Eureka Reporter: Watchdog group rejects election results, calls for hand c

http://www.eurekareporter.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=11962

Watchdog group rejects election results, calls for hand count

by Rebecca S. Bender, 6/7/2006

The Voter Confidence Committee didn’t need to wait for reports from the last few precincts to trickle in Tuesday night; it had already deemed the results of the primary election invalid

“We’re being asked for blind trust,” said VCC founder Dave Berman

“Without verifiable information, election results are all hearsay.”

The watchdog group’s lack of faith in the process stems from the electronic, optical scan machines that tally residents’ votes

When a voter feeds a ballot into one of the Diebold machines, critics assert, the information on that ballot is translated into programming language — language that the company claims is a trade secret, and therefore not subject to public scrutiny

The machines have also been criticized for various security flaws, some of which are the subject of current lawsuits

“How do we know that the results reported reflect the will of the people?” Berman asked

The VCC believes that only a hand count of paper ballots will guarantee an accurate, trustworthy result, and they’re calling upon Humboldt County elections officials and local media to partner in performing a full hand count of each and every ballot before announcing elections results

“The media shouldn’t print anything they can’t prove,” Berman said at a VCC protest outside Eureka City Hall Tuesday evening

“The media shouldn’t publish anything they can’t independently verify.”

He and several committee members later moved inside, where the regular Eureka City Council meeting was taking place, to urge the council members present to support their efforts

As a case in point, Berman also referred to Council member Jeff Leonard’s recent request for a full, public disclosure of all results in a Balloon Track poll sponsored by the Citizens for Real Economic Growth.

Council member Chris Kerrigan and Mayor Peter LaVallee were both absent from Tuesday night’s council meeting

The Voter Confidence Committee will hold a demonstration today at 10 am at the Humboldt County Elections Office in the Clark Complex, 3033 H St, in Eureka.

The protest is not based on any of the election returns in particular, Berman emphasized, but rather on the need for transparency of process and certainty of results.

Gallegos was reelected and his challenger DICKMAN lost. hahahaa

Go for a hand count like before and you'll likely find that Gallegos won by far more that 5%! }(

And Measure T won and these old rednecks don't like the results because they can't import people to live at the Motel 6, register and then vote for their two-bit "candidate". :nopity:

There was a large turnout - almost 60% I read.

Go for broke idiots. YOU LOST ok!?

Keep on counting those votes again and again. The more you count them, the higher the winner's final tallies will be; i.e. Gallegos ~70% or more just like before.

:dem: :kick:

who are you saying is having sour grapes? the rejection of results is from a non-partisan election watchdog group. we announced our position before polls even closed. we're not protesting based on the results at all, but rather because of the unverified status of the votes used to report the results. we'll accept the votes as legitimate just as soon as we count them, but not before.

They don't like them? What was the problem(s)? Please let me know.

I wasn't aware of any but then again, I am a permanent absentee voter.

The last time around (recall Gallegos) was a disaster for the recount of the recall! They kept counting them over and over again anyway in hopes that "they" might find a way to keep Farmer in. However, Farmer is a goner. Too bad his wife Neely didn't go with him. I happily challenge that result. She is very corrupt and no one knows that she is Terry Farmer's wife. She hides under her cloak just like the rest of the old pigs in the county do.

I'm not dissatisfied with the results. I do think however, that Gallegos won by far more that ~5%, I will say that much.

As for Measure T, YES! They don't like this either I can guarantee you.

As for this watchdog group, who does it consist of exactly?

See this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x432162

Come to the Elections Department at 10am. 3033 H St. in Eureka.

www.voterconfidencecommittee.org

So I cannot attend. However, if I could go, I would say get rid of the machines. And I'd also recommend that every person in the county become a permanent absentee voter. That is one way around these creepy machines.

Showing contempt for the machines by withholding approval of any results produced by those scandal plagued machines, may be the best way to influence those who can't quite make up their minds.

Good work, Guv.

Later today I should get an .mp3 from KGOE radio who broadcast part of my comments in their morning newscast. Also, last night I did a live interview on KHUM. I was astounded just a few minutes ago to hear them re-play part of the interview. We need to play up this angle and really lean on the media. The idea that the media shouldn't publish or broadcast what they can't prove is the single best thought I've had since realizing there is no basis for confidence in the results reported from unverifiable elections.

:thumbsup:

http://www.guvwurld.org//Election%20Reform/KGOE%20-%20VCC%20Press%20Conference%20Challenges%20Media%20Sourcing%20of%20Election%20Reporting%20-%206-7-06.mp3

I am so scattered right now.

Voter Confidence Committee.

Hmmm.... I like that idea.
Keep hammering away!