By Luther Weeks on December 30, 2012
“Of the three methods of voting, the one that has always been the most vulnerable, the one where we know fraud has occurred historically … is in the absentee-ballot process,” Fernández Rundle told The Miami Herald on Thursday, referring also to voting early and on Election Day. Absentee voting, she added, “happens in the shadows. It happens in the dark. It’s the least monitored.”
Posted in Mail/Absentee Voting, National, Skulduggery and Errors
By Luther Weeks on December 25, 2012
Another government testament to the risks we face with dependency on the Internet for vital systems. We hope in this particular case that the effort is actually increasing the safety of systems we all depend upon.
Posted in Internet Security Issues, National
By Luther Weeks on December 20, 2012
Elected initially to the Legislature last month, Christina Ayala, has been arrested for a hit-and-run shortly after the election, arrested for a domestic dispute, and then ordered to move to the district before being sworn in, is no under investigation for illegally voting and registering in that district. Also under investigation is her mother, the Registrar of Voters.
Posted in CT, CT Skulduggery and Errors
By Luther Weeks on December 14, 2012
A recent, paper by the Risk Limiting Audit Working Group, endorsed by The American Statistical Association, articulates and outlines various types of post-election audits, their requirements, and relative advantages.
We cannot help but think that our Coalition audit reports contributed to statements in the section entitled: Trustworthy audits: the virtue lies in the details:
Posted in CT, National, Reports
By Luther Weeks on December 9, 2012
We have signed a second letter to President Obama addressing and recommending solutions to the concerns he shares, with the problems this past November.
Posted in National
By Luther Weeks on December 4, 2012
Last week Secretary of the State Denise Merrill weighed in at her press conference on, as the Courant headlines, how “Reforms Could Boost Voter Participation”. Also weighing in was Melissa J. Russell, President of ROVAC (Registrars Of Voters Association, Connecticut).
Posted in CT, CT Law, Legislature2013, Other Editorials
By Luther Weeks on November 29, 2012
Last week a group of 29 “computer scientists, lawyers, activists, academics and election officials working together to educate the public and seek the elimination of unverifiable voting systems” sent a letter to President Obama, acknowledging his recognition of problems in the recent election, and recommending solutions he could champion to address those problems.
Posted in National
By Luther Weeks on November 24, 2012
We complete our post-election series with some steps to improve elections beyond election administration and integrity: Campaign finance reform, media reform, and restoring the rule of law.
Posted in National, Our Editorials
By Luther Weeks on November 20, 2012
Coalition finds 31% of Official Audit Reports Lack Critical Data
Municipalities failed to report data critical to audit evaluation. Increasing numbers choose paper only elections, avoiding scanners and audits.
The report highlighted concerns with two increasing trends:
- An increase in missing and incomplete official reports. There are 16 of 52 (31%) reports with errors making it impossible to determine if machines had functioned properly. What basis is there to trust audits, with this significant level of error in reporting?
- Up up to 19 towns avoided optical scanners and audits by conducting paper only elections. Such voting is not audited, not transparent, and error prone based on past observations of hand counts.
We conclude, based on our observations and analysis of official audit reports submitted to the Secretary of the State, that the August post-election audits still do not inspire confidence.
<Full Report (.pdf)> <Press Release> <Review detail data and municipal reports>
Posted in CT, Post-Election Audits
By Luther Weeks on November 20, 2012
On Monday the Secretary of the state randomly selected 75 districts for post-election audit. I assisted by actually selecting the districts from slips of paper in a raffle barrel. You might find the Secretary’s list easier to read in the press release. <Press Release>
Posted in CT, Post-Election Audits