Voter's Watchdog

The issues that matter to East County Voters

VOTER’S WATCHDOG: RUSSIANS TRIED TO HACK CALIFORNIA ELECTION SYSTEMS, HOMELAND SECURITY REVEALS

 

By Miriam Raftery

September 24, 2017 (Sacramento) -- “Today, my office was informed for the first time by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that Russian cyber actors scanned California’s Internet-facing systems in 2016,” California Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced on Friday.


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HEAR OUR INTERVIEW: RAY LUTZ, CITIZENS OVERSIGHT FOUNDER, SPEAKS OUT ON BILL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD NEGATE HIS COURT WIN AGAINST SAN DIEGO’S REGISTRAR OF VOTERS

 

By Miriam Raftery

September 10, 2017 (San Diego) – After Citizens Oversight sued San Diego’s Registrar of Voters, a judge ruled that in future elections, the 1% manual tally must include mail-in ballots dropped at the polls or received days after the election, as well as valid provisional ballots.  But now a last-minute amendment slipped into Assembly Bill 840 by an organization of election officials  would eliminate that requirement statewide – a move Lutz says puts election integrity at risk and could allow tampering with certain ballots to occur undetected.

Listen to our interview, originally aired on KNSJ 89.1 FM Radio, by clicking the audio link amd scroll down for highights. Also hear about a major difference in votes cast late vs. early – and why Lutz believes if all the local ballots had been examined, it may have changed the outcome in the Democratic presidential primary.

Audio: 


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VOTER's WATCHDOG: CITIZENS OVERSIGHT FILES OPPOSITION TO AB-840, SAYS AMENDMENTS WOULD GUT ELECTION AUDITS IN CA

 

Watchdog group that won lawsuit says last-minute amendment inserted by election officials would allow 40 to 70 percent of ballots to be omitted from audits

By Miriam Raftery

September 1, 2017 (San Diego) --- Citizens' Oversight, a nonpartisan group that focuses on election integrity, announced today that it has filed written comments in opposition to CA AB-840, a bill which will make drastic changes to the one-percent manual tally of elections, which would omit 40% or more ballots from the scrutiny of this important audit process. Local Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher (D-San Diego) is a coauthor of the bill.

ECM asked Vu late Thursday for comments. Vu replied via email, “The amendment came through and is sponsored by the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials (CACEO) and is supported by the Secretary of State and the County."


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VOTERS’ WATCHDOG: VOTING RIGHTS ADVOCATES ANNOUNCE A SETTLEMENT OF "EXACT MATCH" LAWSUIT

 

By Miriam Raftery

February 11, 2017 (Washington D.C.) — An estimated 42,000 eligible voters, most of them minorities, were denied their right to vote in George due to minor typos and data entry errors. In a landmark settlement for voting rights advocates, the state of Georgia has agreed it will no longer use the “exact match” system. The suit had contended that the system violated voters’ constitutional rights.


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COUNTY URGES VOTERS TO CHECK REGISTRATION AFTER MAILING SCAM EXPOSED

 

The Registrar of Voters is urging voters to double-check their registration status on its website after some residents got letters from an organization called the Voter Participation Center claiming the residents aren’t registered to vote.



The organization’s letters offer a pre-filled voter registration form that may include incorrect or outdated information or information for persons who don’t live at the address. The letters are causing some confusion because in many instances, the voter is properly registered to vote.


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JUDGE: SAN DIEGO ELECTIONS AUDIT WAS IMPROPER—BUT RESULT STANDS, SINCE DECISION COMES AFTER CLINTON CERTIFIED AS WINNER

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

Updated August 9, 2016 to include clarification provided by County spokesman Michael Workman.

August 8, 2016 (San Diego) — Superior Court Judge Joel Wohlfeil has issued a preliminary decision finding that San Diego Registrar of Voters Michael Vu erred in failing to include provisional and late vote-by-mail ballots in a hand-count of votes from one percent of precincts—an audit intended to assure accuracy.


