Montco Election Problems
A Report on Staffing Levels at the Polls for the 2008 General Election
A Report on Staffing Levels at the Polls for the
2008 General Election
Election Reform Network
www.electionreformnetwork.us
215-782-8218
July 7, 2010
Introduction
The Election Reform Network is a non-partisan citizens’ organization based in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Established in 2005, the Network is committed to protecting the integrity of elections and strengthening the democratic process.
Election Board Response to ERN Study on Vote Discrepancies: "We're Happy"
Marching Toward Accountability at the Election Board
About a month ago the Election Reform Network issued a report detailing disparities between the machine vote counts and voter attendance in the 2008 general election in Montgomery County. The study found inconsistencies for an alarming three-quarters of the election districts in the county. Discrepancies of up to 47 voters per election district were uncovered and almost 50 districts had differences of nine or more voters. Eleven districts had disparities of 20 or more voters.
Review of 08 Vote Records in Montgomery County Reveals Discrepancies Between Votes Cast and Voters
Network Reports Disparities Between Machine Counts and Voter Sign-ins for Most Election Districts in 08; Calls for a Reconciling of Voter Sign-ins with Machine Counts Before Results Are Official
The Election Reform Network is coming forward today with a report that points to dangerous deficiencies in the voting process in Montgomery County. The report uncovers disparities between machine counts and voter attendance for three-quarters of election districts (EDs) in Montgomery County during the 08 general election .
Tell The Inquirer: Election Problems Go Deeper Than One Precinct
A federal law suit seeking redress against the Chester County Election Board for practices that resulted in unconscionably long lines and as much as a day-long wait to vote at a poll near Lincoln University back in the November 08 election has - thankfully - put election administration back in the spotlight for a minor media moment. The Inquirer recently ran a piece by columnist Mark Bowden on the incident entitled "Indefensible." Why not tell The Inquirer at inquirer.letters@phillynews.com that the issue is much bigger than one egregious precinct in Chester County?
Citizen Testimony on Election Problems Meets Deaf Ears of Montco Officials
The Election Reform Network presented the dark side of Election Day administration at a meeting of the Montco Board of Commissioners on September 17. Appropriately enough, it was Constitution Day.
Five citizen advocates described a series of incidents and practices that occurred last November 4 at the polls across Montgomery County. We read a legal affidavit from a poll watcher/attorney describing intimidation at the polls and eyewitness testimony to a senseless incident of a legitimate vote being purposely canceled by a judge of elections. We presented eyewitness testimony of unlawful and unjust policies on provisional and emergency paper ballots and voter ID requirements.
National Study Mirrors Flaws in Montco Election Administration
For far too many voters, as their hotline calls attest, voting is a frustration-filled, even confrontational process where well-meaning, eligible citizens are being denied the legal right to vote.
“Yes, my name is Clinton [J.], and my wife, Madelyn [J.], here in Royersford, Pennsylvania is not registered. Now, she voted in the last presidential election in 2004 and, for some reason, her name did not appear on this list here in Royersford. So I’m just wondering exactly what the deal is. We did check online before the end of voter registration and she was registered, but now she’s not registered.” Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montco Ethics Law Passes Amid Threats of Law Suits
With another performance of the three-ring circus last week that makes for Board of Commissioners meetings in Montgomery County these days, the county updated its ethics policy. The newly passed ordinance bars some 180 upper-echelon county employees from running for office (except for school board), doing political fundraising, or managing political campaigns. Montgomery County is now the only suburban county in Pennsylvania to place such restrictions on its employees.
Montco's Election Day 08 Report Light on Specifics
Montgomery County's official report on the 2008 general election was issued last week, and it raised about as many questions as it provided answers. While it presented some useful base-line data on voter turnout, registrations processed, emergency paper ballots, provisional ballots, and machine problems, a fuller picture is needed.
Montco's Election Day Report: More Sniping at Citizen Advocates or Opportunity for Dialogue?
Montgomery County will be issuing its official report on the November election this Thursday morning. But considering that the county's new year's press release congratulated itself for running two "incident-free" elections in 08 (we'll debate that point any time), we remain wary. Of course, until the Election Reform Network pressed for regular post-election reports to the voters and began issuing its own in 2006, there was a virtual information black-out when it came to the quality of election administration.
