PRESS RELEASE

Republicans Condemn Voter Challenge Techniques

For Immediate Release                                                                          Contact Information:
April 1, 2005                                                                                                   Chris Vance
                                                                                                                    (206) 575-2900
                                                                                                 

Seattle, WA - Washington State Republican Party Chairman Chris Vance and Pedro Celis, founder and former chairman of the Hispanic Republican Assembly today condemned the techniques used by activist Martin Ringhofer to compose a list of voters he claims are illegal aliens.  Ringhofer has said he has based his challenges on a list of names "that appear to be outside the United States," in particular those that appear to be Hispanic or Asian.  

"We condemn this activity and have not cooperated in any way with Mr. Ringhofer," said Vance.  "We have spent over three months researching this election and developing a list of names of those who voted illegally.  It is a precise and painstaking process, and we have confidence in the research we have done.  Mr. Ringhofer's tactics, on the other hand are not only sloppy, they are irresponsible and inflammatory." 

"Mr. Ringhofer should be ashamed of himself; his imprudent behavior fans the flames of anti-immigrant sentiments in our state," said Celis.  "The truth is that Hispanics not only voted in support of President Bush at the rate of 49% in our state (higher than the non-Hispanic population), but by participating in our elections process we make this country more, not less, American."

For an editorial condemning this voter challenge published after this press release was issued see: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2002230834_profilinged05.html

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 For the record, the Seattle times editorial is incorrect in stating that election officials are not aware of a single non-citizen that voted in the Governor's race.

Chun C Chen of 7th Ave NE, Seattle and Ming Y Anderson of 6th Ave S, Seattle, both voted in the election.

When they realized that they were ineligible and should not have voted they went to the election office on Nov. 5, three days after the election. to ask that their ballot not be counted and have their registration cancelled. Election officials claim that it was too late and that their ballot had already been counted.

Given all the other problems in that office I'm not sure how they can assert that with any certainty.