Reports Document Widespread Problems With Ohio Recount.
COBB/LaMARCHE 2004
http://www.votecobb.org
December 20, 2004
Contact: Blair Bobier, Media Director at
541.929.5755
The recount of Ohio's presidential vote is being
conducted in violation of the spirit and letter of Ohio law, according
to numerous reports filed by official observers for the Green Party's
presidential campaign, which initiated the recount and is monitoring its
process.
"Few of Ohio's 88 counties are randomly
selecting sample precincts for the recount as is required by Ohio law.
When the precincts are pre-selected by election officials in violation
of state law, the integrity of the entire process is called into
question," said Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb.
Detailed reports from observers in all 88 counties
are being compiled and analyzed by the Green Party presidential campaign
and by their legal counsel. The reports, which are available for public
inspection at <http://www.votecobb.org/recount/ohio_reports/index.php>,
will be the basis for a comprehensive analysis by the campaign and for
potential legal action.
The lack of random sampling and the manipulation of
the outcome of the recount is a frequent theme in the reports. The
official Green Party observer for Montgomery County wrote that "It
seemed that the process was less an attempt to see if the machines could
accurately read the punchcards and more of an exercise in ensuring
artificially that the hand recount and machine tabulation of the same 3%
sample were a match."
Other problems with the recount include:
-
No review of the approximate 93,000
"spoiled" or "discarded" ballots;
-
Official recount observers being prevented from
getting close enough to see the ballots or observe log books or
portions of the process in Lucas and Cuyahoga counties;
-
Lack of adequate security for ballots or voting
machines in Hocking, Coshocton, Medina and Greene Counties;
-
Counties, including Monroe and Fairfield, which
refused to do a full hand recount, as required by law, when the 3%
sampling did not match the machine count;
-
Mistreatment of official observers, including
disparaging comments made in a number of counties by election
officials and employees; observers being told they couldn't ask
questions and, in Summit County, observers being forced to stand
against a wall for the duration of the recount.
"Mountains of evidence have documented the
voter suppression, intimidation and disenfranchisement which took place
in Ohio on Election Day. Secretary of State Blackwell labeled these
deeply troubling problems as 'glitches.' He appears to be similarly
unconcerned that the Ohio recount is being conducted without uniform
standards and in apparent violation of Ohio law," said Cobb-LaMarche
Media Director Blair Bobier.
Additional information about the recount can be
found at <http://www.votecobb.org>.
The website for the Ohio Green Party is <http://www.ohiogreens.org>.
