Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News Saturday 9/3/05

[Melissa G]

Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News Saturday 9/3/05

All members welcome and encouraged to participate.

Please post Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News on this thread.

If you can:

1. Post stories and announcements you find on the web.

2. Post stories using the "Election Fraud and Reform News Sources" listed here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x371233

3. Re-post stories and announcements you find on DU, providing a link to the original thread with thanks to the Original Poster, too.

4. Start a discussion thread by re-posting a story you see on this thread.



If you want to know how post "News Banners" or other images, go here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=371233#371391

Link to previous Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x392409

All previous daily threads are available here:
http://www.independentmediasource.com/DU_archives/du_2004erd_el_ref_fr_thr_calenders.htm





Please "Recommend" for the Greatest Page (it's the link just below).

[Melissa G]

1. 52% Bush Disapproval rate from Gallup CNN USA Today Poll

Gallup Poll and CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?"
Approve 45%
Disapprove 52%
Unsure 3%
1,007 respondents 8/28-30/05

http://www.pollingreport.com/BushJob.htm

[Melissa G]

2. Rockland to look at optical scanner voting machines

Rockland to look at optical scanner voting machines
By SARAH NETTER
THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original publication: September 2, 2005)


Now that New Yorkers will no longer be pulling levers at the polls, counties must decide how its residents will cast their votes and Rockland is researching the options.

A special election oversight committee, put together by the county Legislature, will meet Sept. 8 for a presentation on optical scanner voting machines, which electronically tally paper ballots.

Gov. George Pataki signed legislation July 12 that gives counties the jurisdiction to choose their own voting machines from a yet-to-be released list of state-approved machines.


snip
Bo Lipari of the grass-roots group New Yorkers for Verified Voting is an advocate of the optical scanners and will be the presenter Sept. 8. Lipari said he and his organization do not support Direct Recording Electronic voting machines, which use touch screens to cast votes.

The other five machines examined by the county have been DREs.

http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050902/NEWS03/509020354/1026/NEWS10

[Melissa G]

3. Ohio Governor's ethics violations expose money trail to stolen 2004 electi

Ohio Governor's ethics violations expose money trail to stolen 2004 election
DU Discussion Here!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=392447&mesg_id=392447

by Bob Fitrakis & Harvey Wasserman

http://www.opednews.com

COLUMBUS -- The shock waves from Ohio Governor Bob Taft's no contest plea to four misdemeanor ethics violations have turned this state's politics upside down. They also have direct roots in the stolen election of 2004.

snip
The mainstream media has indeed reported that these gratuities have come from the usual thieves' den of contractors doing business with the state of Ohio. It's also well known that Tom Noe has been prominent among them. In fact, it has now been reported that Noe told Taft about controversial rare coin investments that may have cost the state millions as early as 2001, rather than 2004, as Taft has claimed. Also, the Columbus Dispatch reported that Taft failed to report eight additional gifts valued at more than $75: three between 1999-2005; five between 2002-2004. Columbus City Prosecutor Steve McIntosh told the Dispatch that there wasn't likely to be a "second round of misdemeanors."

But the media has ignored the fact that Noe is also former Chair of the Lucas County Board of Elections, a major Bush-Cheney donor, and a key player in the theft of Ohio's 2004 electoral votes. He is reportedly under federal investigation for laundering money into the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign. Election Day chaos and confusion in Noe's predominantly Democratic Lucas County helped give Bush a second term in the White House.

snip
But Noe was also at the heart of Ohio's 2004 stolen election. As northwestern Ohio's "Mr. Republican," Noe was the gatekeeper for Toledo-area GOP politics for a dozen years. He chaired not only the Lucas County Republican Party, but also the Lucas County Board of Elections.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_bob_fitr_050903_ohio_governor_s_ethi.htm

[Melissa G]

