Someone or some group in the Tennessee Valley is behind some dirty politics. Fake guide ballots, appearing to be from the Alabama Democratic Conference, were distributed in several north Alabama counties on Tuesday. The main problem was that the endorsements on the fake guide ballots had been changed. Now, the ADC is determined to get to the bottom of it.
On the official guide ballot from the Alabama Democratic Conference for Madison County, it shows a picture of the State Chairman, Dr. Joe Reed and the Madison County Chairman Eddie Sherrod. The document, which is printed on yellow paper, also has Reed's signature and seal for the organization. The address is listed as P.O. Box 6233 in Montgomery. Ron Sparks is endorsed for Governor and Steve Raby for the 5th Congressional District.
On the fake guide ballot, the organization is listed as the Alabama Democratic Committee, not Alabama Democratic Conference. There are pictures of President Barack Obama and Congressman Artur Davis. The seal is forged, the address is incorrect, and the endorsements are wrong. It shows the ADC endorsing Artur Davis for Governor and Taze Shepard for Congress.
On election day, local leaders from Madison, Lawrence and Limestone Counties told the Alabama Democratic Conference about the phony forms. The idea of a fake guide ballot really irks Dr. Reed.
"This was an effort on the part of somebody to frustrate the ADC's endorsement and try to frustrate the people who look to the ADC ballot for guidance," said Reed, in a phone interview.
Dr. Reed says the ADC won't stand for this and wants the culprits to be dealt with swiftly and harshly.
"These evil doers are out there plotting, trying their best to undermine ADC and frustrate black voters," explained Reed. "I think we've got to expose them and when we can, prosecute them."
Despite the plotting and planning against them, the candidates endorsed by the ADC, Sparks and Raby, still won the Democratic primary. Dr. Reed says he's notified the Alabama Attorney General's Office, Secretary of State Beth Chapman, and the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Public Integrity about the fake ballot guides. Reed hopes they can track down who's responsible and prosecute them.
On the official guide ballot from the Alabama Democratic Conference for Madison County, it shows a picture of the State Chairman, Dr. Joe Reed and the Madison County Chairman Eddie Sherrod. The document, which is printed on yellow paper, also has Reed's signature and seal for the organization. The address is listed as P.O. Box 6233 in Montgomery. Ron Sparks is endorsed for Governor and Steve Raby for the 5th Congressional District.
On the fake guide ballot, the organization is listed as the Alabama Democratic Committee, not Alabama Democratic Conference. There are pictures of President Barack Obama and Congressman Artur Davis. The seal is forged, the address is incorrect, and the endorsements are wrong. It shows the ADC endorsing Artur Davis for Governor and Taze Shepard for Congress.
On election day, local leaders from Madison, Lawrence and Limestone Counties told the Alabama Democratic Conference about the phony forms. The idea of a fake guide ballot really irks Dr. Reed.
"This was an effort on the part of somebody to frustrate the ADC's endorsement and try to frustrate the people who look to the ADC ballot for guidance," said Reed, in a phone interview.
Dr. Reed says the ADC won't stand for this and wants the culprits to be dealt with swiftly and harshly.
"These evil doers are out there plotting, trying their best to undermine ADC and frustrate black voters," explained Reed. "I think we've got to expose them and when we can, prosecute them."
Despite the plotting and planning against them, the candidates endorsed by the ADC, Sparks and Raby, still won the Democratic primary. Dr. Reed says he's notified the Alabama Attorney General's Office, Secretary of State Beth Chapman, and the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Public Integrity about the fake ballot guides. Reed hopes they can track down who's responsible and prosecute them.
