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February 12, 2008 at 18:23:31

Headlined on 2/12/08:
Voters Hell in Arizona: A Pollworker's Personal Story

by Mark Crispin Miller     Page 1 of 1 page(s)

www.opednews.com

 
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Despite its title, the following story is not just for Arizona voters or Ron Paul supporters, but for the citizens of every state. It's a detailed (and poignant) firsthand account of someone trying to do her civic duty in a polling place completely insecure and riddled with corruption.

Ms. Zucker's writing comes straight from the heart, and is a little rough. So read it carefully, so that you don't miss any of its revelations.

MCM

To Arizona voters & Ron Paul supporters:
A story from inside the Election Process

by Jeneen Zucker

Ernest Hancock
Website: www.ernesthancock.com
Date: 02-08-2008
Subject: Voting: Vote Fraud
February 8, 2008

On February 4, 2008, I, Jeneen Zucker, was asked if I was willing to work at the polling place; located at Christ The Lord Lutheran Church at 9205 East Cave Creek Road in Scottsdale, AZ. This polling place covered all of the Care Free/Cave Creek area.
What you will read below is what I witnessed during my long hours working in that
polling place on February 4 and 5, 2008.

On February 4, 2008 I helped set things up according to the directions given to me by the other workers. When we left we were all told to be back in the morning at 5:30 am.

When I arrived people where already lined up at the door. To my surprise I found out the other board members, Barbara Owings and Sharron Hayes and Frank Villers, came much earlier. We were all sworn in and the polls were opened at 6:00 am.

The room started to fill up quickly. The two women, Barbara Owings and Sharron Hayes, were in charge of giving voter clearance with their three books, Signature Roster, Blue Poll List and Green Precinct Register. I had the Ballots Register. I was never given 1 of the three copies of the Yellow Add on list, to help me assist the voters on this list with their party ballots. This set up the situation of workers announcing party preference of voters in line who were on the yellow add on list, which made voters unhappy.
I quickly became aware of multiple chronic problems that a large number of voters were experiencing, so that many of them were forced to cast Provisional Ballots. (People in Care Free only have mail delivered to the Post Office not a physical address. This is also true for many people living in Cave Creek.)

These are the reasons they were given.

· You are not in our books.
· Our books show a physical address, your ID is a PO Box.
· Our books show a PO Box; your ID shows a physical address.
· Our books show you were sent an Early Ballot.
· Our books show you requested an Early Ballot.
· Our books show you got an Early Ballot.

Many people were very unhappy, even angry that their voting location was changed and they were never notified. There were numerous people who drove to several voting locations trying to vote. There was one lady who drove to five different locations trying to vote. Several people came in with election board mailings, showing they were at the correct polling location and they were either sent elsewhere or told they had to cast Provisional Ballots.
The statements from the voters were the same throughout the whole day. Their conversations with each other, of discontent, frustration and mistrust of the electoral system, were loud and clear

· I have voted every election for the last** many years!
· Last election the books dropped my wife's name now I am dropped!
· I was forced to vote provisionary ballet last election so I filled out the form you folks gave me to fix it and it is still not fixed!
· You can see by my new voters ID card I should be in your book! (many of dates were within the time allotment stated in the Training Manual)
· I have lived at this address for ** years and never had a problem voting before; it's your books that are the problem!
· I never requested an early ballot I have always voted in person!
· No, I did not request an early ballot!
· Yes I did request an early ballot but it never came!
· I keep filling out your forms and the information never gets changed and I always told to fill out a provisional ballot
· Yes, I did request an early ballot, when I did not receive it, I requested another one; they said one would be sent to me, and it never arrived.
· My wife's came in the mail but mine did not, so I want to vote.
There were a number of voters that had voter ID cards issued within 60 days.
I witnessed multiple family members dropped off the list, and told to cast Provisional Ballots.

When voters initiate verbal frustration to me, of being forced to vote a Provisional Ballot. I heard over and over again "I want my vote counted tonight with the others" I continued to tell them to call the election board.

