Top vote counter becomes prize job

[babylonsister]

Top vote counter becomes prize job

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-08-16-secr...

The political battle for control of the federal government has opened up a new front: the obscure but vital state offices that determine who votes and how those votes are counted.

The state post of secretary of State was a backwater until 2000, when Florida's Katherine Harris became a central figure in the presidential recount controversy. Now national Democratic groups and White House prospects, unhappy about Harris' decisions and those of Republican Kenneth Blackwell in Ohio two years ago, are pouring resources into contests for the job.

At least three Democratic political action committees are spotlighting secretary of State candidates, most of them in states where they expect the presidential vote to be close. Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada and Ohio top their lists.

Secretaries of State control most voting regulations and influence state purchases of voting machines. Looking ahead to 2008, Democrats say they want people they trust in those offices.

"There's a growing concern about whether votes are cast and, if so, whether they're properly counted. We have to restore people's confidence in the system," says Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, a 2008 presidential prospect whose Heartland PAC is helping several secretary of State candidates.

more...

[BeFree]

1. A national problem

that could be solved with one little federal law:

Every federal election cast the same way in every precinct. Which would of course mean that the law would require paper ballots hand counted.

Real simple, eh? Too simple probably.... the vote has delved so far into political machinations that the core is corrupted, as evidenced by the Blackwell and Harris leadership's.

True reform is needed now, and the only true reform possible - nationwide- is HCPB. Start with federal elections and the states will follow, and even if they don't, at least federal elections will be purified to a large degree.

Congress can make such a law in a matter of days and every precinct with a ream of paper and a printer would be able to comply before November.

Play the game no longer, don't give the crooks another inch, demand that federal elections be conducted on HCPB.

[gully]

5. Exactly. "Equal rights under the law" should mean equal systems

in which to vote.

[Pacifist Patriot]

6. I'm still reeling that Sec. of State is a partisan office.

[mod mom]

2. Exactly, one of the most powerful positions in the entire country...

As Stalin said "Those who vote decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything."

[Kurovski]

3. K&R(nt)

[Qutzupalotl]

4. Kick

[eridani]

7. This is the reason I give Vilsack's PAC the time of day

Otherwise, he's way too centrist for me. But this issue is serious enough for me to throw him some major support.

[Land Shark]

8. We don't need to "restore Confidence" we need to restore checks & balances

[mod mom]

9. We need both, but checks and balance obviously should be the priority.

:hi:

[BeFree]

10. How do we accomplish the checking and balancing?

The only way I can see, since machines are being crammed down our throats, is to check every machine by auditing every machine. And if an audit doesn't balance, the votes are counted by hand.