Columbus Dispatch covers the shortage of machines in Franklin Co

[pointsoflight]

GOP strongholds saw increase in voting machines
Sunday, December 12, 2004
Mark Niquette
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

At first, Eric Davies didn't mind waiting more than four hours to vote on Nov. 2. It was encouraging to see such strong voter turnout, he says.

But later, the Democrat was frustrated to learn that his Columbus precinct had one fewer voting machine than in 2000, while some precincts in the suburbs and elsewhere got more.

"I'm not someone who necessarily jumps on the conspiracy bandwagon, but it certainly shows some favoritism to one community over another," said Davies, 37.

In fact, a Dispatch analysis shows that predominantly Democratic precincts in Franklin County -- almost all of them in Columbus -- had fewer machines on Nov. 2 compared with 2000, while heavy GOP areas had more.

(continue)

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2004/12/12/20041212-A1-03.html&chck=t

[KeireG]

1. Great.

This is part of the major momentum shift that is taking place, and is going to be spuured on by the challenge being filed at 9 AM tomorrow morning.

[Scout1071]

2. I believe the GOP and *

Are beginning to hear our footsteps. We The People.....are coming. And we are marching to 1600 Pennsylvania.

[LiberalFighter]

3. Aren't there any Democrats on these county election boards

to make sure that procedures are followed?

[shraby]

4. I believe most of them

have become Republicrats.

[LiberalFighter]

5. Then the County Party Chair should remove them.

[Beth in VT]

7. I agree - if the election boards were bipartisan,

where were the dems? How did they allow this situation to develop?

[KerryOn]

6. Yea, What a Joke

Here is the comparison:

Nummber of Precincts voting 70% or more for Al Gore in 2000 and 70% or more for GW in 2000 -

Democratic 100, Republican 43
The Democrats had 17 fewer macines than in 2000
The Republicans had 8 more machines than in 2000
Avg voters in 2000 437 Democratic and 516 Republican
Avg voters in 2004 887 Democratic and 753 Republican

I just returned from a great protest at the State House in Columbus. We probably had about 75 people, that braved the cold and wind. To say that: "Blackwell should go to JAIL!"