Posted by Bev Harris on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 5:30 am:
Writing this last night, I was quite tired. I will post photos - the slits are not "through the box" in the sense that they are in the middle of the cardboard. They deliver the ballots in a variety of cardboard boxes. The lid of the cardboard box is taped and has various seals on it, some old, from using the box before, some new. The slits cut through any tape or seals. They don't cut into the cardboard itself, and I'm going to edit the post above to clarify that.
The other thing that isn't clear from the above post is the timing.
1. We noticed the slits in the vault and confirmed when they brought the ballots out that the slits were still there.
2. Then we looked at the ballot boxes as they were being delivered. Those, too, had slits.
3. Then we visitied towns that had ballots scheduled for pickup. We had time to visit only two towns. Both towns had ballot boxes with no slits.
4. While at these towns, we waited for the pickup van to show up. When it did, we videotaped the ballot boxes already in it.
5. When we got back to the archive building where they were having the recount, we awaited the van with the ballot boxes we just videotaped. We waited quite a while. Almost everyone left, the recount ended for the day, and still no van. The van finally pulled in after all but a couple observers had gone home. We videotaped what came out of the van. It was in the same condition as what we videotaped at the towns. Of course, Butch and Hoppy knew we had been taking videotape because we did it right in front of them.
6. The normal procedure has been: - bring the incoming ballot boxes into the front door of the building - roll them through the counting room, which is a large room similar to a library reference room - from there to roll the cart containing the incoming ballot boxes through the back door of the counting room - insert key card into the warehouse area door - roll the ballots down the hall in the warehouse - open the ballot "vault" door with a key (it is a sturdy metal door but opens with a single key) - put the incoming ballots in the vault - When they will be counted, take them from the vault back into the counting room.
What they did last night, with the incoming batch that we had photographed in the field, was roll them into the counting room. We waited. The handful of officials waited. These officials included Secretary of State Bill Gardner, Head of the Archive building Frank Mevers, Assistant secretary of state David Scanlan, Ballot transport drivers "Butch and Hoppy" (whose names are really Armand and Peter); Kucinich representatives Manny and Pat, a secretary of state assistant named, I think, Karen Hand.
They waited. We waited. It was very odd, to me at least. The ballots were sitting in the middle of the counting room, all these officials were standing around talking quietly with each other. I assumed they were waiting for something, results sheets perhaps. I decided to stay with video ready until the ballots were wheeled back to the vault.
One of the transport guys, "Hoppy" I think, then said that the ballots would not be taken to the vault that night because it was "closed" -- implying that whoever had the key was no longer there. Frank Mevers had the key. But I saw Frank Mevers. And the ballots had been moved to the vault even later the night before, because counting teams had stayed and counted up until about 7 pm.
So Sally and I waited. They affixed one of these post-it peelable labels on each front door and said everyone will leave out the back door and the order was given for all to leave. We filed out the back door. I asked Secretary of State Bill Gardner why there was a change in procedure. He did not answer. I asked him again. After about three tries, he just said "it's secure."
The handful of officials and the two Kucinich people hung around the back door. I asked more questions about why the ballots were being left in a room with no key card. They put one of the label stickers over the door and said "it's secure." I continued to wait with this small group of people. Finally they told us to leave and everyone left the building.
We got in our car and drove a ways away. Most of the people left. Bill Gardner and Anthony Stevens stayed around for a while, standing outside the loading bay talking. Then they left.
The upshot: The ballots we had videotaped in the van being transported, which arrived intact without slits, were not taken to the vault and were not kept in a location requiring keycard access last night (except that entering the building itself requires a keycard)
The level of minutia in observing coupled with the extreme suspicion of wrongdoing is NOT in proportion to the reason why the recount is being performed. While I have no doubt that the results of the recount will validate the primary results, I am worried that such political grandstanding over a problem that doesn't exist will become precedent setting.
As I have opined before, the fanaticism of hand-counting only advocates that the movement is, with specific respect to New Hampshire, a solution in search of a problem. I'm curious. Once the initial primary results are validated by the recount, will the vocal proponents of hand-counting issue some sort of "atonement" – not necessarily apology – but something that acknowledges that with respect to New Hampshire, they were wrong?
