Burmeister and Richardson Comments on AJC Voter ID Article

ATLANTA, (Nov. 18) - Rep. Sue Burmeister said: “An Atlanta Journal-Constitution article citing a Department of Justice memo has erroneously misrepresented comments made by me concerning voter turnout in my district. While I do believe that voter fraud is rampant in our state, I in no way believe that African Americans in my district or around the state only vote when they are paid to do so. If the AJC’s misrepresentation has offended anyone, I apologize. However, I do not believe that these statements are accurate and they are in no way a reflection of my beliefs on this issue. I am equally offended by the newspapers blatant misrepresentation of the facts.

   “However, it is no mystery that voter fraud occurs. In November of 2000, the same Atlanta Journal-Constitution that now denies voter fraud exists published an article exposing over 5,000 incidents of dead people voting and the presence of more than 15,000 dead people on active voting rolls across the state. And an investigation is currently underway concerning over 2,400 fraudulent voter registration applications submitted in Fulton County. And in my own district, as I informed the Department of Justice in an interview earlier this year, I am personally aware of long standing and well known incidents of voter fraud tactics.

   “I believe – along with the majority of our citizens – that Georgia’s voter id law requiring a photo id to cast a ballot is a common-sense measure necessary to curb such fraud and protect the integrity of our voting system.”

   Speaker Glenn Richardson said: “In typical AJC fashion, this reporter – without any investigation or corroboration – has taken out of context a handful of words found in a 51 page internal, confidential, draft memorandum to create a story that does not exist. More importantly, again typical of the liberal newspaper for which she works, this reporter has failed to disclose that this memo was illegally obtained in violation of federal law, perhaps explaining the lack of investigation and corroboration.

   “I do not believe that voter fraud is isolated within only one segment of our society. Any assertion to the contrary is simply incorrect. However, I do believe voter fraud occurs throughout this state and that may best be evidenced by the furor displayed by those who still protest the requirement to show photo identification when they vote. Certainly, citizens should wonder why Democrats object to showing photo identification when they vote.”