Mistakes by ES & machines could affect outcome of WA Gov election

[rehema]

Mistakes by ES & machines could affect outcome of WA Gov election

The machines used by Skagit County to tally votes made at least 36 mistakes in the count for the governor's race, which was decided by just 42 votes statewide.

It's impossible to tell whether some of the mistakes occurred on the first or the second count, according to county election officials.

The race between Republican Dino Rossi and Democrat Christine Gregoire was so close that there was an automatic machine recount of the votes.

The recount narrowed the gap even further, to the point where the standard error rate of the machines used by Skagit and other counties could affect the outcome of the governor's race.

Skagit County uses optical-scan ballots, as do most of Washington's 39 counties. Errors of a similar scale throughout the state would mean that the count's margin of error substantially exceeds the narrow gap produced in the recount.

There might be more mistakes that the machines made, but differences between the first count and the recount make it impossible to prove they happened.

Kubischta said the current machines will be replaced before next fall's elections. The manufacturer doesn't plan to have the county's current machines certified for compliance with federal standards that will go into effect in 2006, so Skagit County will look for new machines early next year. The machine's design will be one of the factors considered, Kubischta said, in an attempt to reduce the number of jam-related errors.

http://www.skagitvalleyherald.com/articles/2004/12/02/news/news02.txt

[BattyDem]

1. There was a problem with the voting machines?

Gee, that's a surprise! :eyes:

[understandinglife]

2. Couple other counties to add to that list....

....here's a thread that details that issue:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=112501&mesg_id=112918

in the thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=112501&mesg_id=112501&page=

So, you can add Snohomish and Yakima counties to the list.

From what I hear anti-persperant/deodorant products are already out of stock at Costco in WA State...... ;-)

Peace.

"Did Bush Know?"

[satya]

3. Thanks for the post

Great info for anyone who tells me how infallible the machines are. This is easier for some of them to understand than talking about migrating votes in central tabulators!