bfree2think...would you prefer befreetovote, as often as they like? I value your right to a fair election, why don't you? Stefan is fighting for your constitutional right to a fair vote, why aren't you? I suspect that if you discovered things about Stefan that were illegal or unethical, he would make every attempt to correct them...and that is all we are asking from King County elections. Unfortunately, we are still waiting.

I did not attend any training sessions for either inspectors or judges for this election period but I'm willing to bet based on your inspector's reaction that challenged ballots got about the same attention this time around as they have in the past.

Here is another suggestion for Logan and Reed. In huge font on the challenged envelope there needs to be scenario's when it should and shouldn't be used. My position is when in doubt use it, the canvass board will review the voters eligibility and the vote will count if it is indeed a valid voter!

It's really not that complicated. But King County makes it vague and mysterious as too discourage challenges, even in proper circumstances.

Undoubtedly true, but totally irrelevant.

OK one more time for all you smart ones and dumb ones out there. We vote in primaries in Sept. The general elections are in November. You need to register to vote prior to these dates. Now that wasn’t so hard was it?

You don’t think the people who oppose my views would be trying to get fraudulent votes counted do you? ......I do.

As Bfree indicates above, it's pretty clear we're down to the short strokes with your election process complaints. Unless you and your "any government is bad government" crowd are willing to spend a lot more money on this process, we're likely to continue to see the same sort of petty mistakes and shortcomings.

(bracing myself for the flood of hatefull, namecalling replies)

As a couple of posters would indicate, invincible ignorance is alive and well in Washington State politics.

Thanks for your efforts to make substantive corrections to a fundamentally corrupted system.

Notice how she says "things slip through the cracks," then says "we have to trust the system." She has it backwards. Your answer was complete and honest, Stefan.

She had an unconvincing answer to every question, didn't she?

No matter to them that every fraudulent vote poisons a legitimate one.

Voting Reform Is in the Cards

What is wrong with the auditor's office creating a culture where there is "attention to detail"? After all, that is what banks have? The workers need to have a culture set up to set themselves up for excellence. The culture today encourages mediocrity.

Notice, I never said anything about the need for more money.

"it's pretty clear we're down to the short strokes with your election process complaints". Do you really feel that not administering the oath specified under the law (in other words breaking the law) fits under your description? Or instructing poll workers what is involved in challenging voters instead of just sluffing it off as "it happens so rarely". One reason it happens so rarely is probably because they are not trained when to do so. Back to ensuring that every vote counts instead of every legal vote counts.

Similarly, it isn't hard to verify the physical location of your polling place, and then present yourself there on election day to cast your ballot. Except for two times I was out of my state on business and I voted absentee, I have been able to do that. It isn't hard. Sure, it takes a little time and effort, a phone call to verify your polling place and then time to go there and physically vote, but other than that it's no big deal. It's a sad state of affairs in this country when the citizens "can't be bothered" or don't care enough about self-government to do even such simple things.

"We, A B(replace this with 'the undersigned'), do swear (or affirm) that we will as judges duly attend the ensuing election, during the continuance thereof, and faithfully assist the inspector in carrying on the same; that we will not give our consent to the receipt of any vote or ballot from any person, other than one whom we firmly believe to be entitled to vote at such election; and that we will make a true and perfect return of the said election and will in all things truly, impartially, and faithfully perform our duty respecting the same to the best of our judgment and abilities; and that we are not directly nor indirectly interested in any bet or wager on the result of this election."

Does the expression "by-the-book" mean anything to Dean Logan?

It could be very interesting if there was a close race in the primary, especially between two democrats and somebody chanlleged the results.

Nah, never happen, they wouldn't want to hang out their dirty laundry in public!

It is very clear that King County has not cleaned up its act on running elections. The disheartening fact of life is that our Secretary of State (Mr. Rino) doesn't seem to want to make any waves on this issue.

I sincerely hope that the performance audit provisions pass this November and that our State Auditor has the guts to go after King County Elections.

Why aren't the laws being enforced?

When did King County adopt its current oath?

I have no idea of the answers to these basic questions. But the answers would make your blog more relevant to reality.

Now THAT is a great question!!

Something as incredibly important as our election process should rank high in our legal and security priorities! If our county and state election vulnerablities begin to spread out among other states...this will become a matter of National Security! This is how to conquer a stable nation!....From the inside out.....One city, county and state at a time....

If even the most basic of our election rules and laws are ignored and that ignorance goes unchallenged.....well....we saw what can happen with last Novembers fiasco....King County has become empowered by the lack of enforcement and punishment of their deeds...

Things will only get worse!

How does it matter how many counties broke the law or when they started to do so? The law seems pretty clear what needs to be said in the oath.

You imply that the election system here is worse than in other places, and worse than in the past. Can you provide a shred of evidence for either assumption?

