Re: Boulder website indicates that precinct ballots counted.

[Paul E Condon <pecondon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Mon, Nov 08, 2004 at 03:15:19PM -0700, Ralph Shnelvar wrote:
> Dear Paul:
> 
> On Sat, 6 Nov 2004 00:46:27 -0700, you wrote:
> 
> [snip]
> 
> >
> >BTW ? looks like we had an 87% plus turn out of the 176,140 registered
> >voters. Pretty cool, if it is real.
> 
> That's not cool.  It's beyond suspicious.
> 
> The national average was just under 60%.
> 
> To me this indicates near certainty of massive ballot box stuffing.
> 
> >sg
> 
> Ralph Shnelvar
> 
> 
> 

I'm new to this list and just seeing this thread for the first time with
the above email. So, please excuse any cluelessness about what has 
already transpired.

I was supply judge at my precinct. There had been massive early voting
and massive absentee ballot requests in my precinct. There was a
really heavy turnout early in the morning. I don't think there is any
real evidence of criminal activity, but a lot of evidence of poor
planning and incompetance. So what's new? The median age of us poll
workers is 72 yrs. (I will be 72 in Dec., but I'm special.)

To me, a major purpose of activism about voting methods is to establish
a system that works, and can be seen to be working by ordinary voters.
Its not enough that it works. It has to be so transparent and simple 
that we all really know that it works. Much of what I was required to
do as an election judge did not really address making the system work.
It was more related to old, rigid views of what must be done in
conducting an election. Its time for a review, but maybe State Law
mandates certain procedures. Even so, its time for a review.

So, what am I saying? I doubt that there was massive ballot box stuffing
at the precinct level. Us old turkeys are not capable of such a scam. 
But we are capable of screwing up somebody else's scam. 

On the other hand, it would be nice if the system were so well understood
that such dark worries were simply too silly to consider seriously.

just my $0.02 worth.

-- 
Paul E Condon           
pecondon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx