Securing Indiana Elections --

[IndyOp]

I have questions for y'all and am hoping to make use of DU connections to move us closer to secure elections here in Indiana.

Common Cause listed Indiana as being among 17 states at HIGH risk for compromised elections because 58 out of 92 counties use direct-recording electronic voting machines with no voter-verified paper ballots (mostly Microvote, a handful of counties use Diebold, ES&S, or Voting Technologies International).

The remaining counties in Indiana use optical scan systems (ES&S and Fidlar/Diebold) which do provide a voter-verified paper ballot.

NOW: The two key steps to securing elections are (1.) voter-verified paper ballots (VVPBs) and (2.) automatic random audits (ARA's). Using paper ballots doesn't ensure that the votes on the ballots were counted correctly by the computerized voting machines - so randomly selecting precincts and conducting handcounts to make sure the machines are counting accurately is the next necessary step.

BIG GOALS for fall:

In the 58 counties that use DRE's - 40 of those counties actually use optical scan paper ballots during early voting. ALL registered Indiana voters can vote in person at their County Clerk's office Mon-Fri Oct 10 thru Nov 3 OR in person at their County Clerk's office on Saturday, Oct 28 or Sat, Nov 4. There is no longer any such thing as "election day" --> we have "election month".

IF, in the 40 counties that use paper ballots during early voting, we PUSH voters to use that option, then their vote will be on paper - not vapor.

IF, in the 58 counties that use DRE's we can get Boards of Election to agree to additional testing of DREs - adequate logic & accuracy tests and parallel testing on election day, that could go a long way toward catching errors in vote counting on the DRE's.

IF, in the 80-something counties that use opscan systems (either on election day or in early voting or both) we can conduct automatic random audits then we can catch errors in vote counting on the optical scan systems. (We should also ask for thorough logic & accuracy tests in advance of the elections, too).

Our long-term goal should be passing legislation in the Indiana House & Senate requiring VVPBs and ARAs (and more...) but, in preparation for the October/November elections - how much do you think we could accomplish by asking Boards of Election to voluntarily go along with additional testing of DREs and ARAs.

In what county do you live?
What do you know about your local elections and what are you concerned about?
What are you willing to do to work to secure our elections?

We have some hot races on hand - I will be disgusted beyond belief if winning candidates have votes miscounted or stolen.

:kick:

[salin]

1. watch for voter challenges, and how provisional ballots are used.

On first blush, the method being reported for the voter purges sounds methodical, slow and legitimate. Supposedly being done over a period of years. Reportedly the process goes something like this: Identify folks who may no longer live at the address on their voter registration by sending a certified letter - then identify whether or not that person votes in a primary or general election in 2006 and 2008 - then, and only then purge those voters - as in evidence of not living in the residence (by return of certified mail) plus not voting in four elections (two primaries and two general elections.)

On the surface sounds much more fair than how purges have been conducted in other areas. But beware of things that sound "legit" on the surface when it comes to disqualifying voters.

Dollars to donoughts that in EACH of the close congressional races, the first mailing for the state (and GOP elected official Steve Carter) will be used to flag voters as "maybe not living their" - not to purge the votes (yet) but to give those voters "provisional ballots" - which are easier to play shennanigans with. Here are things to watch for:

- a higher rate of "provisional ballots"/voter challenges being given in precincts with higher rates of democratic voters (ie in the Hill/Soderel race - the challenges will focus on Bloomington.) I do not know what we can do to prevent this from happening - except to be prepared - and to follow through on the second point...

- push for open knowledge - IN ADVANCE OF THE ELECTION - of how provisional ballots are to be treated (handled) and counted - and that a bipartisan presence is ALWAYS around during the handling AND counting of these ballots. That is - be prepared for the shenanigans per the 'voter challenges' - and force open processes that will limit/minimize voter spoilage.

Editted to add: ANYONE who CAN get off from work on election day - should volunteer to work as a poll official (not just a poll worker for GOTV) - where one has access to the entire process of any challenges, the distribution of any provisional ballots, and watching closely how those are handled. I have worked at the polls for a number of elections - but will not be able to do so this election. I have at least one family member who will be working as an election official at a precinct. I urge EVERYONE who can - to do so.

[IndyOp]

2. Absolutely - Do you know anyone working to get a statement from the

SoS about how provisional ballots will be treated? In the 2004 election, something like 15% of the provisional ballots WERE counted (meaning something like 85% were thrown out). Has the Indiana SoS made a statement about provisional ballot policy for all counties?

:kick:

[salin]

3. I have no idea. That is an excellent question.

Have you thought about passing that question on to Channel 8 in Indy? They seem to be the primary news outlet that is interested in pursuing such questions.

[IndyOp]

4. I am seeking help of people with good ideas...

I am down here in Bton working the issue and I am hoping to attract DUers from other areas who will join in...

Report on activity in Mooresville:
http://www.reporter-times.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=34493&format=html

Is contacting Channel 8 an idea you might follow up on?

:-)

[salin]

5. I am on 60-80 hr work weeks

for the time being - not really able to do much of anything but work, except a few hours on the weekend. Doubt I would catch the interest of the right people at that time.