Mistakes may cost thousands their votes

NEW YORK — Tens of thousands of eligible voters in at least six key states have been removed from the rolls or have been blocked from registering in ways that appear to violate federal law, according to a review of state records and Social Security data by The New York Times.

The actions do not seem to be coordinated by one party or the other, nor do they appear to be the result of election officials intentionally breaking rules. Rather they are apparently the result of mistakes in the handling of the registrations and voter files as the states tried to comply with a 2002 federal law intended to overhaul the way elections are run.

The screening and trimming of voter-registration lists in the six states — Colorado, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Nevada and North Carolina — could result in problems at the polls on Election Day: People who have been removed from the rolls are likely to show up only to be challenged by political party officials or election workers, resulting in confusion, long lines and heated tempers.

Some states are improperly using Social Security data to verify new voters' registration applications, and others may have broken rules that govern removing voters from the rolls within 90 days of a federal election.

Tina, guess who may stop by SNL tonight?

Tina Fey, who has electrified the country with her satirical portrayal of GOP vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, may be the surprise guest on tonight's election edition of "Saturday Night Live" on NBC.

The Chicago Sun-Times says Palin might also pop up on the special to do a parody "of Fey's American Express commercials."

Longtime executive producer of "Saturday Night Live," Lorne Michaels, was cagey Wednesday, saying of an appearance by Palin, "All in good time."

Esquire magazine endorses Obama

WASHINGTON — Esquire is backing Democrat Barack Obama for president, its first endorsement in the magazine's 75-year history.

The Illinois senator is "the only possible choice to lead the country," editors wrote in the November issue, on newsstands Tuesday. They also encouraged people to vote for Obama because the next president will influence the direction of the Supreme Court.

"The best argument for the election of Barack Obama as president of the United States is written quite clearly in the peaks and squiggles of John Paul Stevens' EKG," they wrote of the 88-year-old justice.

Todd Palin defends his role as adviser

ANCHORAGE — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's husband defended his role as a close adviser to his wife Wednesday but was adamant that he didn't meddle in her administration to try to settle a family dispute.

The Republican vice-presidential nominee and her husband, Todd, are the focus of an abuse-of-power investigation by a legislative panel.

The investigation is scheduled to end Friday, the deadline for the release of a report into her firing of the state's public-safety commissioner.

"I have heard criticism that I am too involved in my wife's administration," Todd Palin wrote in an affidavit Wednesday. "My wife and I are very close. We are each other's best friend. I have helped her in her career the best I can, and she has helped me."

The Palins are accused of pressuring Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan to fire a state trooper who had gone through a messy divorce with the governor's sister. When he resisted, Monegan says, Gov. Palin fired him.

Gov. Palin has said she fired Monegan after a series of budget disputes.

Seattle Times news services