Elections Matter

Election 2023: Integrity is crucial to democracy. After 20+ years with few problems, there were multiple inconsistencies, complaints, and problems in our Election Office from January 1, 2023-December 2023. Reported problems included the following:

Absentee ballots were not sent to some voters. Multiple ballots were stuffed into ballot pack

Election 2023: Integrity is crucial to democracy. After 20+ years with few problems, there were multiple inconsistencies, complaints, and problems in our Election Office from January 1, 2023-December 2023. Reported problems included the following:

Absentee ballots were not sent to some voters. Multiple ballots were stuffed into ballot packets. There were misfolded ballots, potentially causing problems with the voter tabulator machine. There were errors in voter instructions that required the office to reprint multiple times. There were reported improper signature verification procedures and delayed poll openings that caused early voters to be turned away at the polls. There was a lack of access to ballot drop boxes, poor communication with both the Great Falls Public School District and the Library Board of Directors, as well as a denial of an all-mail ballot that they reported was more efficient, promoting greater voter participation and cost-efficiency. There was a high probability of damaging the ballots when removed from the envelope, potentially preventing the ballot from going through the vote tabulator. There were errors in legal ads published in newspapers. Many ballots arrive unsealed.  There were many volunteers working at the election office. Voters in the west Great Falls District and Gore Hill Water District reported receiving irregular ballots and complained about contradictory instructions. There were individuals with biased positions working an election process that was supposed to be unbiased. The Clerk & Recorder reportedly met with election denier, Douglas Frank. Then Ms. Merchant and her staff attended Mr. Frank's community presentation, where he announced Ms. Merchant supports his unsubstantiated presentation of fraudulent claims about the 2020 election that have not been proven. The election office has more employees than the previous administration. 

The Electric reported on May 9, 2023;

“Graybill wrote that his office is investigating and seeking to approve allegations of:

• voter disenfranchisement as the election office did not send absentee ballots for the Great Falls Public Schools election to those in Levy District 29A, who are assessed mills for the school district and were entitled to vote, or allow them to vote at the poll;
• the election office did not verify signatures before separating envelopes and ballots, in violation of state law.
• no write-in space, in violation of state law;
• inaccurate ballot instructions.
• unsealed envelopes on absentee ballots;
• improper folding of ballots.
• multiple ballots sent to absentee voters.
• voters turned away on May 2 at the polls because the registers were unavailable and ballots were not ready at precinct tables until after 8 a.m.

“Standing alone, any of the above violations of Montana election law could invalidate the recent election. Taken together, this array of statutory violations and other irregularities almost certainly would allow any affected person with standing to challenge the election,” Graybill wrote.”

How many problems or votes must be disenfranchised before we act?

If you have any doubts or questions, check the facts in the links:

How many problems or votes must be disenfranchised before we act?

If you have any doubts or questions, check the links below to learn the facts:

The Electric:  

3/15/23 https://theelectricgf.com/2023/03/15/county-election-official-tells-sun-river-valley-city-of-great-falls-office-cant-handle-mail-ballot-elections/2/28/23 County leasing mailing machine to replace IPS services for daily mail | The Electric (theelectricgf.com) 2/3/23 https://theelectricgf.com/2023/02/03/ips-closing-county-considering-options-for-election-mailing/

Court Case:  1_Emergency_Verified_Petition_for_Injunctive_Relief.pdf (theelectricgf.com) 

Graybill:  

https://theelectricgf.com/2023/05/09/library-requests-election-monitor-commission-debates-public-comment-on-elections/ 

complaint-2.pdf (theelectricgf.com) 

Daily Montana: Cascade County Elections Official sees smoother elections process, some attribute to monitor – Daily Montanan GFPS:  Great Falls school trustees ask county officials to take over election duties  Election protection: Montana Public Radio (mtpr.org)  Citizens form Election Protection Committee to demand Merchant’s Resignation - What the Funk (wtf406.com)  Gerrymandered map lawsuit:  Lawsuit challenges Montana Legislature's new PSC map as unconstitutional gerrymander – Daily Montanan 

Doug Frank

Daily Montanan News

8/30/23 Election denier Douglas Frank presents conspiracies in Great Falls, meets with elections officer – Daily Montanan 

https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2023-07-31/douglas-frank-election-denial-voting  1/19/22 CNN

https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2022/09/15/douglas-frank-fbi-phone-lindell/

https://dailymontanan.com/2023/08/30/election-denier-douglas-frank-presents-conspiracies-in-great-falls-meets-with-elections-officer/

 2023 https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=6687764707913691&set=a.6687768884579940 

