Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News Saturday 6/11/05

[MelissaB]

Everyone is encouraged to participate.

If you can:

1. Post stories and announcements you find on the web.

2. Post stories using the "Election Fraud and Reform News Sources" listed here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x371233

3. Re-post stories and announcements you find on DU, providing a link to the original thread with thanks to the Original Poster, too.

4. Start a discussion thread by re-posting a story you see on this thread.



Link to previous Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x376705


:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: All previous daily threads are available here: http://www.independentmediasource.com/DU_archives/du_2004erd_el_ref_fr_thr_calenders.htm

[MelissaB]

1. Sherole Eaton Attends Hocking Democrat Meeting

I was quite surprised to see Sherole in attendance at the Hocking Democrat Meeting tonight. She was released from the hospital earlier today after having brain surgery just 3 days ago. Her face is bruised, her head shaved, large incision on her head, and just as ready to stand up for Democracy as she was the day she stood up to the Hocking Board of Elections during the recount in December.

Standing before the microphone, she explained to the crowd the surgery was not successful. They were unsuccessful in clipping the aneurysm from the path they went in due to the position it is in. The aneurysm lies between her brain and eye requiring surgery through the arteries. Since she also had recently had surgery on her carotid artery, they could not go through them. They plan to go back in and place a coil on the aneurysm.

Since she was fired effective June 30, 2005, she is hoping to have the surgery yet this month while she still has insurance. She can keep her insurance through the COBRA plan, but it will cost approximately $600 a month. A pledge list was passed around the room and donations were made to help pay her insurance premiums. It was decided to place the funds into the fund established by her son, Sherole Eaton 11/02/2004. Sherole received a standing ovation from the crowd of Democrats in attendance.

Hocking County President Regina Prater opened the floor for discussion of Sherole’s firing. The two Hocking "democrat" Board of Election members, Susie Hughes and Gerald Robinette were present at the meeting. It was these two individuals that had voted for Diebold and voted along with the Republicans to fire Sherole. Bruce Johnson stated to Gerald Robinette, “We will have a recommendation of who we want to become the next Deputy Director” and asked “Will you follow our recommendation?” Gerald Robinette replied, “No, I cannot say that we will” and added, “We normally just go along with whomever the Republicans want” A few people spoke to the group to explain these two individuals do not have the Democrat parties' interest at heart. The crowd applauded and shouted in support of cleaning up the party.

Regina Prater asked for the resignations of both Susie Hughes and Gerald Robinette from the BOE. They refused despite the resounding applause in support of her request.

Thanks to NoBushSpokenHere here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x376621#376626

[MelissaB]

2. NEW VOTING STANDARDS TO BE RELEASED THIS WEEK, WEEK OF JUNE 9-15, 2005

NEW VOTING STANDARDS TO BE RELEASED THIS WEEK, WEEK OF JUNE 9-15, 2005

by HAZEL TRICE EDNEY
The Wilmington Journal
Originally posted 6/10/2005

BY HAZEL TRICE EDNEY
OF NNPA

WASHINGTON (NNPA) – New voting machine standards to be released this week are designed to prevent a recurrence of Election 2000-like debacles in congressional and senatorial races next year. However, activists and rights advocates say they are more concerned about the new machines that are supposed to correct the problem than old ones with proven flaws.

“On the average, people do not feel comfortable with automated voting without having some way of a verified way of knowing that the vote was actually the vote that they cast and the fact that they don’t know if it’s been counted. That concern is very high and across all demographics,” says Melanie Campbell, executive director and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation. “When it comes to the machines, you’ve got a lot of new equipment. There are a lot of concerns still out there in the community, so the work continues. We need to just educate the community to make sure that they are involved and that they are a part of the process.”

Gracia Hillman, chair of the four-member bi-partisan U. S. Election Assistance Commission, has announced hearings to allow people to comment on the new standards. Her agency seeks to assure election officials and the public that new voting systems being installed around the country will work accurately and reliably. The 90-day period during which public comments will be accepted begins June 10. The first hearing is set for New York City.

