National Call to Action from Ohio!!! "Count Every Vote!"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


December 10, 2004


Contact: Kat L'Estrange, 541-510-5646




WE, THE PEOPLE, SELECT THE ELECTORS -- "COUNT EVERY VOTE!"




RALLIES ON DEC. 12 & 13 HIGHLIGHT NEED FOR 2004 ELECTION INVESTIGATIONS



COLUMBUS, Dec. 10, 2004 - Citizens for a Secure Election-Ohio and We Do Not Concede Coalition have organized two rallies, planned for December 12 at noon and December 13 at 11 AM at the Ohio Statehouse, E. Broad and High Streets, Columbus. Actions planned for both marches are designed to draw attention to the difficulties many voters encountered on election day in Ohio.



"What we have is a national election system that continues to deny people the right to vote, and to have their votes counted. This is contrary to what politicians assure us - that the process has improved," says Kat L'Estrange of We Do Not Concede. "In 2000 and now again in 2004, partisan Secretaries of State have certified state elections based on a vote count that does not accurately reflect all the votes cast on or before election day."



The Electoral College meets by law on Monday, December 13. Organizers are calling on the slate of electors selected by Secretary Blackwell to not cast their votes at that time, and to wait until all votes have been counted and the recount process is completed. A recount of all 88 counties in Ohio requested by Green Party candidate, David Cobb, and Independent Party candidate Michael Badnarik, is set to begin Monday.



Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell served as George W. Bush's campaign manager in Ohio in the 2004 election. Demands for Secretary Blackwell's recusal from the vote counting process have so far been ignored. There is growing concern Secretary Blackwell, who directs county election officials during the recount, will continue to ignore thousands of ballots cast that remain uncounted, ultimately preventing an accurate vote count in the State of Ohio.



Investigations are underway by the Government Accounting Office who agreed to examine election irregularities at the request of Congressman John Conyers, (D-MI) ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee. The investigation into Ohio's voting irregularities is intensifying with Rep.Conyers and his Democratic House Judiciary Team traveling to Columbus for a hearing at City Hall on Monday.



This is a national call to action with additional rallies being held at statehouses across the country. Organizers hope to bring about greater awareness of widespread voting irregularities in Election 2004.



Contact Kat L'Estrange, 541-510-5646

or visit www.donotconcede.com, www.caseohio.org,

or www.51capitalmarch.com websites for more information.