I've now spent five full days at the King County Archives going through last November's absentee ballot envelopes, which were finally made available. I've been finding all kinds of interesting irregularities buried in these envelopes -- ballots that should have been tabulated but weren't, ballots that shouldn't have been tabulated but were, voters who were credited when their ballots weren't tabulated and vice versa, etc.
It's a shame the Rossi legal team didn't do this research before the trial. It's an even bigger shame that the Elections staff didn't do this research before certification. C'est la vie. The important thing at this point is to uncover the problems so they can be fixed for future elections -- and to give election observers a heads up what to look for. I'll be posting detailed findings as my schedule permits.
I could also use the help of volunteers to help me go through all of this stuff. It's painstaking detailed-oriented work, but it's also rewarding and important. Requirements --
1) You must commit to at least one full day (preferably more) working 9a - 4p at the King County Archives in central Seattle.
2) You must provide your own lap top computer with Microsoft Access (I'll provide the bar code scanner)
Drop me a line for more info: theshark .AT. usefulwork .DOT. com
Thanks in advance!
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at September 14, 2005 09:40 AM | Email ThisHopefully you will get many other volunteers who meet your needs better.
The work that you are doing is critically important. I am sorry that the Republican Party didn't do the research that you are, but they were probably fillibustered just like you were at first. Thank heavens you have the determination to get what you want!
Posted by: sgmmac on September 14, 2005 11:25 AMI do wonder whether similar problems would be found in other jurisdictions of similar size. That doesn't mean we should be content with them, but it would help set reasonable expectations. I don't know enough to answer this question.
While I am totally unimpressed with your savior Irons, I do think Sims/Logan need a better plan for fixing these problems. Otherwise, while it's not a pretty prospect, could a lawsuit be brought to force them?
Posted by: Bruce on September 14, 2005 11:46 AMKeep up the good work Stefan, without the facts we cannot demand change. Unfortunately laptopless also.
Posted by: dl on September 14, 2005 12:44 PMMy suggestion is a suit ordering the county to comply with the law today and in the future. I don't know whether such a suit is possible or advisable, but it's worth considering.
Posted by: Bruce on September 14, 2005 10:23 PMNorm Maleng will not investigate, Sam Reed says he doesn't have the authority to require compliance, and the local fed. guy isn't interested. McKenna says he has no jurisdiction unless officially requested by Maleng or the Governor...so no going to happen.
So go vote, but don't hold your breath because Washington State no longer has checks & balances. Therefore, your County may or may not count your ballot as prescribed by law...and nada you can do about it except hope your side wins by a landslide (more votes than can be "lost" or "found"). So defend Judge Bridges some more, I hope you enjoy what he did to your voting rights.
I do, as I have before, commend you for your efforts and for the work you have produced.
Again though, it would not have mattered whether the Rossi campaign had looked into this or not.
The ONLY think that would have remedied our election problems would have been a legitimate Federal Investigation. Otherwise the Democratic machine will continue to do what it has always done. (Think about it, it's now wonder MOST of them have liberal arts degrees of some nature or other!) Specificity, exactness, not traits that
are important to them. Perhaps now, you too believe that "honesty" should be thrown into the mix as well.
Even in "general discussion" with pretty much any "liberal" I am sure that you have come across NUMEROUS references to the effect, "I don't care how we do it, just that we do it..."
Don't you think that would so easily be carried over to elections as well?
I appreciate all that you are doing, and maybe it will open the eyes of others as well. If enough eyes get opened then a difference can be made, but in the current framework it doesn't make any difference what is right/wrong/legal by law/illegal by law, what is desired to be done will be done.
Having "absentee ballots", ESPECIALLY "absentee ONLY voting", just makes it that much easier.
That's again, I really do loyally follow along watching for any eyes that beging to open. I just don't see many.
think => thing
now => no
thats => thanks
Sorry for the errors guys...
Posted by: Jim on September 16, 2005 12:23 PM