When people would ask will my vote be counted tonight with the others? They were told repeatedly YES, by Tim Murphy, I would tell them it would take a couple of days.

People brought in their early Ballot wanting to have it counted with the other walk in voters and were told NO! It had to be placed in the Early Ballot box. Why could it not have been considered a (Spoiled Ballot) and allow the voter to sign the book and be reissued a new Ballot? (The person did not believe her ballot would be counted)
People who admit they had not declared a party (reregistered Republican or Democrat) were led to believe, they could still vote a Provisional Ballot and their vote would be counted. This is not true. Here in Arizona you must be registered as a Republican or Democrat 29 days before the primary to vote.
The Provisional Ballots are not counted at the same time. There is a lot of work involved in verifying whether or not a Provisional Ballot can be counted.

In the Training Manual it states on page (3) under, Board Worker Courtesy: Our primary mission of the Board is to assist voters so that they can vote properly. This requires you to provide good customer service, even under sometimes difficult situations. I believe we should tell the voters the truth even in difficult situations. We need to allow the voters to make informed decisions based on the truth not coercion and lies.

Ms. Owings and Ms. Hayes became upset with me for informing the angry voters that I understood their frustrations and where to go with their complaints. They soon quit giving me the required number beside each voter's name. This made it more difficult for me to assist the voters they approved with a party ballot swiftly in the appropriate manor.
Several times during this day I stated to Ms. Hayes and Ms. Owings as soon as it lets up I need to vote. The problem was it never slowed down enough to even use the bathroom or get a glass of water or eat a bite of food. And there were not enough workers to give me or anyone else a break. When I asked Frank Villers if he could heat up some coffee for me I was reprimanded by Ms. Hayes that I could not have coffee at the table even though I placed it behind me away from any voting supplies.
Frank Villers told us he was going out to the end of the line to announce the polls will be closing at 7:00pm and nobody else could get in line. I waited till the last approved voter had received their ballot the remaining people were told to vote a provisional ballot.

I grabbed my Voter ID and my photo ID (driver's license) both of which matched the Signature Roster. I got up and went to the front of the table and placed both on the table. The two women told me I could not vote the polls were closed. The signature book was then closed. I sat and worked from 5:30 am till the last approved voter received their ballot. I never even received a five minute break and these two women, Barbara Owings and Sharron Hayes believe they hold this kind of power. Well of course they do, they have been exerting this kind of power over the voters all day. I became angry and demanded the right to vote, they repeatedly told me NO. There were still people completing their Provisional Ballots in the room. I demanded again the right to vote. The woman again refused to open the book and allow me to sign the Signature Roster. The woman stated because I had not voted by 7:00 pm I could not vote. I told them I was virtually in line all day waiting for a break so I could vote.

The woman then turned the decision over to the person in charge. Jason Nevins stood there quietly just watching. It was Frank Villars that quietly walked towards me stating I think we should let her vote. Still Ms. Hays and Ms. Owings refused to open the books. By now Frank Villars was standing at my side, he again stated I think we should let you vote. Ms. Owings and Ms. Hayes were still refusing to open the Signature Book and let me sign in. I repeatedly and loudly demanded my right to vote I could hardly believe what was happening to me but at the same time I had witness the frustration of hundreds of people throughout the whole day. It was Frank Villers who step in to complete this duty.

I then went over to the Optical scan equipment to write down the number of walk in voters that were allowed to vote. The number was 751. I then counted the number of names of people who had to vote Provisional Ballots, the number was 540. This means: 751 walk in allowed to vote.

+ 540 told to vote Provisional
1291 total number of votes not including Early Ballots.

540 of 1291 = 41% were told they had to vote Provisional Ballots.
This is a huge percentage. " Something is wrong!"


But it does not end there!

