Ames Straw Poll Gets Legal Challenge - Ron Paul Supporters Question Voting Machines

Ames Straw Poll Gets Legal Challenge
Ron Paul Supporters Question Voting Machines


DES MOINES, Iowa -- This weekend's Republican straw poll is being challenged by a national group that is threatening legal action over the voting machines that the Republican Party of Iowa is using.

A supporter of candidate Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, who is not connected to the campaign, made the legal threat, Des Moines television station KCCI reported.

The Iowa GOP said the straw poll is fraud-proof.

At a Creston restaurant, Paul greeted people Wednesday and hoped some of them would vote for him at the Ames straw poll.

"It's pretty important and if we do well, we'll certainly send a strong signal, but I have no idea how well I'll do," Paul said. "We're doing our very best," Paul said.

Paul campaign staffers acknowledge asking Iowa Republican leaders to count paper ballots in the straw poll as well as using voting machines.

They said the Diebold machines to be used have been decertified in other states.

On a Des Moines radio show, the leader of a group called Voterfraud.org., who is also a Paul supporter, threatened to file a lawsuit over the machines.

Paul said he doesn't know anything about a possible lawsuit and would not want one if it's frivolous.

"Everyone wants an honest election," Paul said. "So if there's a question, this is the time the question should be asked."

In a statement, the Republican Party of Iowa said the straw poll will be fraud-proof, honest and secure.

Everyone must provide a photo identification and will be issued credentials. They will also have to dip their thumbs in purple ink to indicate that they have voted.

Political analyst Dennis Goldford doesn't see how the GOP could be sued over the straw poll.

He said that technically there is no real election going on and that the straw poll is a measure of sentiment.

Paul said the candidates are allowed one poll watcher and he thinks that will help verify the results.

The Republican Party said the Story County auditor will provide the voting machines, which have been used in official elections.

A representative for Mitt Romney's campaign said they believe the results will be fair.

[link to www.wlwt.com]

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