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VOTERS WATCHDOG: REGISTRAR RESPONDS TO INQUIRY ON WHITED-OUT BALLOTS

 

By Miriam Raftery

August 1, 2016 (San Diego) — Election observers have contended that they witnessed hundreds of ballots with votes for Bernie Sanders whited out at the San Diego Registrar of Voters office and were prevented from watching further.  Video. Some have contended that Sanders was disenfranchised.


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HOW PREPARED IS SAN DIEGO FOR THE JUNE PRIMARY ELECTION? Q & A WITH REGISTRAR OF VOTERS MICHAEL VU

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

April 17, 2016 (San Diego) --In light of issues in some other states about long lines to vote, cuts in polling places or numbers of voting machines,  lack of enough voting machines on college campuses and Indian reservations, and an inquiry from a reader, we sent questions to San Diego Registrar of Voters Michael Vu.  We also asked about deadlines to register to vote , change parties or get a mail ballot for the June 7 primary, and procedures to verify your registration. In addition, we got information on how you can vote early, as well as the need for poll workers, particularly bilingual poll workers for the election.

Below are our questions, along with Vu’s responses.


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VOTERS’ WATCHDOG: SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS KEY PROVISION OF VOTING RIGHTS ACT

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by David Sachs, SEIU on FlickR

April 5, 2016 (Washington D.C.) — The U.S. Supreme Court handed a victory to civil rights activists and a loss to conservative challengers, upholding a key provision of the U.S. Voting Rights Act by a unanimous 8 to 0 vote.


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VOTER’S WATCHDOG: BILL WOULD LET TEENS VOTE FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS

 

By Miriam Raftery

February 14, 2016 (San Diego) -- Should teenagers be allowed to vote?  Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez thinks so – at least in some cases.


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VOTER'S WATCHDOG: INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER PALAST REVEALS PLOT TO STEAL 2016 ELECTION

 

Photo: Greg Palast with ECM editor Miriam Raftery

By Miriam Raftery

January 24, 2016 (San Diego) - “I want to report on the theft of the 2016 election before it happens,” famed investigative reporter Greg Palast said at a benefit event for KNSJ radio in La Jolla on January 10th.  He then proceeded to detail the shocking findings of his latest investigation, which will be the subject of an upcoming film, “The Best Democracy Money Can Buy:  A Tale of Billionaires and Ballot Bandits.”

The heist involves a conspiracy in red states to toss out millions of minority voters by falsely claiming they voted twice. How?  By eliminating  voters with the same or similar names in different states – even if they have different middle names or different Social Security numbers, or tossing out their votes if cast.  Voters are never informed that they’ve been disqualified, or given any chance to correct errors.  The effort, according to Palast’s investigation, is funded by billionaire backers of the Republican party.

The scam targets African-Americans, Latinos, Muslims and other likely Democratic voters with common names such as “Jose Rodriguez” and “Mohammed Mohammed” said Palast, who brought copies of purged voter lists he obtained.  Despite accusations against millions Americans of alleged double voting, not a single one has been arrested or prosecuted, Palast says.


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BALLOT SELFIES: SHOULD THE BAN BE LIFTED?

 

By Miriam Raftery

January 12, 2016 (Sacramento) – If you take a selfie in the ballot box in California, you’ve broken the law. That hasn’t stopped celebrities and ordinary voters from posting ballot selfies on social media. In fact, nobody’s ever been arrested in our state for posting their ballot or a photo of themselves casting a vote, the Los Angeles Times reports.


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MEDIA WATCH: WHY IS MEDIA COVERING UP WHO WON DEMOCRATIC DEBATE, ACCORDING TO POLLS?

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

October 15, 2015 (San Diego) – After the CNN-hosted Democratic presidential candidate debate Wednesday,  all major polls--including CNN’s own poll--showed Bernie Sanders the winner by wide margins.  Yet post-debate coverage by CNN and other major media almost unanimously declared Hillary Clinton the winner. 

No matter what your party or political preference, this sort of blatant media manipulation should disturb you. Equally disturbing to advocates of a free press, many pro-Sanders comments or those questioning the network’s impartiality were repeatedly removed off CNN’s website stories on the debate.  How come?

