King County Superintendent of Elections Bill Huennekens is a live witness.
* Rob Maguire asked Huennekens if he provided the canvassing board with any reports on provisional ballots. Advantage: Croker Sack!
* Huennekens says he destroys any reports of felon voters, but says he doesn't know whether those reports are destroyed immediately or after a two-year retention period.
* Maguire: What does King County do to prevent someone from voting both absentee and at poll site?
Huennekens: if absentee voter appears at poll site they're given provisional.
Maguire: is the process of crediting used to prevent someone from voting both an absentee and a provisional?
Huennekens: the process of crediting? no.
Maguire quotes from deposition.
Huennekens admits crediting is "part of the process"
Maguire: what is the rest of the process?
Huennekens can't quite say.
* Maguire: Did King County have an audit process with respect to ballots in the November election? Why is an audit process followed during that time period?
Huennekens: various things are required by law and that's how we provide for the integrity of the election.
Maguire: is part of the audit process determining whether the number of ballots received reconciles with the ballots tabulated?
Huennekens: yes.
Maguire: you rely on data associated with batches of absentee ballots for the audit process?... And the audit process involves the batch slips?.. is crediting part of the audit process?
Maguire: did King County handcount every absentee ballot envelope returned?
Huennekens: no we did not handcount every single one.
Maguire hands Huennekens Agenda from Certification Meeting of Canvassing Board for November 2004 election and Mail Ballot Report.
Maguire: what is the purpose of the Mail Ballot Report? Is it designed to reflect the audit process?
Huennekens: I didn't create the report, don't know what it's designed to reflect.
Huennekens doesn't remember specifically discussing the report with Garth Fell. Remembers only telling Nicole Way he needed the report for certification day.
Huennekens can't say he knew before certification how the "Total Number of Ballots Returned" was calculated. Says he learned only later in non-specific conversations how the number was calculated.
Maguire: did King County attempt to do a reconciliation of the number of absentee ballots returned with the number rejected and counted.
Huennekens: ... attempted ... reconcilation did not succeed. Some batches had discrepancies.
[It appears that Huennekens implicitly admitted that he should have known the Mail Ballot Report that showed no discrepancies was bogus]
Maguire: does King County know the true number of absentee ballots returned.
Huennekens: I don't know if we have an exact number of absentee ballots that were returned.
Maguire hands Huennekens the "Binder Summary Spreadsheet"
Huennekens: purpose of document is to account for ballots at polling place.
Hamilton: gets Huennekens to acknowledge document was created in March only after the election, seeks to exclude from evidence as hearsay.
Huennekens acknowledges that original Binder was done during canvassing period, in part, to account for provisional ballots that went through Accuovte
Bridges overrules Hamilton, allows the Binder Summary Spreadsheet admitted into evidence.
Hamilton objects to some additional exhibits "I assume you'll overrule this, but..."
Adjourned until 1:30pm
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at May 24, 2005 10:45 AM | Email ThisYou can remember the truth for a short time and a long time…
Through Bill Huennekens.
So, if you are canceled from the system, just fill out a new card completely, and you are completely legal to vote, per King County
Posted by: Patches Pal on May 24, 2005 10:59 AMHe seems to have some pretty significant memory loss. Perhaps a recent head injury or something...
Posted by: DanC on May 24, 2005 11:15 AM"Er, uh, yeah, the direction of Dean and I, yes."
Posted by: Jeff B. on May 24, 2005 11:23 AM"The court does not believe there is a fraud causation element to this case, for whatever that's worth," Bridges said "I am not saying that the evidence is not admissible."
Scroll down.
Posted by: Editor on May 24, 2005 11:27 AM"We have the ballots, I don't know that we have the exact number."
Dear GOP Lawyers, Let's count them and put this matter to rest. I bet they will show that the Mail Ballot report was flawed, and allowed the election to be certified even though the results were not verified. Toss it out.
Not trying to be dim (but sometimes I just can't help it) if you meant scroll down in the PI article there was just a bunch of back and forth by each side, which obviously are advocate positions. I didn't see anything that would indicate the judge would allow this to be a fraud case. The only part is that in the quote I listed above there was still a small opening for that with "The court does not believe..." could be interpretted as "at this time" allowing room for that to change.
Thanks.
Posted by: Fred on May 24, 2005 11:42 AMCorrection:
It helps to show that King County knew fully well what was going on in November, it took them until March to figure out the cover story.
Posted by: Scott in Carnation on May 24, 2005 11:44 AMThis was yesterday's news. Judge Bridges allowed this line of argument, this morning. You need to get yourself up to speed.
Posted by: Jeff B. on May 24, 2005 11:44 AMSomeone needs to rap Huennekens and the others on the knuckles with a cane every time they use the term "crediting" to mean anything other than what the law says. Voters are credited by a notation made by the poll book judges in the poll books at the instant before a ballot is issued to each voter. Voters are credited by a notation in DIMS (or whatever computerized voter registration data base is used in each county) at the instant the absentee ballot from each voter is accepted as valid.
