July 10, 2007
Deja vu all over again

Recall this priceless exchange from the contest trial, regarding King County's new computer system, whose "learning curve" was blamed for much of the 2004 election disaster [TVW audio, 3:30:24]

Judge Bridges: I guess I have to ask, whose idea was it to install this new computer software program just prior to that general election?
Nicole Way: not mine. [laughter all around]
So naturally, King County Elections intends to install another slew of new computer systems just prior to the 2008 election:
[Council staffer Nick] Wagner said in a report to the council that elections staff "continues to deny that there is reason for concern" about moving to a new building, switching to mail voting, installing ballot-tracking software, and using tabulators and signature-verification software not used in any previous election, all in one year.

"Gosh," said Councilmember Kathy Lambert, R-Redmond, "any one of those seems like a recipe for disaster. Putting them together is frightening."

Indeed. Holding the 2008 election entirely by mail is obviously not motivated by a desire for greater reliability. So why are Ron Sims and his Elections office so firmly committed to this reckless scheme? I can think of exactly two reasons: (1) the state Democrat Party wants to carpet bomb King County with mail ballots, in the hope that enough extra ballots will slip into the system to give their weaker candidates the needed victory boost. (2) As we learned so well after the 2004 meltdown, King County Elections workers can get away with ballot-stuffing, if they shrug their shoulders and claim it was a mistake caused by the learning curve with the new computer system.

Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at July 10, 2007 10:45 AM | Email This
Comments
1. I think the gross incompetence of King County Elections is about to have another round thanks to nonleadership by political appointees not taking ownership & pride in KCE.

Please remember this when I-25 gets on the ballot and the proponents need $$$!!!!

Posted by: SVC Alumnus on July 10, 2007 10:54 AM
2. One party rule is assured. Consult Gary, Newark, Philly, and any other big city area with huge problems for how effective one party rule has been. The very people that one party rule claims to help are the very people hurt most by one party rule. I am not a great fan of either party. But, the worst situation of all is one party rule. There simply is no incentive to improve schools, the economic climate, and basic services. Those that have the ability to opt out of public funded systems do and those that can't are stuck in the mediocrity of a government system. Heck, most upscale homes in Florida now come with their own generating systems to shield the occupants from the next disaster. Those that really want to help low-income folks want a system that produces a sufficient level of economic development to employ people and a school system that makes them employable. Until there is a reliable electoral system that most think is honest, we are simply biding time until this area is officially declared the next sewer.

Posted by: WVH on July 10, 2007 10:58 AM
3. ++ WVH.

The other method of ballot stuffing that was deemed 'legal' is the craziness allowing excessive provisional ballots. Nothing is apparently wrong with submitting your absentee... and three provisional ballots "just to make sure."

Posted by: Al on July 10, 2007 11:04 AM
4. It's also worth noting yesterday the King County Council legislated a ballot tracking system - only Dems commented on the press release.

Posted by: SVC Alumnus on July 10, 2007 11:07 AM
5. Since when are a bunch of King County administrators, hiding inside a cardboard refrigerator box with a slot cut out in front and the word Univac written in magic marker the side considered a computer ?

Posted by: John Bailo on July 10, 2007 11:20 AM
6. I hear ya in Skagit County, John.

I'd prefer fingerprint or DNA verification versus signature. Mine varies per signature too much for comfort.

Posted by: SVC Alumnus on July 10, 2007 11:25 AM
7. When the Queen wins re-election it will be impossible to track votes.

Posted by: JCM on July 10, 2007 12:23 PM
8. This cannot stand. Completely...unacceptable.
Outrageous.

Posted by: Michele on July 10, 2007 01:52 PM
9. Who benefits from a democracy that cannot count votes? You would think after the last fiasco things would be fixed but that assumes you want an honest election. With Clinton and Gregoire up for reelection, look for the D's, their union supporters and Moveon.com to pull out all stops. The saying "cheaters never win" doesn't apply to elections. Once the dirty deed is done, its a done deal. No court will overturn an election regardless of how tainted.

Posted by: Rerun on July 10, 2007 02:12 PM
10. I find it ironic that history is repeating.

2002 had some changes (please remind me)
2004 had a new computer system
2008 will have this + elected auditor (one can only hope on the latter)

Posted by: SVC Alumnus on July 10, 2007 02:16 PM
11. Geez, Stefan. For years you've been whining about problems with ballot tracking, signature verification, and ballot tabulation. Now the county is improving its systems in these areas. Yet you can think of "exactly two reasons", both of which are fraud?

Posted by: Bruce on July 10, 2007 02:39 PM
12. A business would never attempt to ram through this many changes to as complex as a system as King County is doing. They know the pitfalls so the move incrementally. They have customers they have to serve, they gotta pay the rent and keep people employed.

King County doesn't have to answer to any of these criteria. They don’t care because they don't have to.

And then a majority of Americans want entities like King County to administer our health care and run ever more of our lives.

Posted by: G Jiggy on July 10, 2007 09:39 PM
13. They are going to do WHAT with my tax dollars???

Bruce, the guy who posed July 10th at 2:39 p.m. can you not read? We want them to fix the system not use it as an excuse to guarantee they keep office.
Have you not paid any attention to what's going on around here? You must be one of the election workers hired by Logan.

Posted by: Cathy on July 11, 2007 12:09 AM
14. They are going to do WHAT with my tax dollars???

Bruce, the guy who posed July 10th at 2:39 p.m. can you not read? We want them to fix the system not use it as an excuse to guarantee they keep office.
Have you not paid any attention to what's going on around here? You must be one of the election workers hired by Logan.

Posted by: Cathy on July 11, 2007 12:09 AM
15. It seems to me that King County has another great plan to help themselves to another election that is not the will of the people.

OY, OY, OY!

Posted by: kim in vancouver on July 11, 2007 03:09 PM
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