ALASKA REFUSES — AGAIN — TO RELEASE 2004 ELECTION DATA!

[donsu]

http://www.bradblog.com/?p=3111&print=1


-snip-

As readers of The BRAD BLOG know, Diebold and the State of Alaska have been doing all they can to keep the State Democratic Party from looking at the data from the machines used by the voters to register their choices and by the local officials to tally the votes. The BRAD BLOG has reported that questions began to arise about results from the 2004 election, including the reported revelation that "district-by-district vote totals add up to 292,267 votes for President Bush, but his official total was only 190,889." The Democrats asked for election data from the Diebold machines and the state has 'flip-flopped' on whether they would release it or not. This resulted in claims by the state that any data they released would be proprietary and would belong to Diebold Elections Systems Inc. (DESI).

The above led the state Democratic party to file a lawsuit to get the data they have been requesting.

The following is from an email from Rich McClear:

The State of Alaska website shows 16 of 40 house districts with more than 200% voter turnout, Also, if you add up the vote totals from each district they come to more than 100,000 votes for state wide candidates than the summary reports show.

More than 7 months ago the Democrats asked for an explanation. The state said it could not release the data files because they were proprietary to Diebold.

Diebold gave the state permission to release the files.

The state still refused. The Democrats went to court, the state asked for extension after extension. Their final extension expired Thursday and they replied to the Court, in a 200 page document, that since it is a month from the primary election, they can't release the database without compromising the primary. There is not enough time to rebuild the central tabulator file if they release the data before the election.

The Democrats have to respond to the court Monday. To respond to a 200 page document would usually require the Democrats to ask for an extension but they are working throughout the weekend to get the filing in Monday. Right now I have the Democratic Spokesperson scheduled for my show Monday Morning.

The State stalled for 7 months and when they ran out the legal clock they claim it is too late to release the information because it is too close to the primary. I find it interesting that this has not been picked up by the local press yet, save KUDO.
-snip-
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Fl., Ohio, Alaska - your vote is meaningless

[AndyA]

1. What are they hiding?

I would think election results should be available by law. The election process should be transparent. They are surely hiding a rigged election. Taxpayers in Alaska should be outraged, and they should bombard their representatives about it. A flood of phone calls and messages might make a difference. This is an election year, after all...

[roguevalley]

7. Lt. Loren Leman-R, Satan ginned the game. they can't hide it.

[JAYJDF]

2. Why do we have to fight each district and state separately?

There should be a one time decision by Congress to order the immediate release of voting data. I mean, why would it be such a big deal if there isn't something to hide?

[MsMagnificent]

5. How can we call this a Democracy any more?

No possible way.

[karynnj]

15. Because the constitution gives the

function of selecting electors to the state ligislatures - which have decreed that there should be an election and they set the rules. (It is strange that it differs by state.)

Strategically, if all the blue states where we control the state went to a secure form of the Oregon mail-in - the Republicans might have to follow us. Over 86% of the registered population ion Oregon voted - if the other blue states (using the same method) voted in those numbers - think what it would do to the popular vote. (I know the ec controls things - but with 5 -10 million surpluses - it looks bad to lose.

[Toots]

18. Even Republicans in Oregan love the "Vote by Mail" system they have

Why are Democrats banging their heads against a wall over this. It is the very best solution possible for every American. :shrug:

[bronxiteforever]

3. Their votes got lost in the internets tubes

You know how that series of tubes backs up-

[leesa]

4. Alaskans like voting so much they each do it twice!

Come on Alaska. You aren't gonna let these MoFo Republicans put you under their thumb.

[snowbear]

6. Our Democratic State Headquarters has a lawsuit and....

in addition.. Bev Harris has been a God send as far as helping us in this thing!!!

You WOULD NOT BELIEVE the =LIVE= phone call with the Lt. Governor's Chief of Staff (who oversee's elections), and the discussion with the local progressive radio station in Anchorage, Bev Harris of Blackbox Voting, and Kay Brown of the Alaska Democratic Party that happened this week.

They stumped the Lt. Governor's office by asking them questions on the air that they were not able to answer. They were stumbling, tripping all over themselves, and were incredibly EMBARRASSED that they didn't have answers to Bev's incredible questions!



I wonder if Bev knows she's probably the main reason the dirtball Lt. Governor (who she has completely stressed out) decided to retire in November?

