October 7, 2008
Posted: 07:25 PM ET

From
Officials from the State of Nevada served a search warrant Tuesday on the Las Vegas office of ACORN.
Officials from the State of Nevada served a search warrant Tuesday on the Las Vegas office of ACORN.

(CNN) – Nevada state officials served a search warrant on the Las Vegas office of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now Tuesday.

The search was “the result of an ongoing investigation into allegations of voter registration fraud,” according to the Nevada Secretary of State’s office.

“There are allegations that a number of registration applications were completed with false information, and other applications on which attempted to register the same person multiple times,” Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller said in a statement, adding that the office had “been told some of allegedly erroneous applications even included the names of players from the Dallas Cowboys football team.”

ACORN denied any intentional wrongdoing on the organization’s part. “When we have identified suspicious applications, we have separated them out and flagged them for election officials,” Interim Chief Organizer Bertha Lewis said in a statement released after the raid. “We have zero tolerance for fraudulent registrations. We immediately dismiss employees we suspect of
submitting fraudulent registrations.”

Listen: ACORN, Project Vote on Tuesday's raid

The group’s Southwest regional director, Matthew Henderson, told reporters any errors on the forms were unintentional. “There were some people that, you know, probably sat down on a couch and filled out names out of a phone book,” he said. “And so, when we talk about fraud, that’s really what we’re talking about here. Not an attempt to steal an election. We’re talking about an attempt for someone to get out of doing some real hard work.” Henderson also said that ACORN’s canvassers are paid by the hour, and not per registration, as some of its critics had alleged.

In partnership with Project Vote, ACORN recently completed a voter registration drive in 21 states. The groups said 1.3 million people were registered during the joint voter drive. They also said approximately 80,000 new voters were registered in Clark County, Nevada, where Las Vegas is located.

Filed under: ACORN • Nevada • Voter Problems


keeth   October 8th, 2008 12:26 am ET

If this happened at an ACORN office on Nevada, then the whole organization is corrupt and should be shut down. Wait, the same could be said of our political parties and Washington itself. Wait again, that's a good idea!

fact   October 8th, 2008 12:17 am ET

ACORN is a non-partisan organization – and these were registration forms, not votes. Honestly, is there really any way to determine either campaign is behind this? Pointing fingers does nothing without facts. Let the issue be investigated with a true sense of justice–without bias.

Larry   October 7th, 2008 11:18 pm ET

Here we go. I guess they have to result to something to try and slow down Obamas lead. But that is ok because Obama dosen't need nevada to win. It is jus tactic to stop minorities from voting. Probably what they did in florida and now they wana say that Acorn is using the same tactics. By the way the debate was awsome and obama took it to them.

A dog barks in berkley round   October 7th, 2008 10:56 pm ET

John is barking at the moon,poor lost soul that he now is.

Deloris C. Harrington   October 7th, 2008 10:20 pm ET

There goes McCain again with the living in the past and what a hugh Big I., its I everything he is so into himself.

Deloris C. Harrington   October 7th, 2008 10:18 pm ET

Senator McCain has a large "I", everthing is I what a egotistical person and God help us if he is elected.

libhomo   October 7th, 2008 10:09 pm ET

Republican officials in Nevada are using a FUD campaign against ACORN to try to keep poor people from voting.

Steve California   October 7th, 2008 9:38 pm ET

Obama does not need Nevada to win this election. McCain, on the other hand, does. I'm not saying McCain is responsible for the supposed fraud (not proven yet). I'm just saying that if you want to rig the vote, why go for a whopping 3 electoral votes?

And lets not forget about all the fraud that has gone on in the past. Without that fraud, we would have had a different president. What is proven is that the republicans have committed fraud in the past.

Give me a break! Get off your high horses and stop blaming the candidates … dem or repub.

terry in fl   October 7th, 2008 9:28 pm ET

Sitting on the couch smoking dope and registering names from the phone book…wonder if that's what Obama did when he was a young college student smoking dope? Apparantly he has been involved with ACORN for a long time.

For Obama   October 7th, 2008 9:22 pm ET

McCain needs to stop with his lies. He is crazy.

saint paul mn   October 7th, 2008 9:19 pm ET

sounds to me like Rove and Limbaugh, at it, he said he would (mcbush and libmaugh said they would do this exactly thing)

oh lord

mcbush alwasy blames Obama for everything even when Obama was not even born

Sean   October 7th, 2008 9:14 pm ET

Obama, wear a Bulletproof vest when you're on stage with MCCain, in case some of his angry plants are in the crowd!

