Re: Absentee voters; Macho

["amaynard_1@xxxxxxxx" <amaynard_1@xxxxxxxx>]

Dr. Mercuri, I kind of overlooked an important comment you made:

Numerous computer scientists have already demonstrated that 
the precinct ballot counters can be rigged so that incorrect vote
totals  are reported. This will only be caught with a 100% in-precinct
hand count, RIGHT at the end of election day, publicly performed.

That's exactly what I'm advocating:  a one-day-only, secure
polling-place election, with hand-counted paper ballots.

(I guess I forgot to say "hand-counted paper ballots"--that absolutely
is an essential component!)

Alison Maynard


-- "R. Mercuri" <notable@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I am sorry to break this news to you, but if your county absentee 
ballots are disappearing, then there is every reason to believe that 
your precinct ballots are disappearing too. You are suffering from an 
illusion that has you believing that the precincts are safe from 
corruption. Numerous computer scientists have already demonstrated that 
the precinct ballot counters can be rigged so that incorrect vote totals 
are reported. This will only be caught with a 100% in-precinct hand 
count, RIGHT at the end of election day, publicly performed.

BTW, if you want to see votes disappearing en masse in the precincts, 
just move to Ohio. I am currently the key expert in a recount from the 
November 2006 election in Franklin County, Ohio. After we revealed the 
facts about votes going missing at polling places, Franklin County 
election officials admitted (in court) that 86% of the precincts had a 
different vote signature totals from the polling books than were 
reported as the number of ballots cast in the precincts. They told the 
judge that this was "normal." I'm sure if it's normal for Ohio, based on 
what you've told me, it's normal in Colorado too. Ballots go missing and 
ballot boxes get stuffed in the precincts just as easily as they do in 
the county with absentees -- this is a PROCEDURAL PROBLEM. If you want 
to stop it, it has to be stopped by holding people accountable and 
throwing them in jail if they aren't (as was done recently in Ohio due 
to the corruption in the Cuyahoga County elections office). Your voters 
who were told they had already voted should have SUED.

Eliminating absentee ballots disenfranchises the many citizens who are 
unable to make it to the polling place on election day. I do not believe 
that eliminating absentee ballots will solve your corruption problems. 
Addressing your corruption problems is the only way to solve your 
corruption problems. You need to throw the bums in jail and ensure total 
transparency and total public oversight of your election process end to 
end in order to have confidence in your elections.

Sincerely,
Rebecca Mercuri.