I have to say.. I honestly believe the people who are swiftboating Bev Harris need to be exposed as well as the reason they're doing it. (This comment will really piss off the guy at Free Republic who is helping on the swiftboating effort, but fuck him)

BTW~ The Democratic Party will have their response ready by Monday!

They are on the ball here! ~~ THANK YOU BEV HARRIS !!!

[JAYJDF]

9. Thanks for the in depth update. It's good to hear the fight

is still going on. It's crazy that Democracy has to be fought so hard for, when fascism comes so easily.

[Blue_In_AK]

16. Larissa, did you see this press release that I posted last night?

I received this e-mail from Kay Brown yesterday...

Anchorage – The State of Alaska’s argument that release of election records would jeopardize security and adversely impact upcoming elections is without merit, the Alaska Democratic Party said in court papers filed this week.

Whether the database containing the results of Alaska’s 2004 elections should be released to the public under Alaska’s public records law is the subject of a lawsuit filed by the Alaska Democratic Party in State Superior Court after the Division of Elections refused to release the database.

Superior Court Judge Stephanie Joannides will hold a scheduling conference at 4 pm, Wednesday, August 2, at which time she is expected to set a date for a hearing in the case.

The Alaska Democratic Party has been trying since last year to get the public records about the 2004 general election results in order to find out why there are numerous errors and discrepancies in the state’s reported results. The Division of Elections’ latest excuses for refusing to release the election information are that security risks would jeopardize the Division of Elections' ability to carry out the upcoming Primary and General Elections, and that the Party’s request came too late.

In papers filed last week in the court suit, the State said release of the electronic database that contains the 2004 votes "will jeopardize the security of the division of elections' computer system, and the division's administration of the upcoming Primary and General Elections." The information the Democrats seek "is not a public record," the State said, because it is covered under a security exemption to the public records act.

In papers filed in reply, the Democratic Party said that that the voter records it seeks are public records that have nothing to do with a security exception in the public records law passed after 9/11. The Democratic Party said there is no security issue with releasing the database because its structure is already available on the Internet, and it is not requesting the passwords or secret phone numbers.

"Nothing we have asked for compromises security," said Alaska Democratic Party Chair Jake Metcalfe. "We are asking the court to release these public records so that the people of Alaska can be assured that their votes were counted correctly. The Division of Elections says that all the errors have been explained, and we should just trust them, but the fact remains that the numbers posted on division's web site do not add up. We still don’t know how many votes each candidate got in each House district, and there is no way to reconcile the Division’s official summary results with their district-by-district tallies."

The database should be released because citizens have a right to see the voting results, Metcalfe said. "Public access to the electronic voting records is fundamental to democracy and to ensure public confidence in the election results," he said.

According to the Division of Elections' vote reports that were produced by the state's Diebold computer system and are posted on the Division's official web site, a far larger number of votes were cast than the official totals reported in the statewide summary. In the case of President George Bush’s votes, the district-by-district totals add up to 292,267, but his official total was only 190,889, a difference of 101,378 votes. In the U.S. Senate race, Lisa Murkowski received 226,992 votes in the district-by-district totals, but her official total was only 149,446, a difference of 77,546 votes.

In 20 of the 40 State House Districts, more ballots were cast than there are registered voters in the district, according to information on the state's web site. In 16 election districts, the voter turnout percentage shown is over 200%.

The Alaska Democratic Party filed a formal public records request on Dec. 19, 2005, seeking the "central tabulator data file" taken from the Diebold-supplied computer used to run the "GEMS" (Global Election Management Software) application. This is the electronic file containing all final vote tallies for the 2004 General Election.

Under the public records regulations, the Division was supposed to release the data file on Jan. 4. On Jan. 4 the Division extended the deadline until Jan. 19.

In a Jan. 19 letter, the Division asserted that the file was proprietary information belonging to its contractor, Diebold Elections Systems.

In a Feb. 3 letter, the Division advised the Democrats that Diebold had agreed to waive its proprietary rights to the GEMS database files, and said that the records would be provided if it determined that the integrity of the election system could be protected. In the Feb. 3 letter the Division asked for an additional 10-day extension until Feb. 13, and the Democrats agreed. On Feb. 13, the Division again extended the deadline to Feb. 27. In a letter dated Feb. 22, the Division denied the Democrats' public records request, citing "security risks." On April 18, the Democratic Party filed its lawsuit in Superior Court seeking release of the records.

[Kelvin Mace]

19. Bev Harris a "Godsend"

Oh, as in the Ten Plagues?

[Fredda Weinberg]

8. This DUer know that Diebold released the state long ago

So what's the agenda of someone who repeats this falsehood in his opening sentence?

As for the state, as I recall they offered what I thought at the time was a reasonable compromise which was rejected, which makes me wonder how genuine these "activists" are in their attempt to uncover illegitimate activity.

[snowbear]

10. Freda... wha-- wha--- WHA..... WTF are you talking about ???????

"The State offered a reasonable compromise" !?!?!?!

= =

OMGF !!!!!!!!!!

Please, explain to me what that "compromise" was ???

They were just nailed big time for not even being able to answer SIMPLE QUESTIONS about the election two days ago on a radio program, LIVE.

WTF are you talking about ????????????

They are up the friggin' creek! And get this....

Even Diebold (yes, D-I-E-B-O-L-D) is telling them that they are so embarrassed with Alaska's election results and are so f'n tired of trying to figure out WTF went wrong, that they --- DIEBOLD --- are taking the Democrats side in this suit.

The Lt. Governor is terrified to let Alaska state residents know what the correct U.S. Senate and Presidential tallies were.

>>>>> WHAT COMPROMISE WAS EVER MADE BY THE STATE ?????

[Fredda Weinberg]

11. So, we agree the first sentence of the OP was misleading

at best about Diebold. Now, give me a moment to find old news - sorry you haven't been keeping closer attention. Be right back ...

[snowbear]

12. Uh... no. we do not agree. ....The OP was right on target !

And while you're digging out your paperwork, I'll be taking my little one to a soccer game/party.. so I won't be back on here right away to see what you've come up with.

Wow. ...do you happen to work for a guy by the name of Loren Leman or something?

If you know so much about the '04 election in Alaska, please.. contact Rich McClear at KUDO radio station in Anchorage and come on the air as a guest!!

--->>> He would be THRILLED to debate you!!!!

http://www.kudo1080.com/

Why? Because not even the Chief of Staff for the Lt. Governor in charge of elections can coherently respond to what went wrong..

They are SO screwed!!!

Back later tonight..

[Fredda Weinberg]

14. We'll take this up when you return

Enjoy the evening - and the research I've put into this topic.

Want me to discuss it publicly? Sure, I've been interviewed before - don't like it, but even appeared on the evening news for a cause I believe in. Say when.

[Fredda Weinberg]

13. Here we go ... they offered to extract the data

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=410440#410538

Any questions?

[snowbear]

17. Ms. Weinberg, pardon me for saying so.. but you are out of your mind.

.....and why you come onto these boards pounding your chest on behalf of Republicans like Frank Murkowski and Loren Leman is beyond me.

Every single allegation you've made is FALSE and you have no clue what is going on here in Alaska.

From reading through the string of threads you've shared (which doesn't prove jack), one thing is clear --- the folks over at the Election Reform section here have no idea where you're coming from either.

Here are a couple facts you should know:

> Alaska's Lt. Governor has made a lot of promises regarding releasing data. You can scream that all you want from the highest mountaintops. You're right- he has offered to release the data.

> What you fail to report is: To date, he has NOT kept that promise.

> I saw one thread on Election Reforms where you try to explain how 16 Districts in Alaska had over a 200% voter turnout.

> How on earth can YOU- Fredda Weinberg- explain it (which btw, you DIDN'T) when even the Alaska Division of Elections can't explain it?

Nothing you have said makes a lick of sense, but one thing is for sure..

You are taking sides with some of the most corrupt Republicans in the nation.

My question is =WHY= ?

I'm very surprised DU puts up with you.

[Doctor_J]

20. Herr Smirker just proudly and loudly signed the VRA renewal

Why doesn't someone ask him to order AK to release the data? Or was that just posing?

[McCamy Taylor]

21. How can the vote be proprietary? It is our vote???

[LaPera]

22. Add Georgia, Texas & California to the"your vote is meaningless" list.....

THE IS LIST IS GROWING AND GROWING....

Republicans know they can't win in many, many places without fraud, minipulation of the votes, surpressing voting, etc...and the Diebold electronic voting machines they own are the best way to go about it....Just wait til you see the fraud this November when the republicans are holding on for dear life to keep that majority or face hearings anf jail!!!!

The media and the Democrat's are trying their best to ignore and in many cases hide the facts and the truth...

It's REAL and it's shameless!!!

WE HAVE STAY ON THIS, DONATE, CALL THE MEDIA, REPRESENTATIVES AND....GET LOUDER!!!!