Memhis box located at Alton Elementary School at 2020 Alton. Prince 49-1 is a majority black precinct with 843 voters.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has been called in and is conducting an "emergency investigation". Election Commission members and personnel were instructed to appear at the operations center.

[HT to The Pesky Fly]

Update: It turns out that the election materials were not stolen after all, but merely a mixup. It turns out that our Election Commission (appointed, not elected) gave two women letters of appointment that put them in charge of the precinct headquartered at Alton Elementary School.

But wait! Just when we thought the integrity of the election was safe:

Meantime, the officer in charge of Precinct 36-2 in North Memphis reported that his car was stolen with his poll supplies inside. The TBI is investigating that matter, too, and Duckett said there was little he could say. Election officials went to the polling place at 1542 Jackson this morning with backup supplies to open the poll, he said.

Come on! How hard is it to get supplies delivered to a few sites scattered out in one county?

Technorati Tags: Election Shenanigans, Stealing Elections, Election Reform.

Posted on Thursday at 1:29 PM in category Races of '06
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