Report by Greene County Recount Volunteer

We do well to remember that the exact same type of conduct for which the Cuyahoga election officials were indicted went on all across Ohio. Here is a report from Peter Jones, who was a recount volunteer:

"I was one of those in Greene County, with Eve Roberson and several other
activists and observers. I personally observed the same situations described
by others: Triad's crew had prior private access to the physical ballots and
their proprietary voting machines in advance of any members of the recount
team. The recount team was sequestered in an upstairs room, guarded by the
chair of the Greene County Republican Party! Triad was handling the ballots
and set things up for the "demo" run, which was to prove the machines were
zeroed out before processing ballots.

"The precincts for hand counting were all selected in advance, and were
preselected to add up to the 3% as designated. But they were anything but
randomly chosen. One precinct was Yellow Springs (Kerry), another
Beavercreek (Bush) , and the third mixed. The hand count was done without
visual cross-checking between the two counters - it looked like it was for
show. There was actually a difference between the machine count and the
hand count, and the BOE chair (Fred Hall, Democrat) refused to order a full
recount. Katrina Sumner argued with Mr. Hall for a good 20 minutes until he
agreed to a machine recount. The statute says a hand recount shall be done
in case of a miscount. They (Hall and the Repub Director, who conveniently
resigned in January 05) said they always did recounts this way. I asked how
often they did statewide recounts - they said often, but it was actually one
in 5 years. I asked when the last national race was recounted statewide -
they did not have an answer.

"Eve and I believe it was fully rigged. I digitally audio recorded the entire
proceeding. I have a (surreptitious) "interview" recorded with Brett Rapp of
Triad as well as Fred Hall, on record as saying he "doesn't understand the
voting machines but trusts in them completely." Well, Ohio went and stayed
straight Republican in the late 80's, when Triad first started in the major
counties in Ohio. Ohio has been Republican ever since - what a coincidence. "

-Peter Jones

See also http://www.votecobb.org/recount/ohio_reports/counties/greene.php

Editorial: Rigging Elections is a Crime

As this Ohio citizen reminded us, when he protested at the steps of the Ohio State House last year:

Rigging elections is indeed a crime, and it is the most heinous crime you can commit in a democracy, because it cuts us to the quick. It goes to the core of the great freedoms our country is supposed to be about.

We are indeed pleased to learn that two of those responsible for preventing a lawful recount in Cuyahoga County have been indicted, and we are confident that there will be many more such indictments as the truth comes out.

We are likewise pleased that John Kerry and John Edwards have chosen to stay in the federal recount case, and fight alongside David Cobb and Michael Badnarik for our American way of life.

This was a good day for America.

-R.B.

Kerry and Edwards to Stay in Recount Case!!! Trial to Start in August 2006

Don McTigue, attorney for John Kerry and John Edwards, appeared in federal court in Toledo, before Judge Carr, on August 30th, and told the Court that Kerry and Edwards intend to remain in the case.

Judge Carr set an August 22, 2006 trial date.

Additionally he consolidated the two recount cases, Rios v. Blackwell and Yost v. Cobb & Badnarik. He gave the plaintiffs until September 15th to file amended pleadings (plaintiff's counsel had requested an opportunity to streamline their claims).

Judge Carr set a discovery cut-off of May 1, 2006, and ruled that any summary judgment motions must be made by May 15, 2006.

June 13th Trial Date, and Motion and Discovery Schedules, Set in League of Women Voters v. Blackwell

In League of Women Voters v. Blackwell, in federal court in Toledo, Judge Carr set a trial date of June 13, 2006.

Additionally, he fixed February 28, 2006, as the last date for pretrial discovery, and March 1, 2006, as the last date for summary judgment motions.

He also ruled that pretrial discovery should proceed despite the pendency of a dismissal motion made by the State of Ohio. The plaintiffs have until September 19th to respond to that motion.

Two Election Workers Indicted in Cuyahoga County for Improper Conduct in Recount

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

2 elections officials indicted in recount

Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Mark Naymik

Plain Dealer Politics Writer

Two Cuyahoga County elections officials were indicted Tuesday on charges of not handling ballots correctly during the recount of the 2004 presidential election.

Kathleen Dreamer, manager of the board's ballot department, and the assistant manager, Rosie Grier, were each charged with six counts of failing to follow Ohio laws that spell out how ballots are selected and reviewed during a recount.

The most serious charges carry a maximum of 18 months in prison.

Erie County Prosecutor Kevin J. Baxter conducted the investigation at the behest of Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason, who recused himself from the case because his office represents the elections board.

The charges stem from a complaint first raised last December by Toledo lawyer Richard Kerger, who watched over the recount on behalf of two third-party candidates.

Kerger charged that elections officials failed to randomly select precincts that were supposed to be counted by hand and compared against ballots tabulated by a machine; conduct test-runs before witnesses; and investigate discrepancies between vote totals.

Complete Text of Article

ARMANDO'S CHALLENGE,OR THE INFORMED CITIZEN'S GUIDE TO THE 2004 ELECTION

For a detailed, anonymous analysis, of some of the evidence of fraud in Ohio:

http://www.ajschuler.com/challenge.doc

Report by Elizabeth Liddle Concludes Under-Provision of Voting Machines in Franklin County was Skewed Towards Republicans

A report by Elizabeth Liddle concluded that the under-provision of voting machines in Franklin County was disproportionately skewed towards Democratic-leaning precincts:

http://uscountvotes.org/ucvAnalysis/OH/FranklinCountyReport_v2.pdf

Oakland, California -- September 13th -- "Elections in Crisis!" -- 12 noon to 10 p.m.

The VOTING RIGHTS TASK FORCE


with the support of KPFA Free Speech Radio, 94.1 FM


PRESENTS

ELECTIONS in CRISIS!

