Without the lever voting machines, who's gonna pay for New York's hand counts? (Please K&R!)

[Bill Bored]

By agreeing not to fight the US DOJ in the courts (under both Bush and Obama administrations), New York State has spent $50-million on new voting machines that we can't trust to count our votes. So of course we need paper ballots and hand counts, right?

But election integrity advocates in New York have tried and failed for years to convince the party hacks who run our elections to properly audit our elections.

Currently under NY law, unless there is a discrepancy found in a mandatory 3% hand count of paper ballots (which is highly unlikely -- even if the apparent winners of some crucial elections are WRONG!), losing candidates must go to court to obtain hand counts. Not only does this litigation involve legal fees (for election lawyers), but if the recounts are actually conducted there are costs associated with them as well.

So who do you think the NYS Senate, which is largely responsible for our sloppy election laws, is asking to pay for all this -- instead of keeping our trustworthy lever voting machines?

US -- that's who!

Here's an appeal from the NY Senate Democrats, who after NOT fixing the audit laws, NOT requiring mandatory hand recounts in close races, and NOT allowing us to continue voting on trustworthy non-computerized lever voting machines, now want us Democratic voters, who have not-quite re-elected them, to foot the bill for their hand counts:

On Tuesday, New York voters spoke loud and clear in favor of change, electing reform-minded candidates like Tony Avella, Gustavo Rivera, Tim Kennedy, and David Carlucci to the state senate. These were great victories, but the fight is not yet done. Three State Senate races remain too close to call.

Election Day saw the use of new voting machines in New York, and there were reports of significant problems at polling sites across the state. As a result, thousands of legitimate votes cast on Election Day have yet to be counted.

These votes will determine which party controls the state senate and sets the agenda next year, and it is imperative that we ensure a full and fair process that results in an honest accounting of all votes cast.

* In Westchester, Suzi Oppenheimer appears to have won and is ahead by several hundred votes.
* In Long Island, Craig Johnson trails by a few hundred votes with thousands of absentee and provisional ballots yet to be counted.
* In Buffalo, Antoine Thompson also trails by a few hundred votes with thousands more yet to be counted.

In Suffolk County, initial returns in some races have shown varying outcomes, underscoring the need for full and fair recounts.

But the GOP is already rushing to judgment, proclaiming victory in an attempt to sway the results before all the votes are counted. They're lawyering-up and will do everything in their power to pull their candidates over the finish line - deservedly or not.

We can't let New York in 2010 become Florida in 2000. Every vote must be counted.

Can you contribute $10, $25 or $50 today to help protect the votes of all New Yorkers?

Your contribution will help us put in place a strong legal team to beat back the GOP's dirty tricks and ensure a fair process that protects every vote.

If you can’t donate, I hope you’ll consider helping in other ways. If you are a resident of the Buffalo Metro area, Nassau County, or Westchester County, sign up to join a Volunteer Corp to help protect the vote in your district.

I appreciate all that you’ve done this year, but the fight isn’t over yet. With your help, we’ll make sure every vote is counted, and give New Yorkers the government they deserve.

Thanks for your support,

Josh Cherwin

Executive Director
New York Senate Dems

So in other words, they didn't do their jobs and write an election law to deal with this problem; they didn't go to federal court to keep the lever voting machines; so now it's up to us voters to pay for their mistakes and inaction and bail their sorry asses out so the GOP doesn't steal our elections. That way, they can ignore the problem for another two years and hope it goes away.

If you want to put party ahead of principle, then send them some loot, but better yet, volunteer to hand-count some votes!

Also see:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x515796

[Bill Bored]

1. Kick, and see this thread that predicted this over a year ago:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x513427

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

2. and all their chickens came home to

roost.