Washblog

Wave bye-bye to the cornerstone called public counting.

Counties nationwide are wedged between the high costs of DREs (like Diebold's touchscreens) and the threat of federal lawsuits (Cramdown, Stripdown, Lockdown Democracy In The USA). Panicked, many are turning to forced mail voting as a way out. Unaware of the problems with mail balloting, and relieved that we still get paper ballots, many election integrity activists go along. (I know, because I was in that camp until early this year.)

Now turn and wave bye-bye to the cornerstone called private voting.

Most people don't remember that years ago Republicans were the ones pushing absentee voting. Former SOS Ralph Munro was the guy who made it happen. It gave the Republicans a huge advantage. Democrats had to be 5 points ahead on election day to overcome their disadvantage in absentee balloting. In response, the Washington State Democrats spent the last decade pushing their party faithful to become absentee voters.

(And don't even think of correcting me on this. Juli Pettingill attended a GOTV workshop at the this month's state convention. They were instructed to sign people up as absentee voters.)

La La Land

Now I want everyone to make believe for a moment. Imagine the Republicans controlled King County. Imagine the Republicans proposed forced mail voting. Imagine every single Democrat opposed it.

Would you still support forced mail voting? No? Why not?

Is it because we have Diebold gear and are planning to buy a lot more? You've read the blogs. You have doubts. You suspect elections in 2000, 2002, and 2004 were stolen. Diebold and the other vendors are repeat offenders. Using uncertified code. Hiding behind trade secret laws. Even losing lawsuits and paying out millions in settlements. You fear the worst for King County.

Is it because you've learned that forced mail voting is more expensive, more error prone, more complicated, and more insecure?

Is it because forced mail voting makes it easier to hide any problems that come up?

Is it because you receive a weekly Google News alert for the keywords "mail postal absentee vote fraud"? Were you shocked by what you found?

Are you worried that once we don't have poll sites, there won't be any more exit polls?

Is it because the Republicans repeatedly stated in public and on the record that forced mail voting will increase turnout? Presumably for some sort of political advantage?

Or is it because the Republican Executive has a less than stellar record on large, complicated projects?

I think most everyone supporting forced mail voting today would vehemently oppose it if the Republicans were pushing it. With good reason, too.

And now we get to the title: this is about fairness. Fair elections. How to govern. Forms of representation. Not trampling the rights of the minority.

Put the shoe on the other foot. Then tell me forced mail voting is a good idea. Yea, I didn't think so.

What's Your Job?

There's a great scene in the movie Mad Dog And Glory that applies. There's a cop who's a wife beater. I forget the name, so let's call him Asshat. Bad ass cop Mike (played by David Caruso) confronts Asshat about the beatings. Mike threatens to beat down Asshat. Asshat says "Hey man, I'm on the job." Meaning he's a cop too and he's looking for some professional courtesy. Mike says "No, you're not on my job."

That's kind of how I feel about forced mail voting enthusiasts. I'm the traitor? I'm the tool? Hardly. I'm fighting for private voting, public counting. I oppose those who would bring more of Diebold to King County, who are weakening the integrity of our elections, who are motivated solely by partisan advantage.

Maybe private voting and public counting is just some hypothical to the enthusiasts. To me, if we lose those cornerstones, we'll eventually lose it all. Trading security for freedom, convenience for security, election integrity for partisan advantage.

I'm sorry, I got lost there for a moment. Can someone please explain to me again how we Democrats are better than the Republicans we oppose?

I have no idea what job the forced mail voting enthusiasts think they're on. I do know with absolute certainty that it's not my job.