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Parallel Elections Manual

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Rady Ananda
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5. On the next page, print the VOTER PLEDGE, which the voter must read:

"I am voluntarily participating in this citizen-run Parallel Election.* I swear or affirm that I am casting the same ballot choices on the Parallel Election ballot as I cast in the (Regular or Special) election of ________ County, (State) on the official ballot on Tuesday, November 7, 2006.

*I am aware that this Parallel Election ballot is not an official ballot, but will be used to check the accuracy of the official results. The official ballots and vote tallies are recorded on __________________ (e.g. Diebold TSx DRE optical scanner voting machines) which are operated with trade-secret ("proprietary") software not disclosed to the public, not even to public elections officials."


The above Voter Pledge should also be posted in large type on the PE table, perhaps using a standup 8x10" frame.


6. Voters must FIRST sign the Roster Book, THEN vote. If the voter refuses to sign, but wants to vote, it is suggested that the PE worker notes in the book "refused to sign."

BALLOT DESIGN

Parallel election ballots MUST differ in appearance from official ballots, but they must contain all the same information such as the precinct info, date, and contests.

The largest expense of a PE project is the cost of printing the ballots. The July 2005 Parallel Election held in San Diego cost over $750 and covered 11 precincts (about $68 per precinct).

Maintain chain of custody with the parallel ballots - ballots must be under continual supervision for the sake of credibility. Use at least two people from more than one political party.
INFORMATIONAL HAND-OUTS

Hand out informational material AFTER voters have finished voting. If you are collecting names of future volunteers, also do this after they have finished voting.


THE FIRST PARALLEL VOTER

Have the first parallel voter witness that the voting box is empty. Seal the box and let the voter drop his or her ballot into it. The voter can then sign a statement to this effect:

I, ________________, witnessed that the Parallel Election box was empty, then sealed, after which I dropped my vote into the box.


PARALLEL ELECTION WORKERS

PE Supervisor - assists with any unforeseen issues that may arise, and can assist with greeting and observing; keeps in contact with PE coordinator, media, police and/or precinct officials. Obtains copies of precinct reports (of who voted) posted at 11 am, 4 pm and also obtains the tallied result total posted at the close of polls. Requests absentee & provisional vote totals.

Greeters - catches the attention of voters leaving the polling place and invites them to vote in the citizen-run parallel election. This person should have talking points ready (we are double checking the results of the machines - don't use the word fraud; don't question the integrity of the poll workers or elections officials).

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In 2004, Rady Ananda joined the growing community of citizen journalists. Initially focused on elections, she investigated the 2004 Ohio election, organizing, training and leading several forays into counties to photograph the 2004 ballots. She officially served at three recounts, including the 2004 recount. She also organized and led the team that audited Franklin County Ohio's 2006 election, proving the number of voter signatures did not match official results. Her work appears in three books.

Her blogs also address religious, gender, sexual and racial equality, as well as environmental issues; and are sprinkled with book and film reviews on various topics. She spent most of her working life as a researcher or investigator for private lawyers, and five years as an editor.

She graduated from The Ohio State University's School of Agriculture in December 2003 with a B.S. in Natural Resources.

All material offered here is the property of Rady Ananda, copyright 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009. Permission is granted to repost, with proper attribution including the original link.

"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." Tell the truth anyway.

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