Trouble in Ohio

So local Cleveland paper, the Plain Dealer, has an article today about lawsuits that are pending regarding voter fraud and other voting anomalies:

With just days before Congress is set to certify the election, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Democratic Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones continued their efforts to keep Ohio's election in the spotlight. They are seeking support in the U.S. House and Senate to oppose certifying the results on Thursday.

Jackson said in a news conference preceding the rally that the recount was not conducted properly and that anomalies in election results all over the state continue to mount. Coalition participants are picking results apart down to the precinct level in some counties, and they are going door-to-door in disputed areas canvassing voters on how they voted.

Coalition attorney Peter Peckarsky said that significant deviations from expert exit polling by a renowned international pollster provide the clear and convincing evidence required for the Ohio Supreme Court to uphold the election challenge and revisit the vote. He said swings so radically outside the margin of error would be cause for concern in Ukraine or Iraq, but seemingly aren't in America.

"Anywhere else on the face of the planet, the people would know that they were victims of an election fraud," he said.

Regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit, Jackson called for an investigation into the election that would include deposing Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, Ohio's chief elections official. He said "the pattern of anomalies in Ohio -- and Pennsylvania and Florida -- amount to a plan" and that Blackwell should be held responsible.

While there certainly is plenty of circumstantial evidence supporting the notion that voter fraud was widespread, the problem comes when everyone (read: mainstream media) starts interpreting these events as 'sore loser' scenarios, which I don't believe them to be. I mean, if we don't do something about voter fraud now, it's only going to get worse by next election.

I'm quite happy about Jackson's investigation, including the possible deposing of Blackwell. It's high time we finally get rid of partisan Secretaries of State (this includes you, Kiffmeyer!), and come up with some way to hold the position accountable. I haven't read anything yet on any recourse that has been taken against a top election offical as a result of accusations of voter fraud.

EDIT: I've found an even better article that lays out the case for voter fraud, this one published yesterday in the Columbus Free Press. Very concise and helpful if you don't try to read every single article in the blogosphere like I do.