OH: New Blackwell Directive: No More RANDOM recounts

[mod mom]

Randomness in recounts (2004) per se was addressed in an outline distributed by the SoS about a year ago.  To the best of my knowledge that outline was forwarded to BOEs as part of a directive or memo from the SoS. Unfortunately, the section of the SpS website containing directives and memoranda is now password protected.  I cannot provide a link. That document (the outline) contains the requirement:


The board must randomly select whole precincts whose total equals at least 3% of the total vote. These precincts’ ballots must be manually counted.


It appears on page 5 of the outline in the sections for both punch cards and optical scan (marked as “d”).  

This year Blackwell issued Directive No. 2005-32, November 17, 2005, which contains the following:


The board must select one or more whole precincts whose total equals at least 3% of the total vote and must manually count those precincts' ballots. Selection method need not be mathematically random . If the recount involves only one precinct, a manual count shall be conducted.

Me: do you realize what he has done here? They won't even let us do random recounts . How does he get away with these directives? What does mathematically random mean?

[C_U_L8R]

1. Since when is this crook dictator of Ohio

Directives??? Isn't there any kind of legislative process there ???

[mainegreen]

2. What are the implications?

Not sure if I understand. Does this mean that they get to pick a precinct of their choice for recounts? And I presume they pick precincts they've rigged correctly?

Not sure how the crazy voting laws work out there in the rest of America.
Confused! :shrug:

[newscott]

4. In the recounts from last year they were SUPPOSED to be random.

But that's not what they did. Precincts were all preselected. This seems like Blackwell rewriting the history of the last election.

Taking randmoness out of the equation takes out ALL margin for error. All recounts will always be correct.

That's my take.

[mod mom]

3. With past recounts, Ohio law required mandatory randomness, which

their are current suits about since they failed to be random. (Remember the Triad story where the representative from Triad wanted to know which precincts were going to be recounted so he could supply a cheat sheet?) This new directive appears to change it.

[texpatriot2004]

5. Bastard Blackwell! Grrr

:mad: :mad: :mad: