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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Many clerks have had election issues. I remember when Judge Larry Stecco ran his first election and his opponent demanded a recount. I was a challenger in the process. I remember challenging three (3) ballot boxes because the number on the seals did not math he numbers in the poll book. Near the end of the recount ,I was shocked whe the Elections Offiicials decide to count the boxes any way.
This recent effort to demonize Inez Brown is confusing to many. For years Michigan has had many issues with clerks and election around the state. Some with problems far exceeding those of Flint.
To be honest, I expect a low turnout as no one I have spoken to likes their choices for Mayor.
Last edited by untanglingwebs on Wed Jun 03, 2015 7:34 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Wed Jun 03, 2015 6:26 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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This is not a race issue as all races are on both sides of the issue. There are some who are blaming county officials for initiating the ridicule placed on the Clerks office and Inez Brown.
I do believe Giggles the Pig was an effort with racial overtones, based on the comments from Ewing during his many interviews. I can't wait to see her campaign finance reports. This campaign did much to make Flint the subject of great ridicule and comments on the subject often crossed into racial insults.
Will the recent effort towards government consolidation eventually cross into discussion of the dissolution of Flint. The water debt of Highland Park had the Mackinac Center meeting discussing dissolution and forcing the water partnership to absorb the debt. Highland Park refuted the discussion, but they share some of the same issues. They closed their High School for a lack of students and they only have 350 students for k through grade 8. They also have a high poverty rate. |
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Wed Jun 03, 2015 6:42 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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In the political discussions I have had, as well as social media comments, it seems apparent that I am not alone in my belief that Flint will continue to have financial problems and may fail. Flint often does not have qualified candidates running in our elections.
Flint continues to set itself up for failure by electing incompetent officials, sometimes because of skin color, and allowing corruption that requires huge lawsuit payments along with HUD and DOE grant repayments. Will the end result be a County Executive and more people fleeing the impact of the oppressive tax structure and water bills on the poor?
The loss of business entities and residents is already creating a "cheap land" climate where new companies find it cheaper to buy existing and demolish to build new structures. The Flint School Board fought over the price of land where the former Cody School sat, so Dollar General bought and demolished the departing hardware store on Fenton and Atherton for their new store. Flint Schools still own the land they bickered about.
Much commercial demolition is occurring and the Land Bank is not doing most of it. New business entities are rising out the dust, like the mattress company on part of the former Howard Johnson site on Center Road near Court. Highsmith was right when he wrote "Demolition Means progress". |
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Wed Jun 03, 2015 6:59 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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The other morning I turned on the Morning Joe Show on MSNBC. The discussion was on Connecticut possibly losing three large corporations because of the oppressive tax structure. What struck me was the part of the discussion that resembled Flint. Joe Scarbrough lives in Connecticut, but he has the finances to deal with the costs of living there. Morning Joe discussed how a high percentage of Connecticut residents would leave if they could sell their houses. However no one was moving to Connecticut so they are stuck. Even with some excellent colleges, young people are leaving the state in droves.
Flint real estate is picking up. I have watched homes in Woodcroft Estates, Glendale Hills, and Nolen Drive sell for a fraction of the cost they would have gotten if they were sold in the southern part of the county. The homes are so cheap the buyer can absorb the costs of living in Flint. Some huge Woodcroft Estates homes are selling for less than 50% of their former value.
On the other hand a real estate magazine I picked up at the West Side Diner was offering decent looking properties for as low as $1,200. Many can't sell their houses for even the SEV value they are being taxed on. |
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Wed Jun 03, 2015 7:14 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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http://michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-1640_9150-49467--,00.html
Miller tells Detroit: Fix election problems
August 28, 2002
As the state's chief elections officer, Secretary of State Candice S. Miller today sent a letter to Detroit election officials, urging them to hire a management consultant to evaluate and streamline the processes used to count the absent voter ballots returned by the city's voters.
"With the November election just two months away, it is imperative that Detroit resolve its election problems if city residents are to have any faith in the elections process," Secretary Miller said. "Now is the time for Detroit to take the steps necessary to ensure such problems don't occur again. Every valid vote must count; voters deserve no less."
Secretary Miller stated that many of the problems from Aug. 6 resulted from city election officials underestimating the number of trained workers needed and the time required to process nearly 40,000 absent voter ballots. Additional factors, such as reprecincting and unfamiliarity with the high-speed readers used to tabulate ballots, created other delays.