In ending, what did Butch and Hoppy have for lunch and where did they eat?
by
Tom Murphy (3 articles, 4 quicklinks, 10 diaries, 1719 comments)
on Friday, January 18, 2008 at 10:07:30 AM
Ok Tom..no more ATM receipts for you, buddy. In fact....don't even bother balancing your checkbook any more, just take the bank's word for your balance. It's idiots like you that are responsible for the decline of America.
by
Cap'n Stubbs (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 7 comments)
on Friday, January 18, 2008 at 6:36:09 PM
Recount Results = Actual ballots + extra stuffing Slit FRAUD
.
The Secretary of State behaves as someone knowing the Actual VOTE ballots in the sealed boxes IS NOT EQUAL the Diebold FRAUD numbers printed out.
Diebold FRAUD ballot counts MADE UP VOTES for HILLARY (she did NOT order it, the Butcherbush FASCISTS made her winto set up the opponent for them in November).
So New Hampshire Secretary of State now ORDERS FRAUD BALLOTS stuffed in the slit-open boxes, to MATCH the MADE UP count.
The wild crazy -- unnecessary -- PHONE CALLS tell Slit-Workers the NUMBERS of FRAUD BALLOTS to stuff.
by
meremark (1 articles, 3 quicklinks, 25 diaries, 496 comments)
on Friday, January 18, 2008 at 12:19:04 PM
Thank you again and bless you for your tireless work on behalf of democracy. Tom Murphy----not sure where you're coming from.... If you did any research about the coprorate takeover of our elections, you might better understand the grave concerns informed citizens have.
The last method the people have for holding our elected officials accountable has been and continues to be seized and controlled by corporate interests. Your wilul ignorance is discouraging . Isn't it bad enough that they limit the field---limit the debate---pay off many of not most of those who are supposed to be our epresentatives. If we can't even be certain that we, the people actually ( rightly or wrongly) choose them, what do we, the people, have left of our democratic republic? Think about it man! Even our forefathetrs warned us to be vigilant---they KNEW!!!!!
by
Char Stellamaris (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 35 comments)
on Friday, January 18, 2008 at 5:15:37 PM
Are you a registered voter in New Hampshire? I am. If you're not, then I don't take kindly to someone from outside the state dictating how we in New Hampshire should be managing our elections. We've been managing just fine without external meddling.
If you are a state citizen, then I suggest you re-familiarize your self with the origin of our state's motto - "Live Free or Die; Death Is Not the Worst of Evils" - http://www.nh.gov/nhinfo/emblem.html . Letting another, such as a non-citizen dictate how to conduct your affairs is certainly not in the state's or my best interest.
by
Tom Murphy (3 articles, 4 quicklinks, 10 diaries, 1719 comments)
on Friday, January 18, 2008 at 9:09:33 PM
First off, Tom is right. It is unfortunately that many of you commenting on this post reference unsubstantiated "accounts and reports." There are irregularities in every election, and the simple truth is that it has everything to do with human error, and not fraud. The only current fraud we are dealing with at this time is the fact that any warm body can walk into a polling place in NH, and with a cable bill, can declare themselves a citizen of NH and cast a ballot. But the stuffing or stealing of ballots is a myth.
Our Secretary of State is an honest person. Those conducting the recount and the police officer who are delivering the ballot boxes are not interested in "rigging elections." Our poll works are decent Americans who volunteer their time so that the process moves forward. Without a shred of creditable evidence, far lesser people (like Char, meremark, Ron, and Cap n' stubbs), make wild accusations of fraud and conspiracy.
How many of you have volunteered your time to serve as a poll/ward worker? And I don't means as a watchdog for a political campaign.It is a simple process, and one that is always in need of volunteers. You fill-out an application, submit to a background check, and sit tirelessly for hours on end for little or no pay. Is the integrity of democracy and the honesty of each vote worth a few hours of your time? Or do you you feel your time is better spent sitting at your computer fighting "injustice" with your random thoughts.
