Fri
Feb 1 2008
02:15 pm
Need voting assistance? Call Diane Jordan!
By: R. Neal

According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, Diane Jordan voted in the Republican primary, allegedly to help out JJ Jones who is running for Sheriff. Except, he's running unopposed in the primary, so how does that help?

The article also says she helped 5 other people vote in the Republican primary because they were having trouble with the machines or were "afraid" of them. She says she checked with the election commission to make sure it was OK.

The article does not say if lobster was served.
DnB's picture

This makes no sense. I

Submitted by DnB on Fri, 2008/02/01 - 3:36pm.

This makes no sense. I can't imagine the poll workers letting her do this.

NorthKnox's picture

The J.J. thing has to be a

Submitted by NorthKnox on Fri, 2008/02/01 - 2:53pm.

The J.J. thing has to be a lie... didn't she work for Mike Lowe at one point... that's my real suspicion. Someone needs to formally cry foul on this.

bill young's picture

good news/bad news

Submitted by bill young on Fri, 2008/02/01 - 3:01pm.

As good as the news was of democratic voting @ the UC
The news of Diane voting Republican is just as bad.

You're kidding yourself if you dont think Jordan knows how to turn out votes.She does & she does it well.

This will hurt Democrats in the general election.

Every vote,for a Republican in East Knoxville over 15%,comes straight out of the Democratic base & makes it VERY VERY difficult for any Democrat to win county wide.

The Obama campaign got it right by putting HQ on Magnolia

The Democratic Excutive Committe needs to follow suit & put money & muscle in East Knoxville.

Some in the Party will attack Diane on a personal level.
Thats a foolish way to go.

I like Diane.

But this is politics & the only way to beat her Republican candidates is to work toward a massive turn out for the Democratic ticket in East Knoxville.

Ragsdale2010's picture

Hope Knox County Demos remember Diane Jordan

Submitted by Ragsdale2010 (not verified) on Fri, 2008/02/01 - 3:02pm.

at the next rodeo when she will run for Mark Brown's old city council seat from that district.

Yes, the city elections are non-partisan, but does the distric/community want to support a person, who changes party affiliations like a chameleon, depending on from whence the most recent paycheck came from?

I've never really seen a chameleon with a cowboy hat on.

bill young's picture

that was a concern

Submitted by bill young on Fri, 2008/02/01 - 3:10pm.

some of diane's supports told her voting in the Republican primary was a mistake.

It would kill her chances of even making the run off for city council.

Sandra Clark's picture

Legal

Submitted by Sandra Clark on Fri, 2008/02/01 - 4:31pm.

What she did is totally legal. Good grief.

To paraphrase Mackay: "You walk up and pick a primary." -- s.

Bird_dog's picture

smells like decaying lobster.

Submitted by Bird_dog on Fri, 2008/02/01 - 4:35pm.

Doesn't this violate the 100' zone for campaigning at the polls? It's more subtle, but is she is hanging around in her big hat offering to help folks vote - for JJ - what's the difference???

And for traditional Dems to vote Rep just to vote for JJ, that takes away their Presidential vote.

This smells fishy. She is clearing influencing votes - not helping the illiterate. The @#$%wheel was a pain to vote for all those delegates, but I understand the Dem ticket had a simpler process. That strikes me as odd also.

NorthKnox's picture

Yes, Sandra, it's perfectly

Submitted by NorthKnox on Fri, 2008/02/01 - 4:49pm.

Yes, Sandra, it's perfectly legal for a democrat to vote in a republican primary, but did you miss the suspicious part about her "helping" others... I suppose she was just doing her civic duty? I wouldn't buy that load if it was two for a dollar.

Rachel's picture

It's perfectly legal to help

Submitted by Rachel on Fri, 2008/02/01 - 5:30pm.

It's perfectly legal to help folks who really need it. My mom always goes into the booth with my dad. Since his stroke many years ago he has trouble reading the ballot (but no trouble thinking clearly about who he wants to vote for).

If Jordan is helping folks who really need help, that's ok. If she's "helping", that's a different story.

But if someone tells the election workers they need help, I don't see how they could challenge that.

talidapali's picture

Yes...

Submitted by talidapali on Fri, 2008/02/01 - 5:58pm.

but when you go into a voting place and you ask for help ...the election commission workers are supposed to provide that help. That's what they are there for. A private citizen "helping" other private citizens to vote stinks to high heaven.

