DOJ fires warning shot against ‘unusual’ post-election ballot reviews

[mystery-ak]

DOJ fires warning shot against ‘unusual’ post-election ballot reviews

The Justice Department's new memo reminded states that allowing ballots to be mishandled can violate federal law.



By JOSH GERSTEIN and ZACH MONTELLARO

07/28/2021 12:00 PM EDT

The Justice Department on Wednesday issued another warning aimed at states conducting or considering audits of ballots tallied in last year’s election, reminding election authorities that allowing ballots to be mishandled can violate federal law.

While the Biden administration “guidance” document carries no formal legal weight and may not strike fear into local officials, the Justice Department used the release of the legal analysis to press their campaign of saber-rattling against Republican-led audits of the 2020 vote in Arizona and other states, as well as voting changes many GOP-controlled states are pursuing as part of purported anti-fraud efforts.

“Jurisdictions have to be careful not to let those ballots be defaced or mutilated or lost or destroyed as part of an audit,” said a Justice Department official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity. “This document puts down a marker that says the Justice Department is concerned about this.”

The new, seven-page Justice Department issuance doesn’t break new ground, but it does send the message that federal officials are closely scrutinizing the audit efforts.

more
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/28/doj-warning-election-ballot-reviews-501295

[thackney]

Justice Department is concerned about this

Welcome to the party guys.  How about we with start with:

U.S. Constitution
Article I, Section 4, Clause 1:
https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI_S4_C1_1_1_1_1/

The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof...

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Perhaps what you referenced is the pertinent federal law the DOJ is referring to.

[thackney]

Perhaps what you referenced is the pertinent federal law the DOJ is referring to.

Sounded like a different concern with: 

...“Jurisdictions have to be careful not to let those ballots be defaced or mutilated or lost or destroyed as part of an audit,” said a Justice Department official...

[Kamaji]

They're more concerned with ballots getting dirty during an audit than they are about them being actually falsified in the actual election.

Jackasses.

This is nothing more than Stalinesque newspeak.

[HoustonSam]

“Jurisdictions have to be careful not to let those ballots be defaced or mutilated or lost or destroyed as part of an audit,” said a Justice Department official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity. “This document puts down a marker that says the Justice Department is concerned about this.”

It would be a real shame to mar any of those hundreds of perfectly-identical never-folded mass printed ballots.

On a serious note, what would be the purpose of maintaining ballots in their original condition other than to accommodate an audit ordered by the state legislature?