Video the Vote Columbus - Moving forward
First and foremost, thank you for your persistence, patience and dedication yesterday.
With the exception of a few glitches early on, Election Day was surprisingly tame compared to recent years. Here's a link to some Columbus Dispatch coverage of voting issues.
While the headline and lead are congratulatory, deeper in the article there are many of the same observations and concerns Video the Vote documented as well. Confusion over paper versus provisional ballots and early voting as opposed to absentee demonstrate the need for clearer communication at all levels of the voting process. Poll worker training, independent voter registration and increased media coverage leading up to Election Day did turn out voters in greater numbers, but still not in the quantities anticipated. Further, the high number of provisional ballots, especially in urban areas, suggests opportunities for improvement.
With the exception of a few glitches early on, Election Day was surprisingly tame compared to recent years. Here's a link to some Columbus Dispatch coverage of voting issues.
While the headline and lead are congratulatory, deeper in the article there are many of the same observations and concerns Video the Vote documented as well. Confusion over paper versus provisional ballots and early voting as opposed to absentee demonstrate the need for clearer communication at all levels of the voting process. Poll worker training, independent voter registration and increased media coverage leading up to Election Day did turn out voters in greater numbers, but still not in the quantities anticipated. Further, the high number of provisional ballots, especially in urban areas, suggests opportunities for improvement.
Ohio Election Day Watch Report: Early afternoon election problems in Ohio
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.
Ohio Election Day Watch Report: Further election problems in Ohio
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.
Cuyahoga's witch hunt
On Tuesday, Oct 7th, I attended a Cuyahoga County Board of Elections (CCBOE) meeting. I wanted to make sure absentee-vote totals were going to be separated from election-day vote totals. What I observed was a witch hunt.
This is what I, and many others, believe:
The GOP is applying pressure to the county board of elections to "sniff out" questionable voter-registration cards, especially those by very effective and successful voter-registration projects, and call it "Voter Fraud." Probably like the pressure on 9 fired U.S. Attorneys (Google "Iglesias Voter Fraud").
ACORN, a highly respected community organizing agency, was called in to answer questions about "fishy" and duplicate voter-registration cards. During the increasingly hostile interrogation, ACORN admitted "we don't have the resources to catch every fraudulent voter-registration card". (Brings back memories of Bob Bennett's "No election is perfect!" as he and Vu pushed e-voting down our throats!)
The next day's Plain Dealer: "ACORN: Possible Fraud"--"ACORN admitted to the BOE they can't eliminate fraud from their operation."
This is what I, and many others, believe:
The GOP is applying pressure to the county board of elections to "sniff out" questionable voter-registration cards, especially those by very effective and successful voter-registration projects, and call it "Voter Fraud." Probably like the pressure on 9 fired U.S. Attorneys (Google "Iglesias Voter Fraud").
ACORN, a highly respected community organizing agency, was called in to answer questions about "fishy" and duplicate voter-registration cards. During the increasingly hostile interrogation, ACORN admitted "we don't have the resources to catch every fraudulent voter-registration card". (Brings back memories of Bob Bennett's "No election is perfect!" as he and Vu pushed e-voting down our throats!)
The next day's Plain Dealer: "ACORN: Possible Fraud"--"ACORN admitted to the BOE they can't eliminate fraud from their operation."
Because we fought for them my daughters have cast paper ballots
My daughters and I have cast paper ballots in the opening days of the 2008 presidential election. It was their first time voting in a presidential election.
That they have only voted with an African-American atop the Democratic ticket makes this doubly historic for them. The issue of race remains a great unknown in how things will turn out.
But so does the question of whether everyone who wants to vote can, and whether those votes will be accurately counted (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHiCFe2GBjk).
Four years ago this county tried to deny me the right to cast an absentee ballot. After four phone calls and some serious politicking, I finally did get a paper ballot, which I hand delivered to the election board. But was it counted?
My twins are now 21. On Friday, October 3, 2008, we drove to Veterans Memorial in downtown Columbus to cast our ballots under unique circumstances. For a full week, Ohio voters have been able to register and vote at the same time.
That they have only voted with an African-American atop the Democratic ticket makes this doubly historic for them. The issue of race remains a great unknown in how things will turn out.
But so does the question of whether everyone who wants to vote can, and whether those votes will be accurately counted (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHiCFe2GBjk).
Four years ago this county tried to deny me the right to cast an absentee ballot. After four phone calls and some serious politicking, I finally did get a paper ballot, which I hand delivered to the election board. But was it counted?
My twins are now 21. On Friday, October 3, 2008, we drove to Veterans Memorial in downtown Columbus to cast our ballots under unique circumstances. For a full week, Ohio voters have been able to register and vote at the same time.
Be a poll worker and save American democracy
We are constantly being asked: "What can we do to stop the 2008 election from being stolen?"
