The Secretary of State's long-touted but as yet unexamined statewide voter database is supposed to be available next Wednesday, February 1, a month later than promised. I was informed on January 4 that the earlier January 3 delivery date would not be honored, so I'll keep you posted whether the database actually materializes next week. Here's another reason why I'm going to be cautiously skeptical on the quality of the new database.
I have a copy of the June statewide database, which is a more primitive compilation of the 39 county databases, and not used to detect improper registrations, merely to facilitate signature verification on statewide initiative and referenda petitions. Still, I found enough eyebrow-raising errors to lead me to question the SoS data management capabilities --
The database is supposed to contain every voter's legislative district. This is all messed up. For example, nearly tens of thousands of residents of southern Snohomish county who are in the 1st district are listed as in the 10th district (Skagit, Island and northern Snohomish). 58,000 Snohomish residents who are in the 39th district are listed as in the 35th district (Mason, Kitsap, Thurston, Grays Harbor) and 30,000 residents of Mason county who really are in the 35th district are recorded as in the 3rd district (Spokane)
I don't expect elections databases to be 100% perfect. But I do expect the election officials to be 100% transparent about their errors and weaknesses and to do a much better job of using citizen oversight to improve their work product.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at January 23, 2006 10:56 AM | Email ThisBut, that will never happen because it would mean a few less Government dolts plodding around with Microsoft products sold to them because their boss's boss had powerful connections to MS. These "alleged" IT specialists are busy trying to figure out how to use MS Access to use these ridiculous error prone government databases, while real engineers and programmers are busy making the real world go around with far more complex databases such as those determining flight schedules or bill of materials to build a computer, etc.
Managing databases is only difficult when you are a government employee with zero incentive, working in a government union which protects your job, wage and pension.
Posted by: Jeff B. on January 23, 2006 11:22 AMAre you listening??? Want a chance to shine beore you look inept? Check the information Stefan has stated and make the corrections!
Force them back down the chain to the counties!
We're sick-AND-tired of sloppy gov't work and elections. We want and deserve better. If you can't do it, we WILL find someone that can and will.
Posted by: Jamie Walker on January 23, 2006 11:35 AM"Keep an eye on the ball"? Shell game here?
Posted by: swatter on January 23, 2006 11:51 AM
"So, Stefan – I know you read this blog – how come you’re not going to share the proceeds of your lawsuit against Dean Logan and King County Elections with the generous donors to your “legal action fund” who paid for the lawsuit? Is it because you’re a selfish prick, or because you can’t hold a job and need the money, or both of the above? I’m waiting for an answer … the world is waiting for your answer.
Comment by Roger Rabbit— 1/23/06 @ 11:22 am"
Maybe if you'd give him an answer he'd stop harping on this thing.
I hope the Voter database will be up and running for the Feb 8th election?
Posted by: gs on January 23, 2006 11:28 PMIsn't one of the "key" functions of the statewide voter database - to be able to detect multiple registrations by individuals? How in the hell is that going to work if counties are listing individual voter registrations in multiple districts??
Sometimes I think the liberal's (SoS included) purposely create these whopper errors. They create chaos out of the most simple and structured task in an effort to confuse and frustrate the public...
That's how they get away with fraud....They just take anything that has a reliable and required structure and screw it all up. They KNOW what FUBAR means....and they are masters at reaching that status....on anything.....
They can only play this game so long....We are the home of the "techies" here in western Washington...(myself excluded) - and the pressure to "correct the database" from the high-tech public will soon be too great to ignore...
Posted by: Deborah on January 23, 2006 11:49 PM