The fact that CNN’s owner, Time-Warner, is one of Clinton’s largest campaign donors appears to have influenced the news organization to skew its coverage to favor  its corporate parent’s preferred candidate.  Other media that has given large sums to Clinton's campaign or to the Clinton Foundation similarly ignored polls and declared her the winner.


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VOTER'S WATCHDOG: NEW LAWS AIM TO INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT AND EXPAND VOTERS’ RIGHTS

 

East County News Service

October 13, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Governor Jerry Brown has signed over a dozen bills to “help improve elections and expand voter rights and access in California,” according to the Governor’s signing statement.

 

Those include the New Motor Voter Act authored by San Diego Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez.  The measure will result in the Department of Motor Vehicles automatically registering Califoirnians to vote when they obtain a driver’s license, or renew one.  Drivers will have the right to opt out if they choose.


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VOTER'S WATCHDOG: HUESO BILL TO BOOST VOTER TURNOUT GOES TO GOVERNOR'S DESK

 

By Miriam Raftery

August 18, 2015 (San Diego)--State Senator Ben Hueso, a Democrat from the San Diego region, announced this week that Senate Bill 415, a measure that will dramatically increase voter turnout in local elections, passed the State Senate on a 26-12 vote and is now headed to the Governor’s desk for his signature.   Local governments with voter turnout 25% less than the average turnout in that city will be required to consolidate their elections with state elections.


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VOTER'S WATCHDOG: SUPREME COURT TO HEAR REDISTRICTING CASES

 

By Miriam Raftery

May 27, 2015 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear two cases on redistricting of Congressional districts. Both could have broad impacts on California.


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VOTER'S WATCHDOG: CA LAWMAKERS CONSIDER CHANGES TO VOTING

 

Goal is to Increase State's Dismal Voter Turnout

By Suzanne Potter, California News Service

May 1, 2015 (Sacramento)--Before the 2016 election most California drivers could be automatically registered to vote and receive their ballot in the mail all without having to lift a finger. Today, the Assembly Transportation Committee hears a bill to authorize the state to use the Department of Motor Vehicles database to register all drivers who are eligible to vote.


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SECRETARY OF STATE: MAKE CA VOTER REGISTRATION AUTOMATIC

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 25, 2015 (Sacramento)--What if every California citizen could be eligible to vote? 

California’s Secretary of State Alex Padilla, wants to register citizens automatically, using Department of Motor Vehicle records and potentially info from other state agencies.


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COMMON CAUSE LAUNCHES EFFORT TO STOP VOTER SUPPRESSION IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY

By Nadin Abbott

October 24, 2012 (San Diego)-- It is ironic. This morning ECM attended a press conference dealing with voting suppression, while nearby volunteers from both the Democratic and Republican Parties were getting ready to register newly minted citizens after their naturalization ceremonies.

The conference was called by State Senator Leeland Yee (D-8). He was joined by State Representative Marti Block (D-78- Assembly), as well as Simon Mayeski of the non partisan Common Cause and Phillip W. Liburd, Executive Board Member of the NAACP San Diego Branch.


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VOTING RIGHTS UNDER ATTACK IN U.S. AND SAN DIEGO

Common Cause seeks volunteers to monitor polls on Election Day

October 24, 2012 (San Diego)--This past June, San Diego witnessed an unprecedented surge in voter intimidation during the primary. A nationally funded voter suppression effort is expected to employ even harsher bullying tactics on November 6th, when even more voters will be exercising their fundamental right to cast a ballot.


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VOTERS' WATCHDOG: SAN DIEGO REDISTRICTING MEETINGS ANNOUNCED

By Miriam Raftery

 

April 2, 2011 (San Diego) -- Every 10 years, the City of San Diego Redistricting Commission redraws the political boundaries for City Council districts candidates. This is a once in a decade occasion. The County is also redistricting its Supervisorial seats.  Want to have a say in how your community gets represented for the next 10 years?