Another hearing will be announced later, Hillman says.



More: http://wilmingtonjournal.blackpressusa.com/news/Article/Article.asp?NewsID=58166&sID=12

[MelissaB]

3. Discussion

here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x376938

[Wilms]

6. (NY) EAC Public Meeting and EAC Public Hearing

EAC Public Meeting and EAC Public Hearing

New York, NY

Public Meeting (9:30 A.M. – 10:30 A.M. EST)
06/30/05 - Sunshine Notice (EAC Public Meeting)
http://www.eac.gov/docs/Public%20Meeting%20June%2030.pdf


Public Hearing (11:00 A.M. – 12:15 P.M. and continued 1:15 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. EST)
06/30/05 - Sunshine Notice (EAC Public Hearing)
http://www.eac.gov/docs/EAC%20-%20Sunshine%20Notice%20(%206-30-05%20Hearing%20).pdf

[MelissaB]

4. Schwarzenegger returns donation from Ohio coin dealer

Schwarzenegger returns donation from Ohio coin dealer

Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will return a $10,000 contribution from an Ohio coin dealer who is under investigation after losing track of millions of dollars from a rare coin fund, a campaign adviser to the governor said Friday.

Last week, Schwarzenegger's chief fundraiser said he would keep the donation from Tom Noe, who is at the center of a probe regarding his investment of more than $50 million in state money in rare coins.

Schwarzenegger instructed his California Recovery Team to refund the money once he became aware of the Ohio investigations, Marty Wilson, the team's executive director, said in a statement.

...snip

Noe made two $5,000 contributions in 2004 to the California Recovery Team.

Recipients of other Noe contributions have rushed to return the money, including President Bush, who is returning $4,000, and the Republican National Committee, which will give back $2,000.



More: http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/11867648.htm

[MelissaB]

5. On cusp of success, Ohio governor struggles instead with scandal

On cusp of success, Ohio governor struggles instead with scandal

ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS

Associated Press


COLUMBUS, Ohio - What should have been a time of triumph for Ohio's governor after a tepid six years in office has become a professional nightmare of investment losses in the millions and charges of political favoritism and cover-up.

...snip


The coin scandal at the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation broke just as lawmakers were considering Taft's proposed tax changes.

Democrats, fuming at a decade of GOP control, charged that coin dealer Tom Noe got the state's business because he was a reliable Republican donor. Taft at first defended the investment as a moneymaker but later said he was outraged at the revelation that up to $12 million was missing.

He suffered another embarrassment when a top aide acknowledged he knew in October of a $215 million hedge fund loss at Workers' Compensation but didn't tell Taft. Democrats started questioning the timing and charging cover-up.

Politically, the scandal may not matter to Taft, who has all but ruled out seeking another office when his term ends next year.


More: http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/11866608.htm

[Wilms]

7. A Young Defender of Democracy Faces Chávez's Wrath

A Young Defender of Democracy Faces Chávez's Wrath

By Mary Anastasia O'Grady

The Wall Street Journal

...snip

Súmate's charges that Venezuela is losing its democracy have ample supporting evidence. It is a matter of record that the Chávez-controlled National Electoral Council (CNE) had custody of the electronic voting machines in last year's recall referendum and refused to allow an independent audit of the paper ballots. It is also a fact that the president has packed the highest court by adding 12 new seats to what was formerly a 20-seat bench.

Perhaps most alarming, Ms. Machado reminded me Tuesday, is the fact that the 3.5 million Venezuelans who signed petitions in favor of holding a recall vote are now on government lists. Those lists, she said, have been used to fire workers and to discriminate in the disbursement of government benefits.