Yep, that's their modus operandi. Never mention the little details like voter oaths, etc. when it helps justify their means. But if they can discredit Bush on something, they will quickly delve into the minutia.

If there's illegal voting by non-citizens in King County, the blogs like this one are doing the right thing in calling attention to it.

Your attitude is to bring this whole country to the lowest common demoninator! Who cares if it is better or worse than anywhere else? Rationalizing that it is OK to have inaccurate elections because others do is garbage. I want elections to be accurate, honest, AND legal. I am not much of a proponent of Cuban elections. If our elected officials do not need to follow the law, then why do I?

You imply that the election system here is worse than in other places, and worse than in the past. Can you provide a shred of evidence for either assumption?"

Well Bruce... I know in Kyrgyzstan, backwater third rate republic that it is, you must present a PASSPORT in order to vote..... Seems we have tighter elections than KingCo, or at least comparable. Would you like to repeat the mantra: "At least we're not worse than second world former soviet republics"?

How are you not completely appalled by KCE's lack of accountability, lack of transparency, and continued lies and failure to obey the law?

If KCE were a nice fat corporation, you'd be all over them.

Logan's and Sims' cronies ARE the processing center. That's why in close elections, King county always reports last, and the lefties always win the recounts due to King County's newly discovered votes.

shark: a question for you....was the washington election discussed in the carter/baker report on election reforms? i haven't read any of that report, but i did see them speak about it, and it seems that some of the report's recommendations may be relevant to the situation your state/cities are facing (and probably mine too, its just that no one really seems to be looking).

perhaps mr. logan has read the report and could provide some insight?

That one makes me nauseous.

You'd only trust the KC "system" if you were part of the Dem mafia that runs the place.

How can you be surprised that the laws aren't being followed?

After all, laws were broken during the November election, ADMITTED in a court of law (?) and nothing was done.

This is small potatos.

We are screwed in this state and nothing will change that short of revolution. Either a peaceful one or.......

But until then, nothing will change.

Nick Handy (State Elections Director) does NOT know the law and furthermore he won't learn it because he thinks he is a manager and as long as the people who work under him know the law -it's okay! He got the job because Sammy likes him...... not because he has any qualifications for the job. His wife is a judge too so that may have helped!

This would mean everyone could vote, but would have to show ID or other evidence of residency each time they vote. It should satisfy liberals who are worried that valid votes won't be counted, and conservatives worried about fraud.

I don't think there's actually much deliberate fraud out there--it's just laziness and bureaucratic incompetence, and crosses parties. It only looks like a Democratic problem in King County because the Democrats are so dominant in most of the county. But this would help restore confidence in the system. Then we can get back to arguing about issues and not electoral mechanics.

For having poll workers sign the wrong oath?!?!?

I'm not excusing that, but get real.

"You imply that the election system here is worse than in other places, and worse than in the past. Can you provide a shred of evidence for either assumption?"

Bruce.....

Your attitude here is severely deteriorating....
I don't screech......My voice is very soft, low and deliberate..

Your assumption of what my post above implies - is incorrect. Unfortunately, there are several states in this country, with areas run by Democrats, that are also under scrutiny for their questionable election practices....

It's right out of the liberal Democrat play book to launch unfounded accusations against their opponents (ie; the Republicans are committing fraud in the elections! Minorities are being prevented from voting! Poll machines were broken in poor districts!)..... while they (the Democrats) are actually committing the election fraud! They are the ones to cry "Look over there!" while they commit the deeds over here.....

Bruce....
Your arguments are becoming juvenile...
Please don't feel a need to reply to my posts....

I see we've reached the short strokes in dealing with your posts. Only called one name worth anything. I guess you have just about completely depreciated. Too bad.

You give them far too much credit.

(Maybe I'll have to adopt Mr. Cynical's "LEFTIST PINHEADS!)

"Logan is as blatant as can be. He just hopes people will blow it off and not question it."

Like Clinton, Logan feels he can brazen it out. Why? Because in King Co., they "elect" 'Rats (even when they don't), because of that "D" after their name. If the 'Rat candidate doesn't get enough votes on election night, just keep counting, eventually the machine will "find" them, or manufacture them. The top dogs don't pay a price, only low-level operatives do, if anyone.

You read the testimony at the trial. There was enough incompetence and fraud in the elections office to sink anyone else anywhere else, but not Logan in King Co., because the machine protects him. Spineless wimp Sam Reed says, "gee, I can't do anything, it isn't my job to assure honest elections." Brainless jerk Bridges says, "sorry, I can't do anything about the broken, corrupt system, you guys have to fix it, I'm a helpless idiot." So you get people like Logan locked in there for life, in essence totally unaccountable to anyone. So, in his mind, he thinks, why worry?