KS Primary SoS: Situation shows why we need a paper trail for every vote!!

[Stevepol]

Robert Beattie, one of the Dem candidates for Sec of State in KS, based his campaign to a considerable degree on the need for a paper trail and audits for all elections using the electronic voting machines. He also has some very far-seeing views about the handling of elections, that there needs to be a non-elected, nonpartisan commission handling the elections, and some other very good ideas.

He had a very close election with David Haley, who was not really up on the voting machine issue, tho seemed like a fine guy as far as I could tell. The difference was only about 300+ votes.

I've been "advising" him on "voting issues" and have suggested he not concede but milk it for all it's worth and if at all possible demand a recount, even tho Johnson County (Kansas City, KS) uses Diebold without even a paper trail. He's a lawyer himself and I think has been rolling around some other options with regard to litigation. I'm not sure what he has in mind, but here's the press statement he issued just today.

GREETINGS, MEDIA MEMBER --

Following is the response from Kansas Secretary of State candidate Robert Beattie regarding Tuesday's election.

Glen Sharp

Director of Media Relations

Beattie for Kansas

For Immediate Release

August 2, 2006

Election Too Close to Call

The primary election to name the Democratic Party nominee for Kansas Secretary of State is too close to call at this point.

As of Wednesday morning, Robert Beattie’s votes totaled 34,611 compared to David Haley’s 34,928 - a margin of 317, according to the office of Secretary of State.

"My team is going to wait until provisional ballots are counted before deciding what our next move will be," said Beattie, a Wichita attorney and author.

County boards of canvassers across the state will meet by Monday to officially count the provisional ballots.

"This situation provides one reason why we need a paper trail for every vote," Beattie said. A number of electronic voting machines currently in use across the country - and in Kansas - do not provide paper activity records, which sheds doubt on the authenticity of voting results.

For more information, contact

Cathy Wilheim, campaign manager

316/943-3200

316/655-9809

[e-mail]

[Land Shark]

1. thanks for this press release

[Kurovski]

2. Kick

:kick:

[bleever]

3. Kickin' for that fifth rec...