More:
http://www.vcrisis.com/index.php?content=letters/200506100831

Discussion:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x376724

[Joanne98]

21. We need a Chavez in the Democratic Party!

[Wilms]

8. Land Shark News: Sequoia Overplays Hand - Motion to Remand

For those who saw our response to the motion to dismiss, it showed that Sequoia has contractual control of Snohomish County, per paragraph 34 of the contract. (an exhibit to the complaint, all pleadings at www.votersunite.org/info/lehtolawsuit.asp )

In our motion for remand filed Thursday, we showed how Sequoia literally files court papers and signs for Snohomish, twice in fact, two days apart from each other.

This concerns a document CRITICAL to federal jurisdiction called a joinder in notice of removal. The Sequoia attorney, whose initials are MSH, signed for a Snohomish prosecutor by writing "Gordon Sivley, by MSH" on the joinder document. It didn't even say "Attorneys for" Snohomish County, just Snohomish county.

THis becomes critical indeed because unless a state governmental entity "clearly and unequivocally" consents to federal court jurisdiction, they have immunity there from damages lawsuits.

more/discussion:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x376925

[Wilms]

9. DUI Defendants Skip Charge By Asking How Test (Software) Works

DUI Defendants Skip Charge By Asking How Test Works

The Associated Press

Published: Jun 5, 2005

SANFORD - Hundreds of cases involving breath-alcohol tests have been thrown out by Seminole County judges in the past five months because the test's manufacturer will not disclose how the machines work.
All four of Seminole County's criminal judges have been using a standard that if a DUI defendant asks for a key piece of information about how the machine works - its software source code, for instance - and the state cannot provide it, the breath test is rejected, the Orlando Sentinel reported Wednesday.

-snip-

Seminole judges have been following the lead of county Judge Donald Marblestone, who in January ruled that although the information may be a trade secret and controlled by a private contractor, defendants are entitled to it.

``Florida cannot contract away the statutory rights of its citizens,'' the judge wrote.

Judges in other counties have said the opposite: The state cannot turn over something it does not possess, and the manufacturer should not have to turn over trade secrets.

-snip/more-
http://tampatrib.com/floridametronews/MGBUBJ5QK9E.html

Discussion of Implications posted by Amaryllis:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x376860

[Wilms]

10. EFF: HR 550 Lobbying Blog

HR 550 Lobbying Blog:
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks

Discussion:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x376616

[Wilms]

11. Common Cause Blog: Broder-Wrong; (NY) Times-Right (Editorials)

Common Cause Blog

Broder-Wrong; Times-Right
By Ed Davis
Posted on Fri Jun 10, 2005 at 09:35:33 AM EST


Here's a comparison of ultra-mainstream media on the volatile issue of electronic voting machines and other election reforms. The NY Times today editorializes in favor of Rush Holt's bill to provide a voter-verified paper ballot, while the Post's David Broder praises a report that says not to worry about electronic voting machines.

-snip-

Broder, the dean of national political reporters, has a column in yesterday's Washington Post that, among other things, highlights the issue of the Lobby Days on HR 550 taking place Thursday and Friday. He cites a report the rehashes the same old arguments against a voter-verified paper ballot.

Broder gives too much credence to a report by the Election Center about a variety of election issues. Broder says that the report "drew on the expertise of the men and women who actually run the voting process in this country". Well, that's fine to an extent, but these are also many of the people who created the mess of a voting system we now have and who have resisted change. And the Election Center's director, Doug Lewis, has been a leading opponent of providing a voter-verified paper ballot - instead he pushes the DRE's manfactured by the very companies who help fund the Election Center.