Who's Cheating, and What We Can Do About It

An All-Day Expose´ of Electronic Vote Theft, Suppression, and Media Coverup in Election 2004


featuring the nation's foremost fraud investigators, the best election documentaries you've never seen,

and action proposals from participating organizations with follow-through networking

TUESDAY, September 13, Noon to 10 p.m. (and beyond)


Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Avenue, Oakland

FEATURED SPEAKERS:

BOB FITRAKIS and STEVEN ROSENFELD, speaking on their new book
Did George W. Bush Steal America's 2004 Election? -- Essential Documents

BEV HARRIS, Investigative Reporter and Founder of Black Box Voting.org, speaking on
The Mechanics of Vote-Rigging: How They Do It

Introductions by Larry Bensky, Pacifica National Affairs Correspondent, host of KPFA's Sunday Salon

Act 1: Afternoon Fraud Fest of Documentary Shorts and Features, 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Suggested Donation: $6.00

Act 2: Evening Program: Elections In Crisis! 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Suggested Donation: $10.00

Act 3: Networking to Reclaim Democracy 9:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Priceless

TICKETS



Available one week in advance at the Grand Lake Theater box office noon to 10 p.m. daily, and at the door.
Early Purchase Will-Call tickets available now. Send request to ca.voteraction@sbcglobal.net or leave message at 510 740 0572.
Only 600 tickets available; order early to reserve a seat.

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS



Groups working for electoral integrity are invited to help publicize this event and mobilize our audience.
We intend to inform, motivate, and organize toward a unified strategy to restore democracy.



* Participating Organizations will be credited in publicity announcements, and invited to host literature and outreach tables in the theater lobby during the afternoon film fest and evening events.

* Those with projects to educate and engage citizens in electoral activism will be invited to make five-minute audience presentations, as time allows, then enlist citizen volunteers during the networking session following the speakers. We intend this event to continue long after we leave the theater, until the day everyone's vote is counted as cast.

* Organizations wishing to participate in this event, please respond with the name of your group, the name, phone, and e-mail of a contact person, a description of your group's involvement in voting rights and elections issues, and if you wish, a proposal for a five-minute presentation.
Please send your responses to ca.voteraction@sbcglobal.net or to (510) 740-0572 (voicemail).

This event is a benefit for the Voting Rights Task Force of the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club, the people who brought you the January 6 Boxer Rebellion, the Election Rigging 101 National Teach-in, and the continuing battle to eradicate Diebold from Alameda County, and all blackbox voting fraud from California and the nation.

The VRTF expresses its great appreciation to our speakers, the filmmakers, and Allen Michaan and the Grand Lake Theater for donating their time, creative work, and resources to this cause of securing our votes and reclaiming our democracy.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

YOU Can Help Promote this Event. Here's a poster you can photocopy and distribute. Download here: http://www.califelectprotect.net/da/ElectionCrisis_poster_BW.pdf
(a pdf file, black&white, prints vertically on legal (14") paper, or at 75% scale on standard 11" paper)

PLEASE FORWARD THIS NOTICE WIDELY

-Dan Ashby

For further information contact:

E-mail: ca.voteraction@sbcglobal.net

Phone: 510-233-2144

Voicemail and Fax: 510-740-0572

John Conyers is the Real President

As my readers know, I usually try to just report things, and refrain from giving my personal opinions. But sometimes I just have to say something. And this is one of those times.

I've been watching the work of Congressman John Conyers, Jr., since November, 2004.

On every single important issue in this country, he is on the side of right, and has been leading the struggle for fairness, and for restoring the rule of law.

If the United States is the sum total of the values expressed in the Declaration of Indendence and the United States Constitution, the historic love of its people for freedom, and their historic legacy of making freedom ring, John Conyers is the de facto President of the United States.

He is certainly the President of my United States.

George W. Bush is not and never will be a legitimate leader of this country, not only because he was never legally elected, but also because he has neither understanding of, nor respect for, the qualities upon which our country is based, and which distinguish it from the powerful dictatorships we helped vanquish in the Second World War. His value system is might over right. Ours is a rule of law that treats all people as equals.

John Kerry, by his November 3, 2004, abandonment of the Ohioans who had fought so hard for democracy, relinquished any claim he had to leadership.

If John Edwards hopes to be the President of the United States, he needs to sit down at the foot of Congressman Conyers, and to first humbly ask this great American to forgive him for failing to come to the aid of his country on November 3rd. Then he needs to ask Congressman Conyers to show him the way home, the way back into the struggle.

And he needs to distance himself immediately from the pandering, self serving, policy of appeasement adopted by almost all the Democratic members of the United States Senate.

America owes a debt of gratitude, so profound that it can never be repaid, to Congressman John Conyers, Jr., a beacon of light in what has been one of our country's very darkest hours.

He is the keeper of the flame.

R.B.

Congressman Conyers Urges Kerry and Edwards Not to Withdraw From Ohio Recount Case

NOTE:The letter is posted at http://www.conyersblog.us/archives/kerryedwardsohltr81705.pdf

Letter from Congressman Conyers:

August 17, 2005

Honorable John Kerry


511 C Street, NE


Washington, DC 20002

Honorable John Edwards


401 W. Trade Street


Suite 219


Charlotte, NC 28202-1619

Dear Senators Kerry and Edwards:

I would like to express my deepest appreciation for your role in intervening to protect the rights of the candidates seeking the 2004 election recount in Ohio and I applaud you for your great efforts to stand behind the voting public, urging them not to lose faith in our election system.

As you are aware, this has been the second consecutive presidential election where numerous issues were raised concerning irregularities and improprieties within the system. Specifically, we learned of the massive disenfranchisement of fellow voters, as well as numerous incidents of voter intimidation and the purposeful dissemination of misleading information to the voting public, with the intent to interfere with the system. In addition, we learned of numerous irregularities in the way the recount in Ohio was conducted. I therefore commend your willingness to intervene in the recount case as it proceeds in the federal district court in Ohio and to join the candidates and voters in their struggle to fix a seemingly broken system. It is only by investigating these voting irregularities in each past election that we are able to ascertain the problems and pursue a better election process in each succeeding election.

