In 2016, former Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein, who incidentally lives in Massachusetts, sued Pennsylvania in federal court over its "national disgrace" of an election system. Though the state's 67 counties were using a large variety of different systems, she nevertheless blasted them all as "vulnerable, hackable, antiquated technology." Rather than fight Stein's frivolous lawsuit, Governor Tom "Neville Chamberlain" Wolf appeased her. He ordered all counties to replace existing systems with "new modern machines" that include a voter verifiable paper trail. Although he provided no money, his edict declared these new systems had to be in place before the 2020 Presidential election. Dauphin County thumbed its nose at Wolf, but 46 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, including Northampton County, used these new systems in November's just-held election. We all know Northampton County's experience was a disaster. But there were problems in five other counties as well. It appears that problems with new systems applied to paper ballots as well.
York County - York used the Dominion Image Cast Precinct (scanner) and Image Cast X ballot marking device. According to the state, York had the largest number of complaints throughout the state. Voters reported getting wrong-sized ballots and the county failed to provide enough scanners, which resulted in long lines. Some scanners would only read the first page of a two-page ballot. Voters began placing their ballots in a ballot box instead of using the scanner. In one township, the ballots were carried to the courthouse in a suitcase. Results were not posted until two days after the election.
Carbon County - This County received its new system just a month before the election, the same paper ballot system used in York County.Voters used Sharpies with a two-sided ballot, leading to concerns that marks would bleed from one page to the next. On election night, the original count was 14,007 ballots. The next day, it was 24,334 votes. This is because the paper ballot scanners had a software glitch in which election results in some precincts were not added. Carbon County had to recount every vote by hand, and its official results were not reported until 17 days after the election.
Montgomery County - This County also used the Dominion system. Though I am unaware of any major issues in November's election, the Spring Primary was a disaster. Voters had to stand in three lines: check-in, filling out ballot and scanning. Poll workers began scanning ballots, compromising privacy. There were too few scanners.
Monroe County - Used the Clear Ballot paper ballot favored by some members of the Elections .
Commission. There were privacy concerns and scanner issues because paper ballots were incorrectly cut
Lehigh County. - One candidate was accidentally left off the ballot. Poll workers had difficulty turning machines on and had to hand out provisional ballots. Voters also expressed privacy concerns.
Whether it was Express Vote XL that Northampton County used or the paper ballots, there were problems using a new system to address a nonexistent problem.
To make matters worse, Jill Stein has sued again. Though her complaint now is just as frivolous as the original, I have to wonder how Governor Woolf will appease her this time.
16 comments:
God bless Jill Stein.
In Carbon County , it took until November 22, 2019 before I learned that I won a 4-year seat on the East Penn Township Board of Supervisors. Since no one was on the ballot for this seat, the seat was won totally by write-in votes and while the combined total of write-in votes was announced before November 22, the individuals who got these votes were not revealed until November 22. And as I said before, I did not know I actually won this wildcard seat until November 22. Receiving the official vote tally in the election office after they were certified , I viewed them with muted satisfaction while standing next to the Carbon County Republican Chairman. He asked me how I did. I told him quietly that I won a seat on the East Penn Township Supervisors. But in reality my 2019 election experience was a split decision. I had lost the 6-year seat which I was on the ballot to a Republican but I won the 4-year Supervisor in which my name was not on the ballot by write-in votes.
I received this message by email from a well wisher
Dear Dennis,
Congratulations on your win for the four-year seat. I did not realize that seat was open. 31 votes is an amazing total for a write-in. You were one of the few bright spots for the Democratic Party in Carbon.
On January 6 , this wildcard victor of the Supervisor's race, will take his seat on the Board of Supervisors and start the work that needs to be done for the Township. I will be the only non-Republican Board member on the Board.
For the immediate future I need to find either a notary, a district magistrate or a Judge to give me the oath of office before this meeting date … I cannot sit on the board as a Board member until I do this.
All issues are not the same. Monroe County's were minor for a new roll out as was Lehigh County. Montgomery County had no issues for the general so they seem to have it figured out. Why dont you quote your boy McClure who tried to minimize Northampton's problems "have you ever known any election to go perfectly"? That wouldnt fit with the story you're trying to write though would it? Paper trails are absolutely needed to assure accurate recounts...not digital machines that only spit back the same answer and there is no way to verify it.
We in East Penn look forward to our first Martian Supervisor. We know you come in peace.
Lamont Lines: Northampton County's Bold Progressive Future
250 years of elections and one dopey ambulance-chaser blows it up in just two years. Let's name a forensic center after this champ.
Trump 2020
Thank you Jill Stein.
At least someone cares.
It’s a damn shame that Jill Stein isn’t the Governor of Pennsylvania. The shithole operation might actually work for the benefit of the people.
Bernie in other news self proclaimed NIZ autitor general claimed theft of public funds. Also I never remember reading about flecks personal computer containing gay kiddy porn being the reason for the FBI raid. Seeing as you are a truth sayer reporter you could do a little southing on this one and take your readership to a national level.
Well we now have it confirmed. Your bias towards this administration will remain because they give you access. Much of this posting is taken directly from Charlie's BS op-ed in the Mcall today. His incompetence has garnered our election debacle no less than 3 national media stories within the past 2 weeks...and still you defend the indefensible. Glad Judge Barrata saw right through Charlie's attempt to blame voters for the mess.
Are you planning on commenting on the ongoing mess in Bethlehem anytime soon?
How on earth did this woman get so much power? This kind of power comes from either being right or rich.
It has gone on totally unreported that Jeffery Epstein's banker was found hanging yesterday, one day before being questioned by the FBI.....Jill Stein really does have reach!
Until we know who is making these voting machines our elections are a farce. ESS is an alias. And that goes for anyone moving and storing these machines.
The whole paper ballot thing is a distraction from the only relevant questions, Who makes this machine? Who secures the chain of custody? Everything else is applesauce.
Even the New York Times is calling NoCo out.
We are the butt of a national joke.
Long live Dr. Jill Stein, a voice of reason in a cess pool of corruption and incompetence.
GO JILL!!!
You're either a sarcastic joker or a blooming idiot.
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