I quickly wrote down all the seal numbers on the Provisional Ballot box and the Early Ballot box, I noticed the numbers on the Early Ballot Box did not match I saw Frank Villers with his hand under the lid of the Early Ballot box. I stated these zip ties Seal need to be tightened. Nobody should be able to get their hand or anything else in these boxes. Frank quickly tightened all of them. At that point Jason Nevins stated "if you need to break seals I have more in my pocket." So the supply of seals is plenty? Having extra in his pocket means the equipment and sealed containers can be compromised! I then asked, if signatures were needed on the paper tapes that was inside the Optical Scanner? I was told no they already on the tape from this morning, I saw none. I asked what goes in the pink bubble sip lock baggie. I was told the memory counter. I asked, how are we supposed to seal this zip lock baggie? I was told by Jason Nevins it is SEALED with a zip lock. I told Mr. Nevins the definition of a SEAL is something that must be broken to be opened.

I then ask Mr. Nevins if he every saw the HBO Documentary, Hacking Democracy? Mr. Nevins stated "I could have written the book". I told Mr. Nevins, if this is so, he should understand my concerns. I then told Mr. Nevins the memory counter needs to be placed in something that can be SEALED. Mr. Nevins then stated what is your problem lady? This isn't a certified election anyways. We don't count 45% of the vote anyway, (could this be the 540 Provisional Ballots?) He was getting ready to take the memory counter and drive off alone. I told Mr. Nevins I wanted to go with him he told me NO! I stated I would follow him. He left very quickly and would not wait to allow me to follow him. Frank Villers quickly drew me a map to the church and I was out the door. I could not keep up with Mr. Nevins unless I was to go over the speed limit. When I arrived at the Church, it is on the East side Scottsdale Rd. just north of Dynamite. I pulled into the parking lot. I stopped close to a group of people standing by a white van. I was going to ask them if I was at the right place. Then I saw Mr. Nevins charging me and screaming at me in a very hostel voice "did you read the manual?" "Did you read the manual?" He screamed this at me at least three times. I replied "I read it and I was here to observe."

For what ever reason the voting poll that I worked at was the one that held up everything. What I mean is it took until almost 12:00 midnight to deliver the paper ballots, the provisional ballots, early ballots and what every other, documentation was to be delivered. Why did it take so long? And were the Seal numbers the same as when I left or were they changed? Is there documentation kept when a seal must be changed and by who? Or were the woman busy writing a report on me because I had to demand my right to vote repeatedly?

I see many problems in this whole system that allows for voting fraud!


It appears to be set up to deliberately make it difficult for the American people to exercise there right to vote? Why did the Signature Roster fail so many voters? Why where there so many voters marked they requested early ballots when they claimed they did not. Why was there so many voters sent mailings of the location of their polling place but they were not in our book Why are we allowing Early Ballots to be manipulated and treated in the same manor as Provisional Ballots? Why were we trained to manipulate the voters and control the crowds with long lines in the cold. We should have had three signature books, alphabetically divided into thirds, so that we can truly provide good customer services, and move these people through the voting process in a considerate orderly fashion.

Why was there 540 out of 1291 votes forced to vote Provisional, that is 41% not counted within 24 hours of closing the polls? Why were the voters lied to, they were told repeatedly their Provisional Ballot would be counted that night with the others. Why were our maps of such poor quality? People were unable to locate where they lived in order to locate their polling place? (The map was lacking streets and basic landmarks) Why were there no printed pads with the Election Hot Line Number printed up to pass out to voters? Or better yet COMPLAINT FORMS at each polling place. Why where voters told they could not turn in their early ballot (it could become a spoiled Ballot) and get a new one to become a walk in voter? Why does the memory counter leave the building with only one person, the Trouble Shooter (Mr. Nevins) in a zip lock baggie with NO SEAL? Why does the Trouble Shooter have a pocket full of extra seals that can be used whenever needed?How can Mr. Nevins be of the understanding this is not a certified election when he has been given the job of TROUBLE SHOOTER? (The one with a pocket full of extra seals and keys and the controller of the memory counter. The one with enormous power and control) Why would the TROUBLE SHOOTER (Mr. Nevins) state we don't count 45% of the Ballots?

