Re: What Have We Learned from Boulder?

[Evan Daniel Ravitz <evan@xxxxxxxx>]

PPS: Let's get as many to sign the petition as possible BEFORE
TUESDAY so maybe the Commissioners WON'T sign the contract with
Hart.

On Sat, 24 Apr 2004, Evan Daniel Ravitz wrote:

>
> Folks,
>
> Let's continue to seek a lawyer to file for an injunction, but I've
> taken the initiative to implement an idea of Mary Eberle, a CVV
> member, who said in Boulder it would be easy to get VOLUNTEERS to
> hand-count the 2004 election.
>
> I've started a petition Boulder County Voters can sign at:
>
> http://www.PetitionOnline.com/hand/petition.html
>
> If we could present a few hundred volunteers (Please DO let us see
> your email address!!) to the County Commissioners, maybe they'll do
> the right thing and let citizens make sure our votes count.
>
> PLEASE circulate this to everyone on your local email lists!!
>
> If you DON'T vote in Boulder County, please consider putting a
> similar petition to YOUR Commissioners on the site. It's easy and
> takes 5 minutes or so:
>
> http://www.PetitionOnline.com/
>
> Evan
>
> PS: I've taken the liberty to use CVV's name -so that people can be
> referred to our website.
>
> ----------------------------------------------
> Evan Ravitz     303 440 6838     evan@xxxxxxxx
> Ratify the National Initiative!   www.Vote.org
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>
> Kucinich: the ONLY candidate to vote against the
> "Patriot" Act and the Iraq war:  www.kucinich.us
> -------------------------------------------------
>
> On Sat, 24 Apr 2004, Robert Mcgrath wrote:
>
> > Regardless of the outcome to date, we have learned the following, and we
> > need to leverage this knowledge:
> >
> > 1. The process of addressing citizen input is not how some decisions occur,
> > contrary to "staged" appearances.   It would appear that the purchase of
> > this system was a done deal, despite citizen reactions.
> >
> > 2. Hand counting of recounts may be permissible, according to the Boulder
> > election officials reporting upon ongoing discussions with the Secretary of
> > State's office.
> >
> > 3. Hand counting is perceived as "taking too long, impractical and
> > unaffordable."  This is a statement of perception and is not backed up by
> > any independent analysis.
> >
> > 4. The lack of standards is not viewed as a meaningful deterrent.
> >
> > 5. Election officials and county commissioners may not be accustomed to a
> > high level of citizen input on a purchase decision, and their willingness to
> > keep the decisionmaking process open may be affected by their comfort level
> > with citizen involvement (possibly perceiving it as "we know better" or
> > "academics or activists" rather than the concerns of common citizens).
> >
> > 6. When in doubt, pass blame to the Secretary of State's Office.
> >
> > 7. Despite citizen participation in "the process", the courts may remain the
> > only possible method that compels election officials to acknowledge and
> > comply with citizen concerns.
> >
> > 8. It pays to stick around after "official business" ends, and to maintain
> > strength in numbers.
> >
> > How do we leverage these findings?
> >
> > First, we need to maintain a higher level of communications and interest
> > among our group to remain a viable voice in these issues.   We need to
> > borrow several pages from Evan's, Joe's and Al's book and keep vigilant
> > watch over these public servants, and to maintain a large enough group from
> > which to demonstrate broad support for our cause.  We need to consider
> > whether reaching out to other established groups may serve this purpose and
> > build credibility with these officials.
> >
> > Second, we need to do our homework like Ralph suggests below and come
> > equipped to such arguments with our facts straight.  If hand counts
> > intimidate, we must reassure with solid numbers that illustrate their
> > viability and cost effectiveness.  We must meet this argument head-on.
> >
> > Third, we need to build upon the awareness of the identical count/recount
> > methods, so that everyone involved in decisionmaking understand the absurd
> > impact this law will have upon verifiability and confidence in trustworthy
> > elections.   The intrinsic value of independent audits must be elevated
> > further in any ongoing discussions about verifiability.   It may still be
> > possible to engage in a publicity campaign and legal work to halt the
> > implementation of this law for this year's election, but it will take
> > coordination and money to accomplish this. And we still need legal
> > representation.
> >
> > Fourth, while the Sec of State has issued a "moratorium" on all machine
> > purchases in the state under HAVA until standards come out, under HB 1227
> > she is setting herself up as the ultimate arbiter and certifier of all
> > "temporary" systems, meaning she wants to have her cake and eat it too.
> > This hypocritical stand needs to be exposed and called.
> >
> > Finally, we need to come together in legal strategies, since it appears that
> > may be our only hope for relief this year.
>