NYT: Voting Problems in Ohio Spur Call for Overhaul

[rawstory]

Voting Problems in Ohio Spur Call for Overhaul
By JAMES DAO, FORD FESSENDEN and TOM ZELLER Jr.


COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 22 - William Shambora, 53, is the kind of diligent voter who once assumed that his ballot always counted. He got a rude awakening this year.

Mr. Shambora, an economics professor at Ohio University, moved during the summer but failed to notify the Athens County Board of Elections until the day before the presidential election. An official told him to use a provisional ballot.

But under Ohio law, provisional ballots are valid only when cast from a voter's correct precinct. Mr. Shambora was given a ballot for the wrong precinct, a fact he did not learn until after the election. Two weeks later, the board discarded his vote, adding him to a list of more than 300 provisional ballots that were rejected in that heavily Democratic county.

"It seems like such a confused system," said Mr. Shambora, a John Kerry supporter who blames himself for the mistake. "Maybe if enough people's votes had counted, the election might have turned out differently."

From seven-hour lines that drove voters away to malfunctioning machines to poorly trained poll workers who directed people to the wrong polling places to uneven policies about the use of provisional ballots, Ohio has become this year's example for every ailment in the United States' electoral process.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/24/national/24vote.html?ei=5088&en=0e0adbe08ff79c22&ex=1261544400&partner=rssnyt&pagewanted=print&position=

At last -- it's not everything one could hope for -- and where the hell is Conyers in this article? But it does raise the critical questions -- why were there LESS voting machines in certain Dem/minority counties and MORE in suburban counties (which supported bush)?

[JohnOneillsMemory]

1. Psy-ops dismissal: 'All mistakes, no fraud.' CIA wins again at the NYT.

"a John Kerry supporter who blames himself for the mistake"

-the mistake of thinking he was in a legitimate democracy instead of a fascist kleptocracy. Yes, that is a "rude awakening."

Nothing to see here but clumsy whining losers...

[No Mandate Here.]

2. I just fired off a LTTE that

called attention to the fact that 23 paragraphs and 904 word pass through the article before they mention that Blackwell was co chair of *'s Ohio campaign.

Here it is...

To the Editor,

It is indeed heartening to see a long article about the problems with the recent election in Ohio. (Voting Problems in Ohio Spur Call for Overhaul ) Most of the articles detailing these problems, some with very serious allegations of intent to disenfranchise and remove valid votes, have been on the internet, as the mainstream media hasn't yet been in the forefront of coverage.

The article is wide ranging, and touches on many allegations of intent with some of the problems. I do find it unfortunate that the writers deem it unimportant that Ohio Secretary of State Blackwell was co chair of Bush's campaign there, so trivial that 23 paragraphs and 904 words pass by before it is mentioned.

When the person who is the final arbiter of the votes, the one whose job it is to certify an election is so partisan as to direct the campaign of one of the parties of the election, there cannot be impartiality. This happened in Florida- Harris ran Bush's campaign there, and this year in Ohio.

One of the most important reforms that must come from this and the 2000 election is the banning of this fundamental mendacity. It is like having a sports referee wearing the same uniform as one of the teams. You cannot trust the calls.

In my view, it cannot possibly be coincidence that the two states that gave Bush the elections had partisan Secretaries of State. This must be intentional. If so, it is certainly shameful.


(end)

What do you think?

[w4rma]

3. I can't believe that at one time I thought the NY Times was liberal.

That newspaper is insidious. Very very insidious.

[Vidar]

4. It's better than nothing. Thanks for posting.

[leftchick]

5. nothing to see in Ohio, move along....

The Chairman Of the B/C re-elction campaign in Ohio just happens to be Kenneth Blackwell SoS, who is the one blocking the election process working properly!!!! These aren't not 'flaws', 'mistakes' or (the worst!) 'Glitches'!!! This was A concerted effort to change the election! This Is FRAUD!!!! Just as the NYT aided and abetted an illegal war on Iraq it is now aiding and abetting the stolen election of 2004!

GAK!!! :argh:

[berner59]

6. It is on the front page above the fold....

So there's that...but have a spine NYT!!!! Where are the Seymor Hersh's of today???

[leftchick]

7. it is disinformation...

to keep the masses calm.