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State of Minnesota "will not cooperate" with BBV records request

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BevHarris Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-03-04 10:21 AM
Original message
State of Minnesota "will not cooperate" with BBV records request
Edited on Wed Nov-03-04 10:24 AM by BevHarris
Last night, Black Box Voting launched the first in a massive series of Freedom of Information Requests to conduct an audit of the voting machines using internal audit logs and other documents. You can see this request at http://www.blackboxvoting.org

I just got a call from Luci Botzek, of the MN Association of County Officers, telling me they will stall the response at least 30 days, probably longer. She wanted me to retract or reduce the public records request (all of which we are entitled to by law). She concluded by saying they would not process the request "for 30 days or longer" and when I said "We will proceed according to the law" she said "That's fine, but you're not going to get any help from us."

The first set of records we obtained, from an election held six weeks ago in King County, contained records consistent with manipulation of the election system, including an internal audit log in which 3 hours was deleted from Election Night.

This set of records requests, which we sent out to every county in the U.S. (except some that lack easily obtainable contact information), is not negotiable. They must comply.

We need volunteers for basic Internet and phone research. We have a list of counties for whom we need to dig a little deeper than normal for fax numbers and e-mails. Please e-mail bev@blackboxvoting.org if you can help, so we can make sure EVERY SINGLE COUNTY is served with public records requests for internal audit logs from all voting systems counted by computer (that includes optical scan, punch card, and DRE systems).

We have a smattering of counties in each state that will require quick phone calls to the county office to get this information. The faster we get ALL contact information for ALL counties and townships, the better, as we have two more Freedom of Information actions coming up pell-mell, and we don't want to leave anyone out. }(

Yes, I know, VerifiedVoting.org has a list -- we've had an equivalent one for awhile, but both ours and verifiedvoting.org's are missing certain types of information for sporadic counties -- and, taken nationwide, the gaps are significant.

Help us out if you can. The entire volunteer project can be done by e-mail, internet, and quick phone calls.

Bev Harris
Executive Director
Black Box Voting - a nonpartisan, nonprofit, publicly funded consumer protection group for elections.
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RedEagle Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-03-04 10:36 AM
Response to Original message
1. Please help folks and, any lawyers in Minnesota?
There is usually a deadline requests must be received by.

And folks can Google a county and usually find the information needed for the records request.

Go to it, Democracy doesn't work without help.
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BevHarris Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-03-04 10:40 AM
Response to Reply #1
3. You got it. The laws are clear, but some states have leeway
Most have to respond, at least with a statement as to when they will have the information ready, within a few days. Luci is claiming the "reasonable time to respond" clause.

The text of all the laws in every state for FOIA requests can be found at http://www.foiadvocates.com/records.html

I've already had to comb through the Minnesota statutes once for a recalcitrant Minnesota county official. It would be great if someone here can take a moment to check the statutes for specific information about all response deadlines, and post it here.

Thanks

Bev
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phasev Donating Member (187 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-03-04 10:51 AM
Response to Reply #3
8. Volunteering
I sent you an e-mail offering my help. :-)

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ecstatic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-03-04 10:39 AM
Response to Original message
2. Maybe BBV should focus on FL and OH
Instead of wasting time with MN.
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BevHarris Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-03-04 10:43 AM
Response to Reply #2
4. We are. We hit all 50 states at once with a FOIA to audit machines
Edited on Wed Nov-03-04 10:45 AM by BevHarris
Minnesota is heavily Diebold, and we certainly don't consider it a waste of time.

Bev
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Flubadubya Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-03-04 10:45 AM
Response to Reply #4
5. Didn't Kerry win Minnesota?
:shrug:?
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SudieJD Donating Member (676 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-03-04 10:47 AM
Response to Reply #5
7. Yes, Kerry Won Minnesota
It's a "Blue" state for sure!

Glad I live here!

Sudie in MN
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BevHarris Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-03-04 10:56 AM
Response to Reply #7
10. Presidential isn't the only race on the ballot
congressional races, and overall integrity of the system is at stake.

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RedEagle Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-03-04 10:46 AM
Response to Reply #2
6. You bet Florida and Ohio are coming under investigation
But let's not put all the eggs in one or two baskets.

Besides, showing a "trend" to fraud is way more damaging.
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TNOE Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-03-04 10:54 AM
Response to Original message
9. Bev, I think you should also post this in Election GD Forum
I have forwarded this to a huge Democratic attorney at a large law firm in Cincinnati.
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mbee Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-03-04 11:06 AM
Response to Original message
11. Bev, you are a true American and I thank you for all you do!
Have you been in touch with the Kerry people as I hope will all my heart they will not concede to Bozo!
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