demodonkey & attorney on Pittsburgh TV; Lawsuit to State Supreme Court

[demodonkey]

demodonkey & citizens' attorney Chuck Pascal on Pittsburgh TV; Westmoreland Lawsuit went to State Supreme Court today...

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Voting Machines Lawsuit Goes Before Pa. Supreme Court

WTAE Pittsburgh

The debate over changes in Pennsylvania voting procedure have reached the state's highest court.
The state is arguing it will face even worse than the "hanging chads" problem in the Florida presidential vote recount of 2000 if it is forced to use paper ballots because a citizens' lawsuit blocks use of modern voting machines this May. With the spring primary 70 days away, the state is under the gun to obey changes in federal voting law.

"You're going to have eight people hovering around every paper ballot, determining where was that check mark, did the voter really check that box or this box, what did they intend to do -- ballot, by ballot, by ballot," said attorney for the state Mark Aronchick.

"I think that's just the most ludicrous argument. Pennsylvania voters are smart. We have smart people in Pennsylvania. They can handle voting on a paper ballot," said Vote PA plaintiff Mary Beth Kuznik.

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/7587356/detail.html

[nicknameless]

1. Go demodonkey!

K&R

[BeFree]

2. Your Honor!

Mr. Aronchik is claiming that voters don't know how to mark a ballot. He seems to think the people in this state are idiots. He suggests voiding the constitution, your Honor. May I submit that you hold Mr. Aronchik in contempt of the Great State of Pennsylvania, and throw away the key?

[Wilms]

3. K&R n/t

[Yellow Horse]

4. A shame to see a state spend tax dollars on....

...high priced attorneys to fight its OWN CONSTITUTION and against its own citizens' rights.

What are we coming to?

K & R

[mopinko]

5. ditto that

jesus h christ.

[Junkdrawer]

6. UPDATE: PAPER BALLOTS LOST...

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The state Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a county may replace its mechanical lever voting machines without voter approval in a case that pitted new federal election laws against the state constitution.

The ruling eases concerns about possible disruptions in the planned upgrading of voting systems in dozens of counties before the May 16 primary election.

The decision, which overturned a lower court, was announced in a one-page order that promised a subsequent opinion explaining the justices' reasoning.

The lower court judge - Commonwealth Court Judge Dan Pellegrini - said the 2002 federal law that requires many counties to upgrade their systems before the primary affects only federal elections, while the state constitution requires voters' approval for any change in voting systems.

....

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/103-03022006-620337.html

Guess we'll have to wait to see why the PA Constitution is null and void...

[RazzleDazzle]

7. Wow. Thank you. And good luck!

[Junkdrawer]

8. See Post #6 n/t