My article, based on my recent research into ballot envelopes at the King County Archives, appears in print in this week's The Stranger.
The article was just posted online:
Fatally FlawedRead the whole thing
King County Knowingly Counted Hundreds of Ineligible Votes in 2004 ElectionRepublican attorneys in the lawsuit over the 2004 governor's election received a tip last spring that King County officials had unlawfully counted provisional ballots from more than 100 ineligible voters, technically known as "fatal pends." "Fatal pend," short for "fatal pending," is election lingo for a voter who submitted an incomplete registration form and is not legally registered to vote. The GOP lawyers questioned then Assistant Superintendent of Elections Carlos Webb, who was responsible for processing the 2004 provisional ballots, about the fatal pends in his May 9 deposition. Webb testified that a fatal pend provisional ballot must not be counted, citing the office procedures manual that had been submitted into evidence. But he evaded questions about whether he was instructed to count any ineligible ballots. Had the Republican lawyers continued to grill Webb about the fatal pends, they might have uncovered a startling story:Elections Director Dean Logan instructed staff to count the ineligible fatal pend ballots. Instead, the issue was dropped.
I'm afraid we will never know the truth about the 2004 gubenatorial election. I predict that, through effort like yours, the issue will be in the minds of voters in 2008, however. Gregoire will most likely lose her bid for re-election due to the anger a lot of folks feel at KC and the sloppy (if not illegal) 2004 election and the general animosity towards Gregoire and the Dems.
Is Maleng really running for an eighth term in 2006? We need a good Democrat to file for the office and take Maleng out. But I forget -- the Democrats don't want to run anyone against Maleng because he is really one of them.
Posted by: Richard Pope on October 12, 2005 11:45 AMWhy did Carlos Webb feel he had to be evasive about answering questions as to whether he was instructed to count ineligible ballots? Who was he trying to protect? Either he was instructed to, or he wasn't. There can be no fuzzy area in this. His behavior suggests he was. Otherwise, he could just come out and say no, he wasn't. And that would be that.
I've had enough. This needs to STOP! We the citizens of this corrupt county demand that those at the top cease and desist this illegal behavior immediately. Please vote for David Irons, and clean out the corruption in King County. The entire state deserves honesty from King County, and nothing else. KC should not be determining the outcomes of any statewide elections by any illegal means they want. They should abide by the law like anyone else. Enough of this garbage! Fairminded democrats should vote out Sims and agree that nothing less than an honest elections department will do.
Posted by: Realist on October 12, 2005 11:53 AMIsn't a key part of mail balloting the ability to match and verify signatures? Why would we want to trust our franchise to a system that can't (won't) perform this task?
The problem still remains that Judge Bridges would have accepted the ballots once they were in the pool and would not have removed them from either candidate unless the offending voter declared who they voted for.
I think there are only two options to combat this:
1.) Pass a law stating that ANY irregularity that puts more ballots in question than the winning margin automatically forces a revote.
2.) Tighten up the laws to make sure that invalid ballots do not make it into the pool in the first place.
But, having to rely on the Dems for either of these changes in the law is kind of like spitting tobbaco juice into the wind - nasty blowback.
Posted by: SouthernRoots on October 12, 2005 11:53 AMThe real question...
WHY ISN'T THIS ARTICLE ON THE FRONT PAGE OF BOTH THE SEATTLE TIMES AND PI?
It shouldn't be buried in the Stranger it should be front page news in the MSM.
Posted by: Joe on October 12, 2005 11:58 AMEnormous pressure should be brought on whoever, by law, is supposed to enforce these rules.
Posted by: HappyGoLucky on October 12, 2005 12:01 PMDo you need more money to hire a lawyer to push the system or will somene do it pro-bono
Tim
Posted by: timman on October 12, 2005 12:02 PMI assume the question was rhetorical?
I agree entirely with your sentiments. Unfortunately we are stuck with what we had last year except for two things. The culture of KC Elections has not improved, and a great many people are still very pi$$ed of about what happened. They can only effectively cheat if it's close.
Will they vote accordingly? If they do—the outcome will not be close enough for KC Elections revised criminal enterprises to succeed.
The best things being done are steadfastly raising consciousness about the criminal enterprises thus keeping the electorate aware. Thanks to Stephan and others like yourself, this is being done. Only time will tell.
Amazing. Truly amazing.
