Elections

I guess we will have to count the votes by hand in Mitchell

l3wis June 17, 2012 2Comments

Gee, seems like the logical thing to do!

“Our complaint is contesting the method by which the votes were counted,” Sioux Falls attorney Sam Khoroosi said. “It was conducted by a computerized voting machine. The count was done three times and each time, it came up with a different count.”

Khoroosi and his client, Guymon, says those different numbers aren’t providing a clear picture. That’s why they filed the complaint this morning.

“What we’re requesting is a manual confirmation of the vote count,” Khoroosi said.

It is unfortunate that a lawsuit had to be filed to make the Davison County Auditor do the logical thing. So why haven’t they counted the votes manually yet? Good question.

This is my educated guess, because it will show that vote counting machines are not accurate, and this will open up a gigantic can of worms. I am sure the company that maintains the machines will fight this, and mountains of taxpayers time and money will be wasted when you could simply have four people in a room for about 2 hours counting (at most) 6,000 votes.

Elections Mitchell Secretary of State

SOS is on the hot seat once again

l3wis June 11, 2012 10Comments

How do over 1,000 votes disappear?

After Tuesday’s primary, the Secretary of State’s Office reported about 6,100 votes were cast. But later on, the auditor reported that justÂ more thanÂ 5,500 votes were cast.Â And after Thursday’s recount, the official count was around 4,400.

I suppose I could go on another rant about the incompetence of Jason Gant, but why keep beating a dead horse? How do these many ballots going missing? Or the bigger question, were ballots overcounted?

Some say the only thing that will satisfy them is a re-vote.Â Candidates have ten days after the election day to file a petition for a re-vote.

This should not have to be the case. Why should they inconvenance voters if these ballots exist, not to mention the tax payer money it will cost because of this incompetence? And the bigger question is how could they be off by that much? The AG’s office needs to do an investigation into election fraud (either intentional or accidental). It is blatantly obvious someone in the Davison county auditor’s office either screwed up accidentally or on purpose. This episode better end with someone in handcuffs.

Elections SF City Council Sioux Falls

Musical Precincts

l3wis June 10, 2012 5Comments

Yesterday afternoon I was sitting in a lawn chair enjoying a refreshing peach iced tea with a couple of (nerdy political) friends in the beautiful 93 degree weather. We of course were sitting in the shade.

The topic of conversation? Elections. Yeah, I know, not exactly what most people talk about on a nice day like yesterday.

I brought up that there are some on the city council (Jamison, Staggers and Karsky) that truly want to fix the musical precincts, and the wheels will be set in motion soon. But we know how slow those wheels turn.

So one of the ‘Super Friends’ suggested that if the council and the county auditor don’t want to fix the back and forth of municipal elections, we should just fix it.

I said, “How?!”

They responded, “A petition drive.”

I am a bit gun shy when it comes to petition drives, but I don’t think any group that would pursue it would have a problem collecting signatures. There are so many people frustrated with the constant changes when it comes to precincts and voting in Sioux Falls, that I think they would have no problem collecting enough signatures.

The bigger question is if it gets on the ballot, how many precincts would be open to vote on it 🙂

Here is a recap of the email I sent out to elected officials;

Normally I do not email my elected officials, especially the entire city council, the county commission, the school board, the mayor, the city clerk and the county auditor all at once, but I did a recent post about the ‘musical precincts’ this city continues to play with elections and the mass confusion it has on voters. It’s time you all sat down in a room and figured out a standard already, this has gone on long enough!

Here is a PDF of the responses I haven’t gotten so far:Â precincts

Notice only two county commissioners responded and four city councilors (Jamison responded by phone). I’m still waiting to hear from the county auditor, school board, city clerk and mayor. I’m not holding my breath.

Elections

A ‘Very’ Interesting Tuesday

l3wis June 6, 2012 19Comments

I’m glad I finally found my hoagie recipe book.