After conversations with Detroit officials, staff from the Bureau of Elections outlined some of the primary issues that must be addressed by the management consultant:
Pre-election preparations: Are the tasks that can be performed prior to election day being completed to help minimize the work the absent voter counting boards must do on election day? Such tasks would include verifying signatures on returned absent voter ballots and employing the state's Qualified Voter File to minimize the poll book entries which must be hand-entered by the absent voter counting boards on election day.
•Tabulation equipment: Is the equipment used to tabulate absent voter ballots adequate? Would precinct tabulators be more efficient than high-speed tabulators?
•Staffing and training: Are staffing levels adequate to handle the expected workload? Are workers properly trained and are work shifts effectively planned to complete the work within the necessary time frame?
•Absent voter ballot processing: Are the procedures for processing absent voter ballots designed to minimize the number of times a ballot must be handled to maximize efficiency and save time?
Bureau of Elections staff have also asked the city to submit by Sept. 20 its revised procedures for processing absent voter ballots for the November general election. Bureau staff will then review the plan to ensure it adequately addresses the issues that must be remedied.
"Detroit has an understanding of what needs to be done," said Secretary Miller. "Detroit is a robust city with a strong heritage. Now is the time to look to the future, resolve its election problems and move forward." |
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Wed Jun 03, 2015 7:16 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Michigan voting issues - SourceWatch
www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Michigan_voting_issues
06/12/2008 · Election Problems in Michigan 2006; ... For election day: Things citizens can do to monitor elections and If you are told you cannot vote. References
.
SOS - Miller tells Detroit: Fix election problems
www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1640_9150-49467--,00.html
New Michigan Resident; Elections in Michigan. Information for Voters. Obtaining an Absent Voter Ballot; ... Michigan Campaign Finance Act; E-Filing; Resolved Complaints;
.
Election Updates - Voter registration problems reported in ...
electionupdates.caltech.edu/2008/09/15/voter-registration-problems...
Voter registration problems reported in Michigan. ... much detail as to the extent of these potential problems, ... for the Michigan Secretary of State ... |
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Wed Jun 03, 2015 7:18 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Much of the issues revolve around voter suppression.
Election threats
Summary
On voter registration, Mass voter roll purges are investigated in a report by Greg Palast of BBC. Common Cause reports that Michigan's registration system and student voting preparedness is "mixed" and reports that NVRA implentation is "inconclusive." A Brennan study says the absentee voting system is "very restrictive."
On voter education, Common Cause warns that the sample ballot is "mixed."
On absentee and early voting, ... (needs information)
On voter suppression and intimil challenger system is "unsatisfactory."
On polling places and voting, Common Cause says the worker recruitment system sand voting machine distribution are "unsatisfactory" and voter ID requirements are "inconclusive."
On provisional ballots,... Common Cause warns that the system of eligibility verification is "mixed" and the system for ballots cast in the wrong precinct is "unsatisfactory."
On vote verification and security,... (needs information)
Main article: Michigan election threats |
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Wed Jun 03, 2015 7:22 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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After reading Source Watch and knowing of other state scandals involving elections, I wondered if the issue is really about Inez Brown at all. If Ms. Brown were to be forced out, the new City Administrator and the EM Transition Board would have control of the Clerk's Office.
Controlling the minority vote appears to be behind Giggles the Pig. Flint is driving out the poor with their ever rising millages and loss of services. What if a new clerk, chosen and not elected, greatly reduced the polling choices and implemented policies affecting the voting patterns of minorities and the poor. The power over the ballot box is real power. |
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Wed Jun 03, 2015 7:34 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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http://michigancountyclerks.us/assets/Newsletters/MACC-Newsletter-3qtr-2014.pdf
Best Practices for an Election Year
As a new feature in the newsletter, it is appropriate to
talk about the upcoming November 4 election. To help
you plan and think about the possibility of doing things
a little differently to be more efficient, here are a few
things that might assist you:
* Prepare and publish joint publications for
the Election Registration Notice and General
Election Notice. Then bill each unit for their
appropriate portion of the ad (perhaps per
precinct). If schools are on the ballot, it would be
possible to include them in the reimbursement
for the number of precincts they have. This
makes it convenient for your local clerks and
less expensive for all – particularly if there is
only one major newspaper in your county.
Some also coordinate the Accuracy Test notice
for all, and set the test for the same day and time
throughout the County.
• Conduct a “mock election” two weeks prior
to election day. If you transmit results by
modem, this ensures that the phone lines are
working properly and memory cards were
programmed with the correct phone number.