Posted by: BananaLand (aka Iguana) on October 12, 2005 12:42 PMI the meantime, I see no reason that Logan and others who violated the law should not have their own day in court - as defendants. Criminal charges. NOW. How? Really, I want to know what a citizen can do. No punishment, no change. Repeat.
Posted by: duhh on October 12, 2005 01:37 PMDid you just fall off the "Duh, was there a Close Election a year ago?" Truck????
Stefan had to threaten a lawsuit, to get the information via the PDA.
I have a hard time believing that you really care if KCE is held accountable for their screwups, in fact I almost believe you like it just the way it is.......
Posted by: Chris on October 12, 2005 02:20 PMOur laws are to be made by a moral and religious people. They are wholly unsuitable to be made by any other. Madison corollary #1
Our laws are to be enforced by a moral and religious people. They are wholly and unsuitable to be enforced by any other. Madison corollary #2
Anybody starting to get the picture yet? Without repentance and revival expect it to get worse in King County.
Posted by: Jericho on October 12, 2005 02:26 PMOk, maybe some literary license was taken, but nothing more than what Dean Logan has done with the election process.
http://www.peta.org/mc/NewsItem.asp?id=6653
Jail Time For Logan!
We always hear the phrase, You're violating my civil rights.
Warfare is pretty uncivilized, right? Although even there rules of righteousness exist. Remember the Army Captain who used his body to shield a woman fleeing across a Tigris bridge during the Iraq invasion? Remember the Marines charged with murder? They threw two Iraqis off a bridge shortly after the invasion - one drowned.
But again I ask do you have uncivil rights?
When the Orange Ukrainians shut down Kiev was that uncivil? They didn't show up for work. They didn't open their shops. They blocked passive activity in the square.
If one has uncivil rights when should they be employed?
Now?
Posted by: Jericho on October 12, 2005 03:01 PMThe answer is to get David Irons in office and to send Ron Sims packing. You can be assured that most far-lefties are going to vote for Sims no matter what information comes to light. That means that David Irons needs not just the Republican votes, but the support of the middle-of-the-road voters and the moderate liberals, too. How much crap are Democrats willing to tolerate just to keep their man in office?
Posted by: Gary on October 12, 2005 03:09 PM$10 per voter in KC.
29 million in a suit against them as individuals, in that they were operating outside legal boundaries.
Posted by: JCM on October 12, 2005 03:18 PMThe person responsible for enforcing election laws is Norm Maling (according to South County, who is unsure of this), but that Mr. Maling is part of the overall problem.
Is this correct?
If so, doesn't this become a FEDERAL problem? If the people responsible for enforcing election laws are part of the system for keeping the status quo, then isn't that when the FBI launches an investigation?
Didn't the FBI intervene in the 60s in the south when elections were rigged and fraud occurred without the enforcement of the laws?
Isn't this something that can be turned over to the FBI? If not the FBI, then some other Federal Agency?
What does it take?
Posted by: HappyGoLucky on October 12, 2005 03:18 PMThen upon whom does the call to action fall?
I say we should...
Oh, look dear, Braveheart is on again. I think I'll watch it one more time. Vicariously manhood, ain't it great?
Answer: No
Posted by: Jericho on October 12, 2005 03:27 PMThe American 21st Century male: Somebody tell me what to do.
Posted by: Jericho on October 12, 2005 03:29 PMWhere oh where has my little spine gone? Oh where oh where has it gone?
Posted by: Jericho on October 12, 2005 03:31 PMIt's beyond me that Logan is still in his office. Besides this obvious evidence of willful or negligent wrongdoing that Logan presided over, Sims has made a huge tactical error in standing behind Logan, that will hopefully cost him the election.
If I were Irons, I would have this revelation up in every Television Ad from now until the election.
Sims and Logan are deceitful people, not fit for public leadership.
Posted by: Jeff B. on October 12, 2005 04:11 PMI've said it before...and it is worth repeating, it will be Sims and the Dems in a landslide.
Expect headlines that read something like:
"Smoothest Election Ever"
"Ballot Issues Are Behid Us"
"No Doubt Who Won This One"
Except, will anybody really believe it?
GREAT POINT ABOUT READERSHIP OF THE STRANGER.
That is why I spent the morning emailing and calling the political reporters from the major papers challenging them to first read Stefan's article in The Stranger. Then sit down with him to review his findings and research over the last month.
Now I don't have much pull but if more of you do this it might have a chance at getting some print! One of their principle jobs as a journalist is to help keep public officials honest through hard hitting investigative journalism and they have failed! This is their turn for redemption. It is time to reveal to the public all the garbage that is out there that has been revealed by Stefan since the end of the trial.
Stefan can't do it alone, call or email local political reporters and challenge them (politely) to do the job now that they should have done almost a year ago.
what is also troubling is that the broader issues you have exposed are likely not confined to the state of washington. Although many of the problems you have exposed are attributable to the (lack of) leadership at the sims/logan level, I fear that similar problems plague the voting process in other states--it's just that nobody has bothered to examine them.
for example, see this article re one prominent citizen voting in texas, although its not clear that he should be allowed to.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/02/AR2005090202397.html
key graf:
"Anyway, Rove is now registered to vote in Kerr County, about 80 miles west of Austin in the Texas Hill Country. He and his wife, Darby, have owned property there, on the Guadalupe River, since at least 1997, according to county property records.
But as far as the locals know, the couple have never actually lived in either of two tiny rental cottages Rove claims as his residence on Texas voter registration rolls. The largest is 814 square feet and valued by the county at about $25,000.
"I've been here 10 years and I've never seen him. There are only, like, three grocery stores in town. You'd think you'd at least see him at the HEB" grocery, said Greg Shrader, editor and publisher of the Kerrville Daily Times.
Charles Ratliff, secretary of the Kerr County Democratic Party, said he's never even heard rumors of Rove's presence. "I have no memory of anybody saying to me, 'Hey, Karl Rove is in town, and he's speaking at the courthouse.' Or, 'Karl Rove is in town and I saw him at the grocery store.'"
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2899999
2900000
Dear God keep dinesh and moonbats like him out of any place where numbers count. Like it's subjective how many bolts hold on an airplane wing. No F*ing thank you.
And when the wing falls off... Karl Rove did it.
Posted by: JCM on October 12, 2005 05:09 PMhence the quotes. perhaps the sarcasm didn't come through with the use of the grammar device.
nice namecalling though. so, i'm rubber and you are glue....
Posted by: dinesh on October 12, 2005 05:35 PMPrepare a notification/complaint of these illegal votes along with Logan and Sim's admission of their blatant and purposeful misinterpretation of the rules that allowed these illegal votes to be counted. Send this notification/complaint to Sim's, Logan, Maleng, McKinney, Federal Bureau Of Investigation, Department of Justice, Seattle Times, King County Journal and finally - Judge Bridges. Include with this notification/complaint a list all of the *legal* votes that were not counted. Add a list of all of the other findings you've discovered since last November's election....
Then post their responses as you get them.
With a majority of Democrats in our state legislature - chances are the election laws will not be clarified or rid of loopholes any time soon. With Maleng as the King County Prosecutor - chances are Ron Sims and Dean Logan will not be held accountable for their election crimes... The US Attorney for Washington State seems too preoccupied with the Spokane Mayor to worry about our little election fraud problem...
How far can the people's initiative process go to remedy our screwed up election laws, rules, loopholes and procedures? Can we force the changes by way of an initiative?
My Goodness, I was appalled to read your link to Logans big Press Conference. I immediatly emailed KC the following, mainly out of disbelief.
"I just read Mr. Logan's press release. I am appalled that he can even utter such bull. The Elections department "acts" like it has made improvements, but the facts still remain.
This is Grandstanding on Mr. Logans Part. How long did it take, along with a threat of a lawsuit, to get a PDA of the ballots cast last november.
When was the "republicans" granted access to the information to verify Mr. Logans accusations? 1 week ago? 2 weeks ago? If the numbers Mr. Logan quoted, as far as the Cleanup done by KCE, are anywhere accurate, that in itself is totally unacceptable.
I suggest you hop over to www.soundpolitics.com. There are suggestions from normal everyday people that possibly could help you in your quest for a fair and accurate elections. Until then, very few people in this STATE have any confidence in KCE."
All Sper's Read His Press Release, then Email KC, let them know how you feel.
Claire and Dinesh - Trolletes...you are both ridiculous / Gregoire kool aid drinkers. Even if Dino Rossi doesn't run against Queen Christine, the Republican will likely win in 2008 because she will be a weak candidate for reelection regardless, particularly if the economy is weak.