Voters credited in the poll books on election day may try to cast other ballots, so one must either go look at the poll books every time an absentee or provisional ballot is being verified or transcribe the information into the computerized data base to make it readily available.
Voter crediting always happens before certification, because it's required by law and because it is the only practical way to determine how many valid ballots ought to be in the vote tabulation, and is the only way to keep people from successfully casting more than one ballot.
Updating voting history happens after certification, typically, as the data from one part of the data base is used to update voting history in that same data base.
If the data input from the poll books and during the absentee ballot verification process is done carelessly, then the canvassing process is less able to prevent double voting. Also, the data base cannot then be used to verify that only valid ballots are in the vote count -- and have been counted only once. Only by knowing how many valid ballots you have can you determine if you correctly counted them all.
If the voting history update using that data shows too few voters who cast valid ballots compared to ballots included in the vote tabulation, it means there were invalid ballots in the vote count or some valid ballots were sent through the vote counting system more than once.
Ironically, many who defend the legitimacy of Gregoire's certificate of election claim that the process reflected in the data base shows King County counted the votes with sufficient accuracy to make her the duly elected governor, but that the data is too inaccurate and unreliable to show that there were more ballots in the vote count than should have been there.
How can it be reliable and unreliable at the same time?
Posted by: Micajah on May 24, 2005 11:52 AMTake your pick, but my guess is that "higher ups" will arrange for Billy-boy Heunnekens to be admitted to an institution with a mental disorder in order to save them from additional damaging testimony.
Either way, the guy is dumber than a lobotomized cow. He is going down for people like Gregoire? Sad.
Posted by: DeadManVoting (aka Iguana) on May 24, 2005 12:34 PMAny word on the number of activists or others surrounding the trial venue?
I was thinking of taking a trip to Wenatchee next week, and just wondering how you think that would affect the "political" (read: court of public opinion) side of the trial?
Posted by: Patrick E. Bell on May 24, 2005 12:56 PMMeant scroll down SP to "It's in the PI"
Posted by: Editor on May 24, 2005 01:03 PMHow about ballots ... err "most" ballots that is.
Posted by: Mike J on May 24, 2005 01:27 PMI don't care or pass moral judgement on whether someone chooses to be gay or not, but I think he is one of those people in government that is on a mission for "social justice." Election fraud is a strange way to pursue you view of "justice," but it would appear that is the way he was thinking!
Posted by: DeadManVoting (aka Iguana) on May 24, 2005 01:32 PMFor our out-of-state observers!
Posted by: Patrick E. Bell on May 24, 2005 01:36 PM"Our best explanation..." Oh man, that inspires confidence....
Posted by: Patches Pal on May 24, 2005 01:37 PMBut, the dang feed is extremely slow because of demand.
Posted by: DeadManVoting (aka Iguana) on May 24, 2005 01:39 PMOh, shocker... overruled again.
Posted by: Editor on May 24, 2005 01:44 PMAs opposed to King County, the county where he "works" and collects an exceptionally large (85K) paycheck from the taxpayers.
Not that his sexual orientation matters. He IS inept, bungling, lying, and wholly unfit to serve as the elections superintendent for a large county.
Posted by: Susan B. Anthony on May 24, 2005 01:45 PMP. Bell out!
Posted by: Patrick E. Bell on May 24, 2005 01:46 PMThanks for the great report!
Posted by: Michele on May 24, 2005 01:47 PMYou are spot on. Last Friday I attended the Puget Sound Regional Council's all day seminar for planners, electeds and landuse activists at the Seattle Center to update their Vision 2020 plan. Basically, Agenda 21.
Social Justice is a concept they have adopted into the regional planning protocol they are making for local planners to incorporate in local zoning regulations.
You bet Huennekens is following the playbook. He's part of the socialist bureaucrats that run the show and believe in Social Justice here in Pugetopolis.
Posted by: Encouraged Voter on May 24, 2005 01:51 PMI'm just not used to the gender ambiguity of so many feminized men that came out of the WA public school system.
Posted by: DeadManVoting (aka Iguana) on May 24, 2005 01:58 PM"GOP CASE FALLING APART"
Posted by: Michele on May 24, 2005 01:59 PM"HINNYKINS MANHANDLES REPUBLICANS"
Posted by: DeadManVoting (aka Iguana) on May 24, 2005 02:02 PMAlmost every single person I've met here in Washington who's advocated "social justice" have 3 things in common.
1) Sexual orientation is undeterminable.
2) Wimpy white males make up the largest group.
3) They all believe "It's Bush's fault".
Posted by: Encouraged Voter on May 24, 2005 02:05 PMAnd, they are always asking you: "How do you FEEL about that" ... or "How does that make you FEEL" ...
And, when one of their social justice issues comes up (which is usually mixed in somehow with environmentalism, although the two are logically at odds) they start jumping in your face with the rage of a caged mouse and saying ...
