Don't like the Bilbray/Busby Race Results? Let's audit them.

[hpot]

1. Andy Stephenson had access to ballots in OH under public records laws ($0 - FREE).

2. In Florida we had access to ballots under public records laws ($10 per hour for the ballot holder).

3. If California has similar public records laws, we should have no problem with access.

If we start a citizen audit we can recount the ballots ourselves, audit poll books, and machine records. I believe it can be done only if well organized and funded to cover basic costs. Any suggestions?

[LA lady]

1. Why?

I say let this go and find a better candidate for the fall election. Busby seems to be a loser.

[BeFree]

4. Some say why...

...I say why not? It would make a good practice run and pratice makes perfect.

A mere audit is all we need. Seems like someone here said that Ca. has an audit procedure?

This idea brings to mind something I have been thinking about... why haven't any of the existing election groups set up an audit program?

It seems to be the best way for us to get a looksee inside the elections process.

I'll say it right here: I will donate $100 to the first group that puts together an audit (not a recount) program that gets us a leg up, so that we may be ready to roll the next time we see a real need... like this November.

[Amaryllis]

2. kick

[lindisfarne]

3. Let's start by looking at election law. San Diego county just did a

recount of the Mayoral election (Donna Frye's supporters) in just 11 districts to see if those counts were right, so San Diego knows how to do recounts (although we now have a different Registrar of Voters - one who sends voting machines home with poll workers in violation of state law, so maybe they don't).

Looks like the requester has to pay the entire cost of whatever recount is requested (i.e., how many precincts).

http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cacodes/elec/15620-15634.html
"completion of the official canvass" - this must mean after the voting results are certified?

15620. Following completion of the official canvass, any voter may,
within five days thereafter, file with the elections official
responsible for conducting an election in the county wherein the
recount is sought a written request for a recount of the votes cast
for candidates for any office, for slates of presidential electors,
or for or against any measure, provided the office, slate, or measure
is not voted on statewide. The request shall specify on behalf of
which candidate, slate of electors, or position on a measure
(affirmative or negative) it is filed.
If an election is conducted in more than one county, the request
for the recount may be filed with the elections official of, and the
recount conducted within, any or all of the affected counties.
For the purposes of this section "completion of the canvass" shall
be presumed to be that time when the elections official signs the
certified statement of the results of the election except that, in
the case of a city election, if a city council canvasses the returns
itself and does not order the elections official to conduct the
canvass as permitted by Section 10263, "completion of the canvass"
shall be presumed to be that time when the governing body declares
the persons elected or the measures approved or defeated.

15624. The voter filing the request seeking the recount shall,
before the recount is commenced and at the beginning of each day
following, deposit with the elections official a sum as required by
the elections official to cover the cost of the recount for that day.
The money deposited shall be returned to the depositor if, upon
completion of the recount, the candidate, slate of presidential
electors, or the position on the measure (affirmative or negative)
for which the declaration is filed is found to have received the
plurality of votes cast which it had not received according to the
official canvass or, in an election where there are two or more
candidates, the recount results in the candidate for whom the recount
was requested appearing on the ballot in a subsequent runoff
election or general election who would not have so appeared in the
absence of the recount. The depositor shall be entitled to the
return of any money deposited in excess of the cost of the recount if
the candidate, slate, or position on the measure has not received
the plurality of the votes cast or, in an election where there are
two or more candidates, the recount does not result in the candidate
for whom the recount was requested appearing on the ballot in a
subsequent runoff or general election as a result of the recount.
Money not required to be refunded shall be deposited in the
appropriate public treasury.