Posted by: KS on October 12, 2005 07:49 PMI firmly believe that if the Rossi Legal team would have gone out and obtained 200 signed affadavits from felons that voted for Gregoire - Dino Rossi and Fraudoire would be facing off again for Governor in November, according to Judge Bridges' verdict.
Posted by: KS on October 12, 2005 07:56 PMProbable headlines in our future because most of you wankers apparently can't stop the self congratulations and gee whizzing with what Stefan has done and offer a concrete and viable process for getting Logan tried for crimes he has committed. The lefties use the courts at will to demolish the legal and moral institutions of this country. Remember, "under God"? Having to fight to allow the ten commandment monument to stay where it has been for 80 years in Everett? The courts are ours, too. Time to use them for justice rather than just to advance the leftist agenda. Time for the blindfolded lady to step up to the plate and take a swing.
Jail time for Logan sends a clear and undisputable message. Anyone? Anyone? Anyone seriously know how to get a civil or criminal action filed against Logan. Effective actions are what are needed. Waiting for Mr. White Knight Irons to save us is putting too much in one basket. And guess what: a nice filing with specific charges and documentation against Logan would be the Swift Boat in Sims re-election bid.
Posted by: duhh on October 12, 2005 08:58 PMMaleng isn't going to investigate, he appears to be implicated several times during the 2004 election.
Rob McKenna says he cannot investigate unless requested by Maleng or the Governor, which neither will do they have too much to loose.
SOS, Sam Reed, says he has no authority, he is only an advisor.
Local division of Federal Justice Dept. has made it fairly clear they will not get involved, but it is a mystery why not. Thought he would be interested since Washington was threatened with a lawsuit over ballot mailing in 2004, and KC lied about their mailing dates to avoid the lawsuit.
So...here are the voters, looking for a solution to crooked King County elections.
Still want to know how Delay earned 6 grand jury investigations before a single charge was filed, and we cannot get even one.
Posted by: dl on October 12, 2005 09:12 PMwell, let's play the record backwards to look for satanic verses: "Lataf dnep;" is that another foreign non-citizen voter's name? maybe;
perhaps it's phonetic for "Lot of Inept!" yep--that's it--just like decoding heiroglyphics; someone in Elections was crying out in code! "help meeee..." (as in The Fly)
Posted by: Jimmie-howya-doin on October 13, 2005 09:41 AMMwa haha ahhahah!!!
fear my evil laugh!!!
(i am so proud of myself!)
Posted by: andrew on October 14, 2005 07:56 AMTo the question, "Anyone seriously know how to get a civil or criminal action filed against Logan.", the answer is yes.
There are many who know how, but individual citizen's do not have the power to convene grand juries, file informations (make formal charges) for crimes, only prosecutors do. That is not how the system works. Further, given the exigencies of lacking evidence, partial courts, and a dilatory system that would evaporate the political advantage through time and technicalities, there is not enough basis for a civil suit that would be worth while. Please get over it.
If there is indeed enough proof to convict Logan of anything the case must be filed and prosecuted by Norm Maleng. If Maleng doesn't file, the only recourse is political; vote the bastard out. If the corruption continues unabated . . . live with it or start a revolution. Mind you, I don't beleive it will ever need get this far.
I agree the situation is vexing, but I also firmly believe that conservatives can prevail. If it ain't close they can't win by cheating. Remember, we almost elected Rossi and very few odds-makers would have predicted such a close outcome. The very fact that it was close should be encouraging more than enraging. It was a gift to ourselves, take the energy and use it. Please don't forget, the rats cheated every way they could and still barely made it!!! They were forced to brazen it out and lie to themselves to prevail, thus weakening their own cause. They continue to hurt themselves badly in the process and Stefan (along with many others) keeps pointing it out.
Legal action would be a waste of energy, and you will not change the political environment that way anyway. Most liberal voters are one trick doggies who are incapable of learning, but the ones that are still capable of reasoning are coming around very gradually as they see the truth. To hell with the rest. Stefan is helping to prove the truth to many of those who will quietly turn their votes to Republicans.
Republicans need to clarify their unified purpose, avoid fighting each other, and spend energy stomping liberal democrats, not themselves.
DAVID IRONS WILL BE OUR NEXT KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE.