Scripps Howard: "Election study finds widespread ballot-counting problems"

[EMunster]

(snip)

But most of the local election officials contacted for this story _ and in dozens of other interviews conducted throughout the year _ said they were unaware of discrepancies between vote tallies and the number of ballots cast. Instead, county officials often claim large discrepancies are the deliberate choice of many voters to ignore major races like president or governor.

"Most of them just didn't vote," Kirby said. "It's weird but it happens." But he double checked the vote in his West Virginia county and called back a day later to confess: "It was an error. I know, because I made the error."

Officials in two of the 10 counties selected in this study refused to review ballots or check for missing votes.

"I don't have time to go through all of this, although it does sound like it ought to be gotten to the bottom of," said County Clerk John Jones of Worth County, Mo.

Only 1,132 of his 1,326 ballots registered a presidential vote, which means nearly 15 percent of Worth County voters appear to have ignored the presidential race. "Sir, I cannot record votes for president that are not there," Jones said later.

Only 2,063 of the 2,283 ballots cast in Adams County, Idaho, registered a vote for president. Officially, only 90 percent of the voters in this rural county had an opinion in the presidential race.

"If you can convince the secretary of state of Idaho to order a recount and to reimburse my county for it, then we'll do a recount. But I'm not going to do it," said Adams County Clerk Michael Fisk. "All of that stuff has been put away. What difference does it make? The election is over."

Fisk said Scripps Howard's request that he review he election tallies angered him.

"You are not going to assert that any votes are missing in Adams County. I'm not going to listen to that stuff. Goodbye," With that, Fisk hung up the telephone.


more:
http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=MISCOUNT-ELECT-12-20-04

[stellanoir]

1. Hurrrrumphhhhh

"we don't need no stinking statistics."

[pleiku52cab]

2. You don't even need to steal an election

with ego riddled little gods like these in charge of the process. Poor twerpy swaggering assholes think you're questioning their 'integrity'.

[KansDem]

3. "ballot-counting problems?"

That's like saying a bank president goes to work one day, finds the front door of the bank smashed in, a security guard knocked unconscious, and the safe door ajar. A inventory of the safe shows $100,000 is missing...

The bank president then says "Hmmm, I think the tellers are having problems counting their money..."

[Straight Shooter]

4. "What difference does it make? The election is over."

What difference does it make to prosecute someone for homicide? The victim is dead.

Gawd in heaven, why do I have to share this precious Earth with these people?

edit: Well, I just had to write Mr. Hargrove, who wrote the article, and I sent a copy to Mr. Fisk, also.

[e-mail]
[e-mail]

Dear Mr. Hargrove:

Thank you for your coverage of the tainted election.

I do have a comment in response to Adams County Clerk Michael Fisk, of Idaho, who opined, "What difference does it make? The election is over." My rebuttal to Mr. Fisk is, "Why bother prosecuting people for homicide? The victims are dead."

It's this disgusting "shrug off voter concerns" attitude which concerns me deeply, for it is prevalent lately. Where did this attitude come from? Why are officials so contemptuous of voters? There's your story.

Thank you for your kind attention to my comments.

Regards,
(Straight Shooter)

Here's a pic of the salt-of-the-earth citizen, Mr. Fisk:

[proudbluestater]

5. "Here's a pic of the salt-of-the-earth citizen, Mr. Fisk"

Looks like Cliff Claven without the mailbag and the knowledge.


One of things I like best about DU is the people here are so dedicated. I know how you feel when you said, "I just had to write Mr. Hargrove," because that happens to me every single day. I will read something especially aggravating like Nancy Pelosi promoting Tim Roemer for DNC chair and I'll say to myself, "Yup, gotta write another dang letter today." In the real world there is not that much passion, but here there is!

[demo dutch]

6. What an ass!