2004 Ballot Recount: Observer Report

• December 13, 2004:
  Report by Green Party Observer

December 13, 2004:
Report by Green Party Observer

Observer J. reports that he succeeded in getting a random selection of 3 percent precincts. The hand count and machine count had a one count difference. We are pushing for a hand count, proving that random selection is important.

• Total volunteer monitors: 12
• Monitored the inspection of all punchcard ballots by the Jefferson Co poll workers. Poll workers separated by undervotes, overvotes, and o.k. votes on the presidential column. On several occasions, hanging chads were knocked clear by poll workers or their supervisors. The actual undervote for the county decreased by 5 ballots, based on the recount computer tabulation.
• Entire poll book was inspected by county staff and monitored by volunteers. The book had a separate section where Provisional Ballot voters were listed.
• We picked a random high absentee voted district (about 15% absentee) to compare the election day sign-in book with the number of "absentee" flagged identifiers in the book. The totals were comparable, meaning that absentee ballots sent were apparently properly processed in the sign-in book prior to election day.
• The "random" districts chosen for a manual recount were pre-selected by Jefferson County Election Board and Staff. We called our Legal Team for guidance on this issue. Essentially, our Legal Team could not provide specific instructions that would stop the recount based on this issue. We monitored the manual and computer recount. Results were exact from both recount methods. A successful computer test was completed with a predetermined test pattern, prior to the actual recount operation.
• Write-in votes were inspected by monitor volunteers.
• Volunteer monitors completed comment/assessment forms.
• Jefferson County Election staff was polite and very co-operative with our recount volunteer monitors. Every effort was made to answer our questions.