Before I get into the actual results I wanted to point out something that a South DaCola foot soldier observed at the Minnehaha County’s auditor’s office last night. The first thing was they commented to me that Roust left Litz with a well trained staff.

Secondly, they observed two candidates at the offices during the tabulating. I believe it was Dick Kelly and Pat Kirschman, but it doesn’t really matter who the candidates were, it is a BIG NO-NO to be within a 100 feet of the auditor’s office during tabulation and voting. Staggers was reminded of that in the last municipal election.

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

Begalka beating Rausch proved that the governor isn’t the big wheel he thinks he is. I have often felt that Rounds was a very weak governor and Denny is even weaker.

Abdallah finally sent packing. The rumors are that Otten’s co-horts ran a dirty campaign. I actually enjoy Republicans beating each other up. Gene was from the old Janklow guard and it was time for his retirement.

Dave Munson sent back into retirement doesn’t surprise me. I will give Jenna Haggar credit, she is a door-to-door campaigner. The only campaigning I saw Dave do was hanging out with his normal bullshitting crowd at Kahladi’s coffee downtown.

I want to congratulate Hajek for sending the constitutional scholar, Tornow packing.

In district 15, things are going to be heating up in November. I have known Karen Soli for a number of years, if elected to represent us in Pierre, we will truly be getting a gifted individual. Karen is a retired Lutheran pastor and a compassionate liberal, and as smart as a whip.

Also in November is the prime-time battle between Johnny come lately Kyle Schoenfish (used to be a Democrat, and is the son of Mayor Huether’s first cousin) and Stace Nelson. This will probably be the most enjoyable race to watch. Please, Mike, no more voicemail’s about Kyle. Thank You.

Elections

PRIMARY SHOWDOWN

l3wis June 5, 2012 10Comments

I am sexier then Dave Munson! And don’t you forget it.

I really haven’t paid much attention to primaries in recent years, I’m an Indy and can only vote for Dems, but this year was very interesting.

I was sorry to see Barth lose against Varilek, but hey, people like clean cut ‘safe’ candidates who won’t let the ‘gays’ get married. That and I think Barth’s pot belly worried people. Heck, my pot belly worries me, I am wondering when that baby is going to pop?

Mitt kicked butt and took names. No surprise, his go-to man Ironic Johnny will soon be campaigning for the Mormon in a few months.

Looks like Governor endorsements don’t matter, Tim Begalka in District 4 wiped Rausch’s butt with Denny’s endorsement.

The man with the scariest face in the legislature, Gene Abdallah is finally toast. It seems Mr. Otten’s crazy mailings worked, ultra pink cardstock and all.

Looks like Deb Peters bitch slapped gay basher Hubbel to the curb. Maybe now Lora can concentrate on doing more crazy research on Obamacare. I also suggest she reads the US Constitution and Bill of Rights, especially the part about equal rights.

Looks like Jenna Haggar handed not only her dad, but our former mayor their butts, and why not? A gloved glamour shot of a Republican princess beats out an ineffective, tea-toddler mayor everytime!

Looks like Anne Hajek may finally send Shawn ‘The Constitutional ignorer’ Tornow packing. I’m sure not without a beer cooler full of cold cuts, lies and farts.

I was pleased to see Karen L. Soli dismantling district 15 (Democrat). Karen is the former pastor of Augustana Luthern church. A wonderful person and a true liberal. I hope she turns Pierre upside down!

Looks like Mayor Huether’s relative and Stace Nelson are battling it out in district 19. I heard there is a boil warning in that district right now . . .

I have also enjoyed the random reporting on the SOS’s website, if you refresh every few minutes you get all kinds of check marks, false reportings, etc. It’s like they are doing Jello-shots and smoking spice in the war room right now. And hey, why not? It’s our dime buying those flame-broiled slime sliders, not theirs. Let the recounts begin!

I guess we will have to count the votes by hand in Mitchell

SOS is on the hot seat once again

Musical Precincts

A ‘Very’ Interesting Tuesday

PRIMARY SHOWDOWN

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