As for Ron's comments. I am impressed. Tom is serving his country, and is a true guardian of our freedom. If you have never raised your hand to take the Soldiers Pledge to "support and defend the Constitution," you are a far lesser person for your inaction. If you have taken that oath, you should revisit those words. The fact Ron that you would speak so callously about the uniform that Tom wears speaks volumes for you character...sad.
by
Jeffrey Chidester (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments)
on Saturday, January 19, 2008 at 10:16:42 AM
Jeffery the main thing in serving in our military is the oath to defend the constitution.And being diligent in questioning the corruptibility of electronic voting is constitutional.You and tommy talk like cointelpro agents.
I am tenth generation American and I say you are full of it.You got the verdict on my patriotism clown?
by
cuda (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 5 comments)
on Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 12:53:48 PM
I am a registered NH voter, a citizen of NH and a citizen of the US. Unlike some I believe others are entitled to express their concerns over the procedure we in NH use to select our national leaders. If we wish to maintain the honor of being the first in the nation primary, then our process mush be accurate, reliable and transparent. In the recounting of votes the essence of good procedure is a reliable and transparent chain of custody. It would seem to me that leaving boxes of uncounted ballots in a non-secure area where more than 1 individual might reasonably have access is not reliable and certainly vitiates against transparency.
Our founding fathers might not have had an advanced or sophisticated technology by our standards, but what they did have was an acute understanding of human nature. One only need look to the tension intentionally imbued in the founding contract, the Constitution, to see that process not trust would protect us from the baser instincts of those that seek power. The recount takes advantage of the tension that exists between political adversaries to ensure that our elections will not be rigged.
by
NHatty (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments)
on Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 11:57:47 AM
Vote fraud, yet another infringement on our rights by the gov't. Add it to the ever-growing list of violations: They violate the 1st Amendment by opening mail, caging demonstrators and banning books like "America Deceived" from Amazon. They violate the 2nd Amendment by confiscating guns during Katrina. They violate the 4th Amendment by conducting warrant-less wiretaps. They violate the 5th and 6th Amendment by suspending habeas corpus. They violate the 8th Amendment by torturing. They violate the entire Constitution by starting 2 illegal wars based on lies and on behalf of a foriegn gov't. Support Dr. Ron Paul and save us all. Last link (unless Google Books caves to the gov't and drops the title): http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-38523-0
by
Lorring II (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 86 comments)
on Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 12:24:56 PM
I posted one of Brad's blogs to the headlines area at GNN.tv. I spent some serious time writing an intro and hotlinking it. Then I Dugg it, and I am surprised to say it worked this time (doesn't happen so often for me). The Digg went popular a few hours ago with nearly 600 Diggs so far. That means thousands of readers.
I wish some of the REALLY GOOD stories that have been posted here on OpEdNew recently were given more attention on the social bookmarking circuit. A lot of great stuff passed somewhat unnoticed by the world.
If anyone missed it, you should check out the Writers Campaign for Transparent Vote Counting– Rob Kall and Joan Brunwasser of OpEdNews.com organized a writer’s campaign on the NH Diebold/recount controversy featuring several articles (pre-Jan10), most of which allow you to click a button to send a letter to elected representatives and/or media.
Something a lot of people seem to be missing is that the hand recount results appear to show the so-called establishment candidates losing votes due to the recounting. This is the opposite of what normally happens when votes are recounted. Why isn't anyone pointing this out?
Hats off to Bev Harris (BlackBoxVoting), Mark Crispin Miller, Rob Kall, Bruce O’Dell and all the other sane people who are taking this matter seriously.
by
Peter Dearman (9 articles, 19 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 124 comments)
on Monday, January 21, 2008 at 4:34:47 AM
How anyone can shill for secret ballot counting or insecure storage of ballots is beyond me. Just unimaginable.
I program machines, and trust me -- I can make them do anything I want. If I couldn't, I wouldn't be any good as a programmer.
Hey, there's a new thought - "trust me". Let me program your vote counting machines. Yeah. If I did that, it would only take a few minutes out of sight to reconcile the number of paper ballots with the electronic total. If the boxes aren't sealed very securely, the recount is meaningless.
by
John Danforth (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 93 comments)
on Monday, January 21, 2008 at 6:02:46 AM
16 comments
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