4. Volusia's loss Clashes lead to manager's resignation

Volusia's loss
Clashes lead to manager's resignation


Last update: September 03, 2005

Volusia County Manager Cynthia Coto's resignation Friday might have been abrupt. It isn't a surprise.
The manager's frustration with a divided County Council and fractious city officials manifested within months of her taking the job four years ago. The tension seemed to reach a head this year, when council members wavered on growth controls and clashed over the purchase of equipment for handicapped voters. In May, rumors swirled that at least one council member -- Bill Long, representing southwest Volusia County -- was ready to fire her. And last month, she clashed with Council Chairman Frank Bruno, one of her staunchest supporters, over the proposed purchase of an abandoned clinic to use as a jail-alternative treatment center.

snip
No manager is perfect. Coto drew constant criticism from city leaders and her own council members for being uncommunicative and sometimes heavy-handed. Though it's sometimes hard to sort valid complaints from posturing, a little more diplomacy probably would have improved county-city relations. And Coto was dead wrong to re-introduce the controversial voting-machine issue. The council had good reason to reject touch-screen machines that couldn't provide a verified paper record of votes. Once she provided her advice, Coto should have done what she had done so many times before -- work to carry out the council's wishes.


snip
Coto's resignation also informs the work of the county's Charter Review Commission, which should encourage the manager to speak frankly about the troubles she encountered with Volusia County's governmental structure. As it stands, Bruno is the titular head of county government, but the chairman has little more power than other council members. The review commission is already considering the role and powers of the chairman's position, so reviewing the respective authority of the manager and elected chair is within the commission's scope of inquiry.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Opinion/Editorials/03OpOPN29090305.htm

[Melissa G]

5. All I Did Was Say They Can't Run a Fair Election

Thanks to Amaryllis for DU discussion and post
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x392021

All I Did Was Say They Can't Run a Fair Election
'He caters to a British sensibility that sees us as an errant colony run by a gang of thugs'

by Andrew Gumbel

I've got bad news for anyone already made queasy by the marathon length of American presidential elections. Not only is the 2008 race already concentrating political minds, it is becoming ever clearer the country has not recovered from the infamous mano a mano between Al Gore and George W Bush in Florida in 2000. In fact, in many important - and depressing - ways, the battle over Florida is still raging.

I've learned this the hard way, by becoming part of the battle myself. This past week, a posse of internet screamers who clearly don't like the idea of an uppity Brit questioning the legitimacy of George W Bush's first election took it upon themselves to denounce me as a "conspiracy journalist", a "left-wing hack" and a bare-faced liar.

The occasion for their fury was a book I've written chronicling, and attempting to explain, the inability of the world's most powerful democracy to conduct fair and transparent elections by any recognizable international standard. It came as no surprise that some people would find the premise of the book troubling, even offensive. My conclusions are hardly tender towards voting machine manufacturers, local and state election officials, or indeed the entire two-party system that underpins US politics.

snip
The storm broke out when the New York Times columnist Paul Krugman generously cited my book and argued that many Americans are unaware of some deeply troubling facts about their country's electoral system. He, like me, pointed out what extensive analysis of the Florida ballots after the election had indicated as far back as 2001: that a full statewide recount - an option rejected by both Democrats and Republicans in the heat of the battle even though it was the only democratically responsible thing to do - would have narrowly tipped the balance of the race in Al Gore's favor.

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0830-31.htm

[Melissa G]

6. SolarBus.org multimedia ELECTION FRAUD CD (2004 STOLEN ELECTION)

Thanks to Organik and Garybeck for their work on getting the election FraWd CD out! DU discussion here
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x389154

Download an .iso disk image of SolarBus.org's wonderful multimedia CD http://www.solarbus.org/
"the truth about the 2004 Election: Why we must not get over it"

What is Bit Torrent?


After you've finished downloading, leave your bit torrent window open, so others can DL from you!



Burn copies! Distribute!