I (because I have medical issues and have to use an oxygen tank to get around) am always ASKED if I need any help with the machine by the election workers. I think someone should take a harder look at this "help" offered by a disgruntled and ousted Commissioner who deliberately ignored the will of the voters.

_________________________________________________
"You can't fix stupid..." ~ Ron White"
"I never said I wasn't a brat..." ~ Talidapali

Bird_dog's picture

read the KNS article

Submitted by Bird_dog on Fri, 2008/02/01 - 6:23pm.

On one day she helped 5 people, including her son and husband - who is a minister and should not be illiterate. One of the comments following (unverified source) was that she had been present every day of early voting.

I'm sure every precinct has some insecure voters who might recognize a celebrity in their midst - and if that person offered to "help them", how easy would it be to say no to someone with a formidable, imposing personality?

Other candidates could "plant" supporters to hang out in their precinct offering to help their friends & neighbors... It just seems inappropriate to have people hanging out at the polls when they have no business there.

Do we need Jimmy Carter to monitor this election?

Ragsdale2010's picture

Monitor Knox County Elections?

Submitted by Ragsdale2010 (not verified) on Fri, 2008/02/01 - 7:09pm.

Do we need Jimmy Carter to monitor this election?

Probably, particularly certain early voting stations where this type crap is allowed to happen, while the Election Commission can't get overseas absentee ballots mailed by the cut off date to certify the election when the rest of the state's counties will certify the elections.

Somebody needs to look at the spineless operation of our local election commission. Had they not allowed term limited county officials to run, most, if not all of the sunshine law issues would have been solved 5 years ago.

rikki's picture

feed the tree

Submitted by rikki on Sat, 2008/02/02 - 1:46am.

Somebody needs to look at the spineless operation of our local election commission. Had they not allowed term limited county officials to run, most, if not all of the sunshine law issues would have been solved 5 years ago.

The election commission never had the authority to make that decision.

Knox County has an outstanding election commission, especially given the absurdist theater they've been operating in since Bush stole Florida and Congress loosened election security with HAVA and all this county insanity started happening. They deserve a redbud on the courthouse lawn with a plaque just for the sheer volume of crap they've had to wade through.

NorthKnox's picture

Hey Ragsdale2010: "Probably,

Submitted by NorthKnox on Sat, 2008/02/02 - 9:50am.

Hey Ragsdale2010:

"Probably, particularly certain early voting stations where this type crap is allowed to happen, while the Election Commission can't get overseas absentee ballots mailed by the cut off date to certify the election when the rest of the state's counties will certify the elections.

Somebody needs to look at the spineless operation of our local election commission. Had they not allowed term limited county officials to run, most, if not all of the sunshine law issues would have been solved 5 years ago."

DID YOU NOT READ THE POST ABOUT THE ELECTION CERTIFICATION? IT'S A STATEWIDE THING... AS IN NOT JUST KNOX COUNTY. THAT IS A TOTALLY UNFAIR ATTACK ON OUR ELECTION COMMISSION WHO ALLOWED TERM LIMITED OFFICIALS ON THE BALLOT BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT TERM LIMITS WERE UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND UNENFORCEABLE. IT'S A DANGEROUS WORLD WHERE PEOPLE SPOUT OFF WITH HALF INFORMATION.

bill young's picture

ragsdale2010

Submitted by bill young on Fri, 2008/02/01 - 7:41pm.

I could not disagree with you more.

Pam,Chris,Paul,Bill & Cassandra are the BEST Knox County Election Commission I have ever seen.

In fact,it could well be the BEST Election Commission in the history of the county.

They are smart & well informed.

They work together well.

They put the best interest of the voters ahead of
personal or partisan politics.

Thats why we are NUMBER 1 in state for early voting turn out.

This Election Commission is a NUMBER 1 CLASS ACT.

Bbeanster's picture

Would somebody PLEASE throw

Submitted by Bbeanster on Fri, 2008/02/01 - 9:07pm.

Would somebody PLEASE throw a bucket of cold water on Bill? I swear I never dreamed election commissioners had groupies. Hell, Bill -- Paul Crilly's a stone nut, and how long has it been since Bill Deatheridge even attended a meeting? Every time I'm there he's a phone hook-up and an empty chair. And usually just an empty chair.

The EC with David Eldridge and Anne Woodle was good as any I've ever seen -- they hired Greg over Mark Brown's sister-in-law, knowing full well they'd pay a political price for it.

bill young's picture

betty

Submitted by bill young on Fri, 2008/02/01 - 10:35pm.

