GOOD NEWS from Vermont!!!!!
One short year ago, our Secretary of State's office was saying "we don't need audits in Vermont."
We formed a small group, made a website, started a newsletter, and asked folks to write to her office, citing independent expert studies (like the Brennan Report) that stronly recommend audits.
Two months ago the Secretary of State announced there would be an audit!
However, they said it would not be random, and instead they would hand pick the precincts to audit.
We used our newsletter and website to encourage people to write to her again, expressing concern that the audit should be random or it will not be effective or restore public confidence.
One week ago, they announced they changed their mind and it would be random!
However, they also said the random selection would not be transparent (in public view) and instead they would select the precincts to audit behind closed doors on an unknown computer program they had yet to obtain.
I spoke with the Secretary's office and expressed my concern that it needs to be transparent, but they insisted they're doing it in the privacy of their office.
So again I used our newsletter and website to encourage people to write to her again, expressing concern that the audit should be transparent, and it would be much better if the random selection could be made in public, as is the lottery and the draft. We suggested simply putting a bunch of numbers in a hat. We started getting confusing replies, admitting that it was going to be on a computer in their office but at the same time claiming that is transparent. Last night I was up late drafting another newsletter in which I was going to call them to task, explaining that it is not transparent if it's behind closed doors, regardless of whether it's on a computer or not, and they should not call it transparent when it's not transparent. My newsletter was firm and borderline accusatory. I had a few finishing touches to put on the newsletter I was going to send it out this morning.
But before I had a chance, I received an email indicating they have changed their minds once again and they are going to select the audited precincts FROM A HAT, IN PUBLIC VIEW, and anyone who wants to come and watch CAN COME AND WATCH!!!!
All I can say is WOW!!!!
This is a lesson we should all keep in mind. We CAN make a difference, if we are respectful, fair, objective, and tenacous!
So let's keep at it! We WILL have fair, transparent, and secure elections in EVERY state! We all need to keep pressuring our elected officials, using the tools and information we have on our side - the independent expert studies for one, are so valuable! Keep shoving the Brennan Report in their face. They can't ignore what the experts say!
There is no doubt in my mind that our personal letters to the Secretary of State, the newsletters (which were copied to the media statewide), and website had a significant affect on the progress we've made here in Vermont. Along the way I had doubts we would have an affect, but we absolutely did. So if you're feeling frustrated with your election officials, don't give up. The truth, and the facts are on your side!
There's still work to be done here in VT. Our audit next week is voluntary and we need to have mandatory audits on every election. We will work on that when the dust settles after 11/7. Stay tuned.
Now let's get out there and DO IT!