I intend to post a series of diaries to raise the profile here at Kos of what can be done, county by county, parish by parish, to help monitor the vote count in November.
The First Diary
We will examine what you need to know, what sort of team and resources you need, and share experiences as we learn together.
First: Don't Do It Alone.
Second: Posse Does Not Mean Vigilantes.
Third: Build A Lasting Relationship.
Today's Diary Below The Fold.
As I said in reply to someone who said "make a plan for us" :
o " This is going to be 'Open Source' (0 / 0)
WE will build a plan that will have to be modified as it is applied in any given location.
But keep looking for this thread, and give it a Recommend to build it up. Thanks!
If this goes well, I hope to end up posting a "Citizens Guide To Honest Voting" that will be a community resource.
I also realize that the edges of the honest voting issue are blurry. We could range far afield into related issues. But for this series, let's focus on what a small team of citizens can do in their county/parish to encourage a complete and honest vote.
Let's discuss two things today.
1. What do you need to know?
2. How can you get to know your election supervisor in a positive way?
What do you need to know?
Here's a list just for starters, please feel free to suggest other details.
1. Who is your election supervisor.
Is it a partisan elected position. What party does the current office holder belong to.
2. What is the election calendar.
When are all the deadlines for registration. When are the local and special elections.
Which of these dates are mandated by the state laws, and which are set locally.
3. What is the registration process.
What forms are used. Are there alternative procedures. Do local party officials have a role. How are absentee registrations or college students handled.
4. How many voting locations are there.
Are precincts combined in a location. How are polls staffed. What are the rules about independent monitoring or activity near the polls on election day.
5. What ballot and counting system is used.
Are there changes in the works. If so, what are the decision deadlines and who makes the decision.
See what I mean about focus? This damn thing is like a ball of string. Seems simple until you start teasing it apart.
How can you get to know your election supervisor in a positive way?
Here is a comment from edgery last week:
* "My election supervisor is very defensive (2+ / 0-)
I'd love for some ideas on how to get through to her and all the others who had their counties invest already in the touch-screen without papertrail technology. In her mind, nothing could possibly go wrong so why am I in the least concerned."
My thinking on this is to first think over whether YOU are the right person to be the contact with the supervisor. Be honest. Do you have the personality and reputation to be heard by the supervisor without eliciting defensiveness? You may want to form your posse with that in mind, and pick the best person to be the supervisor liaison.
After that, I recommend an approach that focuses on your interest in LEARNING about the process. A good first question might be: "How does a citizen learn the voting process for this county?" The supervisor may have a staff person handle this sort of thing, or there may be published records that you can do your homework on, saving the supervisor's time. Just remember the objective of building a working relationship with the supervisor.
One other thing we learned last week:
There's already a project called "Adopt a BOE" in Ohio that's doing just that. One of its reps spoke at an election conference at Cleveland State Friday. And you know who was in the audience? Jennifer Brunner, who is running for secretary of state on the Democatic side. The fact that she is interested enough to stop in and sit and listen to people talk about what problems they encountered in the May primary (which was the roll-out of the new voting systems) is a significant change from "Kathy" Blackwell's attitude.
(Thanks, anastasia...)
OK, mates - weigh in here. I have to leave for the day, but I will check in on my return.