 Myth of voter fraud;  

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, voter fraud is rare and does not happen on a scale close to a “rigged election”. The center’s report, The Truth About Voter Fraud, found that most reported incidents of voter fraud are actually traceable to other sources, such as clerical errors or bad data matching pract

 Myth of voter fraud;  

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, voter fraud is rare and does not happen on a scale close to a “rigged election”. The center’s report, The Truth About Voter Fraud, found that most reported incidents of voter fraud are actually traceable to other sources, such as clerical errors or bad data matching practices. A study published by a Columbia University political scientist tracked incidence rates for voter fraud for two years and found that the rare fraud that was reported generally could be traced to “false claims by the loser of a close race, mischief, and administrative or voter error”. A comprehensive 2014 study published in The Washington Post found 31 credible instances of impersonation fraud from 2000 to 2014, out of more than 1 billion ballots cast1. Two studies done at Arizona State University, one in 2012 and another in 2016, found similarly negligible rates of impersonation fraud.

In conclusion, while sensationalist claims about voter fraud may garner media attention and concerned voters, the evidence suggests that fraud by voters at the polls is vanishingly rare and does not happen on a scale even close to what some have suggested.  

Passing bills to restrict, suppress, or disenfranchise votes does not ensure that every vote counts.

(If you have any questions or doubts, click below for details and facts). 

Facts 2020: Election was the most secure in history

This was supported by the Brennan Center of Justice in an article dated  December 11, 2020, and according to the Department of Homeland Security (CISA). The 2020 US election was “the most secure in American history”, CBS,CNN, Fox and Homeland Security.  The Elections Infrastructure Government Coordinating Council and the Election Infrastructure Sector Coordinating executive committees also issued a joint statement that this year’s election (2020) marked “the most secure in American history” The statement was made in response to baseless claims of widespread voter fraud in key battleground states by President Trump. They further added there was no voting system “deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or in any way compromised.” Add to that there were 60 court cases, the Supreme Court, Mitch McConnel, Bill Barr, the Department of Justice confirmed that there was no evidence of problem with the 2020 election.

There is a long history of voter access problems across the United States. View this timeline:  History of problems with voter access and voter suppression in the U.S.

  According to the Brennan Center for Justice, a non-partisan, independent organization that analyzes election rules, there were 361 bills restricting voting introduced in 47 states as of March 24, 2021. The number of restrictive bills increased to 425 in 49 states as of May 14, 2021. 

Brennan 2021: Voting Laws Roundup: December 2021 | Brennan Center for Justice  

Brennan 2022: https://www.brennancenter.org/.../voting-laws-roundup... 

Brennan 2023: https://www.brennancenter.org/.../voting-laws-roundup... 

Wikipedia voter suppression: https://en.wikipedia.org/.

../Voter_suppression_in_the.. 

 Voter Fraud 

NYtimes:  Under the Radar, Right-Wing Push to Tighten Voting Laws Persists - The New York Times (nytimes.com) 

1. theelders.org 2. heritage.org  3. heritage.org  4. australiainstitute.org.au5. coalitionforintegrity.org 

Conversations with A.I.

Jeff: is it true? Georgia passed laws to overturn their own votes and get rid of prosecutors who would try to do anything about it?

A.I. No, this is not true. Georgia did not pass any laws to overturn their own votes or get rid of prosecutors who would try to do anything about it. However, Georgia did pass some controversial bills that would create a commission with the power to discipline, remove, or retire elected district attorneys or solicitors-general. These bills were criticized by some Democrats and prosecutors as a way to undermine the will of the voters, target minority prosecutors, and interfere with the investigation of former President Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia12. The bills were supported by some Republicans who claimed they were necessary to prevent “soft on crime”

Jeff: no? It's a positive bill to let prosecutors do their job and to ensure every vote is counted, right?

A.I. I’m sorry, but I disagree with your statement. The bills that Georgia passed are not positive for prosecutors or voters. They are designed to undermine the independence and accountability of elected prosecutors, who are supposed to represent the interests of their communities and uphold the rule of law. They also create a commission that can remove or discipline prosecutors without due process or transparency, which could lead to political interference or retaliation

Jeff: You want to play chess? I'm joking. LOL. There is something wrong with the above reasoning because one statement contradicts the other.

A.I. I’m glad you have a sense of humor. 😄 I don’t mind playing chess, but I’m not very good at it. Maybe you can teach me some strategies.

I agree that there is something wrong with the above reasoning, because it is based on false or misleading premises. The bills that Georgia passed do not let prosecutors do their job or ensure that every vote is counted right.

Jeff: I think you made my point.