Robin Mattson   October 7th, 2008 9:13 pm ET

Cindy,

Who began the mudslinging? Did you think Obama would sit and take partial truths that are being advertised and are misleading? You get what you sow. When you throw stones, look within first- it is the smoking mirror.

Griff   October 7th, 2008 9:13 pm ET

Obama did not answer the questiopn he was asked..
The guy asked him who???

Miss concerned   October 7th, 2008 9:12 pm ET

I'm a concerned Florida votor. Hmm, could it be because Jeb Bush spent millions of our money on Diebold voting machines before he left office. Check out documentary on how easily the memory card can be rigged to switch counts – only takes seconds. A good machine costing one tenth of what the Diebold costs has a good security system, but nothing about any of this on the news.
Also, I have volunteered at a registration station, and have heard stories of attempts to deceive votors with false information , such as your ID address has to match your registration address – NO it doesn't! Have you tried to find the absentee votor site for your county? According to the law, you should be able to register and vote on that site at the same time. But….how to find it. We need comprehesive voting reform, but I don't hear any serious attempts. Without our vote, we live in a oppresive fascist state (e.g . over 1 trillion dollars to global corporations without hearings or respect for public (American citizens) opinion. Who is our government representing? Americans or corporations?

jm from sc   October 7th, 2008 9:12 pm ET

Since the election has not occured,how does the republicans know that those who may have registered more than once are voting for Obama? In a general election, you have a choice to vote for either party. I think the republicans will do anything to get McCain old tired rear end in office.

gregg45   October 7th, 2008 9:11 pm ET

it is all in the god obama hands,,let us serve him,, let him comfort us in trying times,, let him feed us one by one,,, let him tell us whom to vote for,,,,,,, let the new god rule… +all praise our new god,,,,,,,,, obama,,never say anything bad about our new god, our you shall be destroyed,, be aware ,, obama haters,,,

Matt   October 7th, 2008 9:07 pm ET

CNN why are you constantly censoring the fact that this organization got money in the bail out? Who's side are you on? Certainly not the average Americans. You make no mention of the money the democrats tacked on the bail out for them.

lovable liberal   October 7th, 2008 9:05 pm ET

I smell a Republican rat!

Hillary 2012   October 7th, 2008 9:04 pm ET

Obama may loose the votes now

ms c   October 7th, 2008 9:03 pm ET

How did Cindy think things would turn out after Palin threw her rock? Did she honestly think Obama would go away quietly? If she wasn't so wrapped up in her own little world she would know Mccain did it, it aired on television for the whole world to see. But all wasn't lost , she can sit high and look down low. But she's not alone, there's the Palin's and last but not least the Hesslebeck's.

Shannon   October 7th, 2008 9:01 pm ET

MV, do you actually think that ACORN has any affiliation with republicans. Please tell me why Obama supporters are so uninformed.

Judy   October 7th, 2008 8:56 pm ET

So what is new about charges of voter fraud? This organization should be investigated and charged if found guilty however; to those who automatically claim that the Obama campaign is behind this; shame on you. It is time that we stop slinging mud and start looking at the facts and issues. I believe that it is still innocent until proven guilty or did we lose this right under Bush as we have so many others?

REAL MAD   October 7th, 2008 8:54 pm ET

Obama has just made this independent sway right.

I am done flip flopping with the "shaky" backrounds.

marianna   October 7th, 2008 8:53 pm ET

Early voting is great – you can then go and vote again on election day. Will we see times when voters will get a tatoo at the polling booth? Just a thought :-)

Pamela   October 7th, 2008 8:52 pm ET

Is anyone looking at the other side of the isle? I am very much against any fraudulent regitration/voting activity. The fraudulent elections of George W. Bush to the White House reinforces the importance of a fair election. Personally, I believe the explanation given…because there is a record breaking number of people committing their vote to Obama.

Respecting McCain   October 7th, 2008 8:51 pm ET

The Obama campaign and ACORN are in this together. That is the way of Obama.

Dal CA   October 7th, 2008 8:50 pm ET

OK
Lets look at this in a different light.
Republicans go and help ACORN and while doing that do the deeds that are incorrect and illegal and then blame the Democrats.

Peter (CA)   October 7th, 2008 8:48 pm ET

Hey if anything illegal happened, then it must be rooted out. There is nothing more repugnant in politics than voter fraud. Now, what about the voter rolls being purged as they were in Ohio in 2004.

It has to be fair and balanced.

