Spokane7
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September 2, 2010 in City
GOP questions ballot security in letter to county auditor
Party chairwoman lists 10 concerns
Republican Party leaders expressed concerns this week about the security of ballots mailed during the August primary to the Spokane County elections office.
County party Chairwoman Cindy Zapotocky wrote county Auditor Vicky Dalton that a Republican observer saw uncovered trays of ballots being picked up at the downtown post office by a courier service contracted with the county. Zapotocky alleges that the courier made other stops with the ballots in his truck before dropping off the ballots at the elections office.
“This is not what we would term ‘secure handling’ of ballots,” Zapotocky wrote.
Dalton said the ballots should be covered when they’re taken from the post office by the courier service and that she will check with the post office to find out if and why they weren’t. She added, however, it would be difficult to tamper with ballots while they are in the care of post office or the courier service.
“It’s not like anybody can just walk in there,” she said.
While Zapotocky listed 10 concerns in her letter, she also praised the courteousness of the elections staff.
“We are grateful for the high-quality, hard-working employees of our county,” Zapotocky wrote. “We know that (Vicky) Dalton has increased the efficiency and security of the ballot processing effort. But there is always room for improvement …”
The Spokane County Canvassing Board met on Wednesday and decided to meet again later this month to discuss Zapotocky’s recommendations. The board also voted 3-0 to finalize the results of the August primary.
Among other concerns, Zapotocky questioned why Dalton places her name on election return envelopes, arguing that it gives her an unfair advantage when she runs for office.
County attorney Jim Emacio, a member of the Canvassing Board, said state law allows Dalton to place her name on the ballot envelope.
Dalton said using her name lets the public know she’s responsible for the elections office and helps keep her accountable.
MAC faces angry crowd 
misjustice on September 02 at 4:18 p.m.
According to a post contributed to Cindy Zapotocky on the spokanegop website,
“It is interesting to note that under the prior poll site system of voting,
ballots were placed in metal boxes locked with a metal lock at the poll
sites, and transported directly to the Elections Office with a sheriff’s
officer or police officer accompanying them.”
http://www.spokanegop.com/
Not true Cindy. I am a former poll worker [ Poll Book Judge ] and police NEVER came to our polling site to transport ballots. Several times I drove the ballots, with another poll worker, to the super precinct site. The ballots were under lock and key but the cops did NOT transport them; poll workers did.
Not sure what you are trying to stir up with your little letter but on the above point you are flat out wrong, wrong, wrong. Seems like you may be grasping at straws due to the defeat of one of your party backed candidates. Not sure, but it seems like it.
satdown1 on November 13 at 8:42 p.m.
Murray was elected again, However, there is a greater problem that needs to be addressed. I am sure some of you are aware and maybe a lot are aware that a number of states, actually 13 in all, shut our military abroad out of the mid-term elections with the help of the DOJ: “Military voters from the land of Lincoln could be shut out of the midterm election after the Justice Department reached an agreement with Illinois that gave the state “a pass” for violating federal election law.” This is just one case. It is estimated that some 150-200,000 troops did not receive a ballot. This was a premeditated crime against our military. They fight for our liberty and freedom and our government disallows their vote. The states that violated federal election law - MOVE act. These states were supposed to send out the ballots 45 days prior to the mid-term election. It is generally thought that some 70-80% of our military are conservative. The question is: Would their votes have made a difference for Reid, Boxer, Murray and other democrats that won by a slim margin? I think these as other would have lost and the republicans would have picked up 10-13 seats in the senate. There is no reason or excuse; other than leftist politics that this happened. We must contact our representatives and senators and demand an investigation into this blatant, conscious and premeditated violation of the MOVE act. Someone must be held accountable and removed from their job and put on the unemployment line for their decision to thumb their nose at our troops. Our troops are standing up for you and me. Who will stand up for them?
Idahojon on November 19 at 1:31 p.m.
Satdown 1 is right on target with these remarks. I personally talked to over 30 active service people that did not receive their ballot to vote in the mid-term elections. 22 of them said they would vote conserative and that they are proud to be fighting for our country’s liberty and freedom and do not understand why they were left out of the voting process which is the right of ever US Citizen This is just a small sample, however, if they were given their right to vote and not blocked by those responsible I project that Murray, Boxer and Reid would have lost their re-election bids. someone made the decision that this would not happen. They should be investigated, held accountable and punished for what I consider to be a premeditated crime against our troops and US citizens.