I've been around these folks alot since Mar of '06 & its been a tough go.This bunch has hung together & is good at it.

You think its an accident we led the state in early vote?

Hell no..this commision put it together..opened the new 3 week sites & opened last 3 day sites & extended hrs the last three days.

I'm sure you've told Paul that..& I'm sure he dont hold it against you..but as far as I know he has been a solid vote for progress.

I see Bill all the time...he is engaged.When you talk to him about commission stuff what does he tell you?

I see Cassandra at the commission office & we talked at length @ the MLK lunch.I like the job she does.

Chris is a brillant lawyer..he has worked & chewed on the ins & outs of the ups & downs of the last two years.

Pam..simply the best..dont believe me ask Malone & when you do post her thoughts on this thread.

Betty I think you're out in left field on this one.

R. Neal's picture

I agree, Bill.Plus, they

Submitted by R. Neal on Fri, 2008/02/01 - 7:45pm.

I agree, Bill.

Plus, they are constrained by stuff like the law and court orders and whatnot.

I agree that the timing of the various court decisions first allowing the candidates on the ballot and then invalidating them was unfortunate (whatever political influence by the powers that be may have been involved).

But what is the KCEC supposed to do? Defy the law and the courts? I prefer an election commission that follows the rule of law. If we have problems with the law, we need to take it up with legislature, not the election commission.

Sandra Clark's picture

And pay

Submitted by Sandra Clark on Fri, 2008/02/01 - 10:26pm.

And pay they did, even though David denies it.

bill young's picture

i thought david was going

Submitted by bill young on Fri, 2008/02/01 - 10:55pm.

i thought david was going for president of the bar when he left commission

Bbeanster's picture

David and Anne were punished

Submitted by Bbeanster on Fri, 2008/02/01 - 11:11pm.

David and Anne were punished for picking Greg, and that's a fact that only the yellowest dog Dem could deny.

And crediting the election commission for the big early vote is as fair as blaming them for the low turnouts every other year.

AND

I sat through many a Crilly tirade listening to his conspiracy theories about how the Democrats were stealing elections. the on ly way to shut him up was to put him on the election commission, which is what Jamie Hagood did.

bill young's picture

crilly

Submitted by bill young on Fri, 2008/02/01 - 11:56pm.

he did come closer to beatin jamie than anybody.

he was what he was..now he is what he is

every vote ive seen paul's been on board

bill young's picture

hell i dont know

Submitted by bill young on Fri, 2008/02/01 - 11:49pm.

ive never ask anne or david or joe or harry about it..couldnt tell you what happened.Maybe David wasn't president of the bar.I thought I talked to him about a few yrs ago.

God damn somebody posted that this commission was spineless.Plus,what was posted about the overseas ballot was wrong.It was the delegate rules of the Republican Party that caused the problem.

So why on earth you folks start talking about old news I dont know.

By the way Betty are you going to ask Malone about Pam & post those comments on this thread?

Bbeanster's picture

Bill, Pam Reeves doesn't

Submitted by Bbeanster on Sat, 2008/02/02 - 12:05am.

Bill, Pam Reeves doesn't need a cheerleader. I don't need to ask anybody about Pam (or any of the others), whom I'm pretty sure i've known long enough to be entitled to an opinion of my own. Pam is a fine person and a very respected lawyer and i've never said otherwise. Pompoms don't become you.

bill young's picture

yep

Submitted by bill young on Sat, 2008/02/02 - 9:46am.

i make no bones about it

i'm a cheerleader for this bunch @ the commission.

B. Paone's picture

Did Jordan violate the TCA?

Submitted by B. Paone (not verified) on Sat, 2008/02/02 - 11:00am.

If Jordan is indeed funneling votes to one particular party even though such voters have almost always voted in the opposite direction, it would appear she's in violation of 2-19-110 - though there isn't much of an incentive to play fair, since it's only a class A misdemeanor to violate this statute.

2-19-110. Abuse of voter assistance. —

A person commits a Class A misdemeanor if such person assists any person in voting except as permitted by this title, or if such person knowingly casts any vote or consents to the casting of any vote contrary to the desire of the voter while otherwise lawfully assisting the voter in casting such person's vote or if, being an election official or other person otherwise lawfully assisting a voter, such person influences or attempts to influence the voter in casting such person's vote.

[Acts 1972, ch. 740, § 1; T.C.A., § 2-1910; Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 113; 2006, ch. 903, § 3.]

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