-snip/more-

http://www.commonblog.com/story/2005/6/9/173349/6699#commenttop

[MelissaB]

12. EAH: Election Assessment Hearing PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT

Please distribute this to every organization and everyone who may have an interest in election reform issues.
Kip

-----------------------------------------------------------------

June 9, 2005

Contacts:
Kip Humphrey, [e-mail]
Seth Johnson, [e-mail]

For Immediate Release

Attn: Political assignments desk

PRESS RELEASE:

ELECTION ASSESSMENT HEARING ~ JUNE 29TH, HOUSTON, TEXAS
An Evidentiary Hearing of Electoral Process Failures

WHO: A coalition of election stakeholder organizations composed of technical and professional experts, computer engineers and experts, statisticians, researchers, attorneys and journalists who have been investigating and analyzing problems with election processes in the November 2004 elections will gather from around the country for a citizen-initiated Election Assessment Hearing to deliver preliminary testimony of their findings to an independent panel.

WHAT: The goal of this non-partisan event is to bring to light critical election data not previously publicized, but necessary to repair and safeguard our democratic election processes. The Hearing will address critical issues not being covered by the Baker-Carter Commission on Federal Electoral Reform, which will hold its second and final hearing in Houston the following day. Intended as an initial survey offering a more accurate and complete picture of issues observed in our electoral processes, the Election Assessment Hearing seeks to understand the breadth and diversity of concerns, to identify the current quality of election processes, to review and analyze the evidence and to facilitate the sustainable improvement of electoral processes by election administrators, policymakers, advisors, voters and other participants in the production of vote counts.

An initial compilation of prepared statements with supporting documents will be released and distributed the day of the hearing, and will be delivered to the Baker-Carter Commission the next day. In following weeks, a group of information experts, spearheaded by information quality improvement specialist Larry P. English, will survey the testimony and supporting documents, both presented and submitted to the hearing panel, and provide an objective quality assessment that will be distributed to State election officials around the country. Organizers are soliciting submissions from any and all expert sources with information relevant to problems in the election and election systems.

WHY: No comprehensive survey and assessment of 2004 election process failings has yet been presented in a public forum. The Election Assessment Hearing will be the first opportunity for the public to hear preliminary findings in this area. Currently, every State is grappling with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) without the benefit of this vital information, and facing important decisions that may fundamentally affect our election processes. The results of the Election Assessment Hearing, combined with submissions from around the country, will be made available to state election officials to aid them in making more effective and informed decisions.

WHERE: Houston, Texas (location to be announced at a later date)

WHEN: Wednesday, June 29th, 2005, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm

SUBMISSIONS: Contact Kip Humphrey at [e-mail]@houston.rr.com

PRESENTERS: To be announced

PANELISTS: To be announced



Thanks to Kip Humphrey here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x376662

[autorank]

13. DU's TruthIsAll Offers Most Compelling Proof Yet: KERRY WON

Statistical Proof Kerry Won

[MelissaB]

14. VerifiedVoting.org Lobbies on Voter-Verified Paper Ballots

Saturday, June 11, 2005 :: infoZine Staff :: page views

VerifiedVoting.org Lobbies on Voter-Verified Paper Ballots

A coalition of organizations and more than 200 citizen lobbyists are lobbying the U.S. Congress June 9-14 in support of legislation requiring voter-verified paper ballots.


Washington, D.C. - infoZine - VerifiedVoting.org supports H.R.550, the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act, and S.330, the Voting Integrity and Verification Act, which would require that voting systems used in federal elections produce a voter-verified paper ballot that voters can inspect before casting their votes.

"Voting machines of all makes and models are malfunctioning routinely in nationwide elections," said VerifiedVoting.org Senior Political Advisor Bobbie Brinegar. "Voter-verified paper ballots provide the most reliable way to count votes accurately when voting machines fail as they inevitably do."

For example, a single paperless e-voting machine in Carteret County, North Carolina, permanently lost more than 4,400 votes in November, throwing a statewide race for Agricultural Commissioner into confusion.


More: http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/8311/

[MelissaB]

15. Stop pinning blame on Kerry

E. J. Dionne

Stop pinning blame on Kerry

WASHINGTON -- Democrats have to end their addiction to the Kerry alibi.