 


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QUESTIONS FREQUENTLY ASKED BY VOTERS


Today is last day to request mail-in ballot

By Mary E. Paulet

 


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MILITARY VOTING BY INTERNET BALLOTS CANCELLED AFTER HACK REVEALS SECURITY FLAWS

 

Update:  Chinese and Iraqi hackers also attempted to hack this election, a startling report today reveals.  
By Miriam Raftery

 

October 11, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- The U.S. military has cancelled Internet voting for U.S. troops after hackers infiltrated an online election in Washington D.C., playing the University of Michigan “Fight” song on the voting system--and accessing the ability to change votes.


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WILL YOUR VOTE BE COUNTED? PANEL ON MIDTERM ELECTION ISSUES JUNE 30

 

Since it is easier to rig an electronic voting system than it is to rig a Las Vegas slot machine, citizens are rightly concerned about who is counting the ballots and how we can be sure that the real winners are sworn in.” --Linda Poniktera, executive director, Psephos

 

By Miriam Raftery

 


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VOTER'S WATCHDOG: TOP TEN PROBLEMS WITH EXPANDING ABSENTEE VOTING

Absentee voting has been expanded in 25 states. This reduces public controls and expands opportunity for election fraud.

By guest columnist Bev Harris, Founder

www.BlackBoxVoting.org

 

October 13, 2009 -- Risky electoral conditions are being introduced because someone says "Why don't we just mail ballots?" Election officials are pitching vote by mail as convenient and safe. Journalists don't always obtain an opposing point of view before publishing stories on this risky new trend. Half the USA has now shifted to no-fault absentee voting. Here is an opposing point of view, along with sources and citations for vote-by-mail incidents.


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FIXING WHAT’S BROKEN: CALL BROADENS TO HOLD A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION IN CALIFORNIA


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VOTER’S WATCHDOG: ELECTION OFFICIALS ARRESTED FOR RIGGING ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES; PLUS DIEBOLD ATM MACHINES FOUND TO CONTAIN SECRET ID-STEALING SOFTWARE

By Miriam Raftery

April 1, 2009 (La Mesa)—The prospect of election-rigging via electronic vote machines is no longer a theory. In Kentucky, election officials have been arrested for reportedly buying and selling votes—and manipulating votes using electronic voting machines without the knowledge of voters. Officials arrested and charged under Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) laws normally reserved for organized crime included a circuit court judge, the county clerk, a school superintendent and other members of the Clay County elections board, Brad Friedman reported in an article titled “Kentucky Fried Clickin’” at Bradblog.com. According to the indictment, the officials’ alleged criminal actions affected outcomes of federal, local and state primary and general elections in 2002, 2004 and 2006.


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VOTER’S WATCHDOG: CIA WARNS E-VOTING NOT SECURE; PROOF EMERGES THAT CA'S DIEBOLD VOTING MACHINES DROP VOTES & AUDIT LOGS ALLOW DELETION OF VOTING RECORDS

By Miriam Raftery

March
28, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)—In testimony before the U.S.
Election Assistance Commission in Florida, CIA cyber security expert Steven
Stigall said that voting equipment connected to the Internet could be hacked
and that even machines not connected could be hacked with wireless devices. Stigall
warned that foreign governments could potentially alter outcomes of U.S. elections,
noting that “wherever the vote becomes an electron and touches a computer,
that’s an opportunity for a malicious actor to…make bad things
happen.”


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VOTER'S WATCHDOG - Be a Good Citizen: Vote!

VOTER’S WATCHDOG - Be a Good Citizen: Vote!

By Penelope Young Andrade, LCSW, guest columnist

Are you ready to be a good citizen? Like many of us, you may have some trouble
naming your Congressperson, or knowing the number of your Congressional district.
No blame. It’s easy to get caught in demands at home or work and forget
that one of your most important relationships is with your government – community,
city, state, and national.


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VOTER'S WATCHDOG: WILL YOUR VOTE COUNT?

SAElogo.jpgThis
information is important for everyone, but especially for newly registered
voters.  Please forward, post or printout this information.  Avoid
confusion on Election Day and make sure everyone gets to the correct polling
place to avoid use of Provisional Ballots.


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