You can transmit zero results or results from the
preliminary accuracy test to make sure that data
is being received. If you coordinate the public
accuracy tests to be on the same day, just keep
your modems open for that entire day to give
the locals the opportunity to send in results at
their convenience. This will simulate election
night as results will be transmitted randomly
from among your communities.
• Develop an “After 5” list. Contact each city/
township clerk and get updated cell phone and
home phone numbers. This list is valuable if
you cannot reach anyone at the city/township
hall after hours on election night.
• Communicate with your media (print,
television, radio, etc.) and provide them with
your contact information for election night and
who the primary point of contact will be.
• Think about your procedures in your office on
election night. Are there ways to streamline it to
help your staff, local clerks and your canvassers?
Talk to your canvassers to determine how they
would like the precinct materials organized and
communicate that to your locals. (Editor’s note
– this is a subject worth more discussion in the
future.)
o Kent County has a small number of
people working on Election Night and
does minimal review of materials prior
to canvass. Local clerks drop off their
envelopes and leave.
o Kalamazoo County has a larger number
of staff (12-15) which reviews the
pollbooks, checks for signatures, seal
numbers, etc. The local clerks stay
until that review is complete. In many
cases, phone calls are made that night
to chairpeople that have errors in their
pollbooks.
o Now that every unit that uses the
e-Pollbook needs to have a Receiving
Board, is it necessary (or should it be
necessary) for the Counties to do a
review of election materials prior to the
Board of Canvassers receiving them?
• Keep good communications going with your
local clerks. While the majority probably look at
their e-mail on a semi-regular basis, you may still
may need to fax or use “snail mail” on occasion.
Several counties communicate only by e-mail
now. The locals know that, and do a pretty good
job of keeping up with communications. There
are now very few areas of the State without
e-mail availability.
• If you receive an AV application in error, fax or
scan/e-mail the application to the local clerk
immediately, then mail the original to the clerk.
Remember that AV ballots need to be in the
mail to the voter within 24 hours after receipt.
We should help our locals and our voters as best
we can. |
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Wed Jun 03, 2015 7:47 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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o Kent County has a small number of
people working on Election Night and
does minimal review of materials prior
to canvass. Local clerks drop off their
envelopes and leave.
o Kalamazoo County has a larger number
of staff (12-15) which reviews the
pollbooks, checks for signatures, seal
numbers, etc. The local clerks stay
until that review is complete. In many
cases, phone calls are made that night
to chairpeople that have errors in their
pollbooks.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flint has a small number of workers because the staff was drastically cut during budge shortfalls. That means there are fewer workers to verify the information and the long hours mean more mistakes could be made. If Genesee County Clerks, like Kalamazoo, were reviewing the pollbooks, errors could be caught.
Flint possibly could reduce the number of polling locations, especially with school closings. This could reduce the issues of trying to recruit large numbers of poll workers. Many Genesee County Clerks have this problem because the pay is somewhat low for the long hour involved. Fewer sites mean a greater ability to provide oversight. |
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Wed Jun 03, 2015 7:58 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Wed Jun 03, 2015 5:55 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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| In November of 2012 the Clinton Twp. Clerk filed a campaign finance violation complaint to the Michigan Secretary of State regarding the Clinton Twp. Supervisor's support of a candidate for the Clerk position. The allegation involves the distribution of literature by Supervisor Bob Canon and paid for by his campaign funds supporting candidate Kim Metzger for Clerk in violation of state campaign laws. Canon had donated the maximum to Metzger's campaign in cash. |
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Wed Jun 03, 2015 6:08 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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The difference here is the Clinton Township Clerk is an elected position while Flint City Council names the Clerk.
Allegations against Clerk George Fitzpatrick.
May 30,2012-police had to stand guard in the Clerk's office after 5 staff members called in sick because they felt intimidated.
June 5,2012- The Clerk Fitzgerald was censured and asked to resign his position in a 6-1 vote by the Board of Trustees. (5 were fellow Democrats)
June 26, 2012- The Michigan Attorney Generals office was asked to investigate a potential removal of the Clerk because of workplace harassment.
July 2012- The Clerk's integrity was called into question by the Supervisor after the Clerk allegedly stated he knew how to rig an election. The Clerk was banned from his office and the Michigan Secretary of State was asked to oversee the election.