It is for these reasons that I am deeply concerned to learn of the possibility, however remote, that you may be considering withdrawing from the 2004 election recount case in Ohio. As you know, it is absolutely imperative that we have elections that count every vote of every eligible voter, and if there is any issue that is central to a strong democracy, it is ensuring that all eligible voters are able to participate in our elections without encumbrance or interference from others. There is no question that your continued participation in this case will help ensure that we restore trust in our election system.

As you continue your participation in this important case and we continue our investigation of the voting irregularities during the 2004 presidential election, we hope to be able to maintain an open dialogue. As you know, the objective of the recount itself was never to overturn the election, but to win back the confidence of the electorate in the accuracy of voting methods and the fairness of voting procedures. The objective remains the same for the pending case in federal court challenging the unconstitutional manner in which the Ohio recount was conducted. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact my office at (202) 225-6504.

Sincerely,

John Conyers, Jr.

Upcoming Legal Events

This post is intended as a resource for those seeking information on upcoming legal events relating to the Ohio election of 2004, especially relating to issues of (a) fraud, (b) disenfranchisment, (c) voter suppression,
(d) recount obstruction, and (e) vote machine tampering.

The "permanent" link to this post is at the bottom and can be ascertained by right-clicking the phrase "Permanent Link to this Post". (But please note that it is not entirely "permanent": each time the post is updated in a new month, the 2-digit number for the month changes, and when it is updated in a new year, the 4-digit number for the year changes as well).

[space left deliberately blank]

If you have information on upcoming hearings, court dates, or other legal events, please send by email to ohioelectionfraud@mindspring.com with "oef" as the subject.

Thanks.

-R.B.

Court Conference Scheduled for Tuesday, August 30th in Federal Court Recount Case, Toledo, Ohio

A court conference has been scheduled before Judge Carr in the federal recount case, State v. National Voting Rights Institute et al and Kerry Edwards 2004, in Toledo, Ohio, for Tuesday, August 30th.http://fairnessbybeckerman.blogspot.com/2005/08/important-action-memo-from-progressive.html

Court Conference Scheduled for Tuesday, August 30th, in League of Women Voters v. Blackwell. State of Ohio to File Dismissal Motion.

In League of Women Voters v. Blackwell, the judge (Chief Judge David Carr) has scheduled a status conference for Thursday, August 30th. The conference will take place at the federal courthouse in Toledo, Ohio, in the courtroom of Judge Carr.

The defendant the State of Ohio has indicated that intends to file a motion to dismiss the complaint as against the State, and its motion is due to be served by August 29th.

Progressive Democrats of America Urge Citizens to Write to Kerry and Edwards: Stay in the Ohio Recount Case

Important action memo received today from the Progressive Democrats of America:

Dear Friends,

Last week we sent an email asking you to contact Senator John Kerry urging him not to withdraw from the Ohio recount case pending in federal court in Ohio. Since then, many of you have taken action and have voiced your concern to Senator Kerry. Thank you. Your voices are critical in the ongoing struggle to protect the right to vote. Some friends have responded by asking for further information or have suggested that the fight in the Ohio recount case is no longer worthwhile. We write to address these concerns.

Is Senator Kerry planning to withdraw from the case?

While not yet confirmed by Senator Kerry, Congressman Conyers and others have received credible information that Senator Kerry is preparing to withdraw from the recount case. Today, Congressman Conyers posted the letter we referred to last week on his blog (click on the word "wrote" in his blog statement to access the original letter): http://www.conyersblog.us/
[ed. note: letter can also be accessed directly at http://www.conyersblog.us/archives/kerryedwardsohltr81705.pdf]

Next Tuesday, August 30, Senator Kerry's lawyer will need to appear before Federal Judge Carr in Toledo, along with the other lawyers in the recount case. We will know by that point whether Senator Kerry intends to stay in the case. We may know earlier if he seeks to withdraw by filing papers doing so. What we know today is that your pressure is having an impact and we must keep it going. Please continue to call/email/send letters to Senator Kerry urging him to remain in this case and to join the amended counterclaims. Here again is Senator Kerry's contact information: http://www.johnkerry.com/contact/

Is fighting the Ohio recount case still worthwhile?

The struggle for the right to vote includes the struggle to ensure that all votes are properly counted. A recount is the procedure for doing that. If election officials resist our right to a meaningful recount conducted in accordance with basic constitutional standards, they trample on our right to vote. Senator Kerry must not withdraw from the Ohio recount case.

What is at stake in the Ohio recount case is whether recounts in federal (presidential and congressional) elections will be conducted in accordance with basic equal protection and due process as guaranteed by the US Constitution or whether they will receive the same kind of sham recount received in Ohio in December. For a fuller understanding of all of the serious violations that occurred during the recount in Ohio last December, see the amended counterclaims filed by David Cobb and Michael Badnarik at: http://www.nvri.org/about/ohio_cobb_badnarik_counterclaims_123004.pdf. These amended counterclaims raise major constitutional concerns. David Cobb and Michael Badnarik are to be congratulated for continuing to press this fight for all of us. Senator Kerry should continue to stand by their side.

Thank you for all you are doing to ensure that recounts matter and that all votes are properly counted.

Keep on,

Tim Carpenter

Director, PDA

Special Prosecutor Subpoenas Election Workers in Cuyahoga County Recount Investigation -- Cleveland Plain Dealer

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that a Special Prosecutor in Cuyahoga County has subpoenaed witnesses in an investigation of charges of wrongdoing in connection with the 2004 recount.

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?
/base/cuyahoga/1124703332226220.xml&coll=2

Must read: Important Call to Action by Congressman Conyers

An important call to action has been made by Congressman Conyers on his blog today:

"What Happened Last Fall?

Paul Krugman Does It Again

A Call to Action -- Moving Forward to 2006

Congressman Conyers writes as follows:

"Republicans find themselves with plunging poll numbers and an uncertain electoral landscape in 2006. Failure for them in their drive to keep control of the House of Representatives, and one party rule in Washington, means that, if reelected, I will become Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Henry Waxman will become Chairman of the Government Reform Committee, Louise Slaughter will become Chair of the Rules Committee, Charlie Rangel will Chair the Ways and Means Committee, and Nancy Pelosi will be the first woman to be Speaker of the House. That means accountability for this Administration with a stiff dose of the truth.

"Make no mistake about it. Desperate times will lead to desperate tactics and partisans supporting Republican candidates will pull out every dirty trick in the book to stop us from bringing checks and balances back to the federal government. What do we do about it?

"First, we must be vigilant and we must use every legal means at our disposal to stop the pre and post election manipulations. Second, we must push for legislation at the state and federal level to reform our elections, including providing a voter verified paper ballot.

"More immediately, however, we must work harder to take back the House and to do so by a large enough margin so that the malfeasance and fraud makes no difference. I want you to start today (the election is just a little more than 14 months away) because they are. Start organizing in your neighborhood and precinct. Join your local democratic party if you haven't already. Talk to your relatives and friends about how much is at stake in 2006. Support progressive and alternative media that help get our message out by spreading the word about your favorite progressive talk radio hosts and stations, and the blogs you read. Support the candidates of your choice by signing up to be a volunteer for their campaigns, for the DCCC, or by making a financial contribution. Write letters to the editor about the lack of accountability in our government for the bad decisions made by this Congress and this Administration.

"In sum, I have a small request: do everything you did for the 2006 election that you did last year in a close Presidential election marred by malfeasance and fraud, and then do more. It is never too soon to start."

For the complete text of Congressman Conyers's August 19th blog post, go to http://www.conyersblog.us/archives/00000211.htm

Videos and Audios About the 2004 Election Available Onliine

This is a selective list of videos and audios, available online, about the 2004 election. I am just beginning to prepare this list, so if you have suggestions for additional links, which you feel merit inclusion, please send them to me at evidence@ohioelection2004.com.

-R.B.

Videos.

"Video the Vote". (Linda Byrket)
Also available at http://www.madogmusic.com/sites/ranch/html/fra_menu_election.htm

Video of November 13, 2004, hearing at New Faith Baptist Church, Columbus, Ohio.

Video of November 15, 2004, hearing at Franklin County Courthouse, Columbus, Ohio.

Video of 51 Capital March, Protest and Rally, Statehouse, Columbus, Ohio.

America's Illegitimate Election 2004 (Velvet Revolution)

Election Day Ohio videotapes by volunteer filmmakers.

Collection of Videotapes of interviews and hearings about Ohio 2004 election (Neighborhood Network)

Audios.

"Coup d'etat". Song written and performed by Yikes McGee. MP3 for free listen and download through www.yikesmcgee.com

Audiotape of November 13, 2004, hearing at New Faith Baptist Church, Columbus, Ohio. (Pacifica Radio).

Audiotape of December 13, 2004, Hearing into Ohio election irregularities conducted by House Judiciary Committee Democrats (Pacifica Radio)

Collection of Audiotapes of interviews and hearings about Ohio 2004 election (Neighborhood Network)

Songs. CD available on line for free distribution: "Ohio in the Dark" (Victoria Parks, Yikes McGee, and Gary Polnivale)(Distributed by Madog Music)>

Songs from "Ohio in the Dark" album.

1597 Registered Franklin County Ohio voters whose provisional ballots were not counted on the ground that they were "not registered"

For a detailed report of 1597 Franklin County Ohio voters, who were registered voters, but whose provisional ballots were rejected, categorized "Status 200 - Not Registered (No Vote)", see http://my.core.com/~rhh/index.htm

This is an updated version of the earlier report, listed at link number 0535 in http://ohioelection2004.com/evidence.htm and http://fairnessbybeckerman.blogspot.com/2005/08/evidence-of-fraud-and.html

Link 0535 will now take you to the updated report.

National Summit to Save Our Elections : Portland, Oregon -- September 30th to October 2nd

SEPT. 30 TO OCT. 2

National Summit to Save Our Elections

A Call to Rescue Our Democracy

Portland, Oregon

Friday, September 30 - Sunday, October 2, 2005

Come and learn how corporate influence and profiteering have compromised American elections, and what We the People can do to reclaim what is rightfully ours.
This three day conference will feature some of the nation's leading election reform advocates and renowned independent media personalities. Here are just a few of the election reform movers and shakers confirmed to date:

*Honorable Jesse Jackson Jr., U.S. House of Representatives

*David Cobb, 2004 Green Party Presidential Candidate

*Thom Hartmann, Radio talk show host and author

*Bob Koehler, nationally syndicated columnist, Tribune Media Services

*Ronnie Dugger, Alliance for Democracy

*Cliff Arnebeck, Ohio Honest Elections Campaign

*Ellen Theisen, VotersUnite

*Paul Lehto, Attorney, plaintiff in lawsuit against Sequoia Voting Systems and Snohomish County, WA

The conference will be held in downtown Portland at the
First Unitarian Church
1011 SW 12th

and Portland State University
724 SW Harrison

For more information and updates on the conference visit
http://www.oregonvrc.org/node/635

Sign up to receive future conference announcements: info@oregonvrc.org

Oregon VRC contact information:
503-499-9000 or info@oregonvrc.org

Sponsored by:

Oregon Voter Rights Coalition &
Alliance for Democracy - Portland

Hosted by:

First Unitarian Church

PSU Campus Pacific Greens

College Democrats of Portland State University

PSU Democracy Matters

Agenda & Speakers

National Summit to Save Our Elections: A Call to Rescue Our Democracy
Portland, Oregon
* September 30 – October 2, 2005

Color Flyer

Black and White Flyer

Registration Form

DRAFT AGENDA:

Friday, September 30, 2005

Location

First Unitarian Church

1011 SW 12th Ave

Portland, OR 97205




Noon – 7:00 PM Registration Opens




Oregon Election System Poster Session: Learn how Oregon’s Vote-by-Mail system works through poster presentations and videos and have your questions answered by Oregon election officials and citizen experts.




1:00 – 5:00 PM Concurrent Workshops and Panel Presentations




1A. Engage, Educate, Elect

Jefferson Smith, Chair of The Bus Project




1B. Making Electronic Elections Transparent and Accurate

(i) Open Voting Consortium, Open Source Software



(ii) Oregon Voter Rights Coalition, Election Audits

2A. Working with the Media

Blair Bobier, Media Director, Green Party 2004 Presidential Campaign

Penny Little, People to People TV, Producer of “Electile Dysfunction”

Lara Shaffer, Development Director, Open Voting Consortium

2B. Democracy is Not a Spectator Sport

(i) Rady Ananda, J30 Coalition, “Democracy is Something You Do”



(ii) Alliance for Democracy – Portland, “Using Ballot Initiatives to achieve Campaign Finance Reform Initiative”

3A. How Can I Make A Difference?

Kat L’Estrange, We Do Not Concede and Producer of the Brad Show

Warren Linney, Author of “The Patriot Test”

3B. What is IRV, PR or a CVR Database?

(i) Steve Chessin, President, Californians for Electoral Reform, “Electoral Systems 101: What is Instant Runoff Voting and Proportional Representation?”



(ii) Matthew Pascarella, investigative researcher for journalist Greg Palast, “Centralized Voter Registration Databases and the Threat to Our Democracy”

5:00 – 7:00 PM Dinner on your own

7:00 – 9:00 PM Opening Plenary Session
* Welcome Remarks
Native American Cultural Performance

Panel Discussion: What’s Wrong with Electronic Elections?

Brad Friedman, moderator
* Ellen Theisen, Voters Unite
* Clint Curtis, software programmer and whistleblower
* Matthew Pascarella, investigative researcher for journalist Greg Palast

Feature Presentation: Brad Friedman, Cliff Arnebeck and Bob Koehler Discuss Election Fraud, Legal Strategies for Election Reform and the Media’s Role



Bob Koehler, nationally syndicated journalist, Tribune Media Services
* Cliff Arnebeck, Ohio Honest Election Campaign and National Co-Chair, Alliance for Democracy
* Brad Friedman, host of The Brad Show and BradBlog.com

9:00 PM Adjourn

Saturday, October 1, 2005

First Unitarian Church

1011 SW 12th Ave

Portland, OR 97205

7:30 AM – 5:00 PM Registration Open

Oregon Election System Poster Session: Learn how Oregon’s Vote-by-Mail system works through poster presentations and videos and have your questions answered by Oregon election officials and citizen experts.

8:30 AM – 12:15 PM

Corporate Ownership of Our Elections: The Threat to Democracy
Thom Hartmann, radio talk show host and author

Panel Discussion: Corporate Ownership of Our Elections – Current Developments

Thom Hartmann, moderator

John Gideon, Voters Unite

Nancy Price, National Co-Chair, Alliance for Democracy

Paul Lehto, Attorney and Plaintiff in lawsuit against Sequoia Voting Systems

Concurrent Workshops and Presentations:

1A. Digital for Dummies: The Perils of Electronic Elections

Kip Humphrey, Systems Integration Consultant

Clint Curtis, software programmer and whistleblower




1B. From Good Intentions to Powerful Action: How to Make a Difference
Emily Levy, United for Secure Elections, http://www.juiceforjustice.com/

12:15 – 1:30 PM Lunch on your own (box lunch may be ordered at registration)

1:30 – 5:30 PM Plenary Sessions

Keynote Speaker:

The Honorable Jesse Jackson Jr.,
U.S. Representative, D-IL

Featured Speakers:

Oregon Secretary of State (Invited)



David Cobb, 2004 Green Party Presidential Candidate



Ronnie Dugger, Founder of Alliance for Democracy and
author of “How They Could Steal the Election This Time.”



JoAnne Bowman, Former Oregon House Representative



Panel Discussion: Verifying Election Results

Election Audits, Oregon Voter Rights Coalition

Parallel Elections, Judy Alter, UCLA retired Emeritus professor

Exit Polls, TBD

5:30 – 7:30 PM Dinner on your own

7:30 – 8:30 PM Democracy Revival

Paul Lehto and Thom Hartmann



OR



Election Reform Film Festival

Sunday, October 2, 2005

Portland State University

724 SW Harrison

Portland, OR

7:30 AM Registration Open

Oregon Election System Poster Session: Learn how Oregon’s Vote-by-Mail system works through poster presentations and videos and have your questions answered by Oregon election officials and citizen experts.

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM Dealing with Diebold in Georgia

Brad Friedman interview with Representative Cynthia McKinney (invited)

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Concurrent Workshops and Presentations

1A. Local Strategies for Election Reform

David Berman, Co-Founder, Voter Confidence Committee of Humboldt County, CA

1B. Citizen Audit Parallel Election Project

Judy Alter, retired Emeritus professor from UCLA

2A. Thinking Patriotically, Acting Locally (and NOW)

Bernie Ellis Jr., MA, MPH, Organizer, Gathering To Save Our Democracy (Tennessee)

2B. Protecting Our Elections

(i) John Washburn, Certified Software Quality Engineer, “How to Test Voting Machinery Software”



(ii) Mary Beth Kuznik, VotePA, “THE POLLWORKER – Eyes on the Poll”

11:00 – 12:30 Closing Panel: Where do we go from here?

Paul Lehto, moderator

Rady Ananda

Brad Friedman

Ellen Theisen

12:30 Adjourn

Subject: SAVE THE DATE! National Election Reform Conference, Portland, OR, 9/30 - 10/2/2005

PLEASE CIRCULATE TO YOUR ELECTION REFORM NETWORKS!

http://www.oregonvrc.org/node/635

For more information and updates on the conference visit: OregonVRC.org

Sign up to receive future conference announcements: info@oregonvrc.org

Oregon VRC contact information:
503-499-9000 or info@oregonvrc.org

Sponsored by:

Oregon Voter Rights Coalition &
Alliance for Democracy - Portland

Hosted by:

First Unitarian Church

PSU Campus Pacific Greens

College Democrats of Portland State University

PSU Democracy Matters

PLEASE CIRCULATE TO YOUR ELECTION REFORM NETWORKS!

Marc Baber marc@botworks.com

The Bot Works, Inc. http://www.botworks.com

P.O. Box 5008 Phone: 541-485-8446

Eugene, OR 97405 FAX: 541-485-8446

Susan Pitcairn

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

—Martin Luther King, Jr.

King City, Oregon -- Friday, August 19th 7:00 PM -- Thom Hartmann, Voter Rights Coalition, King City Democrats

8/19 - Join Thom Hartmann with Oregon VRC & King City Dems

Start: 08/19/2005 - 7:00pm

The King City Democrats have invited Oregon Voter Rights Coalition and any interested people to their August meeting.

We are encouraging people to attend this event in place of our usual monthly meeting.

Thom Hartmann will be speaking on a number of issues, including election fraud/reform.

The meeting will be held on
Friday, August 19, 2005, at 7 p.m. in the
King City Town Hall,
15245 SW 116th Avenue, King City, Oregon.
The agenda will include a short business meeting. All ages are invited to attend.

Directions: From Portland south on 99 to Royalty, 1 block past Beef Bend Rd, turn right 1 block, right again. The Town Hall is on the left.

From I-5, Durham Road until it ends and you are forced right (just across 99) onto 116th. Second block on left.

Refreshments will be served and everyone is welcome.

For information, call Joan, 503-639-6051, or go to http://www.oregonvrc.org/node/525

Location:

King City Town Hall

15245 SW 116th Avenue

King City, OR

Collection of Illegal Voter Suppression Flyers from 2004 Election

I recently came across this fascinating collection of voter suppression flyers from the 2004 election, compiled by the always thoughtful Election Justice Center of the SolarBus web site:

ttp://www.solarbus.org/stealyourelection/voter-suppression-flyers.html

Memorial Service for Rev. Moss -- Tuesday, August 9th -- 10 AM -- Columbus, Ohio

Rev. Bill Moss

September 17th, 1935 - August 3rd, 2005

Memorial Service

10:00am Tuesday August 9th, 2005

Smyrna Missionary Baptist Church

1650 Wilson Ave.

Columbus, Ohio 43207

For further information contact (614) 444-0345

See http://fairnessbybeckerman.blogspot.com/#112308043236159234

Forum on Voting Reform -- Zanesville, Ohio -- Saturday, August 20th, 12:00 Noon - 2:00 P.M.

Forum on Voting Reform


Saturday, August 20, 2005
Noon till 2 p.m.

2579 Maple Avenue, Zanesville, Ohio (Heavenly Ham Restaurant)
((Come at 11:30 and buy yourself lunch)

Topic:
Counting Our Votes:
Can We Make Ohio Elections Honest Again?

Sponsored by the Muskingum County Women's Democrat Club, a special 2-hour forum of speakers and discussion will be held at the Heavenly Ham restaurant, 2579 Maple Avenue, Zanesville Ohio (Come at 11:30 and buy yourself lunch).

Several featured speakers include electoral reform speakers and voting researchers from around Ohio. The public is invited to attend and learn about the ongoing issues affecting your right to vote, directly from election activists involved in the 2004 electoral process. Did your vote count last November? Will it count in 2006 and in 2008?
As a citizen you have a right to know and learn more.

This issues forum is dedicated to the following questions:


*In Ohio, which voters were targeted to be discounted? How were people disenfranchised?

*What is the relationship between Ohio's Coingate and other public financial scandals and the big voting machine manufacturers?

*Which voting machine vendors are bribing our officials?

*How easily can the new electronic voting machines be hacked and vote totals changed?

*Are “paper trails” the answer to verifiable voting?

*How can we have citizen oversight of elections again?

For further information Contact:

Marj Creech

Education and Outreach Committee

J30 Voting Rights Coalition

Phone: 740-924-5083

Email: RisenRegan@core.com

Portland, Oregon, September 30th - October 2, 2005 - National Election Reform Conference

National Election Reform Conference in Portland

Speaker & Agenda Planning

National Election Reform Conference

Event Details:

--Dates: Friday, September 30, 2005 through Sunday, October 2, 2005

--Location: Portland, Oregon

--Sponsored by: Oregon Voter Rights Coalition and the Alliance for Democracy

--Hosted by: PSU Campus Pacific Greens, PSU College Democrats, PSU Democracy Matters

Conference Goals:

--To bring together grassroots election reform organizations, legislators, election officials, news media, and the general public to share best practices and innovative solutions for election reform.

--To focus on solutions and empower participants with knowledge and tools to effect real election reform.

--To provide a non-partisan and safe venue for discussing diverse opinions and alternatives for achieving clean elections.

Keynote speakers for the conference will include national leaders in the fight to restore democracy, honesty and accuracy to the American election system. The conference format will include a combination of keynote speakers, session speakers, panel presentations, training workshops, and poster presentations

Agenda & Speakers

National Summit to Save Our Elections: A Call to Rescue Our Democracy
Portland, Oregon
* September 30 – October 2, 2005

DRAFT AGENDA

Friday, September 30, 2005

Location

First Unitarian Church

1011 SW 12th Ave

Portland, OR 97205

Noon – 7:00 PM Registration Opens

Oregon Election System Poster Session: Learn how Oregon’s Vote-by-Mail system works through poster presentations and videos and have your questions answered by Oregon election officials and citizen experts.

1:00 – 5:00 PM Concurrent Workshops and Panel Presentations

1A. Engage, Educate, Elect

Jefferson Smith, Chair of The Bus Project

1B. Making Electronic Elections Transparent and Accurate

(i) Open Voting Consortium, Open Source Software



(ii) Oregon Voter Rights Coalition, Election Audits

2A. Working with the Media

Blair Bobier, Media Director, Green Party 2004 Presidential Campaign

Penny Little, People to People TV, Producer of “Electile Dysfunction”

Lara Shaffer, Development Director, Open Voting Consortium

2B. Democracy is Not a Spectator Sport

(i) Rady Ananda, J30 Coalition, “Democracy is Something You Do”



(ii) Alliance for Democracy – Portland, “Using Ballot Initiatives to achieve Campaign Finance Reform Initiative”

3A. How Can I Make A Difference?

Kat L’Estrange, We Do Not Concede and Producer of the Brad Show

Warren Linney, Author of “The Patriot Test”

3B. What is IRV, PR or a CVR Database?

(i) Steve Chessin, President, Californians for Electoral Reform, “Electoral Systems 101: What is Instant Runoff Voting and Proportional Representation?”

(ii) Matthew Pascarella, investigative researcher for journalist Greg Palast, “Centralized Voter Registration Databases and the Threat to Our Democracy”

5:00 – 7:00 PM Dinner on your own

7:00 – 9:00 PM Opening Plenary Session
* Welcome Remarks
Native American Cultural Performance



Panel Discussion: What’s Wrong with Electronic Elections?

Brad Friedman, moderator * Ellen Theisen, Voters Unite * Clint Curtis, software programmer and whistleblower * Matthew Pascarella, investigative researcher for journalist Greg Palast

Feature Presentation: Brad Friedman, Cliff Arnebeck and Bob Koehler Discuss Election Fraud, Legal Strategies for Election Reform and the Media’s Role

Bob Koehler, nationally syndicated journalist, Tribune Media Services * Cliff Arnebeck, Ohio Honest Election Campaign and National Co-Chair, Alliance for Democracy * Brad Friedman, host of The Brad Show and BradBlog.com

9:00 PM Adjourn




Saturday, October 1, 2005


First Unitarian Church
1011 SW 12th Ave
Portland, OR 97205


7:30 AM – 5:00 PM Registration Open


Oregon Election System Poster Session: Learn how Oregon’s Vote-by-Mail system works through poster presentations and videos and have your questions answered by Oregon election officials and citizen experts.


8:30 AM – 12:15 PM


Corporate Ownership of Our Elections: The Threat to Democracy
Thom Hartmann, radio talk show host and author


Panel Discussion: Corporate Ownership of Our Elections – Current Developments
Thom Hartmann, moderator
John Gideon, Voters Unite
Nancy Price, National Co-Chair, Alliance for Democracy
Paul Lehto, Attorney and Plaintiff in lawsuit against Sequoia Voting Systems


Concurrent Workshops and Presentations:


1A. Digital for Dummies: The Perils of Electronic Elections
Kip Humphrey, Systems Integration Consultant
Clint Curtis, software programmer and whistleblower


1B. From Good Intentions to Powerful Action: How to Make a Difference
Emily Levy, United for Secure Elections, http://www.juiceforjustice.com/


12:15 – 1:30 PM Lunch on your own (box lunch may be ordered at registration)


1:30 – 5:30 PM Plenary Sessions


Keynote Speaker:
The Honorable Jesse Jackson Jr., U.S. Representative, D-IL


Featured Speakers:
Oregon Secretary of State (Invited)


David Cobb, 2004 Green Party Presidential Candidate


Ronnie Dugger, Founder of Alliance for Democracy and
author of “How They Could Steal the Election This Time.”


JoAnne Bowman, Former Oregon House Representative


Panel Discussion: Verifying Election Results
Election Audits, Oregon Voter Rights Coalition
Parallel Elections, Judy Alter, UCLA retired Emeritus professor
Exit Polls, TBD


5:30 – 7:30 PM Dinner on your own


7:30 – 8:30 PM Democracy Revival
Paul Lehto and Thom Hartmann


OR


Election Reform Film Festival




Sunday, October 2, 2005


Portland State University
724 SW Harrison
Portland, OR


7:30 AM Registration Open


Oregon Election System Poster Session: Learn how Oregon’s Vote-by-Mail system works through poster presentations and videos and have your questions answered by Oregon election officials and citizen experts.


8:30 AM – 9:00 AM Dealing with Diebold in Georgia
Brad Friedman interview with Representative Cynthia McKinney (invited)


9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Concurrent Workshops and Presentations


1A. Local Strategies for Election Reform
David Berman, Co-Founder, Voter Confidence Committee of Humboldt County, CA


1B. Citizen Audit Parallel Election Project
Judy Alter, retired Emeritus professor from UCLA


2A. Thinking Patriotically, Acting Locally (and NOW)
Bernie Ellis Jr., MA, MPH, Organizer, Gathering To Save Our Democracy (Tennessee)


2B. Protecting Our Elections
(i) John Washburn, Certified Software Quality Engineer, “How to Test Voting Machinery Software”


(ii) Mary Beth Kuznik, VotePA, “THE POLLWORKER – Eyes on the Poll”


11:00 – 12:30 Closing Panel: Where do we go from here?
Paul Lehto, moderator
Rady Ananda
Brad Friedman
Ellen Theisen


12:30 Adjourn




Subject: SAVE THE DATE! National Election Reform Conference, Portland, OR, 9/30 - 10/2/2005


PLEASE CIRCULATE TO YOUR ELECTION REFORM NETWORKS!


http://www.oregonvrc.org/node/635


National Election Reform Conference


SAVE THE DATES! SEPT. 30 TO OCT. 2
NATIONAL ELECTION REFORM CONFERENCE
Portland, Oregon


Friday, September 30 - Sunday, October 2, 2005


Come and learn how corporate influence and profiteering have compromised American elections, and what We the People can do to reclaim what is rightfully ours.


This three day conference will feature some of the nation's leading election reform advocates and renowned independent media personalities. Here are just a few of the election reform movers and shakers confirmed to date:


Honorable Jesse Jackson Jr.
U.S. House of Representatives


David Cobb
2004 Green Party Presidential Candidate


Thom Hartmann
Radio talk show host and author


Bob Koehler
nationally syndicated columnist, Tribune Media Services


Ronnie Dugger
Alliance for Democracy


Cliff Arnebeck
Ohio Honest Elections Campaign


Ellen Theisen
VotersUnite


Paul Lehto
Attorney, plaintiff in lawsuit against Sequoia Voting Systems and Snohomish County, WA


For more information and updates on the conference visit: OregonVRC.org


Sign up to receive future conference announcements: info@oregonvrc.org


Oregon VRC contact information:
503-499-9000 or info@oregonvrc.org


Sponsored by:
Oregon Voter Rights Coalition &
Alliance for Democracy - Portland


Hosted by:
First Unitarian Church
PSU Campus Pacific Greens
College Democrats of Portland State University
PSU Democracy Matters


PLEASE CIRCULATE TO YOUR ELECTION REFORM NETWORKS!


--


Marc Baber marc@botworks.com
The Bot Works, Inc. http://www.botworks.com
P.O. Box 5008 Phone: 541-485-8446
Eugene, OR 97405 FAX: 541-485-8446






Susan Pitcairn
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
—Martin Luther King, Jr.

For further information: http://www.oregonvrc.org

Professor Tokaji at Moritz College of Law takes on right wing 'voting rights' group

Professor Tokaji of the Moritz College of Law at Ohio State University wrote a blog post on August 3rd in which he poked holes in the position of the right wing "voting rights" group previously taken on by Brad Friedman on his Brad Blog. (See http://fairnessbybeckerman.blogspot.com/2005/08/kudos-to-brad-blog-for-exposing-hitler.html)

Professor Takaji noted the disparate effect the group's suggested Photo ID law would have on the poor, Latinos, and African Americans, and compared it to the racist voting laws of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries:

"We should remember that, at the turn of the 20th Century, allegations of "good government" were used by white Democrats in a remarkably successful strategy to suppress the black vote. The result of those very successful efforts was to impose barriers like the literacy test, which excluded African Americans from voting throughout the South for the better part of the century, until after the Voting Rights Act of 1965. If you go back and read some of the documents from the late 1800's and early 1900's, as I've recently been doing, the similarity to the sort of arguments being advanced now in support of photo ID laws is frightening. It is beyond unfortunate to see the same sort of tactics, albeit dressed up in more respectable garb, being employed at the start of the 21st Century."

Professor Tokaji's post appears at http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/blogs/tokaji/2005/08/vote-suppression-fraud-and-photo-id.html

Harper's Cover Story: "None Dare Call it Stolen: Ohio, the Election, and America's Servile Press" By Mark Crispin Miller in Harper's Aug. 2005 issue

A superb article by noted commentator Mark Crispin Miller, which deals primarily with the stolen Ohio 2004 presidential election, appears as the cover story in this month's issue of Harper's Magazine, the August 2005 issue.

Excerpt available online

For information on how to buy or subscribe to Harper's go to http://harpers.org/Newsstand.html

Cincinnati Enquirer Monitors Blog Coverage of Hackett/Schmidt Election

We were pleased to see both the excellent coverage by Jessica Fisher, of the Cincinnati Enquirer, of the blog coverage of the Hackett/Schmidt election contest, and the thoughtful comments which appeared in her excerpts:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050803/NEWS01/308020016

-R.B.

Hackett/Schmidt election prompts change in format of blog

In view of the unusual reporting of the election results from the Hackett/Schmidt election taking place yesterday, on August 2nd, there may be heightened interest in the 2004 illegalities which took place in Clermont, Warren, Hamilton, and other counties implicated in yesterday's "election".

Accordingly I have expanded the number of older posts appearing on this page.

Older articles can still also be found through the weekly archives, or through the search function.

-R.B.

Warren County 2004 Recount Obstruction Described by Recount Volunteers

Last year recount volunteers described massive recount obstruction in Warren County, site of the faked "terrorist" lockdown:
http://www.votecobb.org/recount/ohio_reports/counties/warren.php

Clermont County 2004 Recount Obstruction Detailed by Recount Volunteers

Clermont County 2004 Recount Obstruction Detailes by Recount Volunteers http://www.votecobb.org/recount/ohio_reports/counties/clermont.php

See also http://www.votecobb.org/recount/ohio_reports/counties/warren.php

Rev. Bill Moss Dies

Rev. Bill Moss, lead plaintiff in the Moss v. Bush case challenging Ohio's
electors in the Ohio State Supreme Court, has died.

Rev. Moss was a
long-time activist in the Columbus area.

Reported by Ohio News Network:

"Former Columbus school board member dies

"COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Former city school board member Bill Moss, whose tenure was marked by colorful theatrics, including a shoe-pounding incident in 2003 that shut down a board meeting, died Tuesday. He was 69.

"Moss, a well-known activist who helped file a lawsuit that challenged last year's presidential race in Ohio, died at Riverside Methodist Hospital, said Andrew Marcelain, spokesman for Columbus schools.

"Moss was being treated at the hospital for a stroke suffered last week while traveling through Pennsylvania, The Columbus Dispatch reported on its Web site. A hospital spokesman confirmed the death but declined to comment on the reason for Moss' hospitalization."

Complete Article

A light has gone out in the world.

We must rededicate ourselves to fight on for what he stood for.

-R.B.

Lake County Advisory Telling Newly Registered Voters They Aren't Really Registered

Here, courtesy of The Brad Blog, is an advisory people received in Lake County telling them that if they signed up to register through the NAACP, ACT, Kerry for President, or the campaign for the Democratic Congressional Candidate, their registrations were illegal and they "will not be able to vote until the next election":

Wonder who would have sent such a thing.

Kudos to The Brad Blog for Exposing Hitler-Like Disinformation Group

The day-in, day-out, important work being done by Brad Friedman on The Brad Blog is incredible. Today he exposes a Hitler-like group of GOP trolls masquerading as 'voting rights activists': http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00001650.htm.

Read it and spread the word.