MV   October 7th, 2008 8:48 pm ET

so now mccain has stooped down to falsely registering voters. please we should all be careful and vigilant these mcbushes will not repeat as they did with the courts in 2000. john and palin can stoop down to anything

Kaymee   October 7th, 2008 8:48 pm ET

Well, the last 2 elections were fixed/dirty & we all know it. We also know that paper ballots can be 'lost' (read: stashed where they'll never be found). What we need is 1-1 dems & reps at each polling station, paper ballots and automatic counters at each as well. I also think it's funny that anyone republican question voting irregularities. They DO have incredible chutzpah, though.

Wake-up America   October 7th, 2008 8:47 pm ET

Voter Fraud has been going on since the 1940’s. This is part of our corrupted partisan system on both sides and you better get used to it. The truly astonishing part of this story is because it involves ACORN than Senator Obama must be behind it. Wow, now there’s another repugnant Republican attack of NO basis what so ever.

I surely didn’t hear a peep out of the Republicans in the 2000 Election when Bush won Florida by less than 500 votes after the so called recount. The interesting part is there were several voters boxes found months later that contained some 6,000 ballots and had those been counted guess who would not have been President, BUSH!!!

That is a fact. And to think we may not have had 9/11 and the Financial melt down. Makes you wonder!!

The only real fraud in this election is McCain/Palin and the rest of the Republican Bigots.

Republican for change   October 7th, 2008 8:47 pm ET

"Cindy McCain says Obama running dirtiest campaign ever"

HUH????

Cindy, give me one instance when the Obama campaign did this?

It's the American people who are debunking McCain's smears and lies because the old man is so stupidly transparent.

That's the truth

Dan   October 7th, 2008 8:46 pm ET

The Democrats won't have to commit voter fraud this year. The
republicans on the other hand . . . . . .

Ohh! Please   October 7th, 2008 8:46 pm ET

This news was reported early this morning and CNN just got around to post it….well, the truth is I thought it was not going to appear here at all.

Independent but Leaning   October 7th, 2008 8:46 pm ET

WHO's TIED TO ACORN????

OBAMA!

Anonymous   October 7th, 2008 8:45 pm ET

Gordon Liddy has said that, as a child, he grew up in a German-American community that included many admirers of Adolf Hitler, and that listening to Hitler's speeches "made me feel a strength inside I had never known before. Hitler's sheer animal confidence and power of will [entranced me]. He sent an electric current through my body.

McCain Friend and Donor

Lu   October 7th, 2008 8:45 pm ET

The polls speak for themselves. Any voter fraud would not detract from the support that people have for Obama. He represents more people on important issues.

ME IN FL   October 7th, 2008 8:45 pm ET

Wow! We are beginning to look like a 3rd world country!!!! Maybe we need the UN to send us representatives to supervise the elections just like they do in 3rd world countries!!!

Lee   October 7th, 2008 8:43 pm ET

ACORN called election officials to notify them of the problems, but officials didn't do anything. Now they raided and accused ACORN of fraud. Am I missing something here?

B. Smart   October 7th, 2008 8:43 pm ET

Voter fraud is a terrible thing. That being said, Diebold voting
machines should be checked also. After all, it was invented by a
republican.

Mario   October 7th, 2008 8:41 pm ET

It's about time. These people have been at it for years.

California Gold   October 7th, 2008 8:39 pm ET

Ok, so now prove intent. That's what is driving McCain.

I can't wait for McCain to go down in flames. He is desperate, just like another Republican by the name of Richard Nixon.

Chris from STL   October 7th, 2008 8:39 pm ET

Wouldn't we check for valid ID while some one actually votes! If you are a citizen, and have a valid ID, you can and should vote!

MGC   October 7th, 2008 8:38 pm ET

I'm not an ACORN member but I've volunteered to register voters with them before and have been to meetings and they make it absolutely CLEAR that they are NON-PARTISAN. They don't support any candidate, get it straight!

JC   October 7th, 2008 8:33 pm ET

There are allegations against ACORN in almost a dozen states now. Reportedly in one, they registered a bunch of people with the same name as all of the Dallas Cowboys.

It is clear there is severe voter fraud going on. If any evidence turns up, they need to be prosecuted.

Bulldog   October 7th, 2008 8:32 pm ET

Wow, the Republicans are out in full force making any and every accusation they can. Maybe we should all get on the phone and make up some accusations about the Republicans. They will do anything they can to block voters rights because they know they are in big trouble.

