Reply #170: Very interesting analysis LC

[Iceburg]

One point to keep in mind is that there exists a very transparent paper trail with the opscan ballots whether they rotate the ballot order or not. The ballot papers are typically serialized and ranges of serialized ballots are then distributed to precincts. Thus regardless of how you voted, if your serial number is out of sync with the precinct's serial number range that vote must be tossed into its rightful pile. I have planned and delivered elections using the opscan equipment but I have never even set eyes on punch card machinery.

Back to the punch cards: With the punched cards we know that--

1) there was no precinct identifier stamped on the absentee vote ...that was to be filled in later by an honest poll worker. (ref. Chili)

2) we still don't know with certainty that every punch card in the live polls had a precinct identifier stamped or punched on it

3) If there was a stamp we do not know what percentage of people actually paid attention to it

4) if the precinct identifier on the card was both punched and stamped, we do not know whether the punches actually mapped to the stamp. How many people look at punch marks and know their significance?

5) with punch cards (in Cuyahoga) we have a very fuzzy audit trail to follow -- considering all the unknowns above PLUS the fact that the poll signature books are being denied access, and the votes cast for Nader have not been published.

6) At this point, we do not know if the swapped out machines (due to alleged failure) and the new machines associated with a precinct factor into our current findings.

Only a hand recount of the punch cards combined with comparison to poll signature books is likely to(but not with absolute certainty) tell the truth. What we have now, is mounting circumstantial evidence ...not absolute proof. However, that circumstantial evidence can help the recount team pinpoint voting areas that are most likely to reveal the truth, whereby a hand recount can be conducted.

Further, I agree with one of your earlier posts that the strategy was to diversify-diversify-diversify.