Vote Fraud? Email Media, Congress, and Your Personal Network.
Fellow Activists:
What happened on November 2, 2004? Did we in fact have a fair election?
There are many stories floating around the internet. A voting machine in Ohio gave Bush 4,000 extra votes. 11,238 more votes recorded in North Carolina than were actually cast. An electronic tally in Florida failed to record thousands of votes in a ballot initiative. The Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, from Florida's 16th District, Jeff Fisher, says he "has evidence that the Florida election was hacked." (Link:
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/1106-30.htm) And, the House Judiciary Committee wrote a letter on Friday to the GAO asking them to investigate. (Link:
http://www.house.gov/judiciary_democrats/gaoinvestvote2004ltr11504.pdf)
And this is just the beginning.
Let me tell you about one particular story. A curious number-cruncher on the internet, Ida Briggs, did some evaluation on New Hampshire voter data. The numbers imply that "voters in small and rural precincts in New Hampshire are MORE LIBERAL than their "big city" counterparts which is contrary to anecdotal evidence and recognized nationwide trends. Coincidentally, the increase appears to occur in areas where "more sophisticated" means of vote counting are employed." Such as the Diebold Accuvote machine. (Link:
http://www.invisibleida.com/New_Hampshire.htm)
These numbers are outside the margin of error.
Now, this phenomenon could in fact be due to a mistake, and not to any deliberate fraud. These numbers might be right. We just don't know. We do know that in order to validate the count in New Hampshire, it's time to call for a manual recount. When your checkbook doesn't balance -- you re-check it, right?
But...why are we looking at New Hampshire? It went for Kerry, right? Yes... .but if there was a problem anywhere with vote tabulation software, the same problem would probably appear other places with the same vote tabulation software. Furthermore, New Hampshire votes on paper ballots (then fed into optical scanners), and therefore the vote can be recounted. Also, New Hampshire has one of the earliest deadlines for contesting an election, and it is (comparatively) easier to get a recount there. Also, if there are provable issues in New Hampshire, this opens the door for other states. Finally, what does it matter if the state went for Kerry? If there are systemic problems, don't you want to know about them? Don't you want to have an accurate and fair vote, regardless of the outcome?
The request for a recount has already been filed with the New Hampshire Secretary of State by Ralph Nader. The Green Party candidate David Cobb has called for an investigation. Badnarik might be thinking about challenging in Ohio.
You might be wondering...where's the Kerry campaign? Where are all those lawyers? Well, we don't know. They might be doing something and not telling us, and then again, they might not. Certainly any Kerry attempt to contest the vote would have created a media circus which would have branded him a "Sore Loserman" a la 2000. Just bear in mind: A concession speech is not legally binding, and it's not over til the Electoral College says it is.
So, what are we asking YOU to do?
1. Send this to EVERYONE in your address book
2. Write the media.
3. Write your congressperson.
4. Donate to the recount effort.
5. Stay tuned
6. See the list of links to many other discussions at the bottom of this email.
1. Send this to EVERYONE in your address book
We need to raise awareness of this issue. Our national media has for the most part simply accepted wildly divergent exit polls versus "actual" results and is underreporting problems that occurred all over the country. We have to use the power of the internet to inform people about this vital issue.
2. Write the Media
We need as many people as possible to write the media. The more folks they hear from, the less likely they are to discount it as tin-foil-hat conspiracy theory.
There is a comprehensive list of media contact information
at:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x8816Send email --There is a complete list of email addresses suitable for cutting and pasting if you scroll down to the bottom.
Also, pleaseconsider writing snail mail! Regular mail is given much more weight than email.
3. Write your Congressperson
www.senate.gov
http://www.house.gov/writerep /
Sample Letter for #1 and/or #2: Please Customize Yourself!.
Dear Sir or Madam,
Ralph Nader has asked for a recount of votes in New Hampshire to investigate problems with the vote. In this state, there was a statistically significant difference between counties that used different types of voting machines.
http://www.invisibleida.com/New_Hampshire.htmFurthermore, the House Judiciary Committee has asked the GAO to investigate numerous problems with the election process, and provides details:
http://www.house.gov/judiciary_democrats/gaoinvestvote2004ltr11504.pdfOver the last few days I have read many stories about incidents involving electronic voting, and have reviewed several different statistical analyses. Many of these can be found at Democratic Underground:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/ (See "President Results" and "Report Voting Problems" forums)
Although I donot wish to believe this, I am having serious doubts about the integrity of this election. Please investigate these allegations.
4. Donate to the Recount Effort
Ralph Nader is requesting the New Hampshire recount. To donate to his campaign fund, visit
http://www.votenader.org/ We hope to have a website set up in the next few days to accept donations specifically for the recount effort if you don't wish to make a general Nader donation.
5. Stay Tuned
Visit Democratic Underground at:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/(See forums "Presidential Results" and "Report Voting Problems")
Keep an eye on breaking news -- this story is moving fast --we need people to write, phone, and do all sorts of cyber-activism. We especially need you if you are a number-cruncher!
6. LINKS:
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