PoliticoMike   October 7th, 2008 8:30 pm ET

I found it funny that the police officer was making fun of anybody. He should know you can't help what your dealt with. We all know what I mean, that guy was a lil, uh hum, you know ;)

Canadian in Toronto   October 7th, 2008 8:29 pm ET

How the heck a law enforcement sheriff takes a public stand againt a political candidate? How can Obama supporters trust such a person or the organization to which he belongs

Lyndon,CA   October 7th, 2008 8:27 pm ET

America=Zimbabwe=Robert Mugabe

Jack   October 7th, 2008 8:24 pm ET

Now we see why the Bush administration wanted to get their justice department people with republican bias in place before the election.

David   October 7th, 2008 8:23 pm ET

The american people will not put up with any voter fraud!!! We have got to step in when the officials have no idea or don't want to stop this nonsense. A paper ballot. period. no early voters and stupid machines. Pure and simple. PAPER BALLOTS ONLY!!!!Why is that so hard to understand? Do they make voting complicated hoping their fraud will be harder to detect. SPEAK UP VOTERS!!

Go Community Based Activism   October 7th, 2008 8:19 pm ET

And of the legit forms…are they going to be processed timely or will the state hold on to them for "evidence"?

George   October 7th, 2008 8:19 pm ET

now let them start showing that Obama is going to win through fraud.
Shame on you mccain!

Teresa, Georgia   October 7th, 2008 8:18 pm ET

Is this timing a coincidence…the day after the last day to register to vote? I smell a conspiracy.

Does Obama Palin Comparison?   October 7th, 2008 8:17 pm ET

ACORN is a scam organization that perpetuates VOTER FRAUD on behalf of DEMOCRATS!!!

voter   October 7th, 2008 8:16 pm ET

when is Nevada Police going to raid county offices and arrest people who are purging democrats voter registration that is legitimate? Just a question.

Jams   October 7th, 2008 8:14 pm ET

So they know before the raid that some forms were filled out in the names of Dallas Cowboys? Sounds to me like a setup long in the works.

Odd, Isn't It...   October 7th, 2008 8:12 pm ET

They're try and crack down on voter registration, but when vote fraud happens on the level of the voting machines themselves, they just throw their hands up in the air and shrug.

Barbara - 65 yr old white female in NC   October 7th, 2008 8:12 pm ET

I received one of those forms – from some republican here in NC. It had a NV return address. I threw it away. Wish I'd kept it.

sick n tired   October 7th, 2008 8:09 pm ET

Now people want to do something about rigged elections? Where were you all in 2000 and 2004????

Daniel in VA   October 7th, 2008 8:09 pm ET

"There were some people that, you know, probably sat down on a couch and filled out names out of a phone book…" Can you believe this? Both candidates should condemn ACORN for any wrongdoing.

victor,nj   October 7th, 2008 8:05 pm ET

The repugs have become the party of bigots and ignorance. What is sad is that they claim to be christians with moral values. They now have supporters calling Barack terriorists and chanting "kill him" at rally. Even the sheriff that is policing the town where a rally was held is refering Obama as Barack Hussein Obama. When did the name Hussein become the symbol of terriorism or when did all people of muslim religion are identified as terriorist. If that is the case I guess all catholics are petifilers or all momons wed teenagers. Or better wet why not condemn everyone named George because of Bush. It is sad that the repugs are so terrified of a potential black president.

If anything happens to Obama, McCain and Palin are to be blamed!!!

Comments have been closed for this article

subscribe RSS Icon
About The Ticker

The latest political news from CNN's Best Political Team, with campaign coverage, 24-7. Sign up for our twice daily Ticker emails. Got a news tip or feedback? For complete political coverage, bookmark CNNPolitics.com.

CNN=Politics Screensaver

CNN=Politics ScreensaverTap into the power of The Situation Room. Download this powerful new tool that keeps you posted on the latest political news from the campaign trail.
Download (4.1 MB, PC only)

Follow us on Twitter

CNN on TwitterGet Ticker updates the moment they appear online via the Web, SMS, or instant messages.
Follow politicalticker

Categories
CNN Comment Policy: CNN encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. All comments should be relevant to the topic and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. You are solely responsible for your own comments, the consequences of posting those comments, and the consequences of any reliance by you on the comments of others. By submitting your comment, you hereby give CNN the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying and other information you provide via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity. CNN Privacy Statement.
Home  |  World  |  U.S.  |  Politics  |  Entertainment  |  Health  |  Tech  |  Travel  |  Living  |  Business  |  Sports  |  Time.com
Podcasts  |  Blogs  |  CNN Mobile  |  Preferences |  Email Alerts  |  CNN Radio  |  CNN Shop  |  Site Map
© 2008 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by WordPress.com VIP