Because we broke many of the major stories surrounding the theft of the 2004 election in Ohio (and because after four years it is abundantly clear that election most definitely was stolen) the flow of inquiries is heartfelt and non-stop. We cannot afford to have this happen again on November 4.
There is a simple answer for what you can do: be a poll worker.
There are additional options: be a poll judge, a poll observer, a member of a video the vote team, a voter registration researcher and assistant, an organizer for a post-election public hearing, and more.
Because we broke many of the major stories surrounding the theft of the 2004 election in Ohio (and because after four years it is abundantly clear that election most definitely was stolen) the flow of inquiries is heartfelt and non-stop. We cannot afford to have this happen again on November 4.
There is a simple answer for what you can do: be a poll worker.
There are additional options: be a poll judge, a poll observer, a member of a video the vote team, a voter registration researcher and assistant, an organizer for a post-election public hearing, and more.
Be a Poll Worker and Save American Democracy
By Harvey Wasserman & Bob Fitrakis
We are constantly being asked: “What can we do to stop the 2008 election from being stolen?”
Because we broke many of the major stories surrounding the theft of the 2004 election in Ohio (and because after four years it is abundantly clear that election most definitely was stolen) the flow of inquiries is heartfelt and non-stop. We cannot afford to have this happen again on November 4.
There is a simple answer for what you can do: be a poll worker.
There are additional options: be a poll judge, a poll observer, a member of a video the vote team, a voter registration researcher and assistant, an organizer for a post-election public hearing, and more.
We are constantly being asked: “What can we do to stop the 2008 election from being stolen?”
Because we broke many of the major stories surrounding the theft of the 2004 election in Ohio (and because after four years it is abundantly clear that election most definitely was stolen) the flow of inquiries is heartfelt and non-stop. We cannot afford to have this happen again on November 4.
There is a simple answer for what you can do: be a poll worker.
There are additional options: be a poll judge, a poll observer, a member of a video the vote team, a voter registration researcher and assistant, an organizer for a post-election public hearing, and more.
AMP-Ohio utility headquarters overtaken to protest new coal-fired power plant
Columbus, OH -- At 11:30am Monday morning, about 100 Earth First!
activists occupied the headquarters of American Municipal Power, an
electric utility that provides statewide service to member communities.
As part of an ongoing series of direct actions, activists confronted CEO Marc Gerken and demanded that AMP-Ohio cancel its plans for construction of a new and widely opposed coal-fired power plant in southeast Ohio.
Dozens of activists charged the building and occupied the lobby, disabled video cameras with silly string, danced on furniture, banged on pots and pans, and delivered anti-coal messages to employees with chants and songs. Five activists locked themselves down in the lobby and two activists climbed the flagpoles in front of the building, hoisting signs that read "no new coal!" and "we won't stop until you do."
Business as usual was disrupted for several hours while police forcibly removed demonstrators from the property, arresting eight. Bail money is still needed for several activists. Please help out by donating to the legal fund at http://earthfirstjournal.org/
As part of an ongoing series of direct actions, activists confronted CEO Marc Gerken and demanded that AMP-Ohio cancel its plans for construction of a new and widely opposed coal-fired power plant in southeast Ohio.
Dozens of activists charged the building and occupied the lobby, disabled video cameras with silly string, danced on furniture, banged on pots and pans, and delivered anti-coal messages to employees with chants and songs. Five activists locked themselves down in the lobby and two activists climbed the flagpoles in front of the building, hoisting signs that read "no new coal!" and "we won't stop until you do."
Business as usual was disrupted for several hours while police forcibly removed demonstrators from the property, arresting eight. Bail money is still needed for several activists. Please help out by donating to the legal fund at http://earthfirstjournal.org/
Ohio State students call on political leaders to help oust Coke from OSU
Attached is a letter and flyer sent by student leaders at Ohio State University to 156 Ohio political leaders, including state legislators, Gov. Ted Strickland and members of Congress. The letter is asking political leaders to support their efforts to have the university end its business relationship with The Coca-Cola Co. and to remove all Coke machines and products from the OSU campus.
OSU is believed to have the largest single university contract in the nation. That contract expires in June. It has been reported that in an exclusive contract arrangement, OSU has received $30 million over the past 10 years. It was also reported in 1999 that Coke received $29 million in revenues in just the first year of the contract. In addition, Coke benefits from free advertising and promotion of its brand name throughout the campus and at sports and other events.
OSU is believed to have the largest single university contract in the nation. That contract expires in June. It has been reported that in an exclusive contract arrangement, OSU has received $30 million over the past 10 years. It was also reported in 1999 that Coke received $29 million in revenues in just the first year of the contract. In addition, Coke benefits from free advertising and promotion of its brand name throughout the campus and at sports and other events.