back flip on hand tallies

["Paul Tiger" <paul.tiger@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Okay here I go ... I'm reversing my previous stance on hand tallies.

I cannot in good conscience approve of the use of optical scanners in the
tally of ballots. If the state will not approve statistical sampling as a
test of the veracity of the optical scanners, then we should go with hand
tallies in the complete count.

I've been thinking about this for several weeks. Recent developments in
other locales make the point fairly clear.
Here in Boulder County it looks very much like we didn't have approved
software installed on our scanners and yet our election was certified by the
state. Even though we did a recount six days after the election and had the
opportunity to have the correct software installed, we didn't go that route.
Why?
Could it be that the law demands that we make re-counts in the same way as
the original count was made? So does that mean if we used un-certifiable
equipment on the first round, then we should continue to propagate the same
error?

Everyone should follow the law. Not just the citizens, but the government
too. Increasingly we have our government officials forcing us to a standard
of conduct that they refuse to follow.

Make no mistake of my interpretation. I don't believe that this is a
conspiracy to defraud voters, I think that it is just too difficult for
anyone to follow the myriad of levels and layers of laws that are in place.
It is too confusing and too technical.

I propose that we make it a lot simpler by removing all of the chances for
misinterpretation and technical errors. Why are we concerned with how long
the elections take? At what price liberty I keep asking. Do we want fast or
do we want accurate.

As shocking as this may sound to many who know of me, I have to give
credence to Evan Ravitz's idea of hand tallies.
Let's count the vote by hand.

Paul Tiger
tigerp@xxxxxxxxx
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720-323-0570 cell
www.PaulTiger.com

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