A Shootout for Fair Voting 60 Years Ago, Vets Took Up Arms in Tenn. ATHENS, Tenn. (AP) – Harold Powers was only 20 when he watched a frightening sight unfold here 60 years ago: Battle-hardened World War II veterans in a shootout with armed sheriff’s deputies. The so-called “Battle of Athens” began Aug. 1, 1946, when veterans opened fire on the local jail to stop corrupt local officials from stealing an election. … Felix Harrod, 84, was a 25-year-old poll watcher at the courthouse during the shootout and said it was common for incumbents in the county about 45 miles … Continue reading →

This is worth reading in full. It is Congressman John Conyers Jr.’s statement to Congress on the objections to allowing the Ohio electors. Clear and to the point, it outlines just why the Ohio vote was problematic. __________________________

Lawyers in Ohio are prepared to challenge the election as soon as a count is certified. Their challenge could lead to widespread reconsideration of dozens of alleged election irregularities around the state – from reported computerized voting glitches to provisional-ballot mishaps to unusual incidents involving voter rolls, poll workers and machine technicians. But it is unclear whether the complaint will ever get that far. Columbus attorney Cliff Arnebeck, a national officer in the Alliance for Democracy, could not predict exactly when members of the coalition will be ready or able to file their request. And, after they do, the Ohio … Continue reading →

Well, this is interesting. A study done at Berkeley has found inconsistencies in the Florida vote which indicate that electronic voting machines awarded extra votes for Bush at a rate that isn’t consistent with chance. The votes were primarily in heavily Democratic counties. The data and working paper are available online. I really hope this gets some attention in the press. Berkeley analysis of Fla. electronic voting finds Bush wrongly awarded between 133,000 and 260,000 votes A study by faculty and graduate students and led by University of California at Berkeley Professor Michael Hout has concluded that President Bush was … Continue reading →

In the middle of counting provisional ballots in Ohio, a sudden change in the rules means more ballots will be discarded, in what has to be an attempt to keep Ohio in the Bush column. Most of the provisional ballots come from counties friendly to Kerry.