Dying woman's vote for Hillary Clinton is for naught

One of the primary season's most publicized votes won't count.

As Hillary Clinton basked in her West Virginia romp Tuesday night -- and sought to inspire her supporters not to lose heart despite the long odds against her in the Democratic presidential race -- she invoked, literally, the spirit of Florence Steen.

Clinton told her cheering crowd that the South Dakotan, "88 years old and in failing health," had "asked that her daughter bring an absentee ballot to her hospice bedside. Florence was born before women had the right to vote, and she was determined to exercise that right, to cast a ballot for her candidate, who just happened to be a woman running for president.

"Florence passed on a few days ago, but I am eternally grateful to her and her family for making this such an important and incredible milestone in her life that means so much to me."

South Dakota's Rapid City Journal had written a feature piece about Steen's vote last weekend and in its Wednesday edition took note of Clinton's mention of the woman in her speech.

On Wednesday, however, Chris Wilson posted an item on Slate.com pointing out that under South Dakota law, absentee ballots cast by voters who die before an election are not to be opened. Thus, Steen's vote won't get tallied for ...

... Clinton in the state's June 3 primary.

The Rapid City Journal caught up with Clinton on Thursday as she campaigned in the city (the same day Steen was buried). And the candidate told the paper that she hoped her supporter's vote still would prove meaningful.

Calling for a change in the state statute, Clinton said, "I think a legally cast vote ... should definitely be counted."

The official who, as the Journal's story put it, "found herself in the uncomfortable position of setting Steen's ballot aside as invalid," agreed with Clinton.

But Pennington County Auditor Julie Pearson also said, "It's not whether we agree or disagree with the law. It's just what we have to do."

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[jimboster]

Well, they could cryogenically freeze her head and then thaw it out next time Hillary runs.

[crat3]

A Democrat in the South Dakota legislature should do something about this because it is wrong. This law needs to change. The absentee ballot of Florence Steen should count.

[mary CA]

I wonder how the people that start counting the absentee votes would know the lady died. I wonder how many other dead people's votes have been counted.

Sad that a now deceased women could take part in trying to elect a liar who wants war in Iran; her future is not affected, my grandkids will be. The Clintons popularity with elderly women proves he is wrong about older people becoming more savvy.

[MissClarity]

Clinton's response looks good on the surface but it's just more of the same reach for the sympathy vote that she is well known for like her building on the lack in the West Virginia people type sympathy, like little endearing stories that are obvious manipulations. The women should have been able to die in peace not become another Florida and Michigan hunt for the vote of naught according to the law of the United States of America and the DNC, respectively. Please give us a break and not swallow the devisiveness. But it sounds gooooood.

[Herbert]

I am a staunch Obama supporter and I am strongly moved by the story of Florence Steen. Sometimes we are blessed by The Creator to live in a day and time when the prayers, wishes, and desires of previous generations are bare fruit. The manifestation of these prayers, wishes, and desires is seen in the shattering of the political glass ceilings by Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama. As I said I am a staunch supporter od Senator Obama, nevertheless I have never seen such a tenacious warrior as Mrs. Clinton. In no small part the democratic party is blessed by the fulfillment of the American dreams of Florence Steen and those like her.

[v racer]

Right, follow the law. Then, consider the validity of the law. Perhaps it should be changed.

[daldridge]

What a ridiculous law. I hope they change it.

[BJ]

Jimboster,

Your comment is uncalled for, and just plain mean. There is no need to mock the dead. At the very least, have an iota of respect for a human being.

You are the epitome of the rude, caustic Obama supporter. How would you like it, if someone were to say something along the same vein about Sen. Ted Kennedy, who now lies in a hospital bed, and happens to be an Obama supporter?

Bt we will not stoop to your level. THINK before you "speak".

[Binary Star]

Am I the only one that this makes sense to? Am I crazy?

Dead people don't get to vote. How is there even an argument about this?

[Mimi]

If you read some of these heartless comments you will understand why I will never vote for Obama.

[toby]

That's absolutely AWFUL.

I guess how poetic.

She was born without the vote NOW, she died and even though she voted,it still wont count.

Again, that is absolutely AWFUL. America should be a little ashamed of itself today.

