Buckeye Institute's Fight for an Uncorrupted Vote: Miller v. ACORN

By David Hansen, posted November 18, 2008

On October 14, the Buckeye Institute filed a state RICO action against the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) on behalf of two Warren County voters.  The action filed in Warren County Court of Common Pleas alleges ACORN has engaged in a pattern of corrupt activity that amounts to organized crime.  It seeks ACORN's dissolution as a legal entity, the revocation of any licenses in Ohio, and an injunction against fraudulent voter registration and other illegal activities.

Plaintiffs Jennifer Miller of Mason, Ohio and Kimberly Grant of Loveland, allege that ACORN's actions deprive them of the right to participate in an honest and effective elections process.  They allege fraudulent voter registrations submitted by ACORN dilute the votes of legally registered voters.

"The right to cast a vote that is not diluted by fraudulent votes is a fundamental individual right," Buckeye Institute President David Hansen said.

"ACORN appears to be recklessly disregarding Ohio laws and adding thousands of fraudulent voters to the state's roles in the process," Maurice Thompson, Director of the Buckeye Institute's 1851 Center for Constitutional Law said.  "Such voter fraud erodes the value of legally cast votes," he added.

In the complaint, Thompson cites an accumulation of evidence showing numerous instances of admitted fraud by ACORN employees, as well as individuals solicited by ACORN.

"In light of its hiring, training and compensation practices, ACORN should have known its conduct would cause fraud," Thompson said.  "It also should know that its conduct will cause fraud in the future."

In addition, the complaint cites conduct by ACORN in Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

Listen to a BuckeyeVoices podcast featuring Maurice Thompson, the Buckeye Institute's litigator in Miller v. ACORN.

• Buckeye Institute's Miller v. ACORN filing.
• Ohio statutes cited in our complaint: Revised Code 2923.31; and, 2923.32.
• Plaintiff Jennifer Miller writes about her case in a Buckeye Institute Viewpoint.

• Human Events
• The Rush Limbaugh Show
• The American Spectator
• WCPO-TV Cincinnati
• The Associated Press

The Buckeye Institute's 1851 Center for Constitutional Law depends on your generosity in order to carry on the fight for your freedom to an uncorrupted vote.  Unlike ACORN, we do not seek nor do we accept government funds, depending instead on the voluntary contributions from private individuals and foundations.

If you would like to make a donation to the Buckeye Institute's 1851 Center for Constitutional Law for this case, please visit our online contribution site or contact Claire Kittle at (614) 224-4422 or ckittle@buckeyeinstitute.org.