[Melissa G]

7. Help our democracy ! De Certify a DRE today!!!!!!

Thanks to FogerRox for the great work on the issue and the post!
DU discussion here
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=391261&mesg_id=391261

Decertify a DRE today. Episode two.
In Episode one, when we last heard from our Hero...... Joe Democarcy...... he was in a jam. But Joe aint no quitter. Joe looked around for anything to use as a weapon-- federal & state laws anythig to use as a tool, a weapon. And Joe thought if he could get rid of most touchscreen voting machines then public officals would have to at least consider the options--- you know maybe things like..... Paper ballots--- that get scanned by opscans.
snip
I believe what we have seen is repeated attempts to upgrade Software & Firmware to the 2002 standards by the big 3. While vendors such as Accupoll: http://www.accupoll.com / & Liberty: http://www.libertyelectionsystems.com/LibertyVote.htm, with newer products, seem to breeze thru the 2002 certification process. Apparently these older DREs cannot cut the mustard. And without 2002 certification there is no way these DREs can be considered remotely HAVA Compliant. And thusly none of the Diebold, ES&S or Sequoia DREs can be used in the next federal election in 2006 as per section 301 of HAVA.

And no Jurisdiction can receive HAVA moneys for the purchase of these DREs.


States cant just grandfather these DREs, so they can be used in 2006. That would still leave open the very real possibility of massive court challemges by sore losers and such, all over the country. The potential for a massive crisis is in the making. SInce Federal law put us there, it is the feds -- sort to speak -- that have to fix it.

The Election Assistamce issued its EAC Advisory on Section 301 of HAVA, and then all the experts @ the EAC went on vacation. There are rumbling acroos the country -- after a summer conferences of county and state election officials, we may be able to enterain the very real possibilty of seeing the Jan 2006 DEAD LINE in HAVA, being postponed until 2007.

Mant county election officials have spoken to members of congress about HAVA. When Congress gets back in September --- this will be our chance to pressure them to push HAVA back at least one year. ANd a chance to spend another year trying to dismantle HAVA, piece by peice.

If you dont see your voting machine on this list with 2002 certification

http://www.nased.org/ITA%20Information/NASEDQualifiedVotingSystems12.03to7.05.pdf
Then it cant be used in 2006. Unless we do nothing.


Help our democracy! De Certify a DRE today!!!!!!

[Melissa G]

8. In Nigeria Too... the Electronic voting debate rages on

Electronic voting debate rages on




Vanguard (Lagos)

September 3, 2005
Posted to the web September 3, 2005

Chioma Anyagafu


THE issue of whether Nigeria should adopt the electronic voting system during the 2007 elections, was as contentious as the resource control and tenure of elected public office holders. Differences over the electronic voting equally polarized the just-concluded National Political Reforms Conference.

There were those who vehemently opposed its adoption because they felt that we are not yet matured as a people to embrace the technicalities which the system requires. Those who belong to this school of thought also opined that such a new initiative may be open to manipulation by a select few, thus, there was no need for any undue haste.


For the campaigners of its introduction, it is the only way to minimize electoral malpractices and those opposed to it are people with hidden agenda. All well-meaning lovers of democracy, they contended, must vote for electronic voting because it will guarantee that the people"s choices are protected. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seems to agree more with the latter group. Prof. Maurice Iwu, the Commission's boss, was unequivocal that the way to obtaining the right results at the polls, is by the use of these machines when the chips settle.

However, the preference of INEC has not discouraged those opposed to the introduction of the system, from carrying on their campaign. They have used various fora to preach their gospel, such that some people on the fence are beginning to lend their ears to their own argument. On the other side, the pro-electronic voting campaigners have continued to fault the other view.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200509030049.html

[Melissa G]

9. Rove engaging in Voter fraud?? WP has the scoop!!

Bush Adviser To Reimburse D.C. for Back Taxes
Saturday September 03, 2005 1:11pm
DU discussion here
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x392459

Washington (AP) - The D.C. government is asking White House adviser Karl Rove to give back thousands of dollars in tax credits he shouldn't have gotten.

It turns out Rove had been claiming a homestead deduction on his million-dollar home in the Palisades neighborhood of D.C. But he was also getting a homestead deduction for property in Texas, where he's a registered voter.

snip
The city's tax division is taking the blame for the mishap. They had been granting the tax credit even though D.C. law says it's not allowed for D.C. homeowners who vote in other states.

Now officials in Texas are starting to question whether Rove should be voting there. Officials say it's voter fraud to vote in a place where you don't actually live, even if you own property there.

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0905/257208.html

[Melissa G]

10. Rove Not Entitled to D.C. Homestead Deduction

Rove Not Entitled to D.C. Homestead Deduction
Bush Adviser to Reimburse City for Back Taxes

By Lori Montgomery
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, September 3, 2005; Page A02

Presidential adviser Karl Rove may live in Washington. But in his heart -- and for voting purposes -- he remains a Texan. Which means he is not legally entitled to the homestead deduction and property tax cap he's been getting on his Palisades home for the past 3 1/2 years.

This week, the D.C. tax collector was alerted to the problem. And Rove agreed to reimburse the District for an estimated $3,400 in back taxes, city officials said. But now some Lone Star officials also are wondering about the place Rove calls home.



snip
Rove, who was touring the hurricane-damaged Gulf Coast with President Bush yesterday, was unavailable for comment, White House spokeswoman Erin Healy said. She said Rove never intended to make an improper claim to the deduction.

"When Mr. Rove purchased the home in January 2001, he qualified for the exemption. He was not made aware of the changes in D.C. law," Healy said. "Now that it has been brought to his attention, he is making restitution. He certainly was not trying to mislead anybody."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/02/AR2005090202397.html

[Melissa G]

11. Kinky Friedman lives there but Karl does not!!!

Maybe Kinky will file the complaint!!!!


'Anyway, Rove is now registered to vote in Kerr County, about 80 miles west of Austin in the Texas Hill Country. He and his wife, Darby, have owned property there, on the Guadalupe River, since at least 1997, according to county property records.

snip
"I've been here 10 years and I've never seen him. There are only, like, three grocery stores in town. You'd think you'd at least see him at the HEB" grocery, said Greg Shrader, editor and publisher of the Kerrville Daily Times.

Charles Ratliff, secretary of the Kerr County Democratic Party, said he's never even heard rumors of Rove's presence. "I have no memory of anybody saying to me, 'Hey, Karl Rove is in town, and he's speaking at the courthouse.' Or, 'Karl Rove is in town and I saw him at the grocery store.'

snip
Down in Texas, when you register to vote in a place where you don't actually live, the county prosecutor can come after you for voter fraud, said Elizabeth Reyes, an attorney with the elections division of the Texas Secretary of State. Rove's rental cottage "doesn't sound like a residence to me, because it's not a fixed place of habitation," she said. "If it's just property that they own, ownership doesn't make that a residence."'

edit for link
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/02/AR2005090202397.html

[MelissaB]

12. Conyers: Better Late Than Never

Better Late than Never

This title could of course refer to the New Orleans debacle, which is becoming more outragerous by the hour. As if the sheer incompetence of the response was not enough, now we learn that the president had the temerity to use a fake levee repair as a prop for his trip, courtesy of Americablog.

Actually, the point of the title is to change the subject, and point out that indictments were brought at long last in Cuyahoga County, Ohio -- as covered by the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Bradblog -- for improperly rigging the recount in the Ohio presidential election. Those who read my report on the Ohio election saw that we had solid evidence of recount fraud in Hocking County -- compliments of the heroic Sherole Eaton -- and elsehwere thoughout the state, thanks in large part to the tenacity of Green Party observors. This is why I was so relieved that Sen. Kerry opted to remain a part of the recount lawsuit. While it won't change the election, the pending recount lawsuit will help us find out how things could have been so rotten in Ohio, and work to make sure they don't happen again. Not suprisingly, the indictments were brought by state officials -- the federal prosecutors have yet to show any interest in protecting voting rights.


Blogged by JC on 09.03.05 @ 10:39 PM ET

Link: http://www.conyersblog.us/