Montco Election Problems
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.
Sorting Through the Montco Ethics Ruckus
The most recent Board of Commissioners meeting (March 19, 09) was the scene of some bizarre political twists and turns as the three commissioners continued their jockeying over what could be a new and improved ethics ordinance authored by Democrat Joe Hoeffel. While the proposal itself is pretty straightforward, like just about everything in county politics, the story behind it and what it means is not.
Inquirer Calls Sequoia Vote Machines "Expensive Mistake"
“It’s beyond clear that the Sequoia Voting Systems machines in use in most New Jersey counties – and some in Pennsylvania, including Montgomery County – were an expensive mistake at best.”
It’s official: The Philadelphia Inquirer has joined the legions of those opposed to insecure, unauditable unrecountable direct recording electronic vote machines (DREs). And especially the Sequoias now in residence in Montgomery County and across New Jersey. Finally. Read their recent editorial here.
Questions Loom at Montco Election Board on Vote Security and Back-up Procedures
The Montgomery County Election Board decided to buy seventy-five more voting machines at its September 18 meeting – the same direct recording electronic machines that we’ve been working to get rid of since 2005. About ten of us were there to speak and monitor the proceedings – not a bad turnout for 24 hours notice of the meeting.
Was The New York Times Talking About Montgomery County?
You know those moments when you open up a newspaper or magazine and you start nodding your head? You're in such complete agreement that it feels like you wrote it. Or maybe you're just happy to have your thoughts confirmed, but possibly with a touch of envy, like "Gee, I wish I'd said that."