They may be publicly castigating their national chairman, Howard Dean. But wherever two or more Democrats are gathered privately, their instinct is to blame John Kerry first. I am fed up with the nattering nabobs of negativism who make themselves feel good by trashing Kerry.

This habit is dangerous because dissing Kerry is an easy way for Democrats to evade discussion of what the party needs to do to right itself. The Kerry alibi allows Democrats to avoid engaging the future. In 2008, the Democrats could nominate a candidate who combines Harry Truman's toughness, JFK's charm and FDR's gifts of leadership -- and still face many of the problems Kerry confronted. Blaming everything on Kerry as the supposedly elitist, stiff and indecisive Massachusetts liberal is the Democrats' version of cheap grace.

Please understand: I didn't think Kerry was the ideal Democratic presidential candidate in 2004 and don't think he'd be ideal for 2008. I still cringe when the part of my brain prone to nightmares brings back his talk about voting for the $87 billion to finance the Iraq War before he voted against it. Kerry didn't find a clear voice on Iraq until too late and didn't respond quickly enough to the scurrilous attacks of the partisan Swift Boat veterans.

But saying Kerry was the Democrats' one and only problem is both an evasion and unfair. The three debates were the only moments in the campaign in which Kerry's fate was entirely in his own hands, and he used them well.

...snip

Dionne is a Washington Post columnist. Contact him via e-mail at [e-mail].

More: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050611/OPINION/506110301/1002

[MelissaB]

16. AR: Election Panel Likes Paper, Machine Option

Election Panel Likes Paper, Machine Option
Benton County One of 13 Under Mandate To Switch Voting Systems

By Kristin Netterstrom
The Morning News

BENTONVILLE -- Benton County voters may be casting ballots on paper and on electronic machines next year.

The county is one of 13 in the state under federal mandate to switch its voting system by next year. Election commissioners met Friday to go over the three choices the secretary of state's office presented to them and other commissioners statewide.

Commissioners in Benton CountypickedSolution C, which involves the state paying $368,000 to buy an electronic voting machine for each county voting precinct. The solution includes switching from punch card to specially printed paper ballots.

The paper ballots would be stored in a ballot box at the precinct and counted immediately after the polls close at the courthouse. A different option, A, requires counting be done at the voting site.

More: http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2005/06/11/news/bentonville/01bzelect.txt

[MelissaB]

17. LA: State checks voting-machine firms' backgrounds

State checks voting-machine firms' backgrounds

By MARSHA SHULER
[e-mail]
Capitol news bureau

State elections officials are doing background checks on companies vying for a nearly $50 million voting machine contract -- a requirement of the selection process.
As they submitted proposals, the five companies seeking the contract had to supply three years of audited financial statements, information concerning business-related criminal records of their employees, and lawsuits filed against the firm.

"They are a cutthroat industry. Each one sends us information of an unsavory nature about each other regularly," First Assistant Secretary of State Al Ater said.

"So we want each to disclose their own information so we can sort through fact, fiction or hype," Ater said.

...snip

In the competition are Accupoll, Advanced Voting Systems, Diebold, Sequoia Voting Systems and Election Systems and Software. Two firms that qualified to compete -- Hart InterCivic and Populex -- bowed out.

A nine-member team of state officials is reviewing the five proposals. A vendor should be selected by mid-July, with purchase and delivery of the voting machines set for early fall.


More: http://2theadvocate.com/stories/061105/pol_voting001.shtml

[MelissaB]

18. Ohio: Elections Board joins in voting machine fight

Elections Board joins in voting machine fight

By Kendall S. Cable, [e-mail]


Seneca County Board of Elections has entered into a lawsuit filed by Election Systems & Software, Inc. on May 2 against Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell regarding the choice in voting machines.

...snip

On May 5, the lawsuit was filed by ES&S against Blackwell. The company, according to the ES&S Web site, claims that the Secretary of State's office has:

* Breached a contract made with ES&S obligating the company to provide systems for 42 of Ohio's 88 counties.

