While not a question. This statement has been raised a couple of times in the last few days. A candidate was concerned that by raising the issue of election integrity it could cut voting at the polls. A registrar called to tell me that there were a lot seniors in her town that would be afraid to vote it they came to hear me. Neither of these people have heard my presentation. In fact, the registrar said she could not make my presentation as she has a day job and only does registrar work when she is paid.
There are several answers to this statement, let me give them:
- I encourage everyone to vote. The only only way to guarantee your vote will not be counted is to avoid voting.
- We agree that increasing voter confidence will increase participation and that increased participation is good.
- Do you agree that actual integrity of the system is equally important as the perception of integrity?
- My goal is to increase voter confidence in the election system by exposing vulnerabilities and causing the process to be improved. I do not condone sweeping anything under the rug.
- I have confidence in the reliability of the democratic process with informed voters.
- My intention is to protect and enhance the value of everyone’s vote. While CTVotersCount is dedicated completely to voting integrity and confidence, I personally support measures to increase voter participation which do not otherwise compromise election integrity and oppose those that could easily compromise election integrity.
Update 9/26: TalkNationRadio (no transcript yet) addressed this topic today. PEW Research shows no drop-off in voting in Florida or Maryland as voters become more cynical with regard to election integrity. (Not sure how comforting this information is, yet it refutes the entire premise of the concerns being raised.)
Voting officials are more than welcome to attend any of my presentations, ask questions and make short statements during the Q&A period. The Secretary of the State, her Office, and the GAE Committee have standing invitations for private showings, at their convenience, of films I show and to critique the Mock Audit demonstration. I have also extended to them the offer to comment or to post unedited at CTVotersCount.org – the offer to comment is open to anyone remaining civil and reasonably to the point.
My goal is to increase voter confidence in the election system, by exposing vulnerabilities and causing the process to be improved. I do not condone sweeping anything under the rug: Errors by our Government should be exposed and corrected whether it be Medicare fraud by providers, over charging by defense contractors, torture by the CIA, or bureaucratic waste.
I have confidence in the reliability of the democratic process with informed voters. I trust our seniors to be able to understand my presentation and to listen to both sides. I believe I have the facts and the experts on my side. I have listened to arguments on both sides of the issue. I am willing to discuss or debate the facts and conclusions in a rational way.
I encourage everyone to vote in every election and to become informed and involved. I cannot guarantee that every race in every election is accurately counted, but I suspect the vast majority of elections and races are accurately decided. The only way you can guarantee your vote does not count is by not voting.
My intention is to protect and enhance the value of everyone’s vote. While CTVotersCount is dedicated completely to voting integrity and confidence, I personally support measures to increase voter participation which do not otherwise compromise election integrity and oppose those that could easily compromise election integrity. I favor election day registration because I am convinced it can be at least as safe as our current registration process; I favor campaign finance reform and public financing of elections and believe it needs to be especially considerate of third-party and independent candidates; Resurrection of the fairness doctrine and more access to the media for candidates; I believe it is worth investigating and trying an election day holiday; I am concerned about the privacy of vote-by-mail; Concerned with the fairness and integrity of instituting the popular election of the president unless and until we have uniform enfranchisement, uniform laws, and reliable across-the-board enforcement.