What gave Barbara Owings and Sharron Hayes the right to disallow me from voting? When all of my identification matched the signature Roster and I was in the building before the polls closed and I stated repeatedly as soon as things let up I needed to vote. And there were people still people filling out their Provisional Ballots?

I want to know what the percent of Provisional Ballots at each and every voting poll in the State of Arizona?


It is because of all these issues, I was witness to, I want to file a formal complaint against: Jason Nevins, Barbara Owings and Sharron Hayes and Frank Villers. Due to their abuse of power, their treatment of voters and for not upholding the oath we all took before the polls opened. After what I witnessed I believe the Arizona Primary Election has been compromised.

I believe after being witness to more then 14 hours of manipulation and controlled mass confusion at my Polling Place on February 5, 2008, I am convinced there is corruption within our electoral system. There is not a shadow of doubt in my mind, it does not matter who votes, what matters is, who counts the votes!

I sincerely pray that those of you who read this letter, will act with do diligence and peruse justice and truth for all Americans.



Sincerely,

Jeneen Zucker

 

Mark's new book, Loser Take All: Election Fraud and the Subversion of Democracy, 2000-2008, a collection 14 essays on Bush/Cheney's election fraud since (and including) 2000, is just out, from Ig Publishing. He is also the author of Fooled Again: The Real Case for Electoral Reform, which is now out in paperback from Basic Books, with over 100 pages of new material. He may be reached through his blog at markcrispinmiller.com. A movie based on his off-Broadway show, A Patriot Act, is available on DCD at www.patriotnation.com.

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5 comments

It is never the masses that make the difference, it is always the individual which makes the difference. Thank you for letting me be myself today.
Jeanette DoneyIt is never the masses that make the difference, it is always the individual which makes the difference. Thank you for letting me be myself today.

That's how I got involved with Nader

I supported Nader for three elections because in 1992, MSM made the huge mistake of announcing Clinton as president a few minutes after 8pm when Our ballots were still in the car( that's WA, OR and CA).  I learned one hell of allot volunteering for Nader, and three elections later...where are we?  Where I was in 1992.  Same ol same ol.  Ron Paul is getting reemed, as Nader did.  Buth are "unreasonable Men".  A reasonable man would profit off this war after all,,,whoopie we're all gonna die.  As long as Ron Paul has money, he'll run, corrupt polls, MSM, or party...all three. 

by Jeanette Doney (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 304 comments) on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 10:14:16 PM
 


Mark A. Adams earned his BA in business administration with a major in finance and a minor in economics at the University of South Florida. He earned his law degree and his master of business administration at the University of Florida where he also worked as a teaching assistant in the Economics Department.

Mark practiced law in Florida. In 2006, Mark represented Max Linn, the Reform Party candidate for Governor of Florida, in successful lawsuits brought against the media to re...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Mark AdamsMark A. Adams earned his BA in business administration with a major in finance and a minor in economics at the University of South Florida. He earned his law degree and his master of business administration at the University of Florida where he also worked as a teaching assistant in the Economics Department.

Mark practiced law in Florida. In 2006, Mark represented Max Linn, the Reform Party candidate for Governor of Florida, in successful lawsuits brought against the media to re...

to see more of bio, click on member name

What You Should Know and What You Can Do

Everyone knows that the people are supposed to be able to peacefully remove bad leaders through elections, but what if those who control the machines, and their secret vote count, want bad leaders in power? Is there another way that citizens can prevent abuse of power without resorting to violence?

Yes, there is or was another way to hold our governors accountable without resorting to violence. A few of you may already know about this, but if not, I’m sure that you’ll want to find out about the other civil check on government abuse of power that our Founders provided for us. If so, read What Happens When the People Lose the Power to Control Government and What You Can Do to Take the Power Back? http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_mark_ada_080204_what_happens_when_th.htm

If you care about the safety of your family, read this article now, and send it to all of your contacts today. Now is the time for action!