* "Changed the rules of the game" by originally mandating counties to purchase optical scan voting systems as their primary voting system, going against the choice counties were given between touch screen and optical scan machines.

* Held closed-door negotiations leaving one company left from which to purchase touch screen machines.

* Imposed deadlines that are considered "unreasonable" and arbitrary.

* Did not consider the costs counties would pay for the machines.

The board voted to join the lawsuit May 26 with a 3-to-1 vote.

"We felt many important factors pertaining to product costs, support service and ongoing implementation have not been given to the counties," Leahy said.


More: http://www.advertiser-tribune.com/news/story/0611202005_new01voting0610.asp

[MelissaB]

19. New concerns about electronic voting machines being hacked

New concerns about electronic voting machines being hacked

By:Mike Deeson



Tampa, Floirda - As voters were going to the polls this past fall some were raising concerns about electronic machines, but supervisors of elections officials throughout the state said there was no worry.

Buddy Johnson, Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections:
“Our systems are very secure the voters are confident, they love the machines for the most part.“

But when the message "Are We having Fun Yet?" appeared on the screen of a voting machine in test in Tallahassee last week, new concerns arose that the machines can be hacked.

Buddy Johnson, Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections:
“The policy and the procedures in Hillsborough county where nothing like that would ever happen.“

And even though the system was penetrated in Tallahassee, Johnson says he believes it is impossible for that to happen with the voting machines that are used here.

Buddy Johnson, Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections:
“By definition it can't happen, because there is no connection to the internet. Can't hack in to it, there is no way to get in to it.“

Mark Kamleiter:
“If it is electronic and computer based it's hackable.“

Attorney Mark Kamleiter who is pushing for a paper back up to the electronic machines, points out that poll workers have access to hardware where the electronic votes are stored. Kamlieter says the internet is necessary to manipulate the vote.


More: http://www.tampabays10.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=14806



Note: Please go to the link and watch the video clip. I can't post a link to it here.


Discussion: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x377056

[MelissaB]

20. 'Coingate' requires repeal of GOP campaign finance reform bill

Article published Saturday, June 11, 2005

SATURDAY ESSAY

'Coingate' requires repeal of GOP campaign finance reform bill

By BEN KONOP


WHILE on one level, the "Coingate" scandal is about the greed and ethically questionable behavior of a few individuals, on a larger scale the scandal gives us an opportunity to think of possible solutions to two broader issues in politics today: campaign finance reform and gerrymandering.

...snip

Historically, both major political parties have used gerrymandering to tilt the playing field to their advantage when they are in power, but since the Republicans have taken control of the executive branch of state government in Ohio, they have systematically undertaken a plan to carve out as many Republican districts as they possibly can on both the state and federal level.

This has led, in part, to one-party rule in a state that is split down the middle between Republicans and Democrats when it comes to presidential voting.

While Democrat John Kerry received nearly half of Ohioans' votes in 2004, the state GOP kept control of about two-thirds of the congressional and state legislative seats, ensuring one-party dominance for at several more political cycles.

When one party is in total control of all aspects of state government, legislatures are less responsive to constituents and the checks and balances simply do not exist to prevent Coingates from occurring.

Various plans exist throughout the county to eliminate partisan politics from the redistricting process.


Link: http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050611/OPINION04/506110312

[Wilms]

22. The Coverup that Cost the Election: Ohio GOP knew of huge loss in October

Ohio Coin-Gate Update and Commentary

Thanks to farmbo for posting:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x377043

[AtLiberty]

23. Wayne Madsen: Cha Ching (Lemme too close to Coingate)

http://www.waynemadsenreport.com/scoops/Lemme.htm

[Wilms]

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[Wilms]

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[Wilms]

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[MelissaB]

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:kick: before bed

[Wilms]

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