Your source for alternative media coverage of the 2008 election alongside the 2004 elections and the related voter irregularities in Ohio.<br><br>Additional articles about the elections by <a href=http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/3>Bob Fitrakis</a> and <a href=http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/7>Harvey Wasserman</a> are in the <a href=http://www.freepress.org/columns>columns</a> section.
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Those interested in contributing statistical skills to the project may want to contact <a href=mailto:truth@freepress.org>The Free Press</a> and <a href=http://uscountvotes.org target=usvotes>uscountvotes.org</a>.
Election Issues
Lurking within the numbers that recorded Barack Obama’s election victory are some numbers
that cannot be true. And while the errors are of nowhere near the magnitude to call Obama’s
victory into question, they are substantial enough to continue to challenge the accuracy of optical
scanners and electronic tabulators. We need a fair, accurate, and verifiable count, especially
because, in every election, there are some contests that are very close, and even relatively small
discrepancies, whether accidental or intentional, could reverse the outcomes of those elections.
READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE (PDF)
READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE (PDF)
In the aftermath of Barack Obama’s historic victory in the 2008 presidential election, two questions have frequently arisen. How did he manage to turn nine or ten “red states” into “blue states,” (as of this writing, Missouri is still too close to call), and why was the voter turnout “flat,” that is, not much greater than the voter turnout in the 2004 presidential election? As it happens, the two questions are somewhat related. This paper addresses them both.
Voter turnout is equal to total ballots cast divided by total registered voters, expressed as a percentage. Those who are wondering about the 2008 voter turnout are actually inquiring about total ballots cast, or more precisely, those with a choice for president -- the total popular vote.
Voter turnout is equal to total ballots cast divided by total registered voters, expressed as a percentage. Those who are wondering about the 2008 voter turnout are actually inquiring about total ballots cast, or more precisely, those with a choice for president -- the total popular vote.
The Ohio Republican Party has escalated its attacks on democracy on two key fronts.
It's trying to steal a hotly contested Congressional seat. And it's moving to restrict voting rights for coming elections.
In the bitterly embattled House race in central Ohio's 15th Congressional District, Republican State Senator Steve Stivers has a slight lead over Franklin County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy.
Two years ago, Kilroy essentially defeated the previous incumbent, fourth-ranked House Republican Deborah Pryce. In an extremely tight race, a wide range of dubious voter eliminations and manipulated vote counts stole what appears to have been a clear victory from Kilroy. The GOP's infamous J. Kenneth Blackwell was still Ohio's Secretary of State. The Democrats declined to take him on, and the seat remained in Republican hands.
This year Ohio's Secretary of State is Democrat Jennifer Brunner. It would appear Kilroy has won again.
It's trying to steal a hotly contested Congressional seat. And it's moving to restrict voting rights for coming elections.
In the bitterly embattled House race in central Ohio's 15th Congressional District, Republican State Senator Steve Stivers has a slight lead over Franklin County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy.
Two years ago, Kilroy essentially defeated the previous incumbent, fourth-ranked House Republican Deborah Pryce. In an extremely tight race, a wide range of dubious voter eliminations and manipulated vote counts stole what appears to have been a clear victory from Kilroy. The GOP's infamous J. Kenneth Blackwell was still Ohio's Secretary of State. The Democrats declined to take him on, and the seat remained in Republican hands.
This year Ohio's Secretary of State is Democrat Jennifer Brunner. It would appear Kilroy has won again.
As the sun sets on Bush 2, it is clear that a very thin line of electoral protection preserved Barack Obama's victory in Ohio---and the nation.
And it's no accident the vote count battle for a Columbus-area Congressional seat still rages.
The GOP's 2008 electoral strategy again emphasized massive voter disenfranchisement and rigging the electronic vote count. The twin tactics very nearly gave Ohio to McCain/Palin, and threatened to set precedents capable of winning them the national election.
Prior to the 2004 vote, Republican Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell stripped some 308,000 Ohio citizens from the registration rolls in heavily Democratic districts. This mass disenfranchisement alone may have accounted for the 118,000-plus official margin that gave George W. Bush a second term in the White House.
After the 2004 vote, Blackwell disenfranchised another 170,000 voters in heavily Democratic Franklin County (Columbus).
And it's no accident the vote count battle for a Columbus-area Congressional seat still rages.
The GOP's 2008 electoral strategy again emphasized massive voter disenfranchisement and rigging the electronic vote count. The twin tactics very nearly gave Ohio to McCain/Palin, and threatened to set precedents capable of winning them the national election.
Prior to the 2004 vote, Republican Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell stripped some 308,000 Ohio citizens from the registration rolls in heavily Democratic districts. This mass disenfranchisement alone may have accounted for the 118,000-plus official margin that gave George W. Bush a second term in the White House.
After the 2004 vote, Blackwell disenfranchised another 170,000 voters in heavily Democratic Franklin County (Columbus).
The evil little &*%$'s are doing it again.
Even as they drown in the anger of platoons of pissed-off voters, Republican operatives are swiping ballots with both hands.
Ground zero is Georgia. It's here where the sick little vulture named Saxby Chambliss won the US Senate seat six years ago by calling his Democratic opponent, a guy who'd lost three limbs in Vietnam, a friend of Osama bin Laden.
There's no way in hell that Chambliss can slime his way back into the Senate in the face of over half a million newly registered voters (Black and young - 69% for Obama) without jacking them out of their votes. That's what the Republicans are up to. Right now. As we speak.
Over 50,000 the new voters in Georgia have been blocked from voting by using a nasty little new law, the Help America Vote Act signed by George Bush. (Bush is helping us vote - look out!)
Even as they drown in the anger of platoons of pissed-off voters, Republican operatives are swiping ballots with both hands.
Ground zero is Georgia. It's here where the sick little vulture named Saxby Chambliss won the US Senate seat six years ago by calling his Democratic opponent, a guy who'd lost three limbs in Vietnam, a friend of Osama bin Laden.
There's no way in hell that Chambliss can slime his way back into the Senate in the face of over half a million newly registered voters (Black and young - 69% for Obama) without jacking them out of their votes. That's what the Republicans are up to. Right now. As we speak.
Over 50,000 the new voters in Georgia have been blocked from voting by using a nasty little new law, the Help America Vote Act signed by George Bush. (Bush is helping us vote - look out!)
There is something magical about story-telling. Who among us doesn't love stories? From an early age, we are exposed to fairy tales, fables, legends, and family lore. This election cycle has been particularly replete with personal narratives. Strong feelings were generated on all sides. People might love or hate the candidates, but few were indifferent. Many people who had never voted or been involved suddenly came alive. It was, in a word, exciting!
Here is the first in what I hope will be a series – voters sharing their Election 2008 experiences. It came from my friend, Gary Houston. He prefaced it this way:
Our good friend Jane, for many months a happy warrior in the Obama campaign, recalls being at Grant Park here. We've known her since she was born. The poignancy of her rapture is the real deal. Also click the link at the bottom for a great roll of Obama campaign moments.
Jane's story, in her own words
Last night was such an incomparable experience that I don't really know how to put it in words. More than 100,000 people were present, filling a park that is blocks long (and later the streets like a thick blanket).
Here is the first in what I hope will be a series – voters sharing their Election 2008 experiences. It came from my friend, Gary Houston. He prefaced it this way:
Our good friend Jane, for many months a happy warrior in the Obama campaign, recalls being at Grant Park here. We've known her since she was born. The poignancy of her rapture is the real deal. Also click the link at the bottom for a great roll of Obama campaign moments.
Jane's story, in her own words
Last night was such an incomparable experience that I don't really know how to put it in words. More than 100,000 people were present, filling a park that is blocks long (and later the streets like a thick blanket).
Columbus, Ohio, 2p.m.: In Franklin County, there have been three reports of vote flipping by Free
Press election protection volunteers – at Jones Middle School in Upper Arlington where a voter reported a vote flip from Obama to Nader – and two others not verified yet.
Election Integrity and Mitofsky-Edison exit pollsters were being harassed at Tabernacle Church on Woodward in Columbus. The Franklin County Board of Elections directed the presiding judge not to interfere with the pollsters. Exit polls are the gold standard for detecting election fraud.
