Texas Officials Accused of Manipulation
By JOE STINEBAKER
The Associated Press
Friday, February 16, 2007; 1:44 PM
HOUSTON -- In two Houston-area elections last year, school officials are accused of blatantly trying to manipulate polling locations to get the outcome they wanted.
In one case, sponsors of a $250 million bond measure that would benefit the North Harris-Montgomery Community College tried to cut the number of polling places from 80 to 12 and put all of them on the school's campuses.
That would have made it more convenient for students and employees _ natural supporters of the bond issue _ and less convenient for off-campus opponents. The U.S. Justice Department thwarted the plan.
In the other case, officials with the suburban Pearland school system scheduled their bond election on the same day as the state's general election in November. But then they spent an extra $64,000 to establish separate voting just for the bond measure, with all polling places located in the schools. That meant voters had to make two stops that day.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/16/AR2007021600993.html