A lawsuit against the Clerk in US District Court by a staff person who alleged retaliatory behavior. The Township expected the lawsuit would cost a least $100,000 to defend. |
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Wed Jun 03, 2015 6:56 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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First wave of absentee ballots leave off City Council candidate - The ...
Jun 30, 2014 ... The county was notified of the mistake in the Ward 3 ballots Friday afternoon. ...
Originally on Friday, the Michigan Department of State issued a ... In a letter to the
city clerk from the state's Bureau of Elections Monday afternoon ...
http://michigandaily.com/news/first-wave-ward-3-absentee-ballots-leave-candidate - 60k |
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Wed Jun 03, 2015 7:15 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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First wave of absentee ballots leave off City Council candidate
Print | E-mail | Letter to the editor
By Shoham Geva, Summer Managing News Editor
Published June 30, 2014
This story has been updated to reflect new information from the county clerk's office and the Michigan Department of State.
More like this
•Ann Arbor Election Commission meets to discuss City Council ballot error
•Election Commission continues to discuss misprinted ballot issues
The Ann Arbor City Clerk’s office began processing and re-sending almost 400 absentee ballots to Ward 3 voters Monday after an error left one candidate off the ballot.
Bob Dascola, who, along with Julie Grand and Sam McMullen, is running in the Democratic primary for the Ward 3 City Council Seat being vacated by mayoral candidate Christopher Taylor, was left off the absentee ballots due to a proofing error, according to the county clerk’s office.
The county was notified of the mistake in the Ward 3 ballots Friday afternoon. Edward Golembiewski, Washtenaw County chief deputy clerk and director of elections, wrote in an e-mail interview Sunday evening that the new ballots should be delivered by noon on Monday to the city clerk’s office. He added that preparations were already under way on Friday to mail new ballots out as soon as they arrived.
Monday morning, the city clerk's office said all corrected ballots would be sent out today. Along with the new ballots, a letter of instruction to voters will also be sent. The city clerk's office said, as of Monday morning, they had not received back any of the incorrect ballots.
Originally on Friday, the Michigan Department of State issued a statement that said according to their procedures, all other votes on the ballot, excluding the Ward 3 City Council vote, will be counted if a voter only returns the first ballot. If they return the second, corrected ballot, those are the votes that will be counted. However, in an announcement Monday evening, the department modified their position, and said votes cast in the Ward 3 elections on the incorrect ballots will also be counted if a voter does not return the second ballot.
In a letter to the city clerk from the state's Bureau of Elections Monday afternoon, Christopher M. Thomas, director of elections, cited concerns about voter disenfranchisement if the votes were not counted.
"Each of the voters is being given an opportunity to cast a replacement ballot and every attempt should be made to encourage these voters to return the replacement ballot," Thomas wrote. "However, there may be voters who would not change their vote in Ward 3 or will be out of town and unable to return the replacement ballot by Election Day."
The letter also stated that the statement issued Friday evening which indicated that the votes wouldn't be counted was based on a prior case that had now been determined inapplicable to the situation.
In an interview Monday evening, Bob Dascola's attorney, Tom Wieder, called the decision mindboggling.
“We think that’s a totally ridiculous way of handling it,” Wieder said. “The ballots that they’re talking about didn’t have one of candidates. I don’t know how you can count that.”
He said the campaign would pursue legal action in reaction to the decision.
The printing error stemmed from the fact that Dascola was not on the original set of candidates provided to the third-party company that creates the ballots for the county, Government Business Systems, because his eligibility to run was in question due to a disputed residency requirement for candidates in the Ann Arbor City Charter. The requirement mandates all City Council candidates have to be both registered voters in the city and a resident of the ward in which they are running for at least a year before holding office, which Dascola did not fulfill. However, Dascola argued in a federal lawsuit that the residency requirements were not enforceable because they had been nullified by the city in the 1970s.
After the court ruled in his favor May 20, his name was added to the ballot. However, the city of Ypsilanti then requested that the ballot be changed to remove uncontested City Council races, per city regulations. When the change was made, GBS accidentally removed the Ann Arbor City Council races instead of the Ypsilanti races and, in fixing that error, used the original set of candidates for Ann Arbor, which did not include Dascola. The mistake wasn’t caught in the last round of the proofing processes and the first wave of absentee ballots, sent out June 20 according to the Ann Arbor Chronicle, did not include Dascola’s name.
Golembiewski said the expense of reprinting the ballots would be $2,739. He added that following a conversation Monday, GBS has agreed to pay half of that cost. |
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Wed Jun 03, 2015 7:18 pm |
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