[dave]

while at least some people seem to realize that the right of a free woman or man to vote is not anything to fool and mess around with (and the item obviously was designed to depict the clinton campaign as 'dead'), it is duly to be noted that it is also not consistent with the constitution to abuse power and exert influence (media censorship etc.) to systematically suppress a legitimate candidacy, and message and campaign, as that of candidate for PRESIDENT, RON PAUL. and it is the right and duty of anyone to vote their conscience, and not be swayed by force or manipulation.

[Screwgun]

What's the big deal?

Lots of dead people vote for Democrats in every election.

[NHChemist]

A relative who shall remain nameless marched her husband (who was in the end stages of Alzheimer's) into the voting booth and was allowed to mark his ballot and have his vote counted. Her excuse was that he would have voted that way if he were in possession of his faculties.

An absentee ballot is for those who are unable to vote on the day of the election, not a proxy for a desired outcome. The right to vote is tempered with the responsibility to make an informed decision. Those who cannot make an informed decision on voting day destroy the integrity of the election. Life is not always fair, but we have a democracy based on the rule of law, not subject to the whims of individuals.

[CC]

okay, so that is a little mean. But at the same time, can we really have dead people deciding elections?

[Allan D, Eureka]

Well she wasn't dead when she cast the vote. Although Hillary-haters might say she was brain-dead for voting for Hillary, but I think the lady's vote should count. I am sure the Clinton campaign's lawyers are thinking of a way to use this to create a rule issue for the seating of the South Dakota delegation. BTW, if you don't think that her legal team is preparing for a "battle royale" regarding the democratic convention, just you watch. It is the only chance she has.

[Gloria]

Every single thing HRC says is fact checked to death and used against her somehow or another. This story is particularly nasty and cruel and as usual, for no reason except to trash HRC. What I want to know is WHY no one has ever vetted Obama's "community organizer" story? WHY NOT???? He discusses it in EVERY debate and at EVERY stump speech, yet I have heard zero about who he helped get a job? Or what jobs? Or what exactly he did with the churches...NOTHING AT ALL. That is a very important story. By far more important than going out of your way to diss HRC, yet again & again.

I will never vote for Obama no matter what.
Never in my life have I seen such trash as this election is, has been, is...this is the most appalling election I've ever seen. And when they say "the party will unite"...GET REAL. There is no way in the world anything at all could ever make me vote for Obama after all this one sided BS.

And even though people claim HRC is done, all you people STILL talk trash...

My vote and so many others like me....GOOD BYE!

[Ben]

Anyone who doesn't understand HRC that can no longer get the nomination is just delusional. Gloria, HRC herself has said that her supporters should vote for Obama if not her. Anything but McCain. Anything but not voting.

I'd happily vote for the democratic nominee, whoever that will be.

Anyway... Absentee ballots is so that LIVING people who can't make it on election day can vote. They are not intended so that dead people can vote.
Of course her vote should not be counted, she's dead for gods sake!

[deegen08]

"If you read some of these heartless comments you will understand why I will never vote for Obama."

This is ridiculous.
1. You don't know that the posters of "heartless comments" are Obama supporters and not McCain supporters; 2. Only a moron would base her vote on which candidate has supporters who are "nice".

Go McCain!

[Deborah]

Me thinks thou Obama supporters doth protest too much..
which is a clear indication that you sense deep down, that Hillary Clinton must be stopped....and will go to no length or level to see that she is. Only thing is, it is working in reverse. With every cruel insult, soul less, purely fear based that she can win, you encourage more Democrats to leave this sick party and support for her, or vote for McCain. Why do you see her as such a threat, even now, if you believe Obama is the answer to unifying the country.

I'll enlighten you, because you, and too many of his supporters have no real interest in unity in the first place. The responses that I read on these blogs, Obama's disinterest in supporting all states to revote, are proof that his unifying ability is his weak suit.

I hope you live to be over 50, so that you can feel what it is like to be so attacked. I am ashamed to be a Democrat, and have no respect for Howard Dean, or the majority of voters in that party. I won't vote Democrat this year. However bad McCain may be, I feel safer with him in office than I ever could imagine with Obama.

[STANLEY DUYCK]

Obama supporters have not got it yet

you are going to need Hillarys supporters
What is wrong with you trying to permanently turn her voters against obama.You don't own the man
Her voters are more than 50 percent of the democratic electorate.
Quit hurting obama by being nasty and divisive.

[Lance Concencepcion]

Dying woman still have the right to vote. As long as they can stand. It do not differ to voters with physical deformity. At any situation, we should not allowed hindrances to become reason in inability to exercise human rights