"Did you know that corporations ...." ... something along the lines of all corporations conspire to kill children, burn down forests, and keep gays from practicing safe sex ....
Posted by: DeadManVoting (aka Iguana) on May 24, 2005 02:13 PMI recall you've had many conversations (and maybe in-person visits) with Mr. Huennekens...was he like this before, too? I mean, was he amazingly forgetful, wishy-washy, and fond of the words: perhaps, possible, maybe, conceivable, etc.? I suspect not.
Posted by: Scott on May 24, 2005 02:19 PMWE FEEL YOU SHOULD ALL GO TO JAIL FOR STEALING ELECTIONS!
and
WE WILL FEEL GREAT ABOUT PAYING FOR YOUR ROOM AND BOARD WHEN THERE!
Posted by: Fred on May 24, 2005 02:20 PMHim being in jail counts as another felon voting D
Posted by: Fred on May 24, 2005 02:24 PMQuick run of the sitrep:
Trolls are quiet
Goldy isn't even updating his blog.
"The binder" keeps getting mentioned.
PI staff writers are pulling their hair out trying to come up with spin.
Situation strangely changed from the heated nonsense over the past six months. Could it be that the light of truth is causing the spinmeisters to back away from their chants?
Oh, goody. Petitioners are done with him, now it's the intervenor's turn!. Mr. Smarmy, Esquire, is up to bat. More objections. Great.
"Republicans consider withdrawing case"
(Wenatchee) Courtroom observers have concluded that the Republican Party is about to withdraw their case to overturn the people's Governor, Christine Gregoire. In the face of unprecedented volume of objections by the people's lawyers, the Republicans admitted to being weary from lack of sleep in open court.
Bill Huennekens, Superindent of Elections for King County easily and confidently parried the leading questions of the anarchist's lawyers, and defended the legitimacy of our Governor, Christine Gregoire, while avoiding giving the ultra right wing extremist Christian Conservative inspired lawyers any ammunition to proceed with their case. The cross examination was a mere formality by the people's advocate.
Or something like that....
Posted by: Patches Pal on May 24, 2005 02:29 PMGive me a break!
Posted by: DeadManVoting (aka Iguana) on May 24, 2005 02:34 PMIt's just too hard to tell what really happened.. too messed up... poll worker screw ups, slipery ballots, fuzzy data, etc. to decide that CG didn't really win.
Posted by: MrBeach on May 24, 2005 02:36 PMSo, the question now is: why falsify a report? what's the motive? what are you trying to hide?
I'm thinking Ken must be writing speeches for Al Gore on the side, these days.
Posted by: Editor on May 24, 2005 02:48 PMSeems to me that you connect the dots, and he's proving the R's case for them.
Ok, I haven't had drugs today, so I'm probably out of the loop...pretty much like every other day...
I realize that there are no guarantees of the ultimate victory of truth, justice, and the American way, and if this fails, it will only serve to illuminate some long-hidden darkness in the heart of the status quo-mongers.
Posted by: scott158 on May 24, 2005 02:53 PMYes/No??? Just a thought.
Posted by: megs on May 24, 2005 02:58 PMShark....you rolling on the floor laughing??
Posted by: MrBeach on May 24, 2005 02:58 PMHe is one of those holier-than-thou media ninkumpoops, with emphasis on the poop.
Posted by: DeadManVoting (aka Iguana) on May 24, 2005 02:59 PMSo, they are highlighting the "mistakes" and trying to prove that they really were just "mistakes."
Posted by: DeadManVoting (aka Iguana) on May 24, 2005 03:04 PM"Democracy is sometimes messy"
They have got to be kidding themselves if they expect that will fly.
Posted by: Jason on May 24, 2005 03:09 PMAnd what's this crap about voters "forgeting to sign the poll book." If the election is run correctly, you CAN'T get a ballot until you sign in, so if that happens, it's fraud because the election worker let you cast a ballot without signing in.
Posted by: Tucker on May 24, 2005 03:19 PMThey just got done with their interviews on Carlson.
Posted by: megs on May 24, 2005 03:26 PMIt sounds like the same old worn out D tactic. They know they are fighting a losing battle, so lets start blaming the Rs now for all the problems.
Posted by: Fred on May 24, 2005 03:26 PMI'm done with listening to Goldy. He's so bad he's embarrassing. Not a worthy opponent for Stefan. When he comes on I just turn down the radio. I can't take it anymore. Too much predictable liberal nonsensicalness.
Posted by: Michele on May 24, 2005 10:08 PMThe only person I can think of who takes more delight in being wrong is Juan Williams of NPR. I get such a kick out of the "two fools fighting" feud that he has with J Carlson. Neither one could ever be considered an intellectual heavyweight, but John comes off sounding so much more reasonable when placed side~by~side with schram.
He is a reliable barometer of the dems dementia, and for that, I give him a tip of the hat...
Posted by: alphabet soup on May 25, 2005 06:39 AM