By Luther Weeks on March 10, 2022
It is refreshing to see that main stream media is beginning to recognize the threat of insiders to elections. I agree that election officials are by and large of high integrity, however just like other officials a few are not. Insiders can have access to a wide range of election equipment, ballots, and other data that create and verify election results. A recent Associated Press article by Christia A. Cassidy points that out:
In a handful of states, authorities are investigating whether local officials directed or aided in suspected security breaches at their own election offices. At least some have expressed doubt about the 2020 presidential election, and information gleaned from the breaches has surfaced in conspiracy theories pushed by allies of former President Donald Trump.
Insiders are not just election officials, other insiders include town hall employees in the mail room and network/computer staff, janitors with access to storage areas and election offices; They include post office workers and various vendor personal with access to networks or to repair election equipment. Here are some examples from Connecticut and elsewhere:
Posted in CT, CT Skulduggery and Errors, National
By Luther Weeks on March 1, 2022
My friends at OSET (Open Source Election Technology just officially launched a new podcast yesterday: Dead Men Don’t vote. Its goal it to explain all that officials do under the covers to run our elections. The 1st episode, Do Dead People Actually Vote?, lived up to that goal. They packed a lot into 33 minutes. <link>
Posted in Electronic Vulnerability, National, Skulduggery and Errors
By Luther Weeks on January 8, 2022
There is a lot that needs to be improved in our elections. The current bill before Senate and House, the Freedom to Vote Act, is well intended yet in at least one provision it actually makes elections less secure, less likely to provide public confidence. This is a change from previous bills H.R.1 and all version of S.1.
This new provision would prevent observers from within eight feet of ballots until after certification. That would make it impossible for observers to actually see that votes were counted and totaled accurately in audits and recounts (recanvasses in CT).
Posted in National, Post-Election Audits, Recounts/Recanvasses
By Luther Weeks on December 11, 2021
Bart Gellman article in the Atlantic: Trump’s Next Coup Has Already Begun
January 6 was practice. Donald Trump’s GOP is much better positioned to subvert the next election
Its a long article, yet, unfortunately the most chilling projection yet of what is awaiting in 2024 and perhaps in 2022. I would emphasize Trump less that Gellman. It can be as bad if he is not the candidate. Its not just the presidency at stake, its all levels of democracy and our democracy itself.
Posted in CT, National, Our Editorials, Skulduggery and Errors
By Luther Weeks on November 18, 2021
The drawing was held on Wednesday 11/16. 33 polling places and 2 central count absentee ballot locations were selected.
Posted in CT, Post-Election Audits
By Luther Weeks on October 21, 2021
On Wednesday, the CT RLA (Risk Limiting Audit) Working Group held its second meeting and firmed up plans for the 2021 prototype audits. Below is a video of the meeting and an email I sent the Chair Gabe Rosenberg and the chief scientist from UConn, Alex Russell.
Watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzakPMlj0LigvokDrkgiDVw/live
I have watched both meetings of the RLA Working Group and have several Suggestions and comments…
Posted in CT, Post-Election Audits
By Luther Weeks on October 7, 2021
This year’s drawing was different. Based on the law passed this year it finally included centrally counted absentee ballots, an item we have been requesting since 2008. We thank Secretary Merrill for initiating the change this year. Better late than never!
Posted in CT, Post-Election Audits
By Luther Weeks on October 4, 2021
There are many reviews of the Arizona “Republican Audit” <read> and critiques, like this one <read>. I have to admit that I did not attend or watch the audit and have not read the report in detail, yet I have heard from those who have read the report and some who observed parts of it. Democrats and others are celebrating. Don’t rush to any conclusions, consider:
- There are many distorted claims in the audit report, yet a few point to weaknesses in our election process, not just in Arizona…
Posted in Chain of Custody, Mail/Absentee Voting, National, Post-Election Audits
By Luther Weeks on September 7, 2021
This spring there was a bill to initiate a Risk Limit Auditing Working Group. I testified in favor of the concept and suggested several changes to the bill. A similar bill was passed near the end of the session. Last week the group began its work. Here is a video of the meeting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhH4JVYcaso
Here is the bill passed by the General Assembly: https://cga.ct.gov/2021/ACT/PA/PDF/2021PA-00002-R00SB-01202SS1-PA.PDF (The RLA section is on page 156.)
The meeting lasted about an hour, primarily consisting of an introduction to RLAs by Alexander Russell from UConn. Assisted by Ben Fuller also from UConn. Also in the group was Brian Macdonald, a statistician from Yale.
I am only familiar with the Chair Gabe Rosenburg, Alex Russel, and one of the registrars of voters in the group. There was no published agenda or list of members. The members were listed by the Chair at the beginning of the meeting. I could be wrong, yet as far as I know none of the members of the group have any experience observing or participating in RLAs. A far cry from RIs plan which included experienced experts from around the country and took much more time and effort that seems to be possible here…
Posted in CT, Post-Election Audits
By Luther Weeks on July 3, 2021
Free Speech for People recently held a forum on Ballot Marking Devices (BMD)’s: An Examination of the Use and Security of Ballot Marking Devices
I recommend watching at least the 1st panel and;
If you are considering purchasing BMDs for all voters then you owe it to your jurisdiction to watch the whole forum;
If you are a voter and your jurisdiction is considering such a purchase of BMDs, you should also watch the whole thing and let your legislators and election officials know what you think.
Our Editorial:
…How much better to purchase the minimum number of BMDs today, fund research, and replace them every five years or so with improved designs.
Posted in Electronic Vulnerability, National, NonScienceNonsense, Our Editorials
