Bob Fitrakis, the editor of the Free Press, writes: "[U]nofficial results showed Bush with 136,483 more votes than Kerry, although 155,428 provisional ballots, 92,672 'spoiled' ballots, additional overseas ballots, and some remaining absentee ballots remained uncounted. The day after his concession, Kerry drew 3,893 votes closer to Bush when a computerized voting machine 'glitch' was discovered in an Ohio precinct. A machine in ward 1B in the predominantly Republican Gahanna, Ohio, recorded 4,258 votes for George W. Bush when only 638 people cast votes at the New Life Church polling site" ("None Dare Call It Voter Suppression and Fraud," November 7, 2004, <http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/3/2004/983> and <http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Nov2004/Fitrakis1108.htm>).
Most importantly, "[s]poiled ballots will only be counted if someone with standing, such as five Kerry electors or the Ohio Democratic Party, demands and legally qualifies for a recount" (Fitrakis, <http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/3/2004/983> and <http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Nov2004/Fitrakis1108.htm>).
Call upon the Ohio Democratic Party, Kerry electors, the Ohio Green Party, and David Cobb electors to demand a recount. Make them fight for voting rights!
Make them do it, even if you think (as I do) that Kerry would be no better than Bush on big issues like the Iraq War and single-payer universal health care. Why? Because if the recount throws Ohio to Kerry, it makes the next President a man who won the electoral college but did not win the popular vote, which will weaken the executive branch by denying it the illusion of popular consent and legitimacy; and even if the recount doesn't change the outcome, your demand will send the Democrats and Republicans a message that you won't obey their order to keep quiet about the reign of plutocrats who continue to assign crappy voting machines to Black, Latino, and other working-class precincts that make more of working-class votes spoil than votes of the rich white voters.
The Ohio Democratic Party Contact Information:
Dennis White, Chair dennis at ohiodems.org 614-221-6563 x128 (voice)
Dan Trevas, Communications Director dan at ohiodems.org 614-221-6563 x129 (voice)
Hanna Greer, Executive Director hanna at ohiodems.org 614-221-6563 x100 (voice)
Address: 271 E. State St. Columbus, Ohio 43215 Phone: 614-221-6563 (voice) 614-221-0721 (fax) <http://www.ohiodems.org>
The Democratic National Committee Contact Information: <http://democrats.org/contact/>
The Green Party of Ohio Contact Information: <http://www.ohiogreens.org/contactlist.html>
The Green Party of the United States Contact Information: <http://www.gp.org/>
Cobb/LaMarche '04 Contact Information: <http://www.votecobb.org/contact>
Cf. Greg Palast, "An Election Spoiled Rotten," November 2, 2004: <http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1102-28.htm> "CNN Just Changed Their Ohio Exit Poll Page": <http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1293911> Thom Hartmann, "The Ultimate Felony Against Democracy," November 4, 2004: <http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1104-38.htm> Greg Palast, "Kerry Won," November 4, 2004: <http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1104-36.htm>
Saturday, November 13, 2004, 1-4 PM Public Hearing on Election Irregularities and Voter Suppression
We are calling on anyone who experienced or observed election irregularities or voter suppression this election season to come to give testimony at a public hearing before public officials, community representatives and the media. Your stories will be documented, recorded and put into a report and formal complaint to the Board of Elections. If you have any information about election irregularities please participate. New Faith Baptist Church, 955 Oak St., Columbus, Ohio, 43205.
Contact: call 253-2571 or email <truth at freepress.org> for more information. Sponsored by Citizen's Alliance for Secure Elections, the CICJ, League of Pissed Off Voters, Election Protection Coalition, Common Cause, WVKO Radio. -- Yoshie
* Critical Montages: <http://montages.blogspot.com/> * Greens for Nader: <http://greensfornader.net/> * Bring Them Home Now! <http://www.bringthemhomenow.org/> * OSU-GESO: <http://www.osu-geso.org/> * Calendars of Events in Columbus: <http://sif.org.ohio-state.edu/calendar.html>, <http://www.freepress.org/calendar.php>, & <http://www.cpanews.org/> * Student International Forum: <http://sif.org.ohio-state.edu/> * Committee for Justice in Palestine: <http://www.osudivest.org/> * Al-Awda-Ohio: <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Al-Awda-Ohio> * Solidarity: <http://www.solidarity-us.org/>