Posted on 09/20/2002 7:23:49 PM PDT by EternalVigilance
Critical Election Day Ballot Security Issues
In the 2000 election, questions of voter fraud by our opponents arose across the country. Because of this, we are making it our job to ensure that our opponents don’t get away with ANYTHING on Election Night 2002. That is why we are asking our County Coordinators in West Virginia to do two very specific things in addition to the normal all-day operations of our Republican poll-watchers:
1. Legally, it is necessary that one specific individual in every precinct in the State from each of the two major parties be tasked to accompany the ballot box between the Polling Place and the Courthouse—NEVER letting the ballot box out of their sight. However, experience tells us that in many cases Republican officials have been derelict in this duty--allowing Democrat officials to take the box to the Courthouse unaccompanied. To remedy this, we are asking that each County Coordinator task one reliable individual to:
a) talk to all of the Republican Precinct Poll Workers before Election Day to remind them that no ballot box can go out of the polling place to the Courthouse without escort by a Republican, and
b) that this same individual station themselves at the Courthouse on Election Night with a checklist--to ensure that a Republican shows up with each and every precinct ballot box. Any precinct that does not have a Republican escort should immediately be suspect and open to possible challenge.
2. We are asking our County Coordinators to task one highly competent and reliable individual with a video camera and a tripod to set up in the tabulation area of each and every Courthouse in the State—and to leave the tape rolling from beginning to end of the tabulation process. Past history would indicate that the Democrats who run many of the tabulation operations in many of the Courthouses have allowed the tabulation areas to turn into a party atmosphere, creating a climate that is open to abuse of the counting process. Our experience also is that the presence of a running camera almost automatically creates a serious and secure environment for this most critical of processes.
This same individual, or the County Coordinator, should inform Courthouse officials and/or law enforcement before Election Day—making sure they understand that it is legal and right for us to do so.
You're welcome. I'm already gratified by the tremendous response.
Shoot, the Dems could go down to defeat forever if they are deprived of their fraudulent votes.
Yeah, you're right. I forgot dead Dem voters still make it to the polls.
Hey!---sounds like a catchy title:
The Free Republic 'Catch-the-Rats-in-the-Act' Attack!
Hey, we're only talking about 3000 or so video cameras with tripods--probably even less, because the problem is mainly in the urban Dem strongholds.
But I hope no one forgets about the other important part of this--making sure that the ballot boxes are watched throughout the process.
Guess when you are committing fraud, you do have a tendency to be intimated by a video camera.
Yes, they claim that the Voting Rights Act should be construed that any perceived "intimidation" of black voters is unlawful, and use that argument to prevent Repub observers, cameras, police, etc. So thay have a perfect opportunity to scam and cheat. Why do you think Gore put Donna Brazile, with all her obvious liabilities, in such a high-profile role (campaign mgr) in his campaign? Because cheating on election day was the cornerstone of his strategy. That's why he went on, i.e., that 48-hours of non=stop campaigning stunt before election day -- to create a story to explain the sudden "movement" to Gore that was unpredicted by polling.
Democratic issue
How about giving government workers the day off, with orders to stay away from the polls? The Democratic National Committee will work harder for the general election than it did for the primary to ensure the perception of chaos. It's the Democrats' only issue.
3 areas to improve
After much thought and consideration, I find the subject of this week's Friday Forum to be both comical and ironic. Imagine ordinary citizens suggesting improvements and actually being paid attention to by appointed and elected officials. What a concept! After that, perhaps politicians would begin considering the needs of their constituents. Well, let's not get too carried away.
The difficulties with the election process in Florida, as I view it, could possibly be boiled down to three major points.
First is the equipment issue. Consistency is key. Every voter in the state, whether in Key West, or Pensacola, should be having the same voting experience. A statewide system, regardless of whether a certain area has had irregularities in the past or not, would benefit everyone.
Second is staffing. Two qualities that are important in a poll worker are competence (an excellent grasp of the alphabet) and capability (clearly not a position for the severely visually or hearing impaired). Being of retirement age should not be required. No offense intended, but maybe when screening these applicants, resumes should be more closely scrutinized.
Last of all -- and this is always an issue -- there's money. I do not know how much is needed or where it should come from. I could suggest the two avenues that seem to be the most popular with other issues: the lottery or an increase in the sales tax. These always seem to be successful ways to raise funds.
Whatever is done, and however it is done, it is clear that this matter must be resolved efficiently and swiftly. The great state of Florida has withstood enough embarrassment and humiliation to last a good long time.
Not that complicated
In order to avoid the chaos of the last two elections in Florida I would suggest the following:
First, all people from elections supervisors to poll workers should complete the required training.In addition, there is absolutely no reason for not having the voting places staffed and opened on time.
Voting, even with the new touch screens, is not that complicated. We voters need to accept the responsibility of learning to read and write, and learning to operate the simple voting machines. It is our responsibility to prepare ourselves to vote properly and not the responsibility of the governor or other officials -- except those directly in charge of conducting the elections.
Having the polls open for 12 hours on the regular Election Day is completely adequate to allow everyone a chance to vote. For those with a schedule problem, there's always the absentee voting available.
Regardless of whether we live in South Florida or another part of the state, the best thing we can do is to take our election jobs and our voting very seriously. Neither one is all that complicated. If each individual takes his or her job and voting seriously, the elections will go smoothly in the future.
Testing, testing . . .
After reading several newspaper articles concerning the recent voting problems in South Florida, I've noticed two things that can be done to fix the problem:
1. Replace the new machines with ones that require fewer poll workers. I've read that the machines in question in Miami-Dade and Broward counties were pushed by a lobbyist in Tallahassee. The machines have never been tested in large metropolitan cities, and they require a reset after each voter casts his or her vote. This creates a need for additional workers -- something computers should alleviate.
2. City, county and state workers, as well as National Guard members, should be asked to take a day from work to assist. They would be paid a certain amount and nothing would be counted against them within their regular jobs. This would create a group of trained government employees that would show up and be able to complete their jobs.
Looking back, the governor and former secretary of state should have followed Georgia's example and had a statewide test of all the machines before an actual election occurred. Too bad there was no statewide vision for planning for potential errors.
Schools as polling places
Let's have professional poll workers. Close the schools and use the schools as polling places. (School can be extended an extra day or two at the end of the year, and teachers could use the extra money they would earn by working the polls.) Some government employees could take a day away from their regular duties to staff the polls.
If the same people worked every year, we would eventually have a very experienced staff. At the very least, we could close the colleges and hire students to man the polls. You can't really expect to get intelligent and dependable poll workers when you are essentially recruiting from the ranks of the unemployed and offering only a few days of work.
A pickup game of softball or basketball may be fine, but our democracy deserves better.
Keep it simple
What can we do to improve the voting process in Florida to avoid the chaos of the Sept. 10 primary election and the debacle of the 2000 presidential race?
There are three areas needing a lot of improvement: Voter registration, poll staffing and technology.
Voter registration is atrocious Registration problems are invariably voter mistakes: incomplete addresses, name changes and address changes.
Weeks before every election, set up e-mail and phone hotlines so we can check our own registration status and where we're supposed to vote. On Election Day, segregate voter registration problems from qualified voters getting in and out.
Poll staffing is deplorable: Train election staff, and include mandatory dry runs setting up, operating, shutting down and putting away voting equipment.
If volunteers cannot attend training, stay home. Election Day isn't a social event for seniors. Work or go home.
At every poll, have at least one experienced person familiar with all computer equipment operating at the polls. Ensure one trained person at each poll is on duty all day who knows how to turn on, re-boot, turn off and replace any and all computers.
Technology cannot solve Florida's voting woes: Stick with the K.I.S.S. principle: Keep It Simple, Stupid. We don't need touch screens and fancy displays. People want something tangible to hold in their hands. Big pen, large type, clearly labeled political affiliations. And don't crowd too much on a single page. Voter registration, poll staffing, and simplicity are the solution.
Standardize
The voting process in Florida needs to be standardized:
1. Same machines in ALL counties that have capability to recount votes.
2. Laws giving elections supervisors "sole" authority within their counties need to be changed so they ALL operate under the same set of rules with NO exceptions.
3. Secretary of state and governor should have authority to appoint and fire all elections supervisors with recommendations from county boards.
4. Prior knowledge and experience of Florida election laws and procedures should be required before appointment.
5. ALL polling sites throughout the state should have the same hours of operation. If the different time zone in the Panhandle presents a problem, move Election Day to Saturday.
6. In an attempt to staff polling places with knowledgeable workers, require that all state, county and city offices allow employees a paid day off to work polls and receive training.
7. Set standard thorough training procedures.
8. Any poll worker who does not appear for duty will forfeit a day's pay from employment and will not receive pay from elections supervisor.
9. Require that all counties print -- free of charge -- the entire ballot and all polling locations in all local newspapers one week before election.
When the polls close, we physically count the number of ballots in the box, cross check it against the list of registered voters that showed up, and verify the total number of ballots equals the number shown on the tape generated by the elctronic reader. When everything is reconciled the machine transmits results electronically directly to county election board, and prints out a final paper tape of the results that were transmitted (much like a cash register receipt). I always get the judges to print out extra copies for me. I take one to GOP campaign headquarters and keep other for my own records. If the "offical" results posted by the county differ from my tape, there been fraud.
Yes, until the election of 2000.
5.56mm
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