Did you know that not only is counting votes in secret dangerously unwise, it’s unconstitutional? In case you don’t know that counting votes in secret is unconstitutional, don’t keep yourself in the dark any longer, see

Project Vote Count’s Election News http://www.projectvotecount.com/ElectionNews.aspx and

Project Vote Count’s FAQ http://www.projectvotecount.com/faq.aspx

For information about action being taken in Florida, Texas, and Ohio to make sure that our votes are counted accurately, see Project Vote Count www.ProjectVoteCount.com Jump into the fray to make sure our votes are counted accurately. It only takes one day to make a big difference!

by Mark Adams (16 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 183 comments) on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 10:23:28 AM
 


Midwesterner, veteran of VietNam era naval service, I still feel an obligation to defend the Constitution against "all enemies, foreign and domestic."
John Sanchez Jr.Midwesterner, veteran of VietNam era naval service, I still feel an obligation to defend the Constitution against "all enemies, foreign and domestic."

How is this so?

Let me begin by saying that I do not doubt that organized election fraud is rife in this nation since the beginning of this century. We have seen clear evidence of it too many times to doubt that it is real and a threat to our constitutional republic. What I want to know is the nuts and bolts of how they (who are they specifically?) are making it work on an organizational level.

Is it that are so many passionate true believers in the wrong things? How do they coordinate their efforts? There are equally passionate true believers on both sides, why wouldn't they cancel out each other's efforts?

Is there a huge pool of money available to support the vast amount of graft that would be required from outside the electoral process?

Are orders being passed down from secretaries of state and election commissioners to poll workers in the precincts to carry out this fraud? How do they recruit their co-conspirators?

Is there a larger conspiracy to place allied poll workers in the precincts? Again, how are they recruited, and how are they maneuvered into the positions that give them access to commit the fraud?

Is it all of the above?

If we cannot find out where this is coming from, that is, discover the origin of the crime, it is unlikely we will be able to stop it. Our only recourse in the interim is to motivate huge voter turnout, so large that they cannot steal an election without being seen to do so.

by John Sanchez Jr. (5 articles, 0 quicklinks, 12 diaries, 1177 comments) on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 11:07:49 AM
 


I'm a 61year old white guy, Veteran of 66-68, operate my own business with my wife and love to travel. Built a big sailboat in the 70's and went sailing for a few years, which ruined me for real work. Now, I fly hot air balloons for a living. Have been initiated as an Andean Paq'o. Yes, I am a liberal.
RogerI'm a 61year old white guy, Veteran of 66-68, operate my own business with my wife and love to travel. Built a big sailboat in the 70's and went sailing for a few years, which ruined me for real work. Now, I fly hot air balloons for a living. Have been initiated as an Andean Paq'o. Yes, I am a liberal.

Human Nature

Rather than a vast organised conspiricy, I think it more likely there are just large numbers of small-minded people who are taking power in the only way their lives allow.  In this case it is the power to be obnoxious with citizens trying to excercise their constitutional right to vote.  There are thousands of this sort in our government.....and you can always identify them by their unpleasant manner.  Often business sorts them out, as customers don't HAVE to do business in any particular place.

 Veteran '66-68

by Roger (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 360 comments) on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 11:56:46 AM
 


...
Techknowledgie...

Human Nature

Roger's right. Anyone who has ever dealt with the board of a home owners association has experienced this same behavior. This is where good laws, good election officials, good training and good enforcment come in.

I would suggest that anyone finding themselves in the same situation as this poor woman should find the nearest cell phone and call the election office imediately. There is no excuse for poll workers behaving badly and when they do, it needs to be reported IMMEDIATELY so that the election officials can remedy the situation.

Running an election, especially in a large jurisdiction like Maricopa County with well over 1100 polling places, is a tremendously greater challenge than the average person would ever imagine. But it is done, and it is sometimes done well and successfully and there is NO excuse for failure. If the election officials are not up to it, then it is up to the people to find and reqcruit those who are.

 

by Techknowledgie (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 34 comments) on Thursday, February 14, 2008 at 12:31:53 AM
 

 

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