On Friday, Maricopa County Judge Edward O. Burke ruled against the state’s Libertarian Party, which sought an injunction for a hand recount in the county. Burke argued that perfect compliance with election law was not possible due to the size of the county, the practicalities of the electoral process, and the number of people involved.
Two weeks after the election, the result of the presidential race in Missouri is still unknown. In Alaska, the razor-close Senate race has yet to be fully counted. The Minnesota Senate race is also yet to be determined, and a mandatory recount is expected. Georgia will hold a run-off election on December 2nd.
John McCain’s home county, the largest in Arizona, has been accused of failing to follow election law. This has raised questions about the state’s commitment to upholding democratic principles. In Pima County, the second largest county in Arizona, the County Manager has distanced himself from the Elections Director, who has been subject to justified criticism.
John McCain’s victory in his home state of Arizona was a decisive one, with the Republican candidate winning by a margin of 9 percentage points. The two largest counties, Pima and Maricopa, accounted for 70% of the total votes. Despite the Republican victory in Arizona, the states surrounding it, such as New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada, and California, all went blue. This has led some to question the results, particularly given the resources invested by the Obama campaign in the state.
John Brakey, a passionate advocate for election transparency and integrity, has been working with AUDIT AZ since 1996. They have uncovered major issues with Diebold and ES&S machines, and the state’s Attorney General has refused to seize questionable ballots from a 2004 election and order a recount. Brakey has stated that the purpose of their work is to “force this out-of-control election department to resolve chain-of-custody issues, to force the county to follow the rules of law.” Evidence presented during the trial included testimony about unsigned poll register tapes, the lack of security handling and transporting memory packs, and the flimsy and easily manipulated ballot containers and seals.
Jim March, an elections security expert with BlackBoxVoting.org, testified in an affidavit presented at trial that the elections department had used “flimsy plastic containers purchased at Fry’s Electronics store that can be easily opened by removing the hinges”, thus compromising the chain of custody and leaving the election seals intact. This method of storage raises serious concerns about the security of the elections, as it leaves the door open for potential manipulation.
The documentary film presented at trial further demonstrated the lack of security, as it showed election results arriving without proper seals and custody, and Elections Director Purcell’s unconcerned and belligerent attitude. This highlights the vulnerability of the system, as all it would take is one infected memory card to alter the entire tabulation computer’s result.
The results of this election season have demonstrated the need for reform in our nation’s voting systems. As Rachel Maddow of MSNBC pointed out, the requirement of time and wages to vote is a modern form of the Jim Crow era poll tax. The record turnout of voters is a cause for celebration, yet the disdain for independent election observers and the process itself displayed by public servants is inexcusable and should be met with severe consequences.
The example set by Humboldt County, CA in forming a public-private cooperative effort should be adopted by election departments across the United States. National election laws and procedures for recounts should be established before the mid-term elections. Cooperation, not confrontation, should be the goal of all involved in the election process.
The question of whether John McCain lost his own county and state remains unanswered. This is an issue that demands a resolution.