A spot check of inner city precinct vote totals as of 11am or so, reveals that there is an extraordinarily high number of people being forced to vote provisional ballots. The three reasons for the provisionals, as explained by the pollworkers, are names not the pollbook, people who requested absentees but decided to vote in person, and ID problems where the addresses do not match. It is not clear if all the pollworkers know the policies regarding provisional ballots.
Election Integrity and Mitofsky-Edison exit pollsters were being harassed at Tabernacle Church on Woodward in Columbus. The Franklin County Board of Elections directed the presiding judge not to interfere with the pollsters. Exit polls are the gold standard for detecting election fraud.
A spot check of inner city precinct vote totals as of 11am or so, reveals that there is an extraordinarily high number of people being forced to vote provisional ballots. The three reasons for the provisionals, as explained by the pollworkers, are names not the pollbook, people who requested absentees but decided to vote in person, and ID problems where the addresses do not match. It is not clear if all the pollworkers know the policies regarding provisional ballots.
Columbus, Ohio, 10:45a.m.: Election observer Werner Lange reported from Trumbull County that there was a “major problem in my precinct, 3A.” Lange wrote, “All of the votes cast using a paper ballot between the hours of 6:30-8:15am (when I pointed out the flaw to the pollworkers) are invalid because none of the voters were asked, as required, to sign the pollbook.”
Lange estimates that anywhere from 30-80 voters lost their vote due to a pollworker’s “colossal mistake.”
Observer Robert Bowers reported from Lucas County (Toledo) that he was being physically intimidated by a precinct judge. Bowers, an appointed observer from the Constitution Party, was stopped from observing machine security seals and recording machine serial numbers. Ohio law allows appointed observers like Bowers to record various serial numbers since they are public record. Bowers told the Free Press that the precinct judge, who he identified as Matthew Perkins, raised his hand to Bowers’ face. Bowers left the polling site and went home. He called reporters and plans to return to the polling site with the reporters.
Observer Robert Bowers reported from Lucas County (Toledo) that he was being physically intimidated by a precinct judge. Bowers, an appointed observer from the Constitution Party, was stopped from observing machine security seals and recording machine serial numbers. Ohio law allows appointed observers like Bowers to record various serial numbers since they are public record. Bowers told the Free Press that the precinct judge, who he identified as Matthew Perkins, raised his hand to Bowers’ face. Bowers left the polling site and went home. He called reporters and plans to return to the polling site with the reporters.
Barack Obama is heading to Election Day with a razor thin 6 point lead in the popular polls in Ohio, according to the usually reliable Columbus Dispatch poll. This means that the Buckeye state could again decide who enters the White House in January, despite the fact that nationwide Obama's lead has been registered as high as 11-12 percent.
In a country with truly fair elections, a reliable vote count, and no electoral college, ssuch a lead should be commanding.
But in the America of 2008, it will be enough only if tens of thousands of grassroots election protection activists, rallied primarily through the independent internet, can protect voter registrations, guarantee the ability to vote at the polling stations, and somehow procure an accurate, un-tampered with vote count.
In short, it will depend on YOU and your willingness to protect American democracy. It will not be the punditocracy or the campaign managers who decide Tuesday's outcome---it will be the get-out-the-vote activists, the poll workers, the monitors and observers, the election protection attorneys, the video-the-voters, and the vote count investigators. Will you be among them?
In a country with truly fair elections, a reliable vote count, and no electoral college, ssuch a lead should be commanding.
But in the America of 2008, it will be enough only if tens of thousands of grassroots election protection activists, rallied primarily through the independent internet, can protect voter registrations, guarantee the ability to vote at the polling stations, and somehow procure an accurate, un-tampered with vote count.
In short, it will depend on YOU and your willingness to protect American democracy. It will not be the punditocracy or the campaign managers who decide Tuesday's outcome---it will be the get-out-the-vote activists, the poll workers, the monitors and observers, the election protection attorneys, the